As for the Zeiss, I would like to say that I absolutely love that lens. You can read my review of it here. It shares some qualities of the PRE-ASPH Lux but it is much more contrasty and warmer. On the flip side, it also has the slight focus shift issues when shot wide open and up close. It is easy to compensate for that in use though. I wanted to compare these two lenses with a real photo and not a test shot so I snapped a couple of side by side images of my always helpful son. Below are the results. Can you see a difference in the way the lenses render the background? Click on any image for a larger view.
Notice the “swirl” in the Leica 50 shot? I see it and while the Zeiss may be technically more correct, the Leica gave it some extra character in the background. I also found that the Zeiss is slightly sharper than the Leica PRE ASPH wide open AND stopped down.
So as you can see, the Bokeh of the PRE-ASPH 50 Lux is different than just about any lens I have seen next to the original F1 Noctilux. Its swirly, a bit creamy and a little crazy and I like it! After a while of shooting it alongside the Zeiss I decided to KEEP both for a while but I am leaning towards the Leica! Why? Let me go over the reasons:
The Leica focuses closer to 0.7M where the Zeiss is 0.9M - But, only the later versions of the Leica focused this close. If buying a PRE-ASPH 50 Lux make sure you buy the E46 filter version and not the E43 if you want the closer focusing.
The focus and aperture ring is as smooth as silk on the Leica. I am sure over time the Zeiss will loosen up a but but with the knurled focusing ring of the Leica it is easier and faster to focus in real world use.
The Zeiss DOES indeed have a focus shift issue when shooting up close wide open. I have learned to compensate but with the Leica I did not have to worry about it.
I love the black paint finish of the Leica I found. It matches the M8.2 Black Paint nicely. Gorgeous!
Finally, as much as I liked the classic rendering of the Zeiss over the Leica ASPH Summilux, I like the PRE-ASPH Summilux as well! To me it is a perfect balance between the ASPH version and a F1 Noctilux and much cheaper than both of those lenses! BUT..the Zeiss is sharper with a more 3D look at times so it really is a tough call. I love both of them really and it goes to show just how good the Zeiss is for the money at half the cost of a used PRE ASPH Summilux, or about $900.
I feel this 50 Summilux PRE-ASPH makes a great portrait lens as well as a great everyday walk-around. Its beautifully made, and wide open has a hint of softness while still being somewhat sharp. The corners are not tack sharp like the ASPH version when shooting at wide apertures, but its a classic lens, and therefore will give a classic look. Yet another Leica lens I absolutely adore. Will I ever find a Leica lens I do not like? Probably not! The hardest part for me has been reviewing all of these lenses and then wanting to keep them all!
If you would like to find a 50 PRE ASPH, just keep an eye on e-bay or on camera forums such as the GETDPI buy/sell forums. These lenses pop up from time to time and sometimes you can get a screaming deal! If you prefer a new lens like the Zeiss or ASPH Summilux you can check B&H PHOTO/VIDEO.
Thanks for reading my report on this classic Leica lens, the 50 Summilux PRE-ASPHERICAL. I hope you have enjoyed it and found it useful. Below are more images made with this lens on an M8.2 so you can get an idea of how this lens renders or “draws”.
I THANK YOU!!
I thank you for reading my review and hope you enjoyed it. Running this free site costs me money, but my passion for for photography and gear has led me to create and share all of this info with fellow camera nuts. I work 7-10 hours a day on this site, as it consists of a lot more than writing these pages. When I am not writing, I am shooting with the lenses and cameras I write about, then going through the images and preparing them for the site. If you enjoy the site and find it useful, then you can help me to continue bringing these reviews and write-ups! How? Just click here to find out. Thanks!
THE LEICA 50 SUMMILUX 1.4 PRE-ASPH LENS REVIEW
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
If this lens is no longer available new then why would I bother to review it you ask? Well, that is simple. This lens comes up on the used market quite often and it is a cheaper alternative to the newer $3600 Leica 50 Summilux ASPH. Used copies of this PRE-ASPHERICAL version can be found for $1400 or so in mint condition. About $2200 CHEAPER than the newest ASPH version! (see my ASPH review here) You can even find them in Black Paint like this one for around $1600 - $1800 or so.
I decided that I needed to see for myself how this lens performed as I have never owned one and as usual, curiosity got the best of me. (that is my story and I am sticking to it!) This is the legendary log running lens that was sold for MANY years BEFORE the current masterpiece, the Leica 50 Summilux ASPH. I managed to fine a beautiful black paint coded version that matches my black paint Leica M8.2, and it is one sweet looking setup.
I was curious to see how this lens compared in the real world to the ASPHERICAL version, which is just about as perfect as a 1.4 lens can get. I will say right here and now that if you want a PERFECT 50mm Lens for your Leica, look no further than the ASPH version. But, if you want a lens with some classic character, some old time charm and some pretty cool “bokeh” then stick around! Kick your shoes off and read on my friends...
THERE ARE A MILLION 50’S FOR THE LEICA M MOUNT!!!
For a Leica M camera, there are quite a few options for a 50mm lens. We have the Leica 50 Summarit 2.5 lens, the Summicron F2 lens and of course the 50 Summilux ASPH and PRE-ASPH. We also have the Leica Noctilux at 0.95 and the older model at F1. Finally, the Zeiss planar 50 F2 and the Zeiss Sonnar 1.5 are great lenses in a lower price bracket. Voigtlander makes the 50 Nokton 1.5 and the newer F1.1 Nokton and there are many other classics that I will not even get into right now. Basically, you have many CHOICES ranging from $300 to $10,000!
If you want a “fast” 50, meaning a lens with a wide aperture of F 1.4 or bigger, and your budget is UNDER $3500 then you have a few choices. The Leica Summilux ASPH ($3500), a used Leica Summilux PRE-ASPH ($1400), a Zeiss Sonnar ($800) or the Voigtlander Nokton 1.5 or 1.1. Since the new Summilux ASPH is pretty much the perfect lens for sharpness and smooth bokeh when shot wide open, and it is in a much higher price range, I will not compare it to the older PRE-ASPH version as there is no point. Instead, I will compare it to the Zeiss Sonnar. Besides, I no longer have the ASPH version of this lens so I can not compare them even if I wanted to!
The Leica 50 PRE-ASPH and the Zeiss are two lenses that SHOULD be compared as they are much closer in price and character. Both are a little soft wide open at 1.4, both are somewhat compact (with the Zeiss being smaller) and both render in a classic kind of way, which is pretty cool in my book! The Zeiss may be a bit more dreamy as well, but it depends on your technique with its focus shift.
I feel that the classic lenses are what give images that “Leica Look” so many photographers talk about. While many say there is no “Leica Look” I believe there is, but don’t ask me to prove it!
Some Leica shots, with certain lenses of course, will give you an image that just can not be duplicated with a Canon or Nikon SLR, and that is just plain FACT. But IT IS subtle and my eyes have seen a few Canon 5DII images that have come close to that look. But, as many of you know, what it comes down to is the lenses. Plain and simple.
One Leica lens that has a unique look is their fabulous 35 Summilux (when shot at 1.4) and to this day it is still my favorite all purpose lens on my M8.2. The 35 Summilux is a GORGEOUS lens and the images from it are just incredible when shot wide open. There IS a magic there that I do not see in many (if any) other lenses. You can see my review of that lens here.
So, I was indeed hoping that this 50 Summilux PRE-ASPH would have some of that magic. I did find a little of it in the Zeiss Sonnar, that is for sure. I am a sucker for fast glass and the “look” of an image shot wide open at F1 or 1.4 so I was ready to get the testing underway! One of these lenses would have to stay, and one would have to be sold. But which one? I set aside any bias and shot both lenses side by side for a while and found a winner. Read on to find out which one found a home with me...
I started shooting the Leica from the moment it was delivered from Fed Ex.
In comparison to the Zeiss, it is a bit larger ad a little bit heavier but neither lens is large or heavy. On the M8.2 they are nicely balanced. The Leica 50 PRE-ASPH is a bit shorter than the ASPH version and with its knurled focusing ring it feels AMAZING in the hand.
Focus is smooth as silk and it is my smoothest focusing lens to date. In comparison, the Zeiss is very stiff but, as you probably know, they all loosen up over time.
Of course, the first shot I took was of my dog as he happened to be out in the yard at the time. One thing I noticed with this Leica 50 Summilux PRE-ASPH lens is that it can sometimes give you that swirly “bokeh” that I happen to LOVE. Many hate it, but I think it is pretty unique and gives an image a look that no other lenses can pull off besides the original Noctilux. of course, this is when the lens is shot wide open at 1.4.
If you click on the image above you can view the original 10MP file from my M8.2. Focus was on the tail and as you can see, its pretty sharp. Here is a 100 crop:
100% CROP
Even though it is sharp I noticed an immediate difference between this lens and the ASPHERICAL version in regards to bokeh. The ASPH version of this lens would of rendered the tail in a super crispy sharp way while the background would of been a silky smooth bur from corner to corner. Picture perfect.
As far as Bokeh, I am very happy with the Leica Summilux 50 PRE-ASPH. It betters the Zeiss IMO. If you read my full review of the Zeiss you will see that sometimes the bokeh can be pretty busy. With the Leica, its less busy and more “swirly”.
To me, this kind of BOKEH is gorgeous and sort of defines that classic Leica look. This lens has very good performance wide open with a unique signature. Yes, this PRE-ASPH is one of those lenses loaded with character, and as previously mentioned, in some ways reminds me of the old Leica F1 Noctilux! How cool is that?
One thing I have noticed while shooting this lens is that the contrast is on the low side. While most modern Leica lenses have high contrast, insane sharpness and bold colors, this lens has low contrast, medium sharpness and a more muted color. But it is beautiful. If I had to nitpick, I wish it had a bit more contrast. Also, like the Zeiss, it has some purple fringing if the situation is just right. In the image below I overexposed the background to show this effect.
100% CROP - focus was a bit off but still shows the PF
To be fair, I have seen this in the Leica 50 Summilux ASPH, the Zeiss 50 Sonnar and even Nikon and Canon lenses. In a situation like the one above, it would be pretty hard for a lens on digital to NOT have purple fringing going on!
So, the $3600 question: Do I like it more than the 50 Summilux ASPH? That is a tough one but I must say that I am a huge fan of that classic look and this lens has it. Is the new ASPH version the better lens? Of course it is if technical perfection and a lighter bank account is your goal! Honestly, the 50 ASPH Summilux is the best of the best, but at half the price this older version is a very good buy.
This lens as well as the Zeiss Sonnar 50 makes for a great alternative for those of us who are looking for a bargain that gives you GREAT performance. Can you really call a $1700 lens a bargain? In the Leica world, yes!
