Leica Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 (via adapter on Canon EOS) Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Canon EOS (APS-C)

Sample Images

Here're a couple of quick'n dirty sample shots taken with the EOS 350D and RAW-converted via RawShooter Premium.

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples (=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.

Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/1000s
Size 2311x3471
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/4000s
Size 3471x2311
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/2500s
Size 2311x3471
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/1600s
Size 3471x2311
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/320s
Size 2229x3356
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/4000s
Size 3471x2311
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/400s
Size 2311x3471
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 0.0mm
Exposure Data: f/0.0 @ 1/2000s
Size 3471x2311

Verdict

Using a Leica lens on a Canon EOS DSLR cannot be a mainstream solution. Due to the non-existent electronic coupling the handling is simply too cumbersome - you've no AF and no camera-controlled (automatic) aperture. As such an adapted Leica lens makes only sense if the lens is vastly superior compared to its native Canon counterpart. Canon "normal" lenses are already pretty good and the Leica Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 is an impressive lens but not substantially better - at least when used in the APS-C scope. The resolution characteristic is excellent in the center and good (f/1.4) to excellent (f/5.6) at the image borders. The contrast is unusually snappy even at f/1.4 which is probably the primary differentiator compared to other lenses. Distortions and vignetting are about average for a lens in this class whereas CAs are slightly higher than desirable. The bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is pretty good but not outstanding as you may have noticed in some of the provided sample images (e.g. the statue). The mechanical quality of the Leica is superb and about as good as it gets but you should expect no less than that regarding its surreal price tag (2500€) anyway.

Optical Quality:    
Mechanical Quality:
Price/Performance:
      
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