Review of Leica 50mm Summicron-SL f/2.0 by Thorsten Overgaard (plus LLL ELCAN 50mm and 7artisan)
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- Опубліковано 4 вер 2023
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Leica 50mm Summicron-SL ASPH f/2.0 review. www.overgaard.dk/leica-50mm-S...
7atisans/DJ-Optical 75mm f/1.25 review here: www.overgaard.dk/7artisans-fo...
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7artisans 50mm f/1.1 review here: www.overgaard.dk/7artisans-fo...
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Leitz 50mm ELCAN review: www.overgaard.dk/leica-leitz-...
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In this video photographer and Leica expert Thorsten Overgaard share tips and tricks on using the Leica 50mm Summicron-SL f/2.0 autofocus lens for the Leica SL, Leica SL2 and Leica SL3.
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Leica Camera Reviews and Leica Lens Reviews by photographer Thorsten Overgaard: leica-reviews.overgaard.dk/
Thorsten von Overgaard is a Danish writer and photographer, specializing in portrait photography and documentary photography, known for writings about photography and as an educator. You are always welcome to send an e-mail to Thorsten for questions, suggestions and ideas.
Thorsten Overgaard is an independent writer and photographer who write, teach workshops and publish user reports about the equipment he uses. There is no affiliation with Leica Camera AG or any camera dealers, no free gifts, no sponsorship, no kickback and no paid content. All you see is real and based on the life of an eccentric and hard-working photographer who makes his own money, buys his own equipment and form his own independent opinions - and shares with you. Enjoy the ride.
Video Credits:
Produced by: Thorsten Overgaard (www.overgaard.dk)
Equipment:
This video was made with the Leica SL bhpho.to/3cIbPEg and Leica 35mm Summilux-T ASPH f/1.4 and Leica 50mm Summicron-SL ASPH f/2.0, using Sennheiser wireless microphones bhpho.to/2zafn4v . Leica SL2 as second camera.
#Summicron #LeicaSL2 #mirrorless
Job 2196-0523
Thorsten, just so you know. You and You only are the principle reason why I purchased my first Leica camera in June this year. Thank you :)
Thank you. Hope you are happy with it 🙂
Thorsten, your enthusiasm is intoxicating (as always).
As an industrial R&D scientist, I certainly understand creativity is often limited by economics. I respect the many accomplishments of Peter Karbe. Copycats need no research, and cost much less.
I got a good deal on a SL2-s with the 50 asph 2.0 and I love it, compact and light, fits perfectly on the SL body.
Amazing video as always, Thorsten. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this new gem from Leica.
Thank you. My pleasure.
The question about whether you want the best is so right! Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective.
Thank you 🙂
Excellent commentary on price and quality.
Top quality never comes cheap.
Fascinating and informative as always … mange tak! 📷🙂
Thanks for sharing your ideas; thought provoking, as ever.
Thank you 🙂
Brilliant overview on Leica, quality and how to get good value, thank you
I always strive for quality; as a musician, I bought expensive instruments, as a passionate hiker, the high quality gear and even as a hobby photographer, I decided to buy a Leica. First the SL2-S with the 50mm SL f2, which is really great and the Sigma 35mm f" DG DS which is noting to complain about. And now, I´m going to have the M10 with some Voigtländer lenses, becauses something (me) is holding me back to buy the original Leica M Lenses...but I guess, it would be one (or maybe more) as far as I know my self...
Fully confirming to 3:54 - Actually I use my SL2-S exclusively with an APO Summicron SL 2.0/75 for portraits, street and landscape. Luckily, I could try the 24-90 on a 9 day assignment (1000 thanks to Leica Store Zürich and Genussfestival Vaduz) and the results I got are mind blowing amazing. That lens delivers perfect results over all zoom range. However, I didn’t purchase it because I’m waiting for the L Mount Alliance equivalent to the Tamron 35-135 f/2.0-2.8, only available for eMount and Z mount. Such a lens in the same quality like the 24-90, I’d purchased immediately. 35 is totally sufficient for photojournalism but 90 too short. Such a 35-135 would make lens changes or carrying a 2nd camera (in my case Canon R3 or Nikon D6) with a 70-200 2.8 obsolete. That would be the day I fully switch to Leica and drop all other brands I use (except for all of the Nikon F-mount gear).
Having had the opportunity and luck to try many many lenses on my M Cameras throughout the years, I have to say there are some non-Leica lenses that are almost up to par with Leica original optics, and in some cases even superseded them. One good example is the Voigtlander 50mm F1.0 that is simply a masterpiece and as good (or better) than the equivalent Leica/s, including the Noctilux f0.95. Of course the Voigtlander is not a "budget" lens by any stretch of the imagination, but at a fraction of the price of an original Leica, is a decision without regrets. There is never a perfect lens and the Voigtlander is also certainly not.. I for example wish it could focus closer than its minimum 1m distance, but, it's what it is and that doesn't take anything away from the fact is an almost do-it-all 50mm lens and exceptional at that. This to say that one doesn't always need to make a compromise of lower quality for a lower cost. In some cases such as this you get the whole bang for a fraction of the cost pop. For anyone that has never tried the Voigtlander 50mm F1.0, if you have the opportunity to try one out, it will be revealing. Light, fairly compact, solidly built and with an image quality that is truly magnificent. And there are other non-Leica lenses that properly cherry picked would also convert many Leica-only lenses devotees to give a second chance to lower priced options. And then, at the end, the lens, any of them, doesn't really matter. Invest in becoming a better and more passionate photographer and you will create wonders with any lens you shoot with, no matter the brand, price or specs. The magic comes
from who is behind the gear, not the gear itself or what's in front of it❤️📷☀️
You make me want to test the Voigtlander f/1.0 🙂 but I never felt I had to explore other lenses because Leica have so many and they are all excellent. What I look for is usually lenses that can do something different, because that excites me.
You are correct - I have loads of Leica lenses and a massive investment in Leica, so I am absolutely not knocking Leica out of jealousy as many on the internet do. Without doubt Leica lenses are superb BUT so are many Zeiss ZM and Voigtlander lenses. The Zeiss Zm 35mm F2.8 C lens is probably the best 35mm lens ever made in an M mount. The 50mm Zeiss ZM Planar F2 is just as good as any Leica M Summicron. The point is that you absolutely don't have to buy Leica lenses for top quality results. I am very lucky that I own virtually all the M lenses bar the Noctilux that I bought and sold as it wasn't a good lens wide open (the F1 Version) never owned the f.95 version but other than that I own them all PLUs lots of Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses. In the real world I can't honestly tell a difference between them - they are all superb. The 15mm Voigtlander original screw LTM and the V3 M mount are superb ultra wide lenses and just as good as the sadly discontinued 18mm Elmar. Not always true that the most expensive is a guarantee of the best. PS:- Best picture I ever took was on a Leica 111A with a 1950's Leitz Elmar F3.5 wide open - total cost of that combo was less than £200.
I use both Leica and VL lenses. I agree the VL 50 F1.0 is superb.
Q is an entry level drug. My theory is if you like Ms, nothing compares. S and SL lenses are too big, though the SL works great with vintage glass. The little 50mm Elmar f2.8 reissue is a gem, by the way, and not expensive. And the 21mm Super Angulon ia great if you are not allergic to vignetting.
The 21mm Super Angulon is actually one of my favorite lenses, but the you have to use external light meter on the M9, M240 and M10 as the back of the lens shades for the light meter. But on the M11 the light metering is on the sensor, so now it works again. www.overgaard.dk/leica_M4_21mm_super_angulon-M_34.html
Amazing video!
Great video! Thanks.
I’m so proud that you use the photo that I made for you on 3:29 ❤
Me too 🙂
Thanks to you and your Danish accent it pushed me to buy the Leica M240 and have never looked back. Thank you. Now to buy a Leica 50mm lens.
Sage advice as always.
Thank you. Cheers.
Great video, and I completely agree with your points made about (free market) economy. Capitalism was supposed to bring us competition in quality and price, but nowadays it seems to be only about price, leading to a premium on the lowest denominator. Curious to learn your thoughts about inflation.
Oh, and the SL-summicron 50 is definitely better than the TL 35 in this video!😊
Yes, the 50mm L has better image than the 35 TL.
what I wouldn't give for Leica or anyone else to make a camera that was left eye centric instead of right eye all of the time. Thank you for your review!
because you would probably need a left hand shutter button
Hi Matt, i'm a canon user since 2007, i discovered leica in 2015 with the dlux typ 109, camera i still use today when travelling. Last year i bought a typ 601 especially for a bnw portrait practice. i do love to use m42 lenses, with the sl it's so easy. The sl is slower than my Eos R for the face tracking, it detects faces but not the eye, fortunately i use point focusing and don't need to take portraits in motion. When you take continuous shots the focusing is only on the first picture, if the subject moves you're out of focus. This is a limitation contrary to canon r. As for leica color science, the sl is amazing especially for skin tones. One limitation i notice contrary to my dlux typ 109 or eor R, there's no picture style even if i work in raw, sometimes i like to work in jpeg. No bnw filter, i have to shoot my bnw pictures with real filters as i used to 30 years ago. Last but not least, pictures on the screen are not so faithfull, rendering is better when you discover them on your laptop, on canon what you see is what you get, but i suppose it's due to 2015's screen technology. Nevertheless i'm very happy with this mirrolrless 😊
Until Noctilux or cinelenses are made in Portugal I will say it is still a second tier factory in leica. So it’s not the same as Canada where noc is made there. This means the 50/2 is a second tier lens compared to APO or Lux variant. It drives sales for people who cannot afford or refuse to. My thoughts only.
Yes, I agree that it's for people who won't afford the APO or Lux versions. And I guess the strategy is that once they see, they want the first tier and optimum available.
The lesson learned from Summarit lenses for the M, they were great and cheap, but you still want the Summicron or Summilux once you get into it.
I would presume that also, when Leica look at the sales figures of Panasonic and Sigma, they want to get in on that. The lower price market in photography has BIG numbers compared to the small numbers of Leica lenses and cameras sold.
Totally agree on the price of lens-no compromises please. Don't buy them if you think it's too expensive. Cheapening the lens would undermine the entire philosophy or eco system. I am buying the SL3 as soon as available probably buy two or three lens - 2 APOs and a vario.
For bump protection on the front of the lens, just buy a filter step-up ring that is 2-3mm bigger. Cheap and it works fine.
He makes and sells hood …
True, and you could even remove the glass filter and have just the frame. Would work.
I guess it’s all about choice. One thing I understand about Leica is that they have capacity to support their products old or new and this adds value in terms of investment and for them their legacy? Hasselblad recently abandoned their H series which is a real shame and although it was a partnership with Fuji and arguably not pure Hasselblad it probably means that for many their investment in that system has suddenly dropped hugely in value. And the legacy value is also diminished? My main take from your video is you get what you pay for and used/pre-owned is probably the way in to the Leica system?
Great video. Is that the 50 Apo LHSA black paint? On your M10R. Nice that you shoot with it ❤❤. I had the 50 apo black chrome, too nice to shoot with it😅
Yes, it's the LHSA limited edition (300 made). I wanted to buy the chrome version also, and never did. I should have as they both went 250% up in price and are now almost impossible to get.
35:22 The 35f2 8E peaked my interest but this is exactly why I didn’t buy it. I know I’ll end up selling it. I’m spoiled by my 50 Summicron and other lenses just don’t feel the same and don’t give me the results I expect. So I better just save more.
Can I have your opinion on this: Leica is doing now a promotion on SL2+Kits. Tempting... but isn't it because they will launch an SL3 in the coming months and they have to sell their stock? What's your take on SL2 + Zoom 24-70mm f2.8 as I want at least the same image quality as the Q2 did gave me.
Went on and on about everything but the topic at hand.
Painful to watch, I did not get too far with it.....
Since you mentioned that you‘re still using the original Leica SL, would you recommend buying one in 2023 with the main purpose of shooting manual Leica M lensen? I own an M6 and just want a digital body as well while still enjoying the „M-Experience“ while shooting analog. Official Leica Pre-Owned prizes are currently around € 2.000 which makes the SL 601 a very affordable entry point into the digital Leica World.
I had the 601, bought the SL2-S and I would still recommend the 601 - color rendition straight out of the camera is a bit richer imo. It is still a great camera even with the SL3 coming out soon
SL601 or SL2-S Reporter I would get. As @stephanbenjamins7895 mention, the SL601 has more film-like or richer images (as does the original Leica Q 116)
❤👍 i don t get the money back, because i will never ever sell anything of my Leica stuff. I do it with my SL from 2015 to by the SL2S. It was a big fault. I should wait several month and by the SL2S later. Now i am sad that i dont have it any more.
I by the Art lenses - i can shoot, afterwards i buy every year one of my favorit Leica lenses.
Greets from germany, Carsten Villa Petersberg
Best lenses are made in Oberkochen not in Wetzlar…..are they making any there or is everything now in Famalicão?
By Oberkochen you mean Carl Zeiss, I resume, because that is where they are.
Truth be told, most or all companies get their glass elements made to specifications elsewhere, in Japan or so. And then assembling is done in their own factories.
So I think the design of the lens elements is key, and Leica and Zeiss does have their own recipes for glass that make their glass unique. I know Leica have more than 2,000 glass patents, so they have some to chose from.
Will you be getting the new M11-P? Black/silver?!
No, skipping the M11-P. I never really got any of the P models, except the Safari M10-P because it was Safari Green.
I was silly enough to buy 2xM9's 1 ME 1M9 Monochrom 1M9P - ALL suffered from sensor corrosion but I thought Leica would stand by their products and so after the recall for new sensors, I waited and thought I would send them in once the rush had died down. How wrong I was Leica reneged on the sensor replacement and now I have 5 Digital M 's that are worthless. Please Thorsten don't make me laugh about paying for expensive "quality" items when these M9's are useless crap after the senors corrodes! Regards
Well they did replace them until 2020 so given that the m9 released in 2009 or something that's 11 years of replacement. You can always pay to have those corroded glasses replaced but it does cost roughly $1000 for each job.
M9 was a crappy primitive design, I was lucky to sell it before sensor corrosion.
I would get the sensors fixed and sell some of them :-)
leica m6 ttl or leica m6 2022
#filmisnotdead 🙂
I wonder how many SL lenses are in fact made by Leica with Leica design and manufacture...
Very few I think!
However if we talk about M lenses yes they are made by Leica and are real Leica lenses.
The SL system never convince me.
Now that Peter Karbe retire ... anything could happen. He was very loyal to the heritage of the previous chief lens designers and always sought to understand them in his own quest to develop lenses. That is the right place to look; the heritage of Leica.
The tendency in recent years has been to look at the market and see where it is going, and then do that "better" and "more simple".
It matters where you look and who you have by your side.
The SL APO Primes are incredible and 100% Leica Germany. However, they are pricey. It’s nice that there are great alternatives for L Mount for any budget.
This is technically identical to the Sigma 50mm with the same elements, just reshelled in a metal case. So great IQ, but annoying that it’s 6 times the price of the Sigma.
no, its the panasonic... the sigma is much sharper
You're right. Doh! I got mixed up.@@KnightlyHouse
Hi Thorsten, starting with the SL 50 2.0, you built a lot around it. Maybe a bit too much? Most of your Videos are closer to the topic, your written reviews also. I get your point… Always we have to pay much more for the 5-10 % of quality compared to more mainstream products. In reality the majority of cheaper lenses are used for the majority of output, from professionals and all others … I tried 140 lenses and over 100 bodies the last 15 Years, Leicas as M8, M9, M240, TL and CL, Q2, SL and SL2-S… and Leica lenses…in general I could see, myself, the difference between brand, bodies and lenses… some are very special and you can recognize them, as a Noctilux 50mm 1.0… some not… and the one you recognize is often only noticed by people with same interests. The most don’t care…:-)… they care fore the moment and a clean and good picture… But to come back…. It’s the passion and the little evil on the right shoulder why non professionals spend such amounts of money to pass the borders and see the special features …:-)… it’s also for me true, using different brand and returning to Leica…at the moment the wonderful SL2-S…
Frankly, there is not much to say about the lens itself
Totally agree @@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard
This is a panasonic rebadge made in a different factory with perhaps tighter tolerances but the exact same image quality at 6 times the price. an exercise in cynicism by leica
That's a lot of babbling.
boring
In this day and age, I'll take that as a compliment 🙂