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Leica R summilux or summicron on Canon 5D mk ii

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rickmessina

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Hello all,

I have been trying to find some research on using these lenses on a canon 5D mark ii. There are some great shots on Flickr but not too many with this combination. Like many others I would love an M9 with M lenses but price has made that tough for now. But I have always wanted a full frame camera and a couple of months ago I picked up a used 5D mark ii for a good price and have been using a Zeiss 50 1.4 on it. Though the camera is big it does still have that nice full frame look to the images and the DOF opens up a lot of creative possiblities. I was wondering if any have used the 50 Summilux 1.4 or Summicron f/2 R lenses with a 5D? ( I also have an X1 so I definitely want 50mm as that camera is 35). If so is there a big difference between these lenses and the Zeiss 50 1.4? especially at f/1.4 or f/2? The other thing Im not sure of is will the AA filter on the Mark ii negate any advantage the leica glass might provide? Also how do the R lenses compare to the M lenses? I know they are older at this point, but I love to shoot wide open and am curious about bokeh quality and sharpness wide open. Any input any could provide would be very helpfull. Thanks in advance to everyone for their help.

--
Rick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53409728@N02

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=10518524&subSubSection=0&language=EN
 
you might take a look at Erwin Putts' Leica lens compendium which is available online -----> http://www.furnfeather.net/books/pdf/llcforweb.pdf
this is the first edition & is free to download

he has a second edition on sale, but I don't believe any new R lenses were produced since the first, though Erwin may have changed his thoughts on these lenses between editions
he is that kind of guy

there are many outstanding options at these focal lengths & wide open is where lenses become most characterful ...no perfect fast lens exists & at the higher end the differences are more related to the character of their imperfections which is a subject almost as confounding as discussions of color

the Leica R lenses are held in high regard & I believe that while older designs, still hold their own with CZ offerings, though again I am blessed with having gone the M route early on & never held an R lens
for the M mount the excellent choices at these focal lengths gets vertiginous
--
--
pbase & dpreview supporter
DPR forum member since 5/2001
http://www.pbase.com/artichoke

"Avoid making a commotion, just as you wouldn’t stir up the water before fishing. Don’t use a flash out of respect for the natural lighting, even when there isn’t any. If these rules aren’t followed, the photographer becomes unbearably obtrusive" -- attributed to HCB
 
your first offering is a drooler
what a sweet ambassador & lovely photograph

makes me proud to have purchased a Galaxy S III (whose camera does a commendable job) though I wish I had access to such an Ambassadrice
she's gorgeous & well photographed
--
--
pbase & dpreview supporter
DPR forum member since 5/2001
http://www.pbase.com/artichoke

"Avoid making a commotion, just as you wouldn’t stir up the water before fishing. Don’t use a flash out of respect for the natural lighting, even when there isn’t any. If these rules aren’t followed, the photographer becomes unbearably obtrusive" -- attributed to HCB
 
rickmessina said:
Hello all,

I have been trying to find some research on using these lenses on a canon 5D mark ii. There are some great shots on Flickr but not too many with this combination. Like many others I would love an M9 with M lenses but price has made that tough for now. But I have always wanted a full frame camera and a couple of months ago I picked up a used 5D mark ii for a good price and have been using a Zeiss 50 1.4 on it. Though the camera is big it does still have that nice full frame look to the images and the DOF opens up a lot of creative possiblities. I was wondering if any have used the 50 Summilux 1.4 or Summicron f/2 R lenses with a 5D? ( I also have an X1 so I definitely want 50mm as that camera is 35). If so is there a big difference between these lenses and the Zeiss 50 1.4? especially at f/1.4 or f/2? The other thing Im not sure of is will the AA filter on the Mark ii negate any advantage the leica glass might provide? Also how do the R lenses compare to the M lenses? I know they are older at this point, but I love to shoot wide open and am curious about bokeh quality and sharpness wide open. Any input any could provide would be very helpfull. Thanks in advance to everyone for their help.

--
Rick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53409728@N02

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=10518524&subSubSection=0&language=EN
Click to expand...
"...but I love to shoot wide open and am curious about bokeh quality and sharpness wide open."

50/2 Summicron-R both old and newer versions are not known for bokeh. Summilux-R 50/1.4; the latest formula (E60) is great for wide-open contrast and bokeh, however very expensive. 50/1.4 C/Y or EF mount Planars have never been regarded as impressive. For smooth bokeh 50/1.4 EF-Canon is fine (near to the E60 Summilux), the better bokeh ones though 50/1.4 Sigma and 50/1.2L Canon (the latter one too is very expensive).

All these lenses following f2.8 are hard to differ in sharpness, the Canon 50/1.4 seems to have the best edge/corner sharpness. Leicas are cooler in color rendition but with a "distinct" signature but also lots of CA (old formulas for film) however easy to eliminate during PP. BTW, none of these lenses can compete with the new (asph.) series of M-lenses with one exception: The Macro-Planar 50/2 (least fault, extreme sharp and smooth bokeh).

Last but not the least, how will you focus f1.4 manual lenses on a 5DII precise enough to enjoy them? For static subjects only? Before deciding for any lens, get yourself a 50/1.4 EF Canon so that you'd be having a reference source to compare against. And who knows, at the end you may decide for the reference source, like many do.

--
BobYIL
 
Have a look at the tests here, http://slrlensreview.com/web/reviews/leica-lenses/leica-standard . I have the 50mm 'Cron and I have used it extensively with my Leica DMR. Here are some images,
http://nns555.zenfolio.com/p351772460/h3cf2038c#h3fd26c43
http://nns555.zenfolio.com/p351772460/h3cf2038c#h3cf2038c
http://nns555.zenfolio.com/p351772460/h3cf2038c#h39bc1c27
http://nns555.zenfolio.com/p351772460/h252ba010#h252ba010

It is still a great lens. The current M lenses, especially the aspherical designs have a crystal like clarity and sharpness. These older Leica lenses tend to have lower contrast. The DMR did not have a AA filter and there is less need for large amount of sharpening in pp.However, the older Leica lenses might not perform well with ff DSLR as the corners tend to be soft or in the case of wide angle lenses often have vignetting issues when used wide open. Most of my R lenses have now been switched to alpha mounts and I find with a bit more sharpening and pp I can achieve very good results as weel.
--
http://nns555.zenfolio.com
Leica User Forum 2012 Charity Book
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3050706
http://www.worldphoto.org/images/image/335007/?FromImageGalleryID=10861
 
I should mention I already have the Zeiss Planar for canon mount. I bought that instead of the canon 50 at the suggestion of the sales rep at BH. I found it to be a decent performer wide open though it does lack contrast which makes it seem less sharp. I wonder If I should have tried the makro instead... I was wondering if the R lenses would have more of that Leica look if you will seen with M lenses. However checking used prices Summilux lenses still seem to go for around $1500 or so. For that price I would probably go for the 1.2L instead.

As far as focusing the Zeiss lenses have focus confirmation which is surprisingly accurate even at 1.4. But you are right I don't think a lens without that would be enjoyable as it would be tough to get accurate focus. Thanks again for the response.

Rick
BobYIL said:
rickmessina said:
Hello all,

I have been trying to find some research on using these lenses on a canon 5D mark ii. There are some great shots on Flickr but not too many with this combination. Like many others I would love an M9 with M lenses but price has made that tough for now. But I have always wanted a full frame camera and a couple of months ago I picked up a used 5D mark ii for a good price and have been using a Zeiss 50 1.4 on it. Though the camera is big it does still have that nice full frame look to the images and the DOF opens up a lot of creative possiblities. I was wondering if any have used the 50 Summilux 1.4 or Summicron f/2 R lenses with a 5D? ( I also have an X1 so I definitely want 50mm as that camera is 35). If so is there a big difference between these lenses and the Zeiss 50 1.4? especially at f/1.4 or f/2? The other thing Im not sure of is will the AA filter on the Mark ii negate any advantage the leica glass might provide? Also how do the R lenses compare to the M lenses? I know they are older at this point, but I love to shoot wide open and am curious about bokeh quality and sharpness wide open. Any input any could provide would be very helpfull. Thanks in advance to everyone for their help.

--
Rick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53409728@N02

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=10518524&subSubSection=0&language=EN
Click to expand...
"...but I love to shoot wide open and am curious about bokeh quality and sharpness wide open."

50/2 Summicron-R both old and newer versions are not known for bokeh. Summilux-R 50/1.4; the latest formula (E60) is great for wide-open contrast and bokeh, however very expensive. 50/1.4 C/Y or EF mount Planars have never been regarded as impressive. For smooth bokeh 50/1.4 EF-Canon is fine (near to the E60 Summilux), the better bokeh ones though 50/1.4 Sigma and 50/1.2L Canon (the latter one too is very expensive).

All these lenses following f2.8 are hard to differ in sharpness, the Canon 50/1.4 seems to have the best edge/corner sharpness. Leicas are cooler in color rendition but with a "distinct" signature but also lots of CA (old formulas for film) however easy to eliminate during PP. BTW, none of these lenses can compete with the new (asph.) series of M-lenses with one exception: The Macro-Planar 50/2 (least fault, extreme sharp and smooth bokeh).

Last but not the least, how will you focus f1.4 manual lenses on a 5DII precise enough to enjoy them? For static subjects only? Before deciding for any lens, get yourself a 50/1.4 EF Canon so that you'd be having a reference source to compare against. And who knows, at the end you may decide for the reference source, like many do.

--
BobYIL
Click to expand...
--
Rick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53409728@N02

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=10518524&subSubSection=0&language=EN
 
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