Almost getting to the end of my "Back to Basics" project. About 160 rolls so far, mostly done in variations of D76 and with either Arista Premium 400 or triX.
The last 5 rolls were done with Tmax2-400 and HC110 as a comparison with the older style emulsions. the Tmax2-400 is probably the finest grain 400 iso film made. Not as flexible as the TriX and does require better metering skills as it doesn't like over/under exposure by more than 3/4 stop.
The last 5 rolls also were done with more "modern glass". I just picked the 4 lenses in my arsenal that I think are among the best today (with one exception - the 90f2.8 M-Elmarit).
There is no real conclusion, and I did not think that there would be. Even lenses from the 60's are more than good enough for TriX/D76 and probably 95% of everything you want to do. Yes, lenses like the 21f4.5 C Biogon, the 35f2.8 C Biogon, Elmar 50f2.8 vII are marginally better in most cases, but not enough to make a big difference in the end result.
The only lens that I always had problem with is the 90f2.8 M-Elmarit. I have had a couple of them over the years and for some reason, never warmed to it. It is a bit smaller and lighter than a pre-Asph 90f2 - but not significantly so - so why not get that extra stop of the Summicron. It is also, in my opinion, a very "bland" lens - sharp enough, good enough contrast - but about as exciting as stale bread!
I will add some more stuff to the Back to Basics set as I go along - but not stay wedded to the slow 21's and f2.8 35/50/90. Need to try out a couple of Divided D76 formulas etc and TriX/XX in them. Might even shoot some +X for that.
Not many surprises, the 21f3.4 SA is still a great lens with its own look. The Summaron 35f2.8 can hold its own against any Summicron, the v1 Elmar 50f2.8 is nice, but not spectacular and the Elmarit v1 90f2.8 I find more pleasing than the M-Elmarit 90f2.8. The C-Biogon 35f2.8 is probably one of the best, if not the best 35 lens I have ever used. Amazing quality in bl/w. The 21f4.5 again, one of the best, if not the best 21 available. The Elmar 50f2.8 vII is superb - prefer it to a Summicron on any reasonably bright day and compact too.
All of this is of course highly subjective - and many will disagree with me, which is fine. My point was simply that one can live with a f2.8 set of lenses quite comfortably - and still get the shots. the benefit is small size, light weight, better prices - but no real problems - and it is easy to handhold a M at 1/15 sec.
Once we get better weather - I might even attempt a full f3.5 kit (21f3.5 Ricoh, Summaron 35f3.5, Elmar 50f3.5 M-mount and the Apo-Lanthar 90f3.5) probably on M2's.
Last Saturday I went to the All British Field Meet here in Vancouver (6-700 british cars gathered on a big lawn). The weather was abysmal, pouring rain and grey. Only shot a couple of rolls before I decided that I was wet enough - but most of it at 1/60 and 1/30 and f2.8-f4. Yeh, I would have liked sun and f11 - but all the shots worked, sharp and nice contrast etc. The benefit was that I could easily walk around in the rain, 2 M's and 2 lenses (35f2.8 and 50f2.8) and I really did not miss any f2's and f1.4's settings at all.
