Dilemma on M lens choosing

[thjk]

In the last thread i asked about 28mm Elmarit asph as my walk around and landscape lens. I now have 35 lux FLE and 50 Planar. I am planning to manage my kits not to have more than 3 lens and not too heavy.
I like to walk around so 35 or 28 is essential. I also like 50mm for portrait and general work. And at least I should have one fast lens.

My style is 50% walk around, 40% general portrait and 10% landscape and buildings.

I think I may have to choose between 28/35/50 and 28/50/75

For those who own both 28 and 35, how can you choose when you go out and take pictures?

Are 75mm really useful?

 

[Merumeni]

Of the given options many use
28 / 50
35 / 75.
Use what you have (35/50) and find out what you are missing.

As for the 75 question: what body are you using?

 

[thjk]

Of the given options many use
28 / 50
35 / 75.
Use what you have (35/50) and find out what you are missing.

As for the 75 question: what body are you using?

I am using M-P 240

About 35/50. Now I use 35 more than 50. Feeling that I like the color of the FLE more than Planar. I now use 50 mainly for portrait. Only complaint for FLE is it is heavy.

 

[jazzwave]

I am using M-P 240

About 35/50. Now I use 35 more than 50. Feeling that I like the color of the FLE more than Planar. I now use 50 mainly for portrait. Only complaint for FLE is it is heavy.

28 and 35 too close.

Something between 21-24mm, become 21(24)/35/50 set,
but framing and shot with 21mm very challenging..🙂

 

[a.noctilux]

For dozens years, I had trouble to choose from 28/35/50 for a one lens walkaround with an M.

Now I use Tri-Elmar (MATE 28-35-50), problem solved.

With a Macro-M 90mm in one pocket for long range architecture if need be or a Summicron/Summilux in that pocket if light is not fair.

This is not for someone who love thin depth of field (include me in the past :angel🙂.

Arnaud

 

[newsgrunt]

21, 35, 50

 

[ferider]

It's not a Dilemma it's a Conundrum 🙂

- 28 gives you more sky than 35, and you need more foreground.
- 35 is typically faster (unless you get a 28 Summilux)
- on my 240, the 35mm frame-lines are much easier to see than 28. And I don't wear glasses. Note that I never had that issue with 28 frame-lines on M6 and M4P

So, generally, for landscapes I prefer 35. For cityscapes and portraits I prefer 28, if I have enough light.

A short tele is indispensable for landscapes for me. And the 75mm framelines on the 240 are the best of any leica. I feel the 240 is made for a 35/75 combo.

Roland.

 

[Pioneer]

For me it is easy.

28mm allows me to use the entire viewfinder edge to edge. If I need something for close in circumstances it works well.

50mm is my walk around. By far the greatest number of my photographs are taken with a 50mm or a 40mm lens.

85mm or 90mm is along for those times when I need the reach. It does not come out often but it is handy if necessary.

All of these lenses are easily focused on my rangefinders so my hit level is pretty high.

 

[Frankton]

I currently shoot with 28, 35, 50, 75.

35 is favored length for vast majprity of images. I'd use 50 for portraits and if I am doing any kind of landscape I'd spring for the 28. So it all depends on what you're shooting. I often find the 28mm a touch too wide for my taste.

But then again it's all personal preference.

If i could, i would without hesitation trade both my 28 2.8 Asph and 35 summicron for one lux FLE. As I do a lot of weddings, the extra stop would be a life saver. A perfect two lens set would be 35 FLE and 50 lux asph.

 

[mfogiel]

This is my take:
28/50 if you can take two lenses
35 if you can only take one.
If your 28mm is 2.8, then take a 50/1.4 = my preference would be Summilux pre asph - great for portraits and people from wide open to 5.6, for anything else at f 8.0

Summilux 50 pre asph, f 2.8
20153920 by marek fogiel, on Flickr

 

[nobbylon]

This is my take:
28/50 if you can take two lenses
35 if you can only take one.
If your 28mm is 2.8, then take a 50/1.4 = my preference would be Summilux pre asph - great for portraits and people from wide open to 5.6, for anything else at f 8.0

Summilux 50 pre asph, f 2.8
20153920 by marek fogiel, on Flickr

Exactly my idea on choices.

 

[uhoh7]

This is my take:
28/50 if you can take two lenses
35 if you can only take one.
If your 28mm is 2.8, then take a 50/1.4 = my preference would be Summilux pre asph - great for portraits and people from wide open to 5.6, for anything else at f 8.0

yes. I never take 28 and 35, or 35 and 50 (except at night) The 28 cron is so good on the M9 I often take it and a 50. But I don't have a FLE 🙂 Instead my 35 is the ZM 35/2, which is excellent, but not quite so magical as 28/2.

But that Elmarit is so nice and tiny 🙂

It depends on the subject. For people you need to move in close with a 28, but it is great for landscapes, architecture, and hi DOF stuff. As a 'street' FL, 35 is better, to my thinking.

 

[Merumeni]

In the last thread i asked about 28mm Elmarit asph as my walk around and landscape lens. I now have 35 lux FLE and 50 Planar. I am planning to manage my kits not to have more than 3 lens and not too heavy.
I like to walk around so 35 or 28 is essential. I also like 50mm for portrait and general work. And at least I should have one fast lens.

My style is 50% walk around, 40% general portrait and 10% landscape and buildings.

I think I may have to choose between 28/35/50 and 28/50/75

For those who own both 28 and 35, how can you choose when you go out and take pictures?

Are 75mm really useful?

"The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life.
...
Perfect... They are all... perfect... ".

Excuse me, but you already own one of the best 35s available.
Earn it and the rest will find you.

Good luck

Stephan

 

[struene]

28/35/50 is all i have, no matter what camera system.
50 is my Portrait only lens
35 is the walk around/low light lens
28 ist the more intense/closer version of 35 for wider landscapes or a bit more dynamic "interaction" with the scene. Sometimes its magic exploring that difference

For me its all about how "close" you feel to the scene -( ... and not in the sense of zooming in...)

Over 50 its to boring for me, because to far away - under 28 perspective often gets too exagerated for my taste.

With 28-35-50 i can choose exactly acording to the mood i want to give a picture.

But of course everybody has to find its own taste and that only goes by testing the common focal lenghts for a while.

schöne Grüße,

Johann

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

28/50/75 is my basic kit: 28 for street and zone focusing, 50 for general use, 75 for people, either casual portraiture or event photography. I really, really love the 75mm Summarit. I got back into M cameras mostly because I missed it. It handles so nicely and is very light and compact.

I've never gotten along great with 35, but I keep telling myself that's because I've never had a 35 I really love to use, rather than because of the focal length. 90 I use rarely but have gotten some good shots with one, especially the Contax G Sonnar.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Just to confuse things, lately my walk-around/always-have-with-me set up is a 28 and an 85. I like using the 28 for "scenes" and the 85 for "people". Just works.

But usually I'm a 50 only guy.

Ain't life grand when you have options?

Best,
-Tim

 

[MCTuomey]

I feel the 240 is made for a 35/75 combo.

Roland.

+1 A 75 is quite nice for portraits, more flattering than a 50. And there are a lot of fine 75's: CV Heliar 75, Summarit, Summicron, Summilux. Your 35 is superb and can do everything well, add the 75 and you're set. Do you really need to go wider or longer?

 

[seakayaker1]

A nice three lens option is the 24 - 50 - 75. I also do like the 28 quite a bit, so either way you can't go wrong.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[icebear]

Get a 25 ZM Biogon. Excellent performer! I don't this focal length often but when I do I am every time impressed with this lens.

 

[seakayaker1]

Get a 25 ZM Biogon. Excellent performer! I don't this focal length often but when I do I am every time impressed with this lens.

+1 - Had the 25 ZM for a short period of time, it is a great lens.