Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/03/18

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Subject: [Leica] 75mm Summilux on M9
From: benedenia at gmail.com (Marty Deveney)
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:11:45 +1030
References: <4B7BDC02-8856-4141-8E5D-DBEBA3357794@gmail.com> <BLU0-SMTP631CD7003762DCFF68C6A08C5D0@phx.gbl> <CAF8hL-HdEDPWtBiD-AtjJz9S=Co96E0zK+pe4wX_7smXWwcCQQ@mail.gmail.com> <CA+yJO1AwQH4E_P6LndyLJtmGgFcTivm1ivpvnfNHWJJ-q5+O3Q@mail.gmail.com>

The 75/1.4 is actually the hardest M lens to focus; it has less depth
of field than the Noctilux and the focus requirements are more
critical.  This makes accurate focus hard.  The 1.25 or 1.4 magnifiers
are useful but do decrease rangefinder brightness and contrast.  The
75 Summilux has quite a lot of focus shift.  If properly adjusted, the
focus point will be very slightly in front of the rangefinder point of
focus, but as you stop down depth of field increases and contains the
point of optimum focus.  If you get it adjusted so that it focuses
perfectly at f1.4 depth of field does not catch up with the focus
shift until f 5.6.  I have never seen a 75 Summilux that was built
during the film era that did not need adjusting to focus properly on
digital M cameras.

> You have to be willing to practice, practice, practice and delete a lot of
> mistakes.

Practice does really help, and you'll probably still end up with an
infuriating number of out of focus images, but I agree that when you
get it right it gives really beautiful results.

> But when you get it right, it is second only to the Noctilux for
> absolutely beautiful low-light photos with wonderful bokeh.

I think the out of focus rendition from the Summilux is both more
predictable and better than both the f1 and f0.95 Noctis, but this is
personal opinion only.  In really low light f1 or f0.95 is simply
better than f1.4, and although the focus difficulties of both
increase, I find the Nocti easier to use than the 75 Summilux in
really dim light.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/75+Summilux/sakura.jpg.html
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/75+Summilux/fionn1.jpg.html
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/75+Summilux/eggs+web.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/75+Summilux/

Marty


Replies: Reply from Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com (Frank Dernie) ([Leica] 75mm Summilux on M9)
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