The fascination with Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4

Lots have been said about this lens from Leica. Many aspire to own one for the sharp image and creamy bokeh that it produces.


This image is shot with the earliest version, commonly known as Version 1. This is also available in screw mount, albeit in very limited numbers.


This image is shot with the third version, also commonly known as the "pre-ASPH" version.

Both images taken with Epson R-D1 digital rangefinder camera.

However, are there no lenses that matches up in performance? Actually, if you look around there are plenty of options available, and often at much cheaper price points too. Here are some common alternatives:

Modern
Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5 LTM

Vintage
Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM

To be honest, how many can differentiate the prints from any of these lenses or those from the various Summilux?

However, in terms of construction and handling, there is of course no doubt that Leica lenses are superbly finished and feels worthy of it's price when held in your hand. The rest don't even come close.

Cheers,

(Canon 7 Rangefinder + 50mm f/0.95) X 2!

(Canon 7 Rangefinder + 50mm f/0.95) X 2!, originally uploaded by benny ng.

So Yiming got seduced. Ended up with one of these speed monster instead of the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.1.

Check out the serial numbers of this pair of "brudder" lens!

Let's see how long he last with this. Focusing on the rangefinder ain't forgiving. Especially at f/0.95!

I give him 6 months.... Ha Ha!

I shot Roger!

Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.0 @ f/2.0, originally uploaded by benny ng.

Got a chance to test out the late version of the famed Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.0 on Roger. It's the one with the built in hood. The shots at f/1.0 was soft and exhibit a lot of veiling glare when you have reflective surfaces or white color in your image.

As you can see, once you stop down to 1.4 or 2.0, it's all gone and there's general improvement in the overall contrast and resolution.

But why buy a big, huge, expensive monster to use it at f/1.4 or f/2.0 when a Summilux or Summicron will suffice?

Tempting, but it's not tugging at my heart strings.... We'll have to see.

Cheers,

Bernard contemplating on the Summilux

Bernard contemplating on the Summilux, originally uploaded by benny ng.

Was fooling around Peninsular Shopping Center as usual. Tried the Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH on the M7. Small, snappy and quite a handy little package.

Bernard's happy with his recently acquired chrome M6 classic which I must agree is a really handsome package. Glad to see him coming back to film photography after a quick fling with digital SLR. The Artisan & Artist leather case that he shelled out good money for really adds to the luxurious feel of the camera.

So the next question is which Summilux? Chrome or Black? Ha Ha!!!!

Cheers,

Yo Mon! Check dis out!

Yo Mon! Check dis out!, originally uploaded by benny ng.

Shot on my brand new Panasonic LX3!!! Got it last week and took it out for a spin this week.

Anyway, we went down to Peninsula today as John was going to pick up his Xpan! Yup. He's going to give rangefinders a shot. Chii Fel returned me the Canon 7s with the 50mm f/0.95. Yiming 'inherited' the monster for the day and had some fun with it when we went to Labrador Park.

Oh, the image is cropped in Xpan format (65:24) in commemoration of John's new camera.

Cheers,

Testing my Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 on chiif!

Chii Fei, originally uploaded by benny ng.

Got this off ebay and brought it along to show Chii Fei. Seems like I paid too much of it. As usual.

Anyway, looks like there's fog in this tiny lens so the contrast is very low. Of course nothing Adobe photoshop can't fix. I think I'll send it in for cleaning to see if it can improve. These tiny vintage lenses are just so....... pretty!

Chii Fei says "Buy less, shoot more"! Ha Ha.

Cheers,