summilux 50 pre asph

[nobbylon]

I just picked up a second copy, 1972 in as new shape, has had a filter on it from new! I tried one a couple of years ago and sold it because to me it was soft wide open. Couldn't see what the fuss was about to be honest. This one however is spot on. Beatifully sharp with that creamy oof. I've just found my favorite 50!
My point? If you try a lens and it falls short, don't despair as it may just be the sample you have! I read somewhere once that if you find a great lens that suits you, that's your keeper! I can now see why lots of people love this lens. I wish I could see it with the 35 lux!!!
Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[Nikkor AIS]

Congratulations on the lens. Love to see some images. And to answer your question , yes sample variation is fact of life. I got several lens that many experts have written off that for me are the cats meow. Namely the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D and the 35 1.4 Summilux which I find to be excellent.


Gregory

[Mablo]

My version is about the same age with yours. The serial of mine is 256****. Only 2000 examples were manufactured yearly so they are really quite rare after almost 40 years.

[fotomeow]

I wanted to see what all he hubbub was about, so I did my research on the 50 Lux mostly here on RFF. I found a crackin' deal on one at KEH, an early version 2. I have an RD1s so I was able to do some quick tests with the lens, and found out it was not a dud. Now its one of my fave lens and I got a 35 Lux to go with it, another version 2 that is not a dud. I just had to be willing to get a dud in the first place, and deal with it if I did.

yes, wide open the focus its soft with a little glow in the upper zones, but I like it that way, along with its speed and maximized bokeh wide open.