My past history with the original Summilux 35 "Apsherical" (first version) was excellent and was a great way of getting into Leica.

I later traded it in a deal for more gear, including the latest "Asph" version. I was a little apprehensive about doing so just in case the resolution wasn't as good.

Bottom line: My newer lens is better and sharper at f/.4. Infact it seems just as sharp at f/1.4 as at any other aperture. Truth. Maybe mine is a special lens, or just a sharper then normal production lens by mistake. I don't know but I am estatic!

Why did I share this with you? Because I want to make it clear about my experience with the two (not by direct comparison) lenses, which has many people speculating. For those users out there considering the purchase of the first edition, I say to leave it to the collectors. This newer version provides, cleaner and more detailed resolution at f/1.4. A noticeable difference from my experience. Am I justifying my trade to feel better? Certainly NOT.

The following are pictures taken with the lens wide open at f/1.4. Not for critique or showing off photographic talent, but for demonstrating the powerful ability of ths lens to capture any moment in darkness and with absolute clarity.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002

Answers

Sorry, it seems I am unlucky today

Photo 1: Violinist

Photo 2: Erlina

Photo 3: Dog Lovin'

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

Yes, it is so! I've a 35 asph 1,4 as well, and mine works with the same quality effect at 1,4. Suprised? It is a Leica! By Joe, Happy Easter

-- Joe Pelizza Salusso di Volpedo (breglumasi@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

Kristian, I'm impressed...never really considered a Summilux, being content with Summicrons. Maybe I had better re-think. PS, I'm delighted with my new 90mm APO Summicron M. Thanks

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), March 30, 2002.

Kristian, the background lights of Erlina are wonderful! It is like she has star fields surrounding her. I wonder if that effect would still be there at f/2.0? I'm still struggling with the choice between the 35mm ASPH 1.4 & 2.0.

-- Doug from Tumwater (dbaker9128@aol.com), March 30, 2002.

Elrina seems to have a glowing personality, well fit for such a combination of atmospheric ambient light and superb management of the thin DoF provided by the 'lux at f1.4 at table wide distances. Intimate café photography is a nice way to use the 35mm. The 50 is often too tight in that environment. very nice bokeh. very nice lady.

-- Jacques (jacquesbalthazar@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

Hey! We DO have the same girl Kristian. Check out this similar photo at the restaurant Doug:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=588656

It does produce a dazzling effect wide open. I haven't played with the aperture setting to see if I get the same effect. Obviously wouldn't happen since you'd get less OOF.

My posted photo is from a scanned print, so in no way represents the original neg. Anyway, thanks for the info Kristian, and the fact that the new version surpasses the old, a great trait of Leica as a company and their products. By the way, the above photowas taken at 1/15th wide open and like Kristian said the outfit is able to capture low light scenes great.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

Hey I like the pug (or whatever dog it is), they're so fun to play with their wrinkled face *grin*...

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

Kristian, thank´s for sharing your experience with the ´lux, I own pre asph version, and for sure is a diference, in resolution and flare supresion, results looks great with the asph.

Does any one of you find the same kind of quality (resolution, flare supresion) in the actual 50/1.4 M as in the 35/1.4 asph.?

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

How does it compare apart from obvious with the F2.Big difference in price,is it worth it,I have the F2 curious.

-- a (allen1@btinternet.com), March 30, 2002.

Kristan,

The lens is superb. More importantly, the photographer is superb.

I agonized between a 'cron 35/2 ASPH and the 'lux 35/1.4. The 'cron won for various reasons, but there is no question in my mind that the 'lux is a dandy glass-filled tube. It may be also the best handling 35 Leitz ever made.

What else is there to say? Except that I am happy to see such a fine lens in such capable hands.

Cheers,

Alex

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), March 30, 2002.

Like Doug, I wonder if Erlina would still have the "star fields surrounding her. . . at f/2." Is the boke at similar apertures as smooth as the Summicron's, or does the Summilux produce obvious bright-edged effects in out of focus highlights when stopped down a bit, as well?

-- Brian Walsh (brian.walsh@sbcglobal.net), March 30, 2002.

Kristian, your pics are great... I "test drove" this lens at a camera shop and shot about 15 frames just outside the shop while standing next to the sales guy... Man was I impressed! As soon as i have the money i'm getting one... anybody interested in buying a Canon 17-35 or 50 to support me buying it? =)

P.S. Kristian, the reason centering didn't go away is that you didn't add </center> at the end of your image link - the reason the images didn't show up right, is that the lines "wrapped" - there were line breaks because your links were too long to fit in one line in the box... one way to fix it is to write all the text for the link in another program and copy and paste to web forms.

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), March 30, 2002.

WOW, such wonderful remarks. I love the lens **obvious**, and it seems we do have the same girlfriend, but she's marrying me JAMES!

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Alex,

i think that the first Aspherical edition handled better as it was slightly smaller (with slightly larger hood) and has a focus ring as well as a focus tab, so if you missed grabbing the tab, you got the ring. Unfortunately, the newer edition only has the tab. Which is all you really need most of the time.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Kristian- It would be interesting if you could shoot the picture of Erlina again, same place, but at f2 and f1.4. That would give us an good idea of the difference in the way the 35 'lux and 35 'cron might handle the same shot.

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

The Erlina shot would be swell if her face was in focus instead of her sleeves.

-- George T. (davecasman@yahoo.com), March 31, 2002.

Erlina's face is in focus but doesn't look so obvious when scanned on my lousy scanner. The slide say it's in focus. Next time I get a chance I'll try the shot again at f/1.4 and f/2.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.

Hey! We DO have the same girl Kristian. Check out this similar photo...

...and it seems we do have the same girlfriend, but she's marrying me JAMES!

Oh that's funny. It reminds me of my aunt and uncle (born in China and Hong Kong, lived in HK, and now in the SF Bay Area). They were describing an American (aka, white) friend of mine.

Oh, which one, I asked.
I don't know, he's a friend of yours, you know, do you know who I'm talking about? she said.
What color hair did he have?
I don't know, dark, or maybe blond, or I don't know, just... something. Yes, maybe blond. Or...

-- TW (tsesung@yahoo.com), April 13, 2002.