Hi all. I'm happy with my E-P3 and 25/1.4, but for my next lens I'm torn between the Oly 45/1.8 vs a Leica Summicron 50/2 (M39--the 'radioactive' kind for $900, not the newer one for ~$3000). I am strongly leaning towards the Oly ($400, AF, sharp) but am considering the Leica (superb colors though MF, approx $900 used). I will readily admit that my days of MF shooting are mostly over (since my SLR film days), but with a good M-adaptor, I know I can get the Leica lens to work some magic.

I wonder if anyone else has considered these two? I am leaning heavily towards the Oly 45/1.8 (cheaper, AF, excellent images) so perhaps this is moot... however, does anyone have thoughts on color rendition/other comments on the Summicron vs the Oly 45/1.8? For non-pro work, I doubt the Summicron will have any meaningful difference over the Oly for me. Just curious...

Oly 45/1.8: Amazon.com: Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8
Leica Summicron 50/2: Leica Summicron 50/2.0 (sample ebay listing)

I dont know the Leica at all, but every legacy lens Ive tried tends to be really soft when used with a digital camera, when the aperture is wide open, effectively forcing you at least a half stop and often one stop up to get acceptable performance. Not sure how the Leicas do in this regard, but Ive had this issue with Takumars, OM, FD and Rokkor lenses.

__________________
EM5; 9-18, PL25, 100-300 and some others.
(also, 6D + RX100)

My experience too, with Nikkors, Zuikos and Voigtlanders.

Older designs generally are fairly low contrast wide-open. If you're interested in crisp image, you're forced to stop down fairly significantly.

The other issue is MF. A good EVF helps, but it's still a frustrating process.

DH

Having shot with both ( but owned neither), I'd get the Olympus. It treally is very very good.

Gordon

__________________
Central Coast Wedding Photographer

An Introduction To Colour Management for Photographers

Flash is completely mirrorless.

Exactly the reason I decided I had to have the 45mm. The eyes just don't handle changing focus as well as they used to and AF systems have improved.

__________________
RB67, 124g, E-620, E-PL2
45/1.8, 17/2.8, 14/2.5, 14-42 II, 40-150, Sigma 19 & 30mm
A few of my photos

I haven't used the leica lens, but I have other legacy lenses in the 50mm range and to be honest, I think 45mm beats them all. I use it mainly for portraits and couldn't be happier with the buy. I'd suggest you to spend $400 on this and buy a different lens with the money you save.

Well, of those two I'd get the Olympus...if I wanted a 50 lens that was very close in performance to the Olympus I'd probably go with the OM50/1.4. Like most legacy glass it's a bit soft wide open but stopped down a bit it is rally quite nice and at $100 for a nice one it's a terrific bargain. That said, my eyes are also not what they once were and AF is pretty nice. I also find the legacy glass+adapter is a pretty big package to set on a Pen or even RF style Panasonic cameras. The Summicron won't have that problem.

Another option is the Pen-F 40/1.4 (also really nice) but a bit more spend at around $250 and to be honest I'd probably still go for the Olympus 45.

This is what the rigid summicron can do if you get the focus right(GH-2 base iso RAW). Haven't got the oly 45mm but instead just received the LEICA DG macro-elmarit 45mm over the weekend which will be compared with the cron later.



,,,

I have a Summicron 50/2. There were five(?) slight variations over the years that a Leica-phile can tell you all about. They are all quite similar. This and a few other old Leica lenses is why got into m4/3.

It's a wonderful lens. It's sharp at f/2. It "draws" a beautiful image. The bokeh is good, but not Leica's best. For me it's slow to focus. It makes candid portraits difficult for me.

I really want an Olympus 45/1.8. The images I've seen here show me it's as good as the Summicron. It has it's own character and the bokeh is nicer to my eyes. And it auto-focuses fast. And the f stop is displayed in the finder. I use a G2, maybe glancing at the lens isn't an issue with E-3.

I'll keep the Summicron because I love it, but the 45/1.8 is next on my list when my budget allows.

Fred

Thanks for everyone's comments and thoughts. I am going to buy the 45/1.8. Ergo, I'll be removing all those Leica 50 Summicron "watch list" items on my ebay. :)