The Leica 35 Summilux ASPH 1.4 II Lens Review
By Steve Huff
Lately I have been doing some lens swapping trying to find that ONE lens that I can grow old with for my Leica M cameras. I am narrowing my Leica M kit down to only TWO lenses and have tried and lived with every 35mm available. Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander…I have tried them all. The only two that stuck with me and really excited me were the Leica 35 Summicron ASPH and the Leica 35 Summilux ASPH. The Summicron is super crazy fantastic! It’s small, built well, and is perfection in a 35mm lens. It has a fast F2 aperture and delivers in almost any circumstance. If you are a 35mm kind of photographer, I always say the 35 cron is hard to beat.
The Leica 35 Summilux ASPH (old version) was also a lens I have owned more than once because I love the way it renders an image. It has gobs of character and has an even faster 1.4 aperture. As much as I loved the Summilux, I always ended up going back to the Summicron. Why? Mainly due to the focus shift that has plagued the 35 Lux ASPH ever since the M8 and M9 hit the market. I needed a 35 that I could use for EVERYTHING. Portraits, landscape, architectural, etc. The problem was when I tried to take a shot of a barn or old abandoned house, the 35 Lux would give me that damn shift and my images would be out of focus. So while I loved the character of the Lux when it was “on”, I hated it when it was “off”.
I was all ready to just stick with the Summicron for life, even though there were occasions when I truly could have used the faster 1.4 aperture of the Summilux. So after buying a 35 Summicron for the last time I realized Leica was releasing a brand new version of the 35 Summilux that supposedly cured it of its focus shift problems. WOW, that would be AMAZING if Leica could pull it off huh? This could and would be the best 35mm lens in the world for 35mm photography if this were true. It would be the one lens I could own for life! Finally! A no compromise fast 35 that I could take to my grave! One that would give me EVERYTHING! Speed, sharpness and Leica performance at ANY aperture!
“The $1 Fire Breathing Show” – The Leica 35 Summilux ASPH 1.4 II on the Leica M9 – F2.8 or F4 – 1/500th second
The only thing really bugging me about Leica announcing a new version was the price. Just how much would it take to buy that ONE lens that you can be buried with for your Leica M system? Well, after the announcement, Leica said it would be $4995. Yep, that is the cost of the newest version of Leica’s legendary 35mm lens, damn, guess it’s time to REALLY consider selling a kidney. I have been shooting with this lens for a week or so now and I will refer to it as “II” in this review meaning, 2nd version.
At just under $5 grand, this little lens costs as much as a used 1990′s Toyota…. or a down payment on a small house…or a brand new 70″ LED HDTV…or a complete Nikon D700 setup with two good lenses. Wow, how could Leica justify the price of this lens? I have heard many complaints about it but the fact of the matter is that Leica is a small company and they do not mass produce their cameras or lenses. Each lens is hand assembled from exotic glass and parts and each lens is personally tested by a tech in the Leica factory in Germany to insure perfection. They are the smallest, best made, and best performing lenses for the 35mm format. No contest. I have shot with and owned Canon L and Nikon pro lenses. None of them ever gave me the look I can get from Leica glass and they are always HUGE! So while Leica lenses are expensive, there will always be a Leica nut ready to shell out the big bucks for one. Especially if it’s REALLY REALLY special. The question: Is this new 35 Lux ASPH REALLY special?
Let’s Find Out!
Yep, this is the new and improved version of the modern lens and after shooting it extensively on the Leica M9 I feel I am ready to sit down and write this review. I will try to keep it short and to the point as well as load it up with some real world photo samples, which is the #1 thing I look at in lens reviews when deciding on buying a new lens. I always say that it’s all about the photos, and it really is. A really nice lens can not only give you beautiful results but it can also help boost your confidence and motivation. When you know you have a lens that delivers time and time again, and you know what to expect from it then it becomes easier and more natural to find those photo opportunities.
“Accordion Man” – The Leica 35 Summilux ASPH II at 1.4 on my fave digital camera ever, the Leica M9
What was wrong with the old version?
For those of us who have been shooting Leica for a while, we know all about this lens. Before this new version, the “old” version which was introduced in 1994 started to show it’s weakness when the Leica M8 was released. That weakness was a big deal to some and a not so big deal to others. The problem with that lens is that it had focus shift. What does this mean? Well, you can read my review of the old version HERE which explains it better with samples, or I can give you the short version here. Basically, at some apertures (usually F2-F5.6) the old version of this lens would back or front focus. For example, if you stopped down to F2.8 (to get more depth of field) and needed critical focus, chances are what you focused on would not be in focus. I went through several copies of the old version once I bought the M9 as the problem seemed to be worse on the full frame M9.
Leica admitted the lens had a focus shift and stated it was just part of that design. What started to happen was that hundreds of people started sending in their lenses to Leica for calibration, but the lens could never be 100% perfect and would always have some sort of shift. Some lenses were perfect wide open at 1.4, while other were not good until F2 or F2.8. After realizing that this lens was causing so much grief Leica decided to fix the problem by adding a floating element to the lens. Much like they did with the 50 Summilux ASPH, this floating element improves close focus performance as well as minimizes focus shift to where it is pretty much non existent (in real photos anyway).
“Napoleon Dynamite” – The Leica 35 Summilux ASPH II at 1.4 on the Leica M9
The New Version Arrives!
The Un-boxing of the new Leica 35 Summilux ASPH 1.4 II
I had the pleasure of taking delivery of a new in box 35 Lux ASPH II recently (Leica sent me one for review) and as soon as it arrived I attached it to my M9 and left it there. I told the wife we needed a weekend road trip so we packed up the car and drove to Las Vegas. As you can see in the above pics, you can find some real characters in Las Vegas so I knew it would be a great place to test the lens with street photography, night shots, and all around general use. On the camera this lens feels really nice, but I did not expect anything less. Its weight, balance, and feel is superb and while it looks similar to the old version, it feels different. I suspect it is due to the much improved metal hood which is much smaller. It also feels better because it’s solid and it’s metal (the hood).
So the look, feel and build of the lens is pure Leica quality, but again, this lens is $4,995.00 so it better be! The old version of this lens is priced at $4500, so the new one ups the ante a bit with a $500 price increase. So is the new version $500 better? I am here to say YES it is $500 better than the old version. After shooting hundreds of images at all apertures I can say that I did not see any focus shift in even one of my photos. None. From what I have heard, this lens may still have a teeny bit of shift but supposedly it is only visible if you take pictures of rulers and are looking for a centimeter or so of shift. In real photos, there is no visible shift that I noticed during my time with the lens.
How about the magical 35 Summilux ASPH character? Did it change?
Many of you have e-mailed me with concerns that the look of the new version would change. Leica did this with the 50 Noctilux f0.95 and the look of the new version was much more “modern” and perfect than the old one. With the 35 Summilux ASPH, I am happy to say that the character of the lens has stayed the same but your photos will look much more crisp due to the focus shift not being there. Also, to me it appears the lens is throwing out a nicer looking image than the old in regards to color and overall sharpness across the frame, but it could just be that it’s focus is so dead on at all apertures that it appears to be better…which I guess makes it better!
The Leica 35 Summilux ASPH II at 1.4 on the Leica M9 – The color and detail is astounding.
At F2.8, the sharpness and detail is still there! No shift here!
Is It Sharp Wide Open?
Great news! This new Summilux is VERY sharp wide open and scary sharp when stopped down. It has the brilliance, color, and contrast of a top notch Leica lens and if there is anything to worry about with this lens, sharpness is not one of them. This lens delivers.
Leica 35 Summilux ASPH II at 1.4 with 100% crop – Was testing out a filter preset in Lightroom 3 here as well so the color is not from the camera 
Not enough? How about some full size out of camera untouched samples?
“Sin City Brew” – Click image below for larger version or CLICK HERE for full size out of camera shot. Keep in mind this was at F1.4, and focus was on the hot pink “Sin City” badges on the handles. You can see the creamy shallow depth of field when this lens is shot wide open but also notice the gorgeous contrast and color. Wow. Also, this was shot indoors and the lens seemed to make its own light.
Here is one shot at F4 in full direct mid-day sun which is always harsh. You can CLICK HERE for full size shot to see the detail.
Here is a test shot at F5.6 – CLICK HERE for full size shot! Crazy sharp!
and one more to show the detail of this lens when shooting subjects far away. This one was at F4. Shift? What shift?
This lens is amazing at ALL apertures. When wide open it has some slight vignetting on the M9, but this is NOT a problem for me at all. In fact, when shooting wide open like that I like a little vignetting. For sharpness you get it at 1.4 and then it gets better as you stop the lens down. The detail this lens can pull off of an M9 sensor is ridiculous and what I am seeing is that this lens meets or exceeds the performance of the 35 Summicron from F2 down. At F2 there is no vignetting and the lens is as sharp as you could ask it to be.
My Generic Focus Shift Tests
With so many owners of the old 35 Summilux frustrated with the focus shift, I wanted to make sure that this new version was cured of this problem when taking real photos. The old one showed the shift in real photos of mine which is why I could not live with it on the M9. If this new and improved version still showed the focus shift then I was ready to be VERY upset! I did not do fancy ruler tests as I guarantee you I will never shoot a ruler in real life and if this lens had focus shift bad enough to ruin an image, then I would see it in an image. I did a quick test in my backyard using an ugly brick wall.
I shot a brick wall at apertures F1.4 through F5.6. I wanted to see if the focus shift would show its ugly head so below you will see a crop taken from every aperture.
CLICK ON THE CROP BELOW TO SEE IT AS A 100% CROP – HOW IT IS MEANT TO BE SEEN
I saw no shift at all in this test shot. Each shot was done on a tripod and the focus was set once before the first shot. If there is shift here, it’s not visible to my eyes. The 1.4 shot is sharp as is the F5.6 shot. Remember, these are 100% crops of a full image. The only thing I see here is a DOF change from 1.4 to F2-F2.8.
I did one more test using a tree and precisely focused on a piece of bark…
CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO SEE FULL SIZE 100% CROPS FROM F1.4 to F4
Again, if this was taken with my old 35 Lux, the F2.8 image would be visibly out of focus. This new lens starts out incredible at 1.4 and gets better as you stop it down.
So my conclusion is that this lens will not give any focus shift issues in real world images as I have not seen it at all. I was told by another Leica shooter who is also testing this lens that there is a teeny bit of shift still present in this lens if you shoot a ruler but honestly, I I only care if it shows up in real images. Bottom line? When taking real photos there will be no visible focus shift with this lens. If shooting rulers or newspapers, then maybe there will be some microscopic shift but if so, it would be MILES better than the old version.
Is It Worth The Upgrade From The Old Version?
I have already been getting asked this question like crazy so I will just answer it with a YES and a NO!
If you have the old version and are affected by the focus shift, and it bothers you, then I would sell and upgrade to this new version. It is well worth the peace of mind knowing that the lens will deliver every time you compose, focus and snap.
If you have the old version and do not see any shift, or it doesn’t bother you, then I would NOT buy this version. The old version is also a beautiful lens and if you do not notice any focus shift, then stick with it and save yourself some cash.
If you do not own an old version and want a 35 Summilux ASPH, I would go for it and buy this one. It’s a pretty amazing lens and yea, $5,000 is CRAZY expensive for a lens but if you are a pro, or a serious hobbyist AND can afford it, then go for it. You only live once and this is about as good as it gets for a 35mm lens. I could EASILY be happy with this as my ONLY lens for my M, and probably will be. No, I can not afford it but I am finding a way to fund it because I know I can be 100% happy with this lens on digital AND film.
The Bottom Line Conclusion
So, what is my final word on this new Leica 35 Summilux ASPH II? Here you go….I feel it is the BEST 35mm lens made today for ANY 35mm camera system. Yes, I now prefer this lens over the legendary 35 Summicron in almost every way. The only area I do not prefer it is the size but with the new hood design, this lens is not really that much bigger looking than the cron. With it’s surreal performance from 1.4 and down this lens delivers with sharpness, detail, bokeh, color, and has a unique 3 dimensional character when shot wide open that is hard to resist and impossible to beat. Feed it a nice body like a Leica M9 or M7/MP and you will be rewarded with a 35mm lens that has no compromises.Dark, light…it can shoot in almost any situation and reward you with splendid results. As a matter of fact, I think this is now my favorite Leica lens ever.
$4995 is loads of cash but again, this is a 35mm you can be buried with. If the focus shift of the old one has got you down then this is the solution. If you don’t mind a little bit of a slower lens and a more perfect/clinical character then the 35 Summicron is also one hell of a lens. Either way, you cant go wrong. But if you have the “Lux Fever” then the only cure is this new 35 Summilux ASPH 1.4 II lens. It’s a winner. Hell, this may be the reason to go out and buy an M9. The only problem with that is it is so hard to find an M9 in stock. Leica tells me they are working day and night making cameras to fill the orders, so hopefully the M9 supply will get better soon. As for me, I am trying to find a way to buy this lens for myself. I may need to beg, borrow, or sell but I WILL find a way! It’s that good!
You may see the tech head sites saying this lens still has some focus shift, and they may be right but no one in their right mind will ever see it in a real photograph. At any aperture I shot this lens at the focus was always spot on, so I had zero issues with focus but then again, I do not do the technical stuff like shoot rulers and charts. If you like to see that sort of thing I am sure there will be other reviews of this lens coming very soon. So for me, the lens is a 100% winner and if you are a crazy passionate photo nut like me, you probably already want one.
Where To Buy
Amazon is taking pre-orders now for the new 35 Summilux ASPH II. They will not charge you until the lens ships and they are doing a first come first serve kind of deal. If you want this lens, you can get your place in line at Amazon by clicking HERE.
I thank you for reading this review of the new Leica 35 Summilux ASPH 1.4 II lens. I am going to shed a tear when I have to send it back to Leica in the next few days but as I already mentioned, I may be selling a thing or two to buy one of my own. Yes, I really want this lens…bad. I even asked Leica if I could buy this one but no luck. Looks like I will be right there with you guys come July, waiting for my new 35 Summilux!
I will leave you with more photos from this lens, and soon will post samples with this lens shot on film! Enjoy!
UPDATE: Photographer Jonathan Slack has posted his samples from this new 35 as well. You can check them out HERE.
UPDATE: More images added 06/20/10…
CA is there but it’s much more controlled than even the 50 0.95 Noctilux. I had a very hard time getting it to show up, and this shot was done as a test as I figured if it was going to show up, it would in the chrome details of this vintage VW.
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Gorgeous – Thank you for posting!
Nice! I like the photo of the “Sin City brew” the best. Good combo of sharpness, color rendition, and bokeh.
I also like the photo with the Mini-Elvis. BTW, is that Kenny G standing behind Min-Elvis?
I want that lens. Not that I needed any extra persuasion… But it is good to hear it delivers like they say.
Thanks guys.
Armanius, that was Mini-Elvis’s manager
Thank you for your great post! You made me place the order!
Looks amazing! Am I right in thinking that this ‘focus shift’ does not apply to film (at least with the previous version 35 lux?). You say that with the M8 introduction the ‘flaw’ in the old lens came to light so can we safely assume the old one is as good as this if one is shooting film? Thanks.
@Stephen B – Hi, thanks for reading the review. The focus shift is in the old lens, even with film. BUT with film you just do not notice it. With digital and the new age of hyper details, and instant feedback more people started seeing this focus shift. With film you still see it but usually its a few days between when you shot the image and when you get your film back so you might see it a little and say “maybe I mis-focused”? Also, its not as noticeable with film because we don’t look at 100% crops when we look at our film shots (well, not usually). There are supposedly other more valid reasons but the bottom line is the old Lux does have focus shift but it is more noticeable with digital.
Thanks for the review Steve, some really nice photo in your review, I had the 35mm Lux ASPH MKI, at f1.4 it was tac sharp but by f1.8 focus shift had really started to kick-in, by f4 it was totally unuseable, I’m pretty sure my copy was a really bad one so I sent it back, after that I picked up a Canon 35L for my 5DMKII and I’ve been very happy with it but I think I’m going to get my name down on the waiting list for this new 35mm Lux.
Thanks
Will
Nice review and great photos as always. As a new rangefinder shooter (have the Bessa R2M) I’m discovering the Leica “magic” every day and I have to say, I am happy to have read your article a while ago about the best lenses to get where you suggested the 35mm. After reading up on the various incarnations of the 35mm, I picked up the 35mm lux but the pre-ASPH version in Tokyo. That gave the images shot at wide open a soft “glow” that I really really like (and some people really really hate). And I’m glad to see that the new version here still has that “feel” though without the glow. The 35 lux is definitely a gorgeous lens and this might go up very high on my wish list. But I guess in the meantime the one I have will get a full workout on both my R2M and on my GF1 with the M-mount adaptor
Steve, I love the pictures and the new 35 lux. Ouch on the price though. It’s a beautiful lens. Have you tried it on the MP yet?
Thanks Steve. The reason I ask is although I use a M7 and am a ‘anti-crop’ kind of person, these lenses are extremely pricey and as you say, when you buy something like this, it better be good enough to take with to the next life
and in my future I can certainly see myself picking up a M9/M10 to go with my film M and I really don’t want to have a lens that can’t make that jump from film to digital the way it should. I bought the new 50mm summilux because of it’s flawless reputation on film and digital so I think if I get a 35 lux, this will be the one.
Napoleon is the king
Amazing rendition … almost feel that is was shot with a medium format.
M9+35II = 10 000 $ …. hard to justify for a hobbyist.
Can’t wait to see your review of the folding Fuji.
M9+35II=12 000 $ is it?
Isn’t it annoying when new stuff comes out after you already bought yourself something?
I just bought the 50mm Summilux and am waiting for it’s arrival. I’m not sure if the 35mm is the better FL for me but I didn’t get the ASPH v.1 because of the focus shift problems and wanted the f1.4 so went for the 50mm…
Although, by the looks of it, it will be a while till this lens will be in stock anywhere – not that the 50 lux and M9 are so scarce..
Wow, outstanding images. What I see is that the lens very much maintains its character while losing the focus shift issue all together. I agree that its the ultimate 35 mmm lens, but I believe that I will keep mine, as I have never detected focus shift that matters to my photography, though I suspect that there may be some there….who knows, but your images, Steve, are even better…so lovely. hopefully, Leica sends you a copy at a good rate….you have just sold them a lot of lenses…
Hi Steve. I have the mark 1 version and i’m very pleased with it but wish i’d waited a bit and saved my pennies for this new version. Your shots are wonderful.
How do you think the signature of this lens compares to the 24 Lux asph??
Thanks.
… sometimes it´s a very expensive idea to have an eye on Steve´s homepage
But after working with the “old” 35mm for so many years until the M8 arrived, selling this lens to a nice man from Hong Kong who is still producing perfect images with it, I think it´s now the time to start again with it 
The only question: selling the 28mm after falling in love with it on the M9 … ?! … what a dilemma!
Thanks for this test, Steve!
Thanks For the Review Would Have loved to have seen some sample photos with a Film M and the Lux II
Cool review as always. Useful no dout for leica owners, and great for others when bored. The perfect blog.
So I have to ask. how can a single focal length lens with years of expertise behind it have such a flaw as focus shift at $4500? and Leica instead of addressing the issue decides to release “new and improved” version and nail u for another $5k. Thats pretty cool, we come out with flawed design and if u want it fixed please send us another $5k.
Thanks for the review Steve. Even though I will never be able to own this lens, it’s nice reading a detailed review, and seeing some great photos.
BTW, the reviews on your site need to be read Safari 5 using the “Reader” feature. amazing
@Frank – Thanks! Enjoy it…
@Will, thanks.
@Tim A – The pre-asph is a great lens as well, just a more classic look. Thanks for reading!
@Elaine – shooting some film now…
@Stephen B – Yes, this and the 50 Lux ASPH are pretty much the top of the top of the heap for Leica glass – 35 and 50 are the most used focal lengths.
@pixelmixture – The Fuji review should be up this weekend. Had to get some more rolls of film through it before I wrote the review.
@Dan, the 50 is a legend. You will love it!
@Ashwin – Thanks for the kind words.
@Lucy – Thanks so much. As for the comparison between this and the 24 Lux, I would say they are pretty similar. The 24 has that classic but modern signature much like this lens. I would buy a 35 personally as I think it is a more useful FL for everyday use.
@Franz – Thanks!
@Ran – Coming soon…
@Eric – Thanks!
@Alex – Most fast lenses made today have some sort of focus shift. The Zeiss Sonnar, The Canon 50L, Voigtlander 50 1.1, Original Noctilux…the list goes on. It’s just part of the design and it was never noticed until digital. The original version was made during a time when Leica did not have an M8 or M9, so no one really knew about the shift, or did not notice it enough to care.
I applaud Leica for updating the lens for Digital. Much better to do that instead of doing nothing. $500 price increase sucks but thats life. I have a feeling they will sell very well though, even at that price.
Steve
Steve or anyone, do you guys know if 50 lux asph or pre-asph has focus shift as well? More than 35mm? Thanks.
The 50 ASPH will not have any issues and the 50 pre-asph I had, well, I cant say for 100% because at the time I had that my M9 was a little off. This new 35 does not have any issues with focus shift.
Well done Steve. Great review & excellent snaps! But when it’s all said & done I sure as hell won’t be queuing up to drop $5K on this lens. For that kind of coin one could feed a small village in Africa for half a year, take an amazing 2 month adventure to South America to shot some cool fotos. I have a 35mm Voigtlander 1.4 classic & for my budget, it does a fine job. I think Leica are getting way too elitist. Think about; FIVE THOUSANDS DOLLAR$!
Again, great review Steve. Thanks.
As much of a Leica fan as I am, I kind of have to side with Alex on this one. This article didn’t make me want to buy a new 35 lux. Not in the least. It did impress on me the balls that Leica had to produce a $4500 lens (hand assembled and tested, and dusted with L-magic) that had apparently significant focus shift problems. Film does tend to hide focusing problems to some degree (partly because it’s a 3-dimensional medium, and thus a little back/front focus still hits some part of the emulsion), but surely Leica noticed the shift problems when they did their tests. I thought Leica was the no-compromises brand.
That being said, I just bought a used 50mm Sonnar, a design which is also known to focus shift. However, Zeiss comes right out and says that the lens has focus shift due to its old-school design, and doesn’t really apologize for it. On the other hand, the Sonnar is a quarter of the cost of the old 35mm lux and has incredible rendering that is all its own. Sounds like a bargain to me.
ooooh, how about doing a few side-by-side comparison shots between the fuji gf670 and the leica m9 with the new 35mm summilux asph while you still have them?
Everything is good about this lens (may be not the price:P), but the BOKEH – frankly – is NOT that great. It’s quite bushy and rough, whenever there are some specular highlights or challenging back-light, the bokeh becomes unpleasing. What do you think?
To add: Having seen the samples here, I think the 50mm Summilux ASPH produces much better Bokeh and a smooth finish to the photos than this lens.
[...] says Steve Huff Finally – or should I say already – Steve Huff has posted his real-world review of the new Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens, the second and improved version of this lens. The main reason for Leica do develop a new [...]
Hello Steve ,
nice lens review. Maybe you have a picture “view through the viewfinder” from this lens?
Ciao Wolfgang
The “Sin City” shot displays to my eyes barrel distortion or am I wrong?
So now the next investment dilemma – from an M8 user – M9 body or Lux 35 II?
Hi Steve
Nice article and pics. I own the 35lux ASPH for quite some time
I had some shift problems which were not that noticed, just got it calibrated at Leica Solms and i must say i dont see the shift anymore, i love this lense.
My question to you is- if the shift problem was no issue would you still change it to the new lense ?
Best
Danny
Hmmm like the vegas review. For the 5K of this lens – I think I could get a nice trip to there with the missus and capture some moments.
Guys, it’s all about “wants” and “needs”. Does anyone NEED this lens? Hell no. I’ve seen GREAT pictures taken with medium format film and a $60 Holga and absolute crap shots on Contax 645 with Phase One P65 backs (a mere $45K investment). If anyone wants this lens and has $5K to spend, ABSOLUTELY buy it. Does anyone need it to take better pictures with an M9 or any other M camera? I think you know the answer. I’m in the wine biz and fine Bordeaux has become a luxury item, just like a Leica lens. It’s about demand, that special aura of exclusivity and refinement. Just like a bottle of Petrus or a Chanel bag, Leica has its devoted followers who are mostly wealthy amateurs who want the best (or perceived best) and they cater to that crowd. From a business standpoint, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that and I applaud their approach if it keeps them in business. $5K is a LOT of money for a lens and, if you find yourself trying to justify the purchase, don’t buy it. It is very simple.
Thanks for explanation Steve. your explanation makes sense but doesn’t provide an excuse. you said that all lenses have focus shifts but if u also notice that price of all those lenses adds up to one 35mm summilux lens
Yes i know they are small and make everything by hand which makes it even harder to understand these flaws.
Problem that I have is that if Leica has the balls to charge $4500 for a lens by stating that their lenses are “state of the art, magical, blah blah” but at the same time they have same flaws as less than $1k nokton and 50mm 1.1. Again I’m not complaining about the huge price of these, I’m simply asking the question of what makes them any different?
@Max – totally agree with u.
Alex,
forget how great the new ‘Lux is, the core problem is that the previous incarnation had the well known issues and yet Leica marketed it, sold it, people bought it (me included) for $3,500-$4000. In other circles, companies issue recalls, rebates, to keep customers happy. Leica seems to be okay by simply revamping the lens to fix the issue and get another $5K out of people. I think is BS and people should vote with their wallets. The fact that they are a small company is not an excuse and, at these prices, owners should not have to be bothered with sending lenses and bodies for calibration on new equipment that is supposed to work flawlessly out of the box.
Can’t have your cake and eat it too…Leica wants to portray this image of unbeatable quality and charge a pretty penny for it and that’s okay BUT, when shit does happen, come out clean and offer some kind of solution to the people that keep you in business. If my 35 has focus shift, I should be able to send it back to Leica and get close to my cost and I would happily pay the up-charge to get the new “trouble-free” 35. That would be the right thing to do at the business level.
@Daniel – Thanks for the comments. Yea, $5k is a lot of cash but remember, there are tons of people out there (I am NOT one of them) who will spend $5k like me or you might spend $20. Plenty of people out there who want the best, and will gladly pay for it.
@Just to be fair, Leica admitted there was a focus shift issue with the old 35 when digital hit and everyone was sending in their lenses for calibration. It all started with the M8 and M9. Now they have redesigned the lens and it no longer has any issues with shift, so there is your no compromise lens for digital. Only problem is, it is $5,000 but I have known at least 30+ people who bought the $11k Noct! If someone has the money to buy one, and they want the best/most versatile 35mm lens available then why not? Sure, someone can go buy a 5DII and focus shifting 50L for less then this lens but those looking at this lens want a fast, no compromise, beautiful and fast 35mm lens for their Leica camera. I never see anyone complaining about paying $3700 for the 50 ASPH and even that is outrageous for a 50mm lens. How much is a Nikon 50 1.4? My point is, this lens will sell to those who love the 35 Lux and want a focus shift free version. The previous version flew off the shelves at $4000-$4500 and I am guessing this one will as well. It is what it is.
@Aizan – I believe I did a few side by sides while in Vegas, just have to wait for the film to be processed. Thanks!
@ S Sarkar – That is a first for me
Bushy Bokeh? Anyway, all of you “Bokeh” guys…show me a 35 1.4 that does it any better. You can’t! I think it looks wonderfully smooth and beautiful but then again, I have only seen one lens ever whose bokeh really distracted me and that was the Noktor 50. I am more into the image itself than the Bokeh. Thanks for the comments! BTW, I disagree on the 50 ASPH. Sure it is smooth, just as this lens is but in certain situations, such as trees you will see the same things.
@Wolfgang – I will see if I can add this today, Thanks!
@Horea – No, I believe that was the angle I shot it from. Lines look straight in that image. I have yet to notice any barrel distortion. Doesn’t mean it is not there as I have not shot any walls with straight lines but haven’t seen it in the images.
@Marcus – Well, all depends. Me, I would take the M9 body.
@Danny – I touched on this in the review. If the shift of the old version doesn’t bother you or you do not see it then no, I would not upgrade. Keep the one you have as its a super lens. Would not be worth the upgrade IMO.
@Richard – Great place to visit and on weekends it is loaded with people. Pretty cool to walk the strip and just take photographs. It was a 4 hour drive from me so I will be heading back there regularly for photo trips. Thx..
@Max – You are correct! No one NEEDS this lens but no one NEEDS anything besides food, shelter and water but we all buy plenty of “toys” because we enjoy them. Sure, one can shoot a Holga or Diana and get very good results (I am shooting a Diana this week) and those are $60 but it’s a totally different experience.
As for updating the lens, they did so because so many people were always bitching and moaning on forums asking them to update the 35 Lux and fix the shift. So they finally did and now we have those who are very happy about it, and those who are bitching and moaning about the price. How was the price a shock? I wrote months ago before anything was ever announced that if they ever did update the lens it would come in at $5k. This was to be expected as this is Leica and their 35mm lenses are NOT cheap.
Sure, I wish the lens was $1500 so I could go out and buy one without too much worry but for me, I have to give up other things so I can buy this lens, and I plan to buy it. Why? Because A: The M9 is my favorite digital ever and B: 35mm is my fave FL on the M9 and C: This is the best and most versatile 35mm I have ever shot with on any M camera, oh and D: I am a huge fan of fast lenses and much prefer 1.4 to F2 due to being in situations with an F2 where I really could have used an F1.4.
So, for me to be truly happy with my M9 I WANT this lens. I may not NEED it but I do WANT it. If I bought a cheap 40 year old 35 2.8 I would not enjoy shooting nearly as much and I would miss quite a few shots at night with something like that as well.
One time the 35 1.4 came in handy was when I shot a wedding. Low light, no flash. An F2 or slower would not have worked as I already had my ISO maxed out with slow shutter speeds. The lens did great and I ended up making some nice $$$ from prints afterwards. So there are times when a 1.4 lens comes in handy, though the old one had to be shot wide open all the time to avoid the shift.
Your argument about Leica taking back the old lens and letting you pay the difference is a good one but borderline ridiculous. Did Canon, who is a gazillion times larger than Leica take back the old 24L version one for credit towards the new and improved Version II which was much improved and fixed the soft corners? Did Nikon take back the 70-200VR which had performance issues on the full frame digitals for credit towards the 70-200VRII? Nope. Did Leica take back M8′s for credit towards an M9? Of course not! It’s a new updated version of a lens and if Canon ever comes out with a 50L that does not focus shift do you think they will take back the old version? No way. No camera manufacturer has or ever will do that.
These fast lenses pretty much ALL shift in one way or another so I am just happy that Leica fixed the problem for digital users and that we have this option available. Sure its expensive but so was the old one! Id sure as hell pay $500 more for the new one over the old one and I would buy this lens over the $11k Noct as well.
Again, just my opinions, everyone else’s will differ of course.
Bottom line – Buy it if you WANT a Lux and the old ones shift bugs you. DO NOT buy it if you do not need or want a 1.4 lens or the shift of the old one does not bug you. Third option, go buy a Voigtlander 35 1.4 classic for $500 and call it a day
I will stop now before I ramble on and end up writing 4000 words here. Sorry
Yeah Steve but with Canon/Nikon we come to expect/accept crap so it’s okay
On a much lighter note, since I am still working on a Contax 645 article for Steve’s unbeatable site, I wanted to share a picture taken yesterday, with a lens with no focus shift whatsoever
Contax 645, 120mm Zeiss Makro Planar f4 (truly one of the greatest, sharpest lenses ever built), FILM, Efke 25 developed in Rodinal 1:100 + 1 tbsp of sodium sulfite, scanned on Epson V750M Pro. Wide open @ f4, I think 1/30 or 1/60 shutter speed, gloomy, crappy, rainy day so I was shining a flashlight on this guy. To all, peace and enjoy.
Oooh, Max, looking forward to your 645 review. I’m considering going MF film, and am back and forth between the Contax and a Hassy 500/1/2/3. The Contax still commands a pretty hefty price, unfortunately (for me).
Mike, I think that if you shop carefully both camera setups with the 80mm lens are comparable in price. I’ve never owned Hasselblaad so I am not fit to compare but the 645 is an amazing camera and still very much in demand, as it is used by many studio photographers. It is SIMPLE, it has a great meter, the lenses are special and, for the digital nuts, a Phase One or Leaf back makes them even more desirable and current. I think you can get a clean piece with the 80mm Planar, a 120mm Makro, and a 45mm Distagon for less than the price of a new 35mm ‘Lux
Just out of curiosity – if the 35mm 1.4 II is one of the lenses in your kit, what is the second?
I spent 2 grand on my tv, another 2 on my computer, and almost 2 on my lenses so far. One of those lenses will hopefully last me the rest of my life, my tv will die in a year or two, my computer is getting replaced by a even more expensive macbook in 2 months. Money is always relative.
Reading all these comments one thing sticks out (like a sore thumb): there’s more emotion than rationality here.
Put differently, some posters are (including OP of course
) up on Leica’s defense tower, others are down on Mother Earth gazing up and attempting to throw arguments up so far they actually flip over the turret.
Leica’s pricing policy is blatantly aimed at well heeled travellers, the Louis Vuitton set, and who would blame them for that? Does the price difference justify the, sometimes noticeable, difference in IQ?
Who cares? You pay for the legend. It’s like becoming a member of an exclusive club.
Now let’s get back to discussing images.
@Michiel Couldn’t agree more it’s all about the images. Steve you say your first photo of the banjo player was shot wide open? If so that is amazing sharpness wide open. Inzoomed in on the iPad on the left lens of his sunglasses and I can see what looks like you taking the photograph! Incredible detail from this lens. Once again many thanks for the site all your time effort and amazing images. It inspires newbies like myself no end.
@Max – I totally agree with your comments. This applies same to Nikon/Canon camp as well. If something is broken a normal company would issue a recall. I guess same rules don’t apply to photo industry. I’m sure with time it will change as people start voting with their wallets instead of absorbing it. how long will it take
? that’s a 64k question.
If the product is flawed from factory it should be repaired, replaced, recalled.
Steve, did you sneak into that Blue man picture. LOL. Nice shot, that guys eyes fly off the screen.
I appear to have forgotten to comment on the images presented, so here goes (IMHO…) .
Some of the images shot wide open:
- appear to have some really frightening bokeh;
- appear to have a 3d quality which presents the subject as if put before a backdrop.
Which only underlines my previously stated point of view that shooting wide open should not be an obsession.
Only my 2cts worth…