segedi
RFicianado
The newer Summarit 75mm f/2.4 has a closer focussing distance than the older f/2.5. For me, it's the perfect match to 35mm in a two lens kit.
Dilemma on M lens choosing
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taemo
eat sleep shoot
I would invest on faster lens for 50mm and longer.
For wider, f/2.8 and even f/4 would be fine since I'll want foreground and background to be in focus.
I agree with 28/50 or 35/75 and even 35/50 if you want to stick with 2 lens.
35 or 50 if you want only one.
personally my combo now is a 28mm 3.5 Kobalux and a 50mm 1.5 Nokton ASPH or 50mm Summicron collapsible and I'm pretty happy.
Sold my 21mm and 75mm as I never found the need on using them.
For wider, f/2.8 and even f/4 would be fine since I'll want foreground and background to be in focus.
I agree with 28/50 or 35/75 and even 35/50 if you want to stick with 2 lens.
35 or 50 if you want only one.
personally my combo now is a 28mm 3.5 Kobalux and a 50mm 1.5 Nokton ASPH or 50mm Summicron collapsible and I'm pretty happy.
Sold my 21mm and 75mm as I never found the need on using them.
lawrence
Veteran
It's interesting to see the many different choices in this thread. Personally I like 28/35/50. For me 28mm has a very different look to 35mm, a definitely 'wide angle' look, whereas 35mm is my 'normal' lens. For portraits a 50mm or 75mm is good. If you use the 50mm in 'landscape' orientation and the 75mm in 'portrait' orientation they are pretty similar, however I think that 50mm is generally more versatile.
thjk
Member
Thank you so much, gentlemen, for your opinions here. I think I am most comfortable with 35mm (coming from Fuji X100). The FLE is my favorite. I also have the Zeiss 50 Planar. But almost every time I plan to use 50mm for walk around, I keep coming back and take the FLE out. Many people say that it is equal or better than 50 summicron but I do not impress with its result. I now use the Planar mainly for portrait.
The main reason for me to try the 28 Elmarit is its size. My plan is if the Elmarit is good for me as walk around lens (street, city & landscape), I will retain the FLE of low light situation and will make decision again to use either 50 or 75
The main reason for me to try the 28 Elmarit is its size. My plan is if the Elmarit is good for me as walk around lens (street, city & landscape), I will retain the FLE of low light situation and will make decision again to use either 50 or 75
Chromacomaphoto
Well-known
Ah, the tyranny of choice. I personally have 35/50/90 on Leica M but could be fairly happy with 35/50 only. It's just that 50 for portraits tends to mean upper half of the body portraits rather than head and shoulders shots, unless you want to distort faces and unflatter people a bit.
Plus, the prices for 90mm Leica glass second hand are so reasonable that I figure I might as well have one. That said, I don't really enjoy focusing longer glass on a Leica M compared to an SLR. I think they work best at 50mm or less to be honest.
I wouldn't have a 28 and a 35 in the same system. I take the point that there is a reasonable difference in the more dramatic look of a 28mm but to me they are both 'street/out and about' lenses anyway and there's too much overlap. I like to try and avoid situations where I give myself such options if possible.
Plus, the prices for 90mm Leica glass second hand are so reasonable that I figure I might as well have one. That said, I don't really enjoy focusing longer glass on a Leica M compared to an SLR. I think they work best at 50mm or less to be honest.
I wouldn't have a 28 and a 35 in the same system. I take the point that there is a reasonable difference in the more dramatic look of a 28mm but to me they are both 'street/out and about' lenses anyway and there's too much overlap. I like to try and avoid situations where I give myself such options if possible.
xixi_gelly
Member
Sorry to repeat some age-old 28/35 arguments but I can't agree more with the above sentiment and I think you cross a subtle but certain threshold moving from 35 to 28 in terms of "mood" and shooting style. And yes there's magic in that void because....boom...the very act of photography changes from capturing a scene to being part of the scene. (and more so at 24, 21 etc)
I usually hate carrying more than one body and one lens (35) unless I have to but happily go out walking/traveling or documentary work with the 35-28 combo, 80% of the time with 35 but if I come across a scene where I have access and can get subjects up close and fill the frame edges and am not too worried about foreground-background interaction then the 28 just looks so much more dynamic.
When I weigh swapping out 35 for 28 I just ask myself the Q: "will they (subjects) let me in?" If yes then bingo
another vote for 28-35-50
agoglanian
Reconnected.
And another vote for 28/35/50 it's long been a favorite for me.
Unless I was carrying 3 bodies I wouldn't take all three at once. I carry 28/50 on one or two bodies or for a single body single lens I just take my 35. All three of my lenses are summicrons and that works well for me. I do also have the 21mm Ultron which I only bring if I know I'm going to need to shoot that wide, but I am fairly used to 21mm as well though I don't use it as often.
Unless I was carrying 3 bodies I wouldn't take all three at once. I carry 28/50 on one or two bodies or for a single body single lens I just take my 35. All three of my lenses are summicrons and that works well for me. I do also have the 21mm Ultron which I only bring if I know I'm going to need to shoot that wide, but I am fairly used to 21mm as well though I don't use it as often.
uhoh7
Veteran
I almost never take a 35 and 28 on the same outing, though I love both 🙂
If you have a great 35, like the FLE, then and SEM 21 or 24 would be a wonderful complement.
That said, the 28 cron is the best lens I own.
If you have a great 35, like the FLE, then and SEM 21 or 24 would be a wonderful complement.
That said, the 28 cron is the best lens I own.
thjk
Member
Thanks for all comments.
I just got the 28 Elmarit m asph. What I like is that it is small and light comparing with my 35 FLE. I still have not take a lot of pictures from it yet.
And then I just read that Leica will announce three new m lens tomorrow; elmarit 28, summicron 28 and 35.!!! Oh my....
I just got the 28 Elmarit m asph. What I like is that it is small and light comparing with my 35 FLE. I still have not take a lot of pictures from it yet.
And then I just read that Leica will announce three new m lens tomorrow; elmarit 28, summicron 28 and 35.!!! Oh my....
agoglanian
Reconnected.
My 28 Summicron just arrived in the mail today. I'm happy with the price I paid and I surely wouldn't be able to afford a new one if it does indeed get announced. From the quick & dirty tests I did (as it arrived after dark) I was very impressed with the results. I'm going to be plenty happy with this lens regardless of a new version.
Same story with the 35 Summicron ASPH, it's a fantastic and very small lens, the perfect optic to take out with an M body for a day of shooting. Again they're going to have to make it pretty compelling to want to upgrade.
Chromacomaphoto
Well-known
You're in Bangkok, every city is different but the way this city is built and laid out is great for a 28mm IMHO. There's also often so much going on to squeeze into the frame.
thjk
Member
Next time, I will leave my 35FLE and go out with only 28/50.
santino
FSU gear head
28/50/90 for me. The 75s are great lenses but IMO they are too close to the 50.
The 35 is not my piece of cake.
The 35 is not my piece of cake.
Rico
Well-known
I find 28 and 35 FLs to be different, but will select just one for an outing. The 28 Elmarit ASPH is delightfully small and well-corrected for architecture—the only RF lens I bought new. With the 3-element Elmar, I have a lightweight 28/90 pairing.
Gregm61
Well-known
21-35-90. That's my minimum three lens setup, although I rarely limit myself to it. It's easy enough getting the 21-35-50-90-135 all in a nice-size Think Tank City Walker 10 shoulder bag, and is plenty lightweight enough to carry. It never fails, I always regret not having at least one of the lenses I choose not to carry.
agoglanian
Reconnected.
Well looks like you were right. New 28 Summicron, 28 Elmarit and 35 Summicron today.
I think the comment on where you live dictating the best lenses to use is very wise. When I'm at home here in Southern California I'm most often using a 50mm because everything is so spread out. When I get into a city like LA or travel abroad I'm often preferring a 35 or 28 as I'm getting closer to things / people and need more in the frame than my 50 will allow. In tight places a 50mm almost becomes a telephoto.
I think the comment on where you live dictating the best lenses to use is very wise. When I'm at home here in Southern California I'm most often using a 50mm because everything is so spread out. When I get into a city like LA or travel abroad I'm often preferring a 35 or 28 as I'm getting closer to things / people and need more in the frame than my 50 will allow. In tight places a 50mm almost becomes a telephoto.
Capt. E
Established
No one has mentioned the Leica 24 Elmarit-M. A superb lens, especially when focused inside of 12 feet or so. Mine is pre-digital from the 1990's. I have used 21's but alway come back to the 24....my outfit 24, 35, 50, 90
Beemermark
Veteran
Very good advice. 35mm & 50mm are too close. I take one or the other but not both. 28/50/90 for travel. Usually 35 for walking around the city. 50mm for country. Never know why I take the 90, I keep thinking some day I'll use it -🙂
agoglanian
Reconnected.
I took 28/50/90 on a 5 week trip that took me from Iceland to Ireland to England, then Scotland, over to Amsterdam and down to Paris.
I used my 90mm for exactly 5 shots, then sold it when I got home haha. I like long lenses on SLRs, just not on rangefinders.
I used my 90mm for exactly 5 shots, then sold it when I got home haha. I like long lenses on SLRs, just not on rangefinders.
Chromacomaphoto
Well-known
Agreed, location plays its part. I have a lovely, mint 50 cron collapsible without a single scratch or mark on the soft front element that cries out to be used more and absolutely kills it in B+W. Alas it's just too long for my tastes in crowded amongst the people kind of street work in the tight confines of Bangkok.
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