Leica Summilux 50 question

[jenster27]

Hi guys, my first post on the Club! I recently purchased a Leica M7 body and I'm looking to purchase my first leica lens! Have been doing my research and have decided on a Summilux 50/1.4. I've got 2 questions that I hope you guys who are experienced with leica lenses can help me with...

1. Lens Version Question:
I'm looking at a version 3, which is the one with 0.7m minimal focal distance and NON-ASPH glass. I like the "classic-leica" looking shots rather than the tack-sharp, crystal clear shots asph lenses are said to give. I see the 0.7m minimal focal distance a big advantage over versions 1 and 2.
Qn: Is version 3 a good choice? Does version 3 lack something badly that versions 1,2,4 have that I may have not considered?

2. Chrome or Black Question:
Qn: Considering price not being a factor between the two and condition of both being equal, are there any pros or cons in either of the lenses? I know the only con of the chrome lens is it's weight. But what about value and future demand? Any optics differences? Cosmetically I've got a chrome M7 so I think either lens would look great on it!

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[YOL925]

Hi, welcome here!

See my inputs in >>B

Cheers!
YOL


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Hi guys, my first post on the Club! I recently purchased a Leica M7 body and I'm looking to purchase my first leica lens! Have been doing my research and have decided on a Summilux 50/1.4. I've got 2 questions that I hope you guys who are experienced with leica lenses can help me with...

1. Lens Version Question:
I'm looking at a version 3, which is the one with 0.7m minimal focal distance and NON-ASPH glass. I like the "classic-leica" looking shots rather than the tack-sharp, crystal clear shots asph lenses are said to give. I see the 0.7m minimal focal distance a big advantage over versions 1 and 2.

Qn: Is version 3 a good choice? Does version 3 lack something badly that versions 1,2,4 have that I may have not considered?

>> Yes. V3 & V2 are identical, optically. There are some claims that V3 has "better" coating and hence has slightly higher contrast. V1 has good resolution but low contrast (basically an improved summarit 50/1.5). Some love it for B&W work.


2. Chrome or Black Question:
Qn: Considering price not being a factor between the two and condition of both being equal, are there any pros or cons in either of the lenses? I know the only con of the chrome lens is it's weight. But what about value and future demand? Any optics differences? Cosmetically I've got a chrome M7 so I think either lens would look great on it!

>>chrome lens is heavier. optically the same. value slightly higher. looks good on chrome body but weird on black one (some would disagree tho)

Thanks in advance for your replies! [/quote]

[jenster27]

Thanks for the reply YOL! The info helps...

I recently saw a chrome lux with built in retractable hood. Any disadvantages to that? Does that mean I can't fix on an external hood? What about filters? Will it still be able to fix on UV filter?

In the first place do all version 3 lux's have built in retractable hoods?

[YOL925]

Originally Posted by jenster27 Thanks for the reply YOL! The info helps... I recently saw a chrome lux with built in retractable hood. Any disadvantages to that? Does that mean I can't fix on an external hood? What about filters? Will it still be able to fix on UV filter? In the first place do all version 3 lux's have built in retractable hoods?

Strictly speaking, the version that you mentioned (E46, built in hood) is the 4th version, also known as pre-ASPH. V1 and V2 are silver chrome (only v few in BP), very solid built and handsome, but with different optical formula. V2 is much better. V3 - same as V2 optically, but in black chrome, still E43. V4 is the one you mentioned, now focus down to 0.7m. lighter and many hate the built in hood (ugly and loose, hardly effective.) one can use a generic E46 screw on hood but it makes the lens even more ugly. IMO, don't bother with the hood.

One difference which I did not mention is the price, cf. V2, it is US$1K vs US$2K (eBay price, in SG, V2 could fetch around S$2K if the condition is beautiful). That may or may not be important to you.

[jenster27]

Hey I didn't know there was another version in between! Ok but the version 4 you mentioned is the one I'm looking at! I guess my main attraction to version 4 is the 0.7m minimum focal distance + NON-asph.

So from what you've said so far, I gather it's an optically good lens similar to v2 and v3, with the improvement of the minimal focal distance yes?

If the hood is not a problem other than aesthetics I think I could live with it.

Sorry I'm not too clear about what you were saying about the value at the last part... You're saying that V2 holds more value than V4?

I think the resale value of the lens in particular (V4) is more important to me, rather than the comparative value between the different versions.

[YOL925]

[quote=jenster27]

Hey I didn't know there was another version in between! Ok but the version 4 you mentioned is the one I'm looking at! I guess my main attraction to version 4 is the 0.7m minimum focal distance + NON-asph.

So from what you've said so far, I gather it's an optically good lens similar to v2 and v3, with the improvement of the minimal focal distance yes? >>Rite.

If the hood is not a problem other than aesthetics I think I could live with it.

Sorry I'm not too clear about what you were saying about the value at the last part... You're saying that V2 holds more value than V4?

I think the resale value of the lens in particular (V4) is more important to me, rather than the comparative value between the different versions.

>>V4 has a bit higher resale value than V2.

You won't go wrong with the V4.

[jenster27]

Thanks man! I'm a lot clearer now!