Hi, Just finished doing my taxes-- looks like a little extra from the refund fairy this year. Im sure this has been beaten to death, but I cant find a thread that addresses exactly my question. Im considering picking up a 35mm summilux, as Im using the Voigtlander 35mm 1.7 now and find it to be a little on the bulky side. I would appreciate any opinions from users of the older 35mm summilux. Or for that matter any opinions from those who switched to the asph version-- what are the advantages of each? Why do you use the one you do? Thanks,

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), January 28, 2002

Answers

I just bought a 35mm 'cron yesterday. I had wanted to buy a 'lux at first and went to the store with the cash but when I handled the 2 lenses at the store, I finally go with the 'cron - the size matters. If the size also matters you, go with the 'cron.

-- tom tong (tom.tong@ckh.com.hk), January 28, 2002.

How does the the cron compare to the older summilux? I know the apsh is bigger, but does the older one compare favorably size wise?

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

Do you want f/1.4? If so, get the Lux ASPH, don't waste money on the older Lux. It's a good lens but at f/1.4 there's no contest, and if you're going to be shooting at f/2 or slower, there's also no contest with the Cron ASPH. Thinking of getting a pre-ASPH Cron? If you really crave a Leica lens, go for it. If you're strictly interested in performance, keep the Ultron, there is precious little difference.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

Marke, the Cron ASPH is about 1/4" longer than the pre-ASPH Lux. It doesn't intrude significantly into the finder, even with the shade on. I agree that the smaller size makes it more appealing than the Lux ASPH.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 28, 2002.

Dear Marke

I've been using the older Summilux 35/1.4 since January, 1990 and I love the monster, in spite of a few irritations.

The size and weight are just right. It is very compact and weights 180 grams. The lens hood is a major pain in the neck. It is hard to turn the f-stop tab with the thing on. It is impossible to screw in filters (or any that I know) and you have to use a Series 7 filter with is placed inside the lens hood. Another problem is that is prone to ghosts in bright light.

Lately, taking a cue from my 15/4.5 VC, I've been shooting without the hood / filter combo and it is like a new lens in terms of fast action. There is a famous Japanese photo journalist (whose name I forget) who used one in Vietnam and only got a major scratch across the front. the glass is back far enough to be fairly well protected. I think it is a very good shooter. Color balance is very pleasant and its good enough wide open. Actually very good.

It's been more fun on my Hexar RF than my Leicas. because you can leave the f-stop ring alone.

The newer 35/1.4 Asph is certainly better optically and in operation. It is also heavy and expensive. The hood is rather obtrusive. The 35/2 Asph is certainly an excellent alternative.

In spite of its problems I'll never part with my old 35/1.4.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), January 28, 2002.

Marke:

Are you after reduced bulk or faster speed? Do you want hyper-sharp images, or do you like the softer-edged look from the older Leica lens designs? What you are not going to get is all of those things in one lens. Answer both the above questions honestly, and you'll know which lens you should get...

:) Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 29, 2002.

I tested the older 35 summilux at 1.4 with b+w film and thought the performance was pretty good (up to A4 print size). I certainly didn't think it was un-usable at max aperture. The tones are lovely (again for b+w at least) and the size fabulous. The only really unusual thing was the bokeh which produced almost mirror-lens like backgrounds - circles of light - possibly from having very round diaphragm blades (?). Anyway, FWIW, I ended up with the aspherical summicron but often think about swapping/adding this older one (especially as I like to carry my M in a coat pocket and this older lens is so much shorter than the new 1.4). As I understand it there are 2 seperate versions - the later production having improved performance wide open (like a fool I didn't check which version I borrowed - doh!). Purely anecdotally, I wonder if the colours seem quite as good as the new lenses (only a potential problem if you use tranny film and want colours to match other lenses). FWIW, my general feeling is that while later gen. lenses are usually better performers than old, sometimes the degree of difference is a bit exaggerated.

-- steve (stephenjjones@btopenworld.com), January 29, 2002.

Hello Marke,The older 35mm Summilux is a classic early Canadian design which has been made in lesser numbers than the Summicron.It is far more compact than the current 'Lux and imparts more "glow" at widest aperture.More professionals in the early days used the 'Cron if they didn't need f1.4.I echo the performance characteristics stated for each of the 'Lux types.Currently I use a 'Lux ASPH., a fine performer,but it is pretty bulky and with hood obscures the finder.A nice early Summicron seems to get as much of a workout. One point not mentioned yet is closest focusing distance.. the old 'Luxes focus to only 1 metre...giving you a smallest object field of 630 x 950mm.However,if using an M3 with viewfinder front attachment,focus goes down to 0.65 metre. Aesthetically, an old "Lux looks finest on an old Leica M body. Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I got a used version of the 35 1.4 summilux asph recently, a temptation from one of the regular posters here. It is absolutely stunning. I had just gotten a 4th vers pre asph summicron which is also a beautiful very small lens. The summicron is very sharp and has great contrast but the summilux is just better, sharper, richer at 2.0 and it has another stop after that that is perfectly usable. I don't mind the size. I haven't quite talked myself into selling the cron and I carry it a lot of the time and am never disappointed with the transparencies but the lux is better in every way except size. Do I need 2 35 M lenses? Possibly - why not? Good luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

Hello Marke,

After using the 35mm cron and 35mm cron ASPH I settled on the Summilux 35 1.4 ASPH. IMO it isn't much bigger than the cron ASPH however the hood does intrude on the viewfinder. The older Summicron, Summilux are definitely smaller then the new ASPH lenses and are by no means poor performers. If I were choosing between the older 35's I have to go with the Summicron. I think it's a better all around lens.

Good Luck, Tom

-- Tom Gallagher (tgallagher10@Yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.