LEICA 50 SUMMILUX ASPH VS. 50 SUMMICRON REVIEW

Totally agree. I've had both. Recently got a 50 Cron, version 4 which has a tab and is about 5 grams lighter. Ticks all boxes.

Thanks so much for your time. People like you who take the time and put together amazing videos to help others out are great. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy New Year. Already subscribed - your channel should have 100 times the subscribers...

How do these TT Artisan and Mitakon M-Mount lenses stack up against these Leica 50mm's?

There is no wrong choice.

People be comparing that and I can only afford Elmarit for my SL2-s 😂😂😂

Excellent review thank you

Personally, I think I prefred the Cron. Not sure why, Its how I see DOF should be. Its not distracting in anyway

what about apo?

Which lens performs better on M11

50mm f1.4 or 50mm apo f2?

I actually had lux 50, cron 50 as well as lux 50 limited. And I feel like cron is actually better overall lens:
1. Focussing on cron is smoother than both Lux versions, this is due to lux having floaring elements, so the rotation force is not consistent across focussing range.
2. Built in hood in cron is better, nice an simple design, harder to bent
3. Very hard to nail the focus on 1.4, rangefinder need to be calibrated freqently etc.

what a great review... amazing! would be interesting to see the 50 sumilux vs the 50 sumicron apo

I had the 35mm f 2.0 Summicron for my Leica M 11 (bought last October) and then I bought the new 35mm F 1.4 Summilux. I like the wide angle of the 35mm better than the lesser angle of the 50mm...plus with 60 megapixels I can zoom in later without loss of resolution. Also, I can shoot in lower light with the f 1.4 vs the f 2.0...So far I'm going to stick with the Summilux. I can shoot closer with new 35mm Summilux than with the Summicron f 2.0. That makes a difference when shooting smaller things I'd like to get closer. As for 50mm, I'm truly not certain if I want one for the M 11. I have a RF 50mm f 1.8 Canon lens for Canon R 6. While it brings in sharp images I must often step back to bring everything I want into a picture. So for that I stick with 35mm or 28mm. The Leica though still creates the best images and comparing apples to oranges is not a contest. I think my next lens for the Leica will be the 28mm f 2.8. And then maybe a longer lens...we'll see. Love the Leica! I'd love to try some Zeiss or Voightlander lenses. Anyone have good suggestions?

Andrew, love your reviews. I recently bought the Voigtlander 50mm F1.0 Nocton after watching your review and some others. On my Leica Type240 at golden hour or the evening, it’s pure magic. Is the Lux ASPH wide open much different than the Nokton at 1.4? Many thanks. Marko.

That was an excellent review of both lenses. The best I’ve seen and covers everything a potential buyer would need. I’ve had both these lenses and really loved the Summilux for all the things you mentioned and the added speed factor (did you mention the Summilux floating elements for close-up correction? The Summicron is already very good in the close range). For the cost reason, and going back to my roots, I’ve settled on v3 Summicron I’ve used for so long. It has 10-aperture blades, bokeh is beautiful, holds shapes and is smooth, and more rounded highlight balls, I like the clip-on hood (doesn’t collapse if knocked, so better protection), and a longer focus throw for accuracy. Yes, one weakness is strong light sources at the edge of the frame can produce a vailed flare problem with the Summicron. Not sure what you are talking about when you mention curvature of field, as the [at least] v3 Summicron, has a very flat field without distortion. Anyway, thanks for your thorough and well illustrated with photo examples review. One last thing, many Summilux lenses came from the factory with ‘sticky’ focus action (maybe from the complex focus mount and grease used), not smooth. An adjustment and proper lubricant from a person that knows what they are doing cleared this problem up.

What version of summilux are you specifically referring in this video? Thanks for review

The Cron with the tab is fab.

Excellent comparison. So nice to see something that is based on real world experience, and that goes into the subtleties,. not just the easily discovered specs / physical differences. Well done!

Hi Andrew, Excellent video. I appreciate your information. I have the new close focus 35mm 1.4 Summilux, and like it allot. I will be adding a 50mm in the future. I shoot with the m10, and like that camera allot too. I have been trying to decide if the Lux is worth getting. I think it is. Thank you!

Amazing video. I wonder if this applies to 35mm summicron 11674 to summilux fle2?

Thanks for this incredibly thorough and insightful review, and for sharing your keen experience !

A little late to the party, but: Best comparison review that I have seen till today. Great job. (And I like your photos 🙂)

I have the new Summilux-M 50 mm ASPH II (terrific lens with 0.45 m closest focusing distance) and two Noctilux-M 50 mm (f/1.0 and f/1.2 re-issue, both different and fun) lenses. Your video compelled me to get a Summicron-M 50 v5 and an APO-Summicron-M 50. I hope I can find the latter used!

I also have the Summilux-M 35 FLE I (0.7 m closest focus distance, great lens) and just picked up an APO-Summicron-M 35 mm ASPH (0.3 m closest focusing distance). The latter was pretty costly, but it’s so good, I’ll eventually learn to not care.

Andrew, have you compared the Summicron-M 50 v.5 to the APO version?

Excellent reviews. Im looking at both and this really helps

All over the map . . . . pick one, already . . . . or show us both, but then tell us why . . . . but please do it quicker.

What a great video. I just subscribed to your channel. Amazing Content!

Between the two I chose summicron. As you've mentioned it leaves very little and I dare say no trace of character in my shot like it's a transparent exact copy of what I intended to record from the scene, which doubles the value of the 50 mm focal length as it gives the transparent angle of view.

I have assisted in too many (boring) discussions between Pro-Cronron and Pro-LuxLux. I can't agree more: whichever you get, you get a great lens. Discussions are senseless outside of professional use. You are the best comparison between the two lenses I had the pleasure of seeing. Because of my work, I ended with a Summicron and a Noctilux (at the time, it was f:1). I have used the Summilux many times the Summilux, and it's a stunning lens. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you so much for sharing this. As someone looking to get their first 50mm, this video was incredibly helpful.

Excellent video and comparison. I feel you cannot go wrong with any of these two. Very authentic description of putting them to use! Probably the noctilux will be similar to the summilux again.

And all the time the hasselblad is sitting there thinking: yeah yeah, but actually I take the best images 😂😅

Never use the TAB - to me FAR better to focus with the lens barrel!!

Outstanding review !!!! Well done. Thanks

I know that feeling of waking up to hell.

Great video. Perfectly explanation.
I have had a summicron for 15-20 years now. And I was just thinking if it was time to "upgrade" to the summilux.I t seems like I should almost keep the summicron. I shoot more street and portraits, and itI like the extra sharpness (specially if I do BW work).

Great review. I know it is a different camera system, but you might want to try the Sony 50 f/1.2. The Sony FE mount is obviously a totally different type of camera system compared to Leica M, but this one lens alone is reason enough to pick up a Sony and give it a try. One of the huge advantages of the Sony is perfect focus on nearly every exposure even wide-open at f\1.2. All the best.

Amazing video! Thank you. Very informative for new Leica M user))

This was a great exercise in evaluating the subtle differences between the two lenses. Thank you that is very helpful.

you have a great channel, may i ask that you change the intro music. Its so bad i skip many of your videos because of it.

Great work, thank you. I´m new to the Leica Universe with an used M10. This comparison is very helpful looking for a faster 50mm lens.

This convinced me to stick with my Summicron V5. Not worth the upgrade to the Summilux ASPH.

Welp… this was an expensive video to watch

The 50 Summilux ASPH on a Leica M camera! Buy once, buy best! One camera, one lens for life! For once in your life do not compromise.

Extremely helpful. Thanks!

Thanks for such a thorough and incisive review. I'm still not sure where I fall on the two lenses but that's mainly because I can appreciate the characteristics of both.

Why are all the Leica reviewers on a hormonal high?

The best Summicron/Summilux comparison! Thank You!

What version of the 50 summilux do you have?