Which Two Lens to Meet Criteria

[barjohn]

I am not a pro and I want a light weight kit for travel. Which two lenses would you suggest in order to get maximum quality with minimum weight and maximum flexibility. I am thinking the right mix would be the 50 Summicron and the 28 Elmarit ASPH or instead of the 28 Elmarit, the 35 Summicron ASPH. Any thoughts or reccomendations? I have the 4th Gen 28 Elmarit M and it is too long and heavy so I will probably sell it. I also have the 40 Rokkor but I think it will be too close to the 50 so it will probably go.

 

[Sailor Ted]

Small light lenses to consider:

40mm f1.4 CV Nokton
35mm f2.0 Leica Summircon IV non-asph
35mm f1.4 Leica Summilux non-asph
35mm f2.5 CV Color Skopar P Type II
28mm f2.8 Leica Emlirat ASPH
28mm f3.5 CV Color-Skopar
25mm f4.0 CV Snapshot Skopar
21mm f4.0 CV Color Skopar


John these lenses should fit the bill as you expressed a need for small, compact and light lenses. The CV lenses are not as fast as the Leica lenses and the Leica glass as referenced are no longer in production but available used.

Cheers!

 

[barjohn]

Ted,

Because I am only going to carry two lenses I really want to stay with Leica glass. I thought the newer ASPH were smaller and lighter than the older lenses. I know that the new 28/2.8 is considerably smaller and lighter as is the 35/2. I think the type 3 50/2 is smaller and lighter than the newer one. Since the 28 is equivalent to a 37 and the 50 to a 66 that seemed to me about the right spread. The 24 is bigger and heaiver and so is the 75. The 35 would be almost a 50 and I was thinking that might be too close to the 50 at 66. Is my thinking right or am I off?

 

[Honus]

John,

If you add the 28mm Elmarit ASPH to the 40mm Rokkor that you already have, that will give you a nice compact kit that is roughly equivalent to a typical 35mm + 50mm on the M8. A 28+50 kit would work nicely as well. If you are only going to carry two lenses, the 28 and 35 are too close, imo.

I would decide what focal lengths are most important to you, then look for light, compact examples.

 

[Andy Aitken]

It's really a personal decision based on how you photograph but for me the CV21mm f4 (with a CV28mm finder) and the 40mm Summicron is a killer combination. You have very accurate framing with the 35mm frameline using a modified 40mm lens. You have the speed of the 40mm f2 and you have close focussing to 0.5m with the 21mm (ok it's uncoupled but with digital you can keep shooting 'til you get it right 😱). Both lenses are tiny and both are optically very, very good. And they won't break the bank.

 

[c6gowin]

I have both the new 28/2.8 ASPH and the 35/2 ASPH. The 28 is small and compact and the 35 is only very slightly larger (actually a tad longer). Neither is tiny like the C/V 15, but I consider them small. I am not familiar with the C/V models Sailor Ted mentioned so I can't offer a size comparison to them.

 

[Gid]

You might want to consider the Tri-Elmar Asph - 28, 35, 50. It is not very big (a tad smaller than the 90 2.8 Elmarit M) or heavy and gives you 3 focal lengths and no lens changing. The limiting factor is F4 max aperture, but with the M8's ISO range this should not be an issue in most circumstances. I've use mine extensively on the R-D1 (the lowlight shots in my gallery are with TE and M6 and ISO 400 film) and more recently with the M8. Makes a nice package. I believe Jaapv also uses one.

 

[barjohn]

Thanks for all the input. Now I have to examine the bank account and figure out what works for me. I found it interesting that no one suggested the longer lenses like the 75 but that is probably because it is too big and heavy.

 

[kbg32]

Andy, the 21/4 CV is coupled. The new 28 Elmarit is nit available yet I believe. Not til sometime in March.

 

[harmsr]

Personally for my style of shooting, I really like the 28 & 50 combo on the M8. A 35 is too close to either the 28 or 50 and I never ended up changing to it. On the other hand, when it is one lens only the 35 is what goes on the camera. My longer lens has become the 90.

Best,

Ray