Leica Summilux-M 50mm ASPH f/1.4 review

[@paulsehstedt6275]

OK, the LUX 50 match not your needs, that's an honest comment. You shall buy the lenses, you are satisfied with. I love my setup with 21/1.8 Voigtländer, LUX 50 and Summarit 90/2.5 for my M240 and M-P240. You're happy, I'm happy! Keep on rolling!

[@TheWholePicture]

Hello and thank you for the comment! As you say it is not a lens that matches my needs, but I can tell it is a very special and beautiful lens. I think your setup is very versatile! I have used and quite enjoyed the voigtlander 21mm 1.8(and have an old video on it here) and the summarit looks like a nice lightweight 90 to round out the kit!

[@LeicaM82]

While I agree the 50/1.4 ASPH is a superb design, and I was my favorite 50 for many years, the 50 APO has taken top position in my personal rankings of Leica 50’s. May I suggest you try one out when you have the chance?

[@TheWholePicture]

Hello and thank you for the comment! I actually own the 50 APO and for the way I use a 50, it is hard to think something better could be out there. The way it renders is unlike anything ive seen on 35mm, the size and weight is a joy on any M body and I can do just fine with f/2. The only thing is, I feel much more comfortable with a 35mm lens haha I have a lot of other 50s I want to talk about though! The last elmar-m 50mm f/2.8 renders very filmicly and the original summicron is still a fantastic lens! So many topics, I just need to find the time to gather my thoughts and make videos.

[@christiangranum7387]

Still my favorite 50mm lens to this day.

[@vampolascott36]

Nice lens! I got the silver ASPH FLE. It has a smidge of glow with good contrast and sharpness wide open.

[@TheWholePicture]

Thanks for the comment! I think that is a good description of the wide open rendering! It has a look wide open but retains the quality you would expect from Leica.

[@rexgigout1472]

The Summilux-M 50mm ASPH is the “poster child for digital Leica?” Interesting observation. The Summilux-M 50mm ASPH was introduced in 2004, whereas the Leica M8, the first Leica digital M camera, was introduced in 2006. Of course, it is possible tht Perter Karbe, and his design team, anticipated the switch to digitial, or realized that shooter would adapt the Summilux to digital platforms. I do understand your preference for 35mm, for your work. I was very much a “35mm shooter,” with DSLRs. Well, anyway, here is this comment, to help feed the algorithm.

[@TheWholePicture]

Hello and thank you for the comment!! I definitely could have put more time into this video as like you say this lens is a Leica "film era" lens and this lens might have been optimized for 35mm film. I think my reasoning for that was it was a lens I frequently saw on adverts and M8/9 or M240s. It seemed to fit the slightly larger digital bodies more favorably but "poster child for modern Leica" may have been appropriate way to put that. Then again even that is changing with the most recent update of the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH design. Thank you for keeping me honest and I try to put more time and research into my recent videos! And nice to hear from another 35mm user! I still feel most at home with a 35 or equivalent!

[@gewglesux]

BROTHER YOU AIN'T KIDDING They're sold out and backordered everywhere! Except the Silver...

[@TheWholePicture]

I didn't know about this! Thanks for letting me know... it's always been a popular lens and hopefully its restocked soon. The used market does seem to have a few floating around though!

[@gewglesux]

@@TheWholePicture I was able to track down a new one... should have it by next week. The LATEST one is supposed to drop this week. basically the same Lens as the 11891 but i think might be optimized for other bodies other than M bodies.

[@TheWholePicture]

Yeah I just saw the news of the redesign and was going to comment back to you haha The close focus and 11 aperture blades of the new lenses is nice but for my use the previous generation are more than acceptable. I like the design of the old 50 summilux asph but when I get a chance I'll have to try the new one out!

[@gewglesux]

@@TheWholePicture I'm using it (previous version)on an MP i got last year. How do you think the close focus and the 11 aperture blades would help or hurt someone using it on an MP..i guess on an M11 it would be a big help.

[@TheWholePicture]

Do you have an analog mp? In which case the focus wont really be a big deal as the rangefinder doesn't support distances closer than around 0.7m. The 11 blades could make bokeh a bit more round but this is more of a nit pick for me and shouldnt really affect the actual message behind an image etc.

[@nickcr3919]

I shoot film for 40 years and I can say that f1.4 is much much more important in film than in digital photography.Also 50mm summilux has the best bokeh from any other Leica lens I have seen in my life.

[@TheWholePicture]

Hello and thank you very much for the comment! Light transmission on 35mm and film in general can definitely be the difference between getting a usable photo and not. That being said I tend to use iso 1600 (when that fast of color film was available) or push to 1600~3200 for black and white. With that kind of push I feel comfortable with the summicrons even at night and the added grain makes a slight focus miss more forgiving. I admit it is not the typical style and most photographers would benefit from a versitle lens like this!

[@nickcr3919]

Thank you for your answer.Keep shooting.

[@mous3y490]

I'm torn between the cron and the lux... :(

[@TheWholePicture]

Sorry for the late reply! I often dont get notifications for a reply to an existing comment. In general I prefer summicrons because they are smaller, lighter and more reasonably priced. The difference between f2 and f/1.4 for my style of photography is negligible and I rarely get the chance to use f/2 but it is nice to have in a pinch. If you can take advantage of f/1.4 and don't mind a bit more bulk they are fantastic lenses! For film I find the summicrons also tend to balance well with the camera bodies, while the often slightly heavier digital bodies can be a better match for the summilux both in balance and taking advantage of sharpness at f/1.4. Again, depends on your style and all. Hope that helps!

[@TheVFXbyArt]

3:04 That safari kit!!! 😍

[@TheWholePicture]

Thank you! I have always loved the olive leicas but my m3 is a repaint.

[@marckyokay]

That man reading by the shallow river… reminds me of Kyoto.

[@TheWholePicture]

Thank you for the comment! That was in fact taken at the banks of the Kamogawa in Kyoto! It was taken with the APO 90 which I'll be talking about in a future video!

[@marckyokay]

@@TheWholePicture Wandered the same banks with the 90 Elmarit-M 😉

[@TheWholePicture]

Nice! Kyoto is definitely in my top 3 places to photograph. Kamogawa and Gionshijo in particular are as close to perfect as it gets for me haha I have been wanting to do some videos on my favorite photo spots in Japan and this definitely motivates me! Thank you!

[@marckyokay]

@@TheWholePicture Looking forward to these videos! Gion is something else with all their "No Photo" reminders 😂

[@TheWholePicture]

Yeah I was surprised when I saw those go up a few years ago. The majority of my time photographing there was before the sings and some of my more interesting photos are of tourists taking photos haha I've only seen the signs up when there were stricter travel restrictions but it would be interesting to go back and see how things are going.

[@pupsik62]

Nice, but why the ridiculous speed and so monotonous ….. why????

[@TheWholePicture]

Hello and thank you for the comment I’m still getting used to talking on camera and filming myself. For me it doesn’t come as natural, so I use a script, and I’m not a super energetic person to begin with. I think I’ve improved with every video though so come back in a year and let me know how I’m doing haha

[@gewglesux]

Sounded normal to me.... but i'm in NY....

[@kajohnsontx]

Not a very useful video. It's like the guy who test drove a Mercedes Benz and spent 10 minutes telling you why it was just not for him.

[@TheWholePicture]

Hello and thank you for the comment and I’m sorry the video isn’t for you, I feel otherwise but respect your opinion. I made this video in the hopes of helping those who photograph in a similar style to me and who are also interested in this legendary lens. I admit that is a small group of people but feel that my experience can help someone out there on the fence with this lens. Thank you and I hope you can find some usefulness or enjoyment from another one of my videos.

[@latchodives]

​@@TheWholePicture If that helps I think on the contrary it's really useful. You're honest about your approach, you tried something and it didn't work for you, while still describing how it's still a great lens. I much prefer this to an hectic guy being overly excited maybe trying to overcome the anxiety of spending that much on a lease. Keep doing you!

[@TheWholePicture]

Thank you very much for the comment! In the past I was constantly searching for "the perfect" lens, camera, film you name it. Although I have mostly moved on from a search for "perfection", I ended up using a lot of equipment and want to share my thoughts on the channel! At the same time I do recognize the way I photograph isn't the most main stream, and do find it challenging to make a balanced video when something didn't work for me, but hope it can help someone in a similar situation! Theres plenty of other equipment that similarly I used and recognize its potential in the right hands, but ends up sitting on my shelf for a reason. It can be hard to drum up the right script, notes or motivation to do those videos but still believe they have some value to photographers and hopefully have a differnet perspective! Thank you for the support!