2013General Discussion forum
Performance characteristics and practical issues with Leica Summilux-C prime lenses
13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The lenses are sharp, fast, and relatively lightweight with consistent sizing across the set.
- Flare and reflections can occur with bright backgrounds on dark objects and from fluorescent lighting, particularly noticeable on Red Epic cameras.
- Focus throw distances are similar but not identical across individual lenses, requiring separate calibration for each lens rather than relying on single calibration for the entire set.
- Steadicam compatibility is good due to uniform size and weight distribution.
- Some users report that the bokeh rendering is occasionally undesirable despite optical sharpness.
- Engraving markings on some lenses did not align between opposite sides of the same lens.
Depends on
- Flare issues were specifically observed with Red Epic camera combination.
- The cause of certain reflections was not definitively determined.
- Bokeh character assessment represents subjective preference rather than measurable optical defect.
- Hand Unit-3 steadicam integration noted to work better with version 2.1 software, but this software requirement may change over time.
- The engraving misalignment issue occurred on some lenses but not all in the set.