Author Topic: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit  (Read 18135 times)

Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« on: June 27, 2015, 20:11:56 »
This will be an ongoing review of the Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit.

It is a new lens in the Leica M lens line up, the privies version was f/2.5 and being German they have probably tweaked the design a bit to really open up this  by 0.1 f stops - Not that it matters at all, just being precise... :)

I was the first paying customer today at the new Leica Boutique in Copenhagen so here follows a review of the little lens, the size and weight is typical for this series very nice for travel and obstructive and discrete shooting.

It can off course be used on more or less all mirror less bodies that accept exchangeable lenses, I'll make sure Jann Ann shoots it next time he's around with his Sony A7S or A7RII? :)

My findings for now are from the old Leica M 9

The lens has a metal focus ring with a ribbed rubber grip otherwise similar in design as the usual Leica M focus rings, the grip is very positive. the focus throw on rangefinder lenses is very critical and on this lens it feels quite adequate - Some of the Leica M lenses are really difficult to focus because of this.

Lens has ED elements and feels like it is build really well, smooth focus feel and distinct end stop at infinity. My Leica M lenses has a very different feel to the aperture clicks, this one is perfect. My 35mm f/1.4 Asph is very loose to the point where it is actually too loose... should send it in for adjustment actually.

Grip for mounting and the mount are standard Leica M 6-bit coded for giving the camera info on the lens type.

Lens hood supplied with the lens and it is a simple screw in type very similar to the old school Nikon HN type lens hoods with the added feature from the HS type lens hoods, that it can be reverse mounted on the lens, Nice feature for even more compact travel. Definitely my preferred design for protection of lenses, as an intended shade from sun rays and flare but also damage from bumps etc.

Two lens caps are supplied, one for when the lens hood is used and a smaller for when the small front thread protection ring is used... I don't use lens caps so they stay in the lens pouch, they are always ready in the bag with just a rear lens cap in place.

Now some close ups, that is as close as you get on Leica M - it's definitely not the strong side of the range finder system to make macro images, they have the 90mm f/4 with a macro rig but... just pick up another type of camera for that... :)

Here I'm shooting more like environmental close up's to show some of the power from this set up, I really like the overall rendering and feel often I state it as a nice smooth even color transition - Anyway I like it :)

Usually one hear that some Leica lenses has a 'Glow' for sure I see some nice looking glow in some of the leaf shots here - not sure if that was people are referring too though ;)

First up is a portrait of Mette in the shop, no comment, it just works :)

The first snail shot is a crop the rest are as shot with some PP here and there.

The antenna shot got overexposed by a couple of stops but cleaned up nice and crisp.

Last is a 100% crop sweet lovely rendering IMHO

So far its thumbs up! Super nice - Hope to shoot some more street scenes and landscapes soon...
Thanks for looking!
Erik Lund

Frank Fremerey

  • engineering art
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 12333
  • Bonn, Germany
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2015, 21:16:04 »
Very convincing examples in the Otus quality range. Thank you for sharing your insights too
You are out there. You and your camera. You can shoot or not shoot as you please. Discover the world, Your world. Show it to us. Or we might never see it.

Me: https://youpic.com/photographer/frankfremerey/

Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2015, 13:38:57 »
Thanks Frank!

Here come some product shots, the whole set it's interesting that Leica continues now to deliver an all inclusive package with their M lenses, I'm especially happy with the lens hood design and off course the overall workmanship that has gone into the design and manufacture of the lens! It makes the use and ownership a little more pleasurable.

A small detail; The rear part of the aperture ring slides in over a lip on the focus as you approach infinity, looks nice and probably hides some mechanical parts other vise visible to the extremely compact design lay out, the extension from 0.7M to infinity is 10.25 mm the overall length incl hood at infinity is about 96mm.

11 aperture blades, look forward to see the sun stars... :)

First the whole set incl hood, protection ring if the hood is not used.

In the second image you can see the ring mounted on the front of the lens.

The firmware of my old Leica M9 does not recognize the code since there has not been an update for it yet, if we will ever see one...

Last mounted on M9 - Nice compact package.
Erik Lund

Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2015, 12:28:38 »
...
The firmware of my old Leica M9 does not recognize the code since there has not been an update for it yet, if we will ever see one...

My bad, I didn't recall that Leica already updated the firmware back in November 2014 when they announced the new Summarit lenses

The new firmware 1.202 recognizes the new 75mm f/2.4 without any issues

Just remember that the user settings are reset when updating, so note them if needed :)

Last note is that some more checks takes place regarding the SD-Card so the red diode is blinking some more compared to some of the early firmware releases...
Don't worry all works fine :)
Erik Lund

tommiejeep

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1173
  • Look for the light
    • Nikonians
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2016, 14:14:39 »
Erik, I've viewed this review a few times.  I finally found the Summarit -M 75mm 2.5 version, new, at a great price from the guy that owns Progear in Auckland NZ.  Love the lens on the Sony a7II.  Many thanks for all of your help.  Now that I spent the money for that lens I just bought a Nikon 100 f2.8 E and a 50 1.8 E for the a7II.  Now those were cheap  ;)  Extremes... lol
Cheers,
Tom
Roland probably knows, or knows of, Graham
Tom Hardin, Goa, India

Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2016, 17:52:56 »
Congratulations! Enjoy it/Them   :D
Erik Lund

Hugh_3170

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 1996
  • Back in Melbourne!
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2016, 16:56:09 »
You have made a good saving on the f/2.5 version Tommie.  Do you or Erik know whether there are marked performance differences between the f/2.5 and the newer f/2.4 versions of the 75mm M-lens?

(Thanks BTW to Erik for his review of the f/2.4 lens.)
Hugh Gunn

Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2016, 21:19:44 »
IQ should be identical. Thanks ;)
Erik Lund

tommiejeep

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1173
  • Look for the light
    • Nikonians
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2016, 05:11:25 »
Hugh, I waited for Erik to respond thinking maybe he had come across a newer breakdown on the two lenses.  When He and I were discussing the two editions of the lens there was nothing that categorically explained the difference.   I kept watching for a good deal on the f2.4 but then the 2.5 showed up at less than half of the best price I could find on the 2.4 so....and that included shipping and Duty.    No brainer for me  :)  .  I am certainly happy I opted for 75mm vs 90 mm but I had been using the Voight 75 f2.5 LTM for some time and some 90mm lenses so I knew the FLs.
Cheers,
Tom
Tom Hardin, Goa, India

Hugh_3170

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 1996
  • Back in Melbourne!
Re: Leica M 75mm f/2.4 Summarit
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2016, 05:24:29 »
Thanks Tom. 

You are right:  knowing the FL is certainly a very handy start in "learning" a new lens.  Good luck with your new f/2.5.

......................................
...................................... 

I am certainly happy I opted for 75mm vs 90 mm but I had been using the Voight 75 f2.5 LTM for some time and some 90mm lenses so I knew the FLs.
Cheers,
Tom
Hugh Gunn