Red Dot Forum Camera Talk: The Leica 35mm Summilux-M Lens Episode

This episode of Red Dot Forum Camera Talk is all about the 35mm Summilux-M. Since its introduction in 1961, the 35 Lux has been the go-to lens for reportage and those needing an extra stop over the Cron. And while we've done an entire episode on all the 35mm M lenses (which you should definitely check out here if you haven't seen it yet: • Red Dot Forum Camera T... ), Leica has recently released two new additions to the 35mm Summilux family - the 35mm Steel Rim Classic and 35mm Summilux-M ASPH FLE II. We've got both of the new lenses, along with every single generation of 35mm Summilux, on hand so we can cover the history and show the performance of each one. This is a deep dive you will not want to miss. Between extensive testing and live shooting, you'll be able to see which 35mm Summilux is right for your M kit.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask away live during the show, or email us ahead of time at [e-mail].
Missed out on our previous livestreams? No problem. Watch all of our previous RDFCT episodes here: • Red Dot Forum Camera Talk
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0:00 - Start
2:02 - Intro
7:20 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 v1 “Steel Rim”
13:29 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 v2
21:15 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPHERICAL
25:00 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH
34:00 - M7 Hermes special edition set
38:25 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE
47:31 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE “Ralph Gibson” special edition
48:24 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE “Leitz Wetzlar” special edition
49:17 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE “10th anniversary” special edition
51:00 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE “M10-P Ghost” special edition
52:10 - M0.8 Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH Cine
55:15 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE II
59:40 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 “Steel Rim” reissue
1:05:10 - Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE “black paint” 70th anniversary edition
1:08:09 - Can I use my Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 v2 on my M10-R?
1:09:26 - Since the new 35mm FLE II has close focus, will the macro adapter work with it?
1:11:35 - Sample images
1:11:49 - 35mm “Steel Rim” reissue sample images
1:14:53 - Summilux-M 35mm v2 and “Steel Rim" sample images
1:16:15 - Summilux-M 35mm ASPHERICAL sample images
1:17:56 - Summilux-M 35mm ASPH sample images
1:20:01 - Summilux-M 35mm ASPH FLE
1:21:20 - Summilux-M 35mm FLE II
1:24:57 - Summilux-M 35mm v1 “Steel Rim” and “Steel Rim” reissue
1:26:54 - “Steel Rim" reissue and Summilux-M 35mm v2
1:30:54 - “Steel Rim” reissue and Summicron-M 35mm v4 “Bokeh King”
1:32:37 - Performance sample images
1:36:58 - If you have an FLE, is it worth it to upgrade to an FLE II?
1:40:00 - Japan sample shots with the FLE II
1:46:40 - Were any of those Japan shots with the SL2-S?
1:49:30 - Summilux-M 35mm v1 “Steel Rim” live shooting
1:52:45 - Summilux-M 35mm v2
1:59:20 - Summilux-M 35mm FLE II
2:13:15 - Does the “Steel Rim” reissue have a longer focus throw than the original?
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[@CollectiveMindz]

I have a 35mm ASPH from 1994 and I have been using it so long that I can compensate for the focus shift with the rangefinder patch. I absolutely love this lens and would never upgrade to the newer version because of the more harsh bokeh.

[@rp-kc6sk]

I’d like to see how the FLE2 compares to the 35 Apo.

[@matthewolutayo7322]

This is nice episode RedDotforum entire episode on all 35mm lenses eyes looking.

[@timothylua5885]

love your show AGAIN!! thank you just to add to the amazing special editions is the M60 35 lux FLE in stainless steel😊

[@robertlevite6875]

Excellent show - Thank you!

[@jessekoskinen]

Wonderful as always.

[@tilore]

Super insightful thanks for this! Having everything side by side with samples is fantastic and very detailed. Seeing the changes optically and physically is so helpful. Was interested in seeing how my v2 stacked up to the new classic re issue! Answered my questions

[@scon1425]

Broooo time stamps would be so helpful for these pleeeease

[@csaba5415]

Interesting that I’ve been wanting to add 50mm to my 28 Summaron and 35 Summicron - until Leica came up with the FLE 2 and the Steel Rim reissue. I really love both of those lenses for different reasons, and now I’m making plans to get both of these lenses at some point. So no 50 for a while. At the same time I wonder if I should ditch my Summicron. I love that lens due to a great compromise between aperture and size, and I’ve always loved its bokeh. It has never disappointed me and it can always do whatever I want to achieve, even on my M-A. I might keep it even if/when I’ve got an FLE 2 and a Steel Rim. Great episode, thank you guys!

[@colinosullivan]

Great watch as always. Love how so many variations in character you could get from the various versions. 🙏

[@DirectRegister]

Yaaas! It’s Reference Points for the 35 ‘lux

[@hansalbers9894]

Thanks

[@AlexWootton]

Not seeing any timecodes for the lenses. Would love this for any/all of the lens videos. It’s great content but super hard to reference quickly atm. Thanks for the the great work!

[@hellatightdude]

A question I didn’t see asked: does the steel rim reissue hard stop at exactly 1m MFD? I have a Pre-Asph v2 (German) and mine hardstops at just below 3 feet. So maybe something like 0.85-0.9 meters. I’m pretty sure no Pre-Asph’s other than the reissue hard stop at exactly 1M. It’s a small difference but definitely a difference as far as usability goes, and something to consider if the 1M MFD bothers you. The older ones kind of split the difference between the reissue and a 0.7M Summicron.

[@geneduprey6938]

I have a Vers. 2 Titanium lens. Beautiful.

[@dans.8198]

At 22:39: All 35 Summilux-M aspherical lenses have a concave front element, not only the double-aspherical.

[@ericboe7037]

Watching through the whole video, do you have a time stamp addressing the broken aperture blades issue with the FLE2?

[@harveycohen6456]

Hi question, how does the image compare when using FLE v1 with EL Pro versus the FLE v2 at minimum focusing distance

[@BernardoMancioli]

hello! in the video you compared the original steel rim v1 with which v2 summilux? the late German, transitional or titanium? thank you

[@SukiMuku]

I don’t know if it’s only me but i think the audio is missing the base . Maybe you could make the audio quality better next time . Love this video thou 😊

[@carbondragon]

Regarding the special, sure it's beautiful, but it's so rare, no-one would (or could) use it and that kind of makes it useless and sad. But I guess it takes all kinds right?

[@Jakey117]

Does anyone know what the Image circle is for the FLE II? I wonder if it would cover the 43.8 × 32.9 mm sensor of the GFX system?

[@manojchandramishra906]

Is a download of this episode not possible?

[@gurugamer8632]

is the optical performance of 35mm FLE1 Summilux and 35mm FLE2 Summilux the same? Is FLE2 designed for higher mega pixels?

[@JacobChristiansen1]

where did the timestamps go?

[@slothsarecool]

The precious generation looks better IMO, the square hood is awesome!

[@Leicam10]

Best show on KZbin!! Incredible that all those lenses are beaten by the cheaper Zeiss Distagon 1,4.

[@hellatightdude]

From a technical standpoint, yes. That Zeiss distagon is amazing. However it’s pretty damn big, too big to comfortably carry around every day in my opinion.

[@Leicam10]

@@hellatightdude it’s bigger then 35mm FLE but not bigger then any other lux from 21mm to 90mm.

[@hellatightdude]

@@Leicam10 well that’s true but a lot of people use their 35 lux as their primary lens so they want something that’s a little smaller. Personally I feel like the FLE is even a little too big and I like character so I have a pre-asph v2. If I were looking for a 35/1.4 to pair with it that had modern performance I’d have no issue getting the Zeiss lens, it’s outstanding.

[@hellatightdude]

@@Leicam10 since you mentioned it, I thought I’d share this video of a wonderful photographer who (I’m fairly certain) uses a 35/1.4 distagon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGeXq3ScapdkkKc There’s no doubt it’s an incredible lens as well.

[@emmanueltsI5]

@@hellatightdude Agree. As a great alternative to the steel rim, the voigtlander 35 Ultron v2 is an option to consider. Small, great glass, ergonomics and looks. Heard some stories though regarding sticking focus tabs or so.. but so far have not used an ultron 35 v2 with that issue. Overall: amazing times for all manual focusing users and bravo to Leica for bringing back analog products for us.

[@loveniacannon3302]

Works great until you go to dump it