35mm Summicron ASPH

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I have recently purchased a 35mm Summicron ASPH and I am wondering if anyone has any comments about this new lens from a users point of view.From what I have read so far the new lens seems to be superior at full aperture. Regards Alan Stokes

-- Alan Stokes (beoon@lineone.net), July 23, 1999

Answers

I've used two previous versions of the Summicron, along with several examples of the Nikkor 35/2.0. None of them have come close to the Summicron ASPH, especially wide open (well maybe the previous non-ASPH 'cron did, but only stopped down to 4.0 or better).

The tonal quality of this lens is amazing - the subtlety of the shadings it renders is breathtaking. I find the images have a very "solid" feel to them, somehow. It's also very flare-resistant, making it a joy to shoot contre-jour.

One of the shots I have that best illustrates its wide-aperture qualities is a snap of my parents on Christmas morning two years ago. Shot on Fuji 800 neg, wide open at 1/60 - the image is pin-sharp. My Nikkors couldn't do that well at f/4, frankly.

All in all, the best and most useful lens I own. Can you tell I love it?

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), January 06, 2000.


Please go to this site for one of the most complete reviews written. It convinced me and I'm not sorry :http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/leicahome.html

-- Roy Feldman (royfel@hotmail.com), January 06, 2000.

Great photos I have been taking on it - although I can't really compare it with others - I haven't taken serious photos for many years - since before autofocus days!

Most of my shots are natural light wide open using 400 to 3200 ASA and so far I do see flare in the lens sometimes.

One pic I took on Millennium eve on the roof top of Westin Bangkok directly into the red airplane roof lights showed huge flare. Is this because of the intense red colour of the lights? I was about 10 feet away.

Another comment I have is that there are only 8 blades in the iris and when stopped down to 2.8 or 4 at night into bright lights, the shape of the light spots are not natural - there are spokes coming out of the lights. Some of the older Leitz lenses built in the 70s have very beautiful 10-12 blade (I think) circular irises and thus maintain better light shapes when stopped down.

Nevertheless, when the above 2 considerations are not in play, the lense wide open is truely great. I don't see any reason why you have to use any other aperture!

-- Foong Leong Kin (kin@spm.com), January 07, 2000.


I use the Summilux ASPH (the f/1.4 version) and agree wholeheartedly with the above comments. It's said (by Erwin Puts, among others) that the f/2 has somewhat more even performance across the field while the f/1.4 is a tad better at the center. I agree with Paul that it blows the Nikkor 35/2 into the weeds at wide apertures - and the Nikkor is not a shabby lens by any standard. So the advice is to shoot it wide on slow film. You'll be amazed by what these lenses can do handheld. I have 20X24 enlargenents from kodachome 64 and velvia slides that were shot offhand in available light. They look like they were shot with a 645 on a tripod.

Alexey

-- Alexey Merz (alexey@webcom.com), January 17, 2000.


Well, I've been using the 35/1.4 asph for about a month or so now, and I have to say that it's simply the best lens I've used. The quality of the results is astounding and far beyond what the R series 35/2 (or even 50/2, in my opinion) can achieve, which used to be my favourite lens. It really makes me wonder about the quality of the other asph offerings for the M series and whether I shouldn't just go over to M. With a "miniature" format like 35 mm, lenses which are at (or approach) their best wide open are a dream come true, especially for documentary photography.

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), February 05, 2000.


Robert

I think your comments about the new Leica ASPH and Apo lenses is quite true, but it syas nothing about the relative merits of R over M lenses - just the merits of the latest Leica designs. The new Summilux-R 50mm and the 180mm Tele Elmarit-R Apo are probably the best lenses of these focal length in the world bar none and for many years the 100mm Macro-Elmarit-R was acknowledged to be the "best" performing Leica lens. The new 90mm Summicron-M may now be even better...The point is is that the new crop (late 1990s) of lenses that are coming out now for both M and R are simply amazing I just wish I could afford them!

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), March 09, 2000.


Leica 35mm 1.4 ASPH is considered as the best 35mm of all time from most of French magazines such as "Chasseur D'Images". The optical test results are amazing. It is said it is as best as 35mm F2 at full aperture. I bought it and well, I have nothing to say ! All ASPH lenses are the new version of the Leica firm, ans they are said to be the best right now. I used to own an EOS 3...and sold it. Regards.

-- NGUYEN, Minh Nhat (chrisminh@free.fr), March 13, 2000.

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