The GetDPI Photography Forum

Great to see you here. Join our insightful photographic forum today and start tapping into a huge wealth of photographic knowledge. Completing our simple registration process will allow you to gain access to exclusive content, add your own topics and posts, share your work and connect with other members through your own private inbox! And don’t forget to say hi!

75 Cron Performance

ecliffordsmith

New member
Hi All,

I am recently back from a holiday and as I was going through my shots I was, once again stunned by the detail this lens picks up. I have had it for approaching a year now and it still surprises me.

Never fails to bring a smile to my face.
 

jonoslack

Active member
HI Ed
I couldn't agree more - my favorite lens by some margin - I also love the fact that it focuses closer than anything except the 90 macro.

Wonderful lens.
 
S

SAKIIMAGES

Guest
Hey ecliffordsmith I'd like to see some more examples if your able to post them. I have a 75 1.4 Lux on hold and trying to determine if I go with that (as I do like the way it draws) or the Cron. I do know the cron is technicaly more capable, but I like the 1.4 f stop on the lux.
 

ecliffordsmith

New member
Hi,

Here are a few more examples from this lens that I think demonstrate its character. It truly is bastard sharp.

Good luck with your decision, you will win either of course!
 
S

SAKIIMAGES

Guest
Man this is a gem of a lens. Thanks for the quick response. I guess it will be a difficult choice but I am sure your right either or will be great.
 
S

SAKIIMAGES

Guest
Your making my decision harder... best not ask 35mm Summilux vs Cron discussion. I think I may need to get a loan.

I like the cron, but concerned about the f2 rather than f1.4. I do like shooting in low light and available light.

Here is an example of the 75 Lux I have put a deposit on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7645287@N03/2505795048/
 

cam

Active member
check out the "bokeh" thread -- there are several lovely images from the 75 Cron to make your decision even harder.

i think the example you posted on flickr, however, is gorgeous! i love the draw as well (at heart a Lux girl, i guess). very different look from the Cron... i'm still very new this all (having just gotten an Epson R-D1 not an M8 and a new obsession for glass), but i've found that you can ask everybody in the world about various lens and it comes down to how it feels in your hands, on your images, with your camera, etc.
 

Stuart Richardson

Active member
I am one of the crazy people who has both the lux and cron...I got the lux back when a mint one was 1500 dollars, and then the cron not long after it came out. They are both absolutely superb. It really comes down to what you want to use them for. They differ in look wide open more than in any other way. If you are interested in a consistent look of strong sharpness and contrast across the frame at all apertures, get the summicron. If you are looking for that at from f/2.8 and above, but want the speed of 1.4 and a softer look from 2.5 to 1.4, then get the summilux. Above 2.8, the summicron and summilux look very similar. At 1.4 to f/2, the summilux has a different look -- there is some spherical aberration that makes the highlights glow, the edges slightly fuzzy and the overall look quite dream-like.

So if you just want a lens that is compact, easy to handle and extremely sharp at every aperture, get the summicron. If you want a lens that changes looks from dreamlike to extremely sharp depending on aperture and you don't care about the size and weight then get the summilux.

Basically, I think the 75mm summilux takes the most beautiful photos in the M system, but the 75mm f/2 takes the most technically perfect.

75mm summilux:






75mm summicron:



 

jonoslack

Active member
Well summed up Stuart - and great photos.
I think it's important not to allow people to think of the 75 'cron as 'clinical' - it's accurate and sharp, sure, but it has a lovely gentle bokeh, and as an added bonus it focuses very close - giving a larger magnification ratio of any of the leica lenses except the 90 macro elmarit.
 

Stuart Richardson

Active member
I would agree, it is not clinical, but it will demonstrate exceedingly fine detail at the focal point, so if you want to hide wrinkles and so on, get a softar.The summilux will blur these details very slightly at f/1.4, particularly up close. My biggest surprise with it was the bokeh -- it is very nice and not harsh in any way, unlike some of the other asph lenses.

Still, if I had to have only one of them, it would be the summilux without a moment's hesitation. It is more versatile and has a special something that is hard to define.
 

Stuart Richardson

Active member
Thanks Charles...I suspect that you are right about the Mandler thing. I believe he did the 100mm APO elmarit R as well...and the 50/1.4 asph, and the noctilux...the man knew what he was doing.

As for the portrait....well, sometimes the briefest sparks are the ones that burn most brightly...
 

Terry

New member
Well since my 75 cron is a very new addition to my bag ( I was the beneficiary of the MF insanity going on) I don't have much yet. However, I did like this one I posted in the San Juan thread:


View attachment 5138
 
S

SAKIIMAGES

Guest
All you have provided some great images and insight. I tend to agree with cam in what was said "it comes down to how it feels in your hands, on your images, with your camera, etc..." I love the images on the Cron but I do love the softness which can be achieved with the Lux and the f1.4 option. It also does feel great in my hands on the M8, heavy yes but balanced in my view.

If money was no option I think I'd have the cron as well.... I do have the 28mm Cron and that is such a fine lens and it seems the Cron's across the range are great lenses.
 
Top