Leica Glow on Pre ASPH Summilux


If you want the ultimate glow, look for the Leitz 9cm Thambar with the spot filter.
 

Love d kitty shots... Thanks...

Thanks, personally when I shoot with the 35 lux the effect seems to be more pronounced on film. I never bother to stop down the lens imo, if I want sharpness & contrast I would stick with my Canon L glass.
 

If you want the ultimate glow, look for the Leitz 9cm Thambar with the spot filter.

Legendary Thambar.... Rare to get, especially good copies and extremely expensive, almost enuff to pay for an FLE... LOL
 

Thanks, personally when I shoot with the 35 lux the effect seems to be more pronounced on film. I never bother to stop down the lens imo, if I want sharpness & contrast I would stick with my Canon L glass.

Yeah... Love d versatility of having 2 different fast prime lenses giving totally different looks. Cheers.
 

Yes, the glow is a lens defect.

Many Leica die hard fans called it glow or coma, just because they cant stand their top brand having a defect. :bsmilie:


Anyway, if you do not shoot wide open, it shouldnt affect you. The pre asph lux is one of my fave 35mm lux, small & compact in size. Currently RF lenses are huge as they have to accomodate the glasses in it which are correcting the previous flaw, thus the huge size.

I think sharpness/resolution of lenses are over rated. No point chasing the latest for the best resolution, the sharpnes. Honestly, please show me some hands, how many people here actually print larger than A2?
Well, if you shoot landscape, you would want as much resolution as possible, and the least amount of distortion.

If you are shooting people, what you'd be concerned about is whether the lens makes the person look pretty or something. :bsmilie: Rather than how many pores he has...
 

Hmm, I think the 'glow' is overrated. Lens coma can be very annoying and can ruin a lot of shots, esp those with pin point light sources (street lamps at night). I feel that it's much better to rely on good photo technique like lighting etc than to rely on "Leica glow".

Personal opinion of course.
 

I don't think you will get the Leica glow on the XE1. I have both the XE1 and a Ricoh GXR-M. The pictures come out more real on the GXRM than with the XE1. I had a photo taken at Club St - white wall of a shop house, around noon, high contrast with a 35mmcron ASPH.

With the GXRM, the details of the white/cream wall were still there in what would be a high contrast shot. With the XE, it seemed softer, veiled, a thin film overlay, but still with detail. Same for most shots in other settings. Not sure if this is a Leica glow but it sure looks better.

I don't know how to upload (and no time to learn it) but some samples are posted in the Member's Gallery.

Try your M lenses on the GXR and XE, compare and decide for yourself. For me, the GXR is probably the next best to an M9 for Leica lenses.
 

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ziggy said:
I don't think you will get the Leica glow on the XE1. I have both the XE1 and a Ricoh GXR-M. The pictures come out more real on the GXRM than with the XE1. I had a photo taken at Club St - white wall of a shop house, around noon, high contrast with a 35mmcron ASPH.

With the GXRM, the details of the white/cream wall were still there in what would be a high contrast shot. With the XE, it seemed softer, veiled, a thin film overlay, but still with detail. Same for most shots in other settings. Not sure if this is a Leica glow but it sure looks better.

I don't know how to upload (and no time to learn it) but some samples are posted in the Member's Gallery.

Try your M lenses on the GXR and XE, compare and decide for yourself. For me, the GXR is probably the next best to an M9 for Leica lenses.

Hi ziggy. R u using d pre asph summilux on d X-E1? Coz mine glows like hell at f/1.4 on d same setup.

GXR is a great cam specifically made to suit d M lenses. So of coz its a great cam for all d M lenses on d APS-C sensor.

But M lenses works very well on NEX n X series. U can check out some of d shots from pics sharing from NEX n X series threads. Cheers.
 

Just another example of harnessing the Leica Glow on portraiture shots.

d63252d1b83deba5b2009c2a55a25633.jpg
 

I like this lens because it is small, not because of the glow.

In theory, Leica glow is good for shooting portraiture. The aura negates skin blemishes without need for photoshop. However, for portraiture I would use 50mm Sonnar instead for glow. I would not use 35mm for portraiture.

For 35mm, I am shooting street, and for street I very seldom stop down to F1.4 (for obvious reasons)
 

artspraken said:
I like this lens because it is small, not because of the glow.

In theory, Leica glow is good for shooting portraiture. The aura negates skin blemishes without need for photoshop. However, for portraiture I would use 50mm Sonnar instead for glow. I would not use 35mm for portraiture.

For 35mm, I am shooting street, and for street I very seldom stop down to F1.4 (for obvious reasons)

Well. 35mm is a versatile range for both street n portrait without changing lens. Haha
 

Well. 35mm is a versatile range for both street n portrait without changing lens. Haha

If I need a serious portrait with the characteristics mentioned, I would use a Petzval lens.
 

sweat100 said:
If I need a serious portrait with the characteristics mentioned, I would use a Petzval lens.

Pls use it. Cheers.
 

sweat100 said:
Yup! For your consideration in your lens list. :)

I dun even know wat lens is tat. LOL. Any links or photo to share?
 

Hi ziggy. R u using d pre asph summilux on d X-E1? Coz mine glows like hell at f/1.4 on d same setup.

GXR is a great cam specifically made to suit d M lenses. So of coz its a great cam for all d M lenses on d APS-C sensor.

But M lenses works very well on NEX n X series. U can check out some of d shots from pics sharing from NEX n X series threads. Cheers.

Hi Toth

Pictures from a Leica lens very often look more natural. I have shot Leica lenses on m43, XE1 and the GXRM and of course on film (M3 SS/R cams). After comparing the photos from the GXR and the m43 (GX1/GF1/GH1), it seems that the GXRM looks cleaner than the XE1 and the m43.

The Fuji 35mmf1.4 is a very sharp lens, a bit sharper at the edges than the 35FLE. On the GXRM+35FLE, the edges are a little sharper than the XE+XEF35mm. However the GXR still looks cleaner overall. This is especially obvious in dim lighting - my gallery photo of the Malay lady.

IME, it seems that the GXR is at this moment probably the best low cost alternative to an M9 in getting the best out of Leica or any M lenses.
 

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ziggy said:
Hi Toth

Pictures from a Leica lens very often look more natural. I have shot Leica lenses on m43, XE1 and the GXRM and of course on film (M3 SS/R cams). After comparing the photos from the GXR and the m43 (GX1/GF1/GH1), it seems that the GXRM looks cleaner than the XE1 and the m43.

The Fuji 35mmf1.4 is a very sharp lens, a bit sharper at the edges than the 35FLE. On the GXRM+35FLE, the edges are a little sharper than the XE+XEF35mm. However the GXR still looks cleaner overall. This is especially obvious in dim lighting - my gallery photo of the Malay lady.

IME, it seems that the GXR is at this moment probably the best low cost alternative to an M9 in getting the best out of Leica or any M lenses.

Oic. Din really did comparison though. But I've seen some photos online from GXRM n Lux FLE. Really sharp n nice I must say. Haha. But I dun like d looks of GXRM. Sad to say.

Till d new Leica M comes. X-E1 will b my m mount companion. Cheers.
 

Don't see any value added to the photos I see here or whatever glow I see here... But I guess it's just not my cup of tea... Good luck!

Pursuit on! Maybe if the world ends, darkness fall, the glow can light your path! :)

Ho ho ho! Merry Xmas!
 

I am replying to this thread only because I feel that the past replies are being really kind to the TS, who seems to have already come to his own conclusion (before) the thread he started to get information on.

When I first started RF in 2010, the members I met were into enjoying the photography/moments in using RF, and not lean too much into the 'technicalities'.
If you (TS) find that you already have a grasp (from the evident replies you have to everyone) who have posted reviews (which you asked for), then maybe a simple 'thank you' would have suffice.
 

Benji77 said:
I am replying to this thread only because I feel that the past replies are being really kind to the TS, who seems to have already come to his own conclusion (before) the thread he started to get information on.

When I first started RF in 2010, the members I met were into enjoying the photography/moments in using RF, and not lean too much into the 'technicalities'.
If you (TS) find that you already have a grasp (from the evident replies you have to everyone) who have posted reviews (which you asked for), then maybe a simple 'thank you' would have suffice.

Tks for replying n Tks to all who gave their feedback. Seems many doesn't like d effect of this glow but of coz everyone have their own preferences. Cheers.
 

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