OK, here's a question I'm sure you've all had put to you before: Which lens is "better"? The 50mm Summircon or the 50mm Summilux? I have an old M3 with 35mm 'cron, 50 DR 'cron, 90 Elmarit and 135 Elmar. I'm looking to get a new M6 and I use the 50mm most, so I want to get a new 50mm to go with it. I understand the one stop difference between the Summicron and the Summilux, and I've heard people say all sorts of things about the differences in sharpness, etc. I love the 50 1.4 on my Nikon. I have read Erwin Puts tests, and the ones on PhotoDo, and now I ask you folks- which one do you think is better and why?

PS John Collier- thanks for clearing up my confusion about the 50DR (in the Leica Forum). I didn't know if the "eyes" would work on any other viewfinder magnification than the M3's .9, and now I have to choose for a new lens without that bit helping me.

best to all -drew

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002

Answers

It's not usually which lens is better (all of the Leica lenses are good anyway) but which lens would work better for you. Since you already have a DR Cron I think it would make sense to get the Lux for the extra stop.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), January 15, 2002.

Drew says, "I love the 50 1.4 on my Nikon."

So do I, but on my Leica Ms I use the Summicron with good results. Do you actually use the Nikkor at f/1.4? I know on an SLR, the wider aperture is great for viewing and focusing even when the lens isstopped down, but on the Leica, it doesn't matter. FWIW... my decision was based on two things. The Summicron use to have a nice focusing tab, (removed from the current version), which I like on my rangefinder camera. Secondly, the older Summilux didn't focus as close as the Summicron when I was looking for a lens, but that too has changed. Today, both lenses are ergonomically and operationally the same, other than the aperture and some dimensional differences. Optically, you will get opinions here, but I never felt any compromise was suffered using the Summicron wide-open, and in the mid- apertures it can't be bettered. The Summilux fans will no doubt say the same thing.

You will get as many opinions as there are responses to this question... it is a bit personal. You probably can't make a mistake though. Do look through the archives for a couple of hundred other opinions.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), January 15, 2002.

At f/8 you can't tell 'em apart.

At f/1.4 there's no competition.

At f/2 the 'cron comes out ahead for sharpness - but the 'lux has a beautiful soft background.

Beyond that size, weight, raw speed, hood/no hood, tab/no tab are all personal tastes. Your DR 'cron will work on an M6 without the eyes - a newer one will mostly add contrast.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), January 15, 2002.

Hi Drew,

I recently asked about the 50 Summilux-M, see http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=007bpm

I received some good reponses, which convinced me that it's a great lens. I also have a Tri-Elmar with a maximum aperture of f/4, so I find the extra 3 stops of the 'lux to be very useful in poor light. The 'cron would have been less useful for me IMHO.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

What Andy said.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 15, 2002.

To John Collier,

Drew is no longer confused, but I still am.

I got a DR from ebay recently. I haven't seen it yet, a friend did the transaction because I'm in Russia.

I "heard" that it probably won't fit/mount, even w/o eyes on my first batch M6 (first 1000) because of the body's internals, but I intend to try carefully. I really don't see why it wouldn't fit; as it fits on previous M's, the M6 body is made from the same tooling, and the internal metering eye does not protrude much.

Although, the magnification is different from the M3 for witch the DR was made, it should work in the far range and focus properly. If not, I guess it will not work on my M4 either.

I've been to camaraquest, but need definative information. Steve said it will mount on later M6's, but we still have the RF mag., focusing, and eye use issues unanswered.

HELP, ANYONE PLEASE!!

-- Chris Chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 16, 2002.

The answer comes down to whether or not you need f1.4. If you do, you will pay considerably more and get a heavier and larger diameter lens. I personally like the Summicron for its compactness and weight, but then I don't feel like I need the extra speed with the M. I have had both and picture quality to me was virtually the same, excellent. Bob Haight

-- Bob Haight (rhaigh5748@aol.com), January 16, 2002.

The DR-Summicron and the Summilux are a winning combination.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 16, 2002.

Hey all- thanks for your input. I have also checked out the old posts along the same lines.

Obviously it's a personal choice. I was wondering if someone would demonstrate obviously superior quality in one of the other. but of course, Leica is Leica. I think I will folowo Mike Dixon's suggestion and get a Summilux to go with my Sumicron DR.

Thanks again everybody. Best wishes for the new year! -drew

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.

Hey all- thanks for your input. I have also checked out the old posts along the same lines.

Obviously it's a personal choice. I was wondering if someone would demonstrate obviously superior quality in one of the other. but of course, Leica is Leica. I think I will follow Mike Dixon's suggestion and get a Summilux to go with my Sumicron DR.

Thanks again everybody. Best wishes for the new year! -drew

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.