Help me with my 50mm dilema.

[Tate]

For couple of years now I have been using a current 50mm Summicron and I love it. The signature of this lens is fantastic to my eye.

This said, I have never used a Summilux and I can't stop thinking of that extra stop.

For now, I only want (and can only justify) owning one 50mm lens.

My question is for those that have experiened both, did you or would you miss the cron moving to a lux?

Thanks.

[Hacker]

I do not miss the Cron. In fact, the Cron was a mistake for me. Image rendering looks just so average to me. Size wise, not much smaller than the Lux.

[joebt]

I started with a rigid cron, added a Lux and recently purchased two elmars--one old and one new.

Once I got the lux, I barely used the cron anymore. The cron is superb though, but I do enjoy the extra stop, and often shoot wide open.

The elmar is for when I want to travel light.

[Brian Sweeney]

I find myself drawn to the Collapsible Summicron more and more. You can always buy a current Summilux and then get a collapsible Summicron for a few hundred.

[Xax]

i got myself a summilux recently, first version though.

check out those two shots:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2240/2340641124_06fe49f00f.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/xax/2340641124/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/2339806973_f97468680d.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/xax/2339806973/)


it has quite a glow wide open, i dont know if i will keep it.

[Eelco Amsterdam]

My question is for those that have experiened both, did you or would you miss the cron moving to a lux?

Yes :(
57250
50 mm Elmar 2.8 (current type) / 50 mm Summicron 2.0 Rigid (II) / 50 mm Summicron 2.0 (IV) /50 mm Summilux 1.4 (II) / 50 mm Summilux 1.4 ASPH (current type)


50 mm Elmar 2.8 = I love this little one !

50 mm Summicron 2.0 Rigid = This lens has a very pleasing boke, special in B&W I love it !

50 mm Summicron 2.0 = Everybody knows this lens. I like it with the NON built-in lens hood.

50 mm Summilux 1.4 = Famous Summilux ( I do a lot of slide film with it )

50 mm Summilux 1.4 ASPH = Sharp & very much contrast !!! Beautiffuly !

[roguewave]

Tate, the real question to ask is what you want to accomplish. Easch has a different signature. If you desire an opportunity to see something different, not "better", that might be a more constructive way to approach this matter. Amoung the luxes, there is a broad array of choices and signatures. Best bet is to find a dealer or make a pilgramidge to somewhere that you cam lay hands on various samples, shoot a couple of rolls and see for yourself what's for you. I have the first 50 lux, that many find lacking in sharpness. That's why I bought it. I wanted an older, sogter "glow" that transports the viewer to a more timeless place. You need to know what you want or you will ultimately be dispirited.

[borismach]

With a Summilux and an Elmar, I wish I could have the Summicron (IV)...in black.
My piece of advance to you is to go for the Summilux and keep the Summicron. If you can only keep one, then stay with the Summicron to keep a compact kit.
Cheerz
bm

[Ben Z]

I have 3 Summicrons (collapsible LTM, rigid chrome, "tabbed" latest-optics). All of them have sat fairly much unused since I got a Summilux (43mm-filter pre-ASPH). But that's me, YMMV.

[laptoprob]

The cron is gone, although I really liked it. The Sonnar is here to stay. But I don't use two similar Sonnars together, that's why one Sonnar can go.
And the old uncoated Elmar will stay, always!

[RITskellar]

I have both the latest Summicron 50 and the Summilux 2nd version pre-asph. The Summicron never sees the light of day. I now have 2 of those identical Summilux's.

[sepiareverb]

I'd say you should shoot them side by side to know for sure. They will draw very differently, but as discussions of this order almost always end up in a very nasty brawl that's all I'm gonna say.

I've got & love the Summicron, but the Summilux is on my list- not only for the extra stop.

[dof]

i've shot with the summicron, the current summilux as well as the pre-ASPH summilux 50's. to answer the op's question, i don't miss the summicron. especially at full aperture, the summiluxes render images in a more impressionistic but still sharp manner which is better suited to my interests.

while i did find the summicron an outstanding lens for some subjects, overall it may be too well corrected for my taste and based on more than a few comments, i imagine others feel similarly.

[RITskellar]

while i did find the summicron an outstanding lens for some subjects, overall it may be too well corrected for my taste

Yes, this is well said. I didn't mean to sound so dismissive of the latest Summicron in my earlier post. It's a great! lens and have no intention of selling it. I just happen to like the look of the Summilux v2 pre-asph better for most purposes. So that is what I use most.

[SolaresLarrave]

Funny... a long time ago, in this forum, when confronting a similar dilemma, people told me the 'cron was the benchmark lens and the 'lux, with its additional stop, could be a bit soft at times. I picked a 'cron and, guess what? I later realized I'm not a 50mm guy.

It doesn't sit unused, of course. I use it, just not as often as any of my other lenses.

BTW, Tate, if you buy the 'lux and must sell the 'cron, it's not worth the investment. I believe both lenses are different animals. If you want a 'lux, make sure you can keep the 'cron too... to whomever you have to justify it to.

[WoolenMammoth]

my take on this, there's nothing like the look of an early 70's cron. Its just got this vibe that no other lens has. I have a lux from 1966 which is a fantastic lens, but it doesnt have the fairy dust that the cron does. It just takes really awesome photos but dare I suggest its a little boring when compared to the delicacy of the detail that my 1971 cron delivers. I cant speak to how the modern formulations of both run with each other, but if I had to pick between my two for portraits, the cron would win that battle with little resistance....

[Tate]

Thanks for all the advice.

My trouble with comparing lenses is that I need to shoot several roles in different circumstances to get to know a lens and find out if I truly like it.

I have seen great shots with most lenses but I have never felt that I could properly assess a lens right away.

BTW, I feel the same way about art as well as high end audio equipment.

You've got to live with these things awhile to get to know how they make you feel (not just think).

Does anyone else feel this way?

Also, do you really notice the size/weight difference between the cron and lux?

[WoolenMammoth]

definitely a noticable size difference between my two lenses both in use and toting around, doubly so with the hoods.

[35mmdelux]

unless your talking 50mm ASPH, you would be trading D o W n.

Here is pretty much the pecking order: 50/1.4 ASPH, 50 Cron (Latest), 50 Sonnar-C, 50/2.0 Zeiss, 50/1.4 pre-asph.