Hi @ll,

A few days ago, I bought me a used R7 now I consider to buy me a new Leica standart lens. So, there is the cron and the lux, but which one of them ist better referring to the photo results on prints? I do not care of the f stop!

Thanks for all comments!

-- Cris (doublestroke@gmx.net), May 08, 2002

Answers

same

-- Yossi (yosslee@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

Hi Chris. Congratulations on you R7 purchase. I use one and like it a lot. I have been pretty conservative on my R lenses. I use the 50 summicron, probably because I got it with an R4 when I traded some old Nikon F stuff. It is a very good lens and all I need. I see them around in good condition for $300-400. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the R 50s. The new Summilux (1998) has been called the one of the best 50s ever made. It is fairly expensive for a 50mm lens. The older 50 summilux doesn't get enough respect because of a Pop Photo article that rated the Contax and Canon 50 1.4 lenses higher. But I think I would be completely happy with one. If you don't need the extra stop and finder brightness the 50 summicron is one of the best Leica buys around and will give you results you should be proud of. As I said I'm pretty conservative on my R stuff. I use the older 28 elmarit which is okay but not a great lens, the E55 35 summicron which is a very fine lens and the newer E55 90 elmarit which is a very good portrait and general lens. I use the E55 135 elmarit which is a very good lens and a great bargain because it is out of favor right now, but I don't always carry it because of the weight. I use a E55 180 elmar because it is light for that focal length and usable wide open at 4.0. All these lenses are reasonably replaceable on my budget so I don't worry about where I carry my R system. Camera with one lens on and tiny canvas bag I had made years ago with 4 lenses means the R system goes out of the house the most often of the three systems I use. Good luck.

-- Gil Pruitt (wgpinc@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

Hallo Cris,

As you can read at Erwin Puts sides, both lenses are at the same level. I have them both and I like both. The lux fits better with R8, the cron with the older family. If you need the stop more, take the lux, its a wonderfull lens, bur its not easy to get a used one.

Pit

-- Peter Lueck (elp.lueck@t-online.de), May 08, 2002.

My axiom: one can never have too fast a lens.

But if you don't care about the f/stop, just get a cheap user 'Cron with a 3rd cam. (Assuming you do care about the price, of course.)

-- Andrew (mazurka@rocketmail.com), May 08, 2002.

The current Summicron-R is very good, as indeed is the older one. I cannot tell much difference between them in practice except that the current one is perhaps a little contrastier. The old 'lux (55mm filter) is a good lens by most standards and is similar to the current M 'lux. The new Summilux (60mm filter) is expensive and fully matches the Summicron except that it also is a stop faster. In this it resembles the Summilux-M 35mm ASPH. If you do not care for the faster lens then get the current Summicron-R: they are a bargain used.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), May 08, 2002.

Cris: I bought the second version (E60) of the 50mm 'lux three years ago and have been very impressed by its resolution and contrast even when fully opened up. It is a great lens for travel and street/low light photography. The only drawback is that it is prone to flare when shooting contre-jour scenes. Overall, it is superb.

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), May 08, 2002.

The current 50 Lux-R is supposed to be the best 50 Lux to date, better than then the M version. Still, if you don't need the faster aperture, I'm not sure there's any point. . .

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), May 08, 2002.

Cris, in addition to the 50mm focal length, you might want to consider the 60mm Macro Elmarit. When I used the R system, it was my favorite lens, although f2.8 maximum aperture. Very versatile and excellent optical characteristics.

-- David (pagedt@chartertn.net), May 08, 2002.

I second David's opinion on the excellence of the 60mm macro lens. A used example can be had for a reasonable price. Its slightly narrower angle of view than a 50mm is no problem. Its performance at all distances is marvellous: flare resistant, high contrast, brilliant colours, flat field, good resolution at centre and corners. Its only drawback is its limited speed of f/2.8 but at least it's faster than a zoom! This used to be the macro lens by which all others were judged.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.