Leica Glow on Pre ASPH Summilux

[pikapig]

I somehow agree with gary's comment n others who think de glow is over rated..
its a defect...u wont go to a shop to buy a new lens with defect n cheer over the defect? If you want glow and softness..there is always filter like zeiss softar filter..which is probably $35 on 2nd hand market?

N doesnt mean its leica, everything associated with it is a good thing. Most of the time its self convincing rather than factual. "Its a leica, the picture sure look fantastic...how can a 3k lens don produce above average shots?" We have all forgotten that its the human factor that is de one creating the amazing shots..

N i somehow disagree that gxr is the best combi with leica lens...leica or ltm werent even designed for that camera...everyone did their fair share of testing before they buy their camera..

All in all just shoot what u feels right. Don get too bothered with it..if its nt too plesant for your eyes..sell it..
Finding assurance on forum isnt going to help..the comments u have gotten are all personal comments, some flaunting their knowledge, others just add a random para..
Afterall its just a hobby..

 

[newghost]

I adore Leica and I :heart: "glow"!!!

 

[Thoth]

I adore Leica and I :heart: "glow"!!!

Tks bro newghost. Me too. Haha.

 

[newghost]

Another lens that "glows" what open is the Nikkor Seven elements Coated 50mm f1.4 (or f1.5) ltm!

 

[Thoth]

Another lens that "glows" what open is the Nikkor Seven elements Coated 50mm f1.4 (or f1.5) ltm!

Heard abt this too. Haven't had a chance to try it. Haf u sold off yr pre asph lux 35? Fudgecake wanna buy or trade wif u wif his (your previously owned) biogon 35-2.8. Haha

 

[sillbeers15]

I believe the much talked about 'Leica Glow' is an effect related to the lens construction / design during the pre-ASPH era or rather film era. Carl Zeiss T* C/Y mount lenses have similar charater to leica lenses.
I also believe the 'leica look' image has evolved over time when ASPH and degital M cameras were introduced. Most folks talk about creamy boken and 'pop - 3D' look as charateristic images of current digital Leica images. The 'Leica Look' that is rather unique but can be 'created' through software enhancement from any other digital camera maker's images.
I am excited to wait for the new CMOS sensored images of the soon to release Leica M comparing to M8 & M9's CCD sensor images (which in my opinion looked wonderful). Well we just have to wait and see then...

 

[newghost]

On a more serious note, modern Leica lenses are so "clinical" and in a way, lacking character... the "glow" or rather soft luminance of these olders lenses when shot wide open is essential lens design imperfection resulting in "flare" of a different kind, yes the rendition is not-so-common indeed, though you may get the "halo" effect with another haze inhabited lens too! :bsmilie:

Why we "play" with vintage lenses? Why not go for Zeiss glass with all those 3D pop? Or perhaps, the all so lovely out of focus sonnar rendition? End of day, you stopped down to F8.0, that's just another lens...

 

[pixelbrain]

I adore Leica and I :heart: "glow"!!!

yeah i dont care what they say, i love the lux glow too! lol

 

[Thoth]

yeah i dont care what they say, i love the lux glow too! lol

Sounds so like me. LOL.

 

[ziggy]

In my 30+ years of taking photos as a hobby, I have used all kinds of cameras, film, lenses, etc. Not much of a photographer though as I can only think of a few photos that are really very good. Most of them had one constant - they were taken with Leica lenses, glow or not, from a R15mm, 280mmf4 APO to the M50lux V2,ASPH.

Photos shot on the Leica lenses have that unique richness that captures the mood well, especially when enlarged to 8R or larger.

I got back into photography in 1989 after a 10 year break because I had left a friend's bashed up R3 with a R28mm lens on the railing of the then Promenade (now Paragon) for a 2 sec shot of Orchard Road one December evening after rain. The colours on the prints made me order my first Leica R and lens, both used and just as bashed up, from the US.

So whatever the reasons for taking photos, one of them is Leica lenses which gives me an unfair advantage for better photos especially when enlarged to AO sizes.

 

[third3rdwheel]

"Glow"= Defect.

 

[Fudgecakes]

"Glow"= Defect.

Regardless, this defect can have a really pleasing effect, no?

 

[mamypoko]

Having shot LF, there are actually a series of brass soft focus lenses (Cooke, B&L, Pinkham) that were made to exaggerate the spherical aberrations that caused the glow, most had adjustments to adjust to the amount of softness that was needed.

What we see as defects now were actually put to great use by a previous generation of photographers.

 

[ZoomZ]

If the photo is taken well with the glow used correctly, it maybe pleasing. Perhaps with perspective?

If the whole photo is just "glow" with no focusing point, it makes the photo look confusing to me with just bright and blur image. Cause headaches just looking at the photo. Where is the pleasing effect to talk about?

I think all tools if used correctly, are great for photography. But some of the blur and de-focused shots are not those that I have seen which are really described as Leica Glow.

Regardless, this defect can have a really pleasing effect, no?

 

[Thoth]

If the photo is taken well with the glow used correctly, it maybe pleasing. Perhaps with perspective?

If the whole photo is just "glow" with no focusing point, it makes the photo look confusing to me with just bright and blur image. Cause headaches just looking at the photo. Where is the pleasing effect to talk about?

I think all tools if used correctly, are great for photography. But some of the blur and de-focused shots are not those that I have seen which are really described as Leica Glow.

Tatz d point of starting this thread no? To gather feedback from experienced Leica glow users n see how to use it correctly to give d pleasing look. Cheers. I agree wif u OTT glow is not pleasing at all. Still working on harnessing d glow for a good pleasing shot. Tks.

 

[dacteo]

In my 30+ years of taking photos as a hobby, I have used all kinds of cameras, film, lenses, etc. Not much of a photographer though as I can only think of a few photos that are really very good. Most of them had one constant - they were taken with Leica lenses, glow or not, from a R15mm, 280mmf4 APO to the M50lux V2,ASPH.

Photos shot on the Leica lenses have that unique richness that captures the mood well, especially when enlarged to 8R or larger.

I got back into photography in 1989 after a 10 year break because I had left a friend's bashed up R3 with a R28mm lens on the railing of the then Promenade (now Paragon) for a 2 sec shot of Orchard Road one December evening after rain. The colours on the prints made me order my first Leica R and lens, both used and just as bashed up, from the US.

So whatever the reasons for taking photos, one of them is Leica lenses which gives me an unfair advantage for better photos especially when enlarged to AO sizes.

I have my leica lens and I love them... But ur statement is quite misleading that sounds as if only leica is the way to go...

 

[ziggy]

I have my leica lens and I love them... But ur statement is quite misleading that sounds as if only leica is the way to go...

Nope it's not the only way to go but all their lenses M or R were at least consistently good - there are other favourites from Nikon, Contax G and others. You just got to go and try them out and find out which are the ones, at least during the pre-internet days.

I wish there are less expensive alternatives but so far no. Can't say the same for their camera bodies though - not too hot on their digital bodies.

 

[Thoth]

Nope it's not the only way to go but all their lenses M or R were at least consistently good - there are other favourites from Nikon, Contax G and others. You just got to go and try them out and find out which are the ones, at least during the pre-internet days.

I wish there are less expensive alternatives but so far no. Can't say the same for their camera bodies though - not too hot on their digital bodies.

Think d Zeiss Contax CY 50mm f/1.7 I'm having is really value for money. Sharp, nice Bokeh n 3D pop. Less than 400 bucks. Haha. Great portraiture lens.

 

[pikapig]

Glow or not glow..
sharp or not sharp isnt important..

The right tool in capable hands will produce amazing results..

Ppl will question the setup behind the beautiful pic automatically.

it shldnt be vice versa..

Merry Xmas everyone

 

[RubbishBin1987]

Having shot LF, there are actually a series of brass soft focus lenses (Cooke, B&L, Pinkham) that were made to exaggerate the spherical aberrations that caused the glow, most had adjustments to adjust to the amount of softness that was needed.

What we see as defects now were actually put to great use by a previous generation of photographers.

Well, there are quite a number of flawed lenses in LF that i have used, some are too soft for work though. Cooke and velostigmat II are some of the more desired one because of their "just right softness" from most pov as well as adjustable softness.

One point to note is that if i am shooting 135 format, there are certain degree of worry i am concern about if it is a flawed lens. Reason being that the lens might affect resolution especially in lpmm. If I am shooting 135 in a 35mm frame size (24 * 36mm), even enlarging it to a 4r size is actually several times enlargement. The issue being starters nowadays depend on reviews written by reviewer which varies in accuracy more than actual understanding of the lens data like mtf chart etc.

I do know of certain overrated 135 rf lens that utilising the pin hole design for their wider lenses to have a small lens size while having low amount of lpmm in the lens to be seen as sharp as lpmm gets lower. The issue is that the flaw being unseen is mostly due to user pushing that film to outragous ASA speed which cause the grain size to shadow over loss of lpmm.

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

:think:, patrick pulling ppl into the dark side in LF.