GXR-M users - help me choose my next lens, please

[truefriendship]

The GXR-M module is really growing on me (since I sold my other walkabout camera - x100).

DSC_3110 by rifftastic, on Flickr

My lens line up consists of:
Summaron 35mm F2.8
Elmar 3.5cm f3.5
Canon Serenar 35mm F2.8
CV Nokton Classic 35mm F1.4
Canon 100mm F3.5
Ricoh 50mm (equiv.) Module

Mini-review:
The Summaron was purchased here on RFF and was an indulgence. It's a real smoothy in use and results. The Elmar is a remarkable, wonderful, lens, with that centrally sharp Tessar look, fading rapidly to mush not very far out from the center. Stopped down it keeps it's character and performs better. The Serenar is to colour as the Tessar is to B&W. Saturated yet vintage style and as sharp as the Summaron but not as smooth. Flatters to deceive, maybe? It's the sleeper in this group. The Nokton - well, it ticks all the boxes, and is the default lens unless I'm looking for a particular signature that the others have. The Canon 100mm...will need a CLA, soft all over, so may have a problem. Harder for hand-held shots, so it maybe just my technique. The Ricoh 50mm module is very very sharp, and it's leaf shutter syncs at any speed, so it's perfect for off-camera flash with Photek Softlighters.

Sooo...where next? Zeiss Planar? Biogon? Nikkor LTM? Cron? CV 50/1.5?

I'd love to hear your suggestions and reasons.

~Rif

 

[agricola]

Rif
Ok. It's only a suggestion. The 90mm f2.8 tele elmarit (Fat)
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/90mm_f/2.8_Tele-Elmarit
Reason: you take great portraits of children (the D3 examples on your Flickr are exceptional) - I've found the 'Fat' gives ethereal results with my grandchildren: you may like that. Our whizz bang Nikon dslrs (D600 in my case) can sometimes be a bit too clinical.

P.S. why did you give up on the X100 for the GXR-M? the shots you have with the X100 are right up there (I have the X100s and it's becoming a bit of a go-to camera) - I imagine you have posted about this? Can you copy the link? I'm thinking of getting one of the last GXR-M module & body sets in Aust. (so I'm told)

 

[Griffin]

I have the Nokton as well and it's my main lens. My GXR is my digital solution so I have a Canon FD lens adapter for my Tokina 17mm and the Canon 50/1.8. It seems your 50mm equivalent is well sorted out so if I were you I'd get something wider and/or longer. I am digging the 75 equivalent the Canon 50 gives me.

 

[truefriendship]

Rif
Ok. It's only a suggestion. The 90mm f2.8 tele elmarit (Fat)
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/90mm_f/2.8_Tele-Elmarit
Reason: you take great portraits of children (the D3 examples on your Flickr are exceptional) - I've found the 'Fat' gives ethereal results with my grandchildren: you may like that. Our whizz bang Nikon dslrs (D600 in my case) can sometimes be a bit too clinical.

P.S. why did you give up on the X100 for the GXR-M? the shots you have with the X100 are right up there (I have the X100s and it's becoming a bit of a go-to camera) - I imagine you have posted about this? Can you copy the link? I'm thinking of getting one of the last GXR-M module & body sets in Aust. (so I'm told)

That's a welcome suggestion. I think it makes sense, given my shooting style. The combo won't be as unobtrusive, so may limit it's use...still, prices should be reasonable (?) so it will be worth a try.

I sold the x100 to fund the Summaron. I figured I could always pick up another, or save up for the x100s. I do miss it, but if I had it, I wouldn't pick up the GXR on the way out the door. I feel that I've learnt more about using and choosing the right lens to exploit the quality of light that's around. I think that I've learnt to better "see" the light that's on offer.

~Rif

 

[truefriendship]

I have the Nokton as well and it's my main lens. My GXR is my digital solution so I have a Canon FD lens adapter for my Tokina 17mm and the Canon 50/1.8. It seems your 50mm equivalent is well sorted out so if I were you I'd get something wider and/or longer. I am digging the 75 equivalent the Canon 50 gives me.

75mm seems such an ambivalent FL... don't you think?

~Rif

 

[CliveC]

Add a Jupiter 8 for some unpredictability.

 

[johannielscom]

My all-time fave on the GXR-M is the Voigtländer Heliar 2.0/50mm LTM in nickel.

Very sharp and contrasty and built like a tank.

My website has some camera gear articles and one is on how to set the GXR-M up as a B&W camera. Also, my Flickr has a fair amount of shots from my favorite combo, and you can find that through my website as well.

Enjoy your Ricoh GXR-M!

 

[truefriendship]

Add a Jupiter 8 for some unpredictability.

Yes, good idea. I'm waiting for a Jupiter-12/8/3 to pop-up in the classifieds. I don't fancy waiting 7 weeks for one in unpredictable condition from the Bay - especially at the prices being asked lately. :bang:

~Rif

 

[ottluuk]

You own a Ricoh camera and no 28mm-equivalent lens... Surely that is a sin? 😀

 

[truefriendship]

My all-time fave on the GXR-M is the Voigtländer Heliar 2.0/50mm LTM in nickel.

Very sharp and contrasty and built like a tank.

My website has some camera gear articles and one is on how to set the GXR-M up as a B&W camera. Also, my Flickr has a fair amount of shots from my favorite combo, and you can find that through my website as well.

Enjoy your Ricoh GXR-M!

Thanks Johan. Similar price to the Zeiss Planar, isn't it. I wonder how they compare...?

~Rif

 

[GaryLH]

I think the next lens should be a 35 or 75 fov since u have so many 50 fov in the 35mm lenses:
- 35 fov like
-- cv 25
-- Leica 24
-- cv 21 for a 32 fov
- 75 fov
-- Konica 50
-- Leica 50
-- cv 50

Gxr is such a great small package..
Gary

 

[truefriendship]

You own a Ricoh camera and no 28mm-equivalent lens... Surely that is a sin? 😀

It is. So I offered the gods of photography a sacrificial x100 and they said buy a CV super wide heliar. I bought a Summaron. I am doomed. 🙁

~Rif

 

[ottluuk]

It is. So I offered the gods of photography a sacrificial x100 and they said buy a CV super wide heliar. I bought a Summaron. I am doomed. 🙁

~Rif

A well-proven way to appease the gods is to burden yourself with heavy things. May I suggest a very fast portrait lens? Lately, I've been schlepping a Canon 85/1.5 LTM (makes a ~1.3 kg package with the M body) for this purpose but there are more moderate options. Among modern lenses, the CV 75/1.8 might be an interesting solution for a the APS-C crop factor.

 

[segedi]

75mm seems such an ambivalent FL... don't you think?
~Rif

It's become my favorite focal length. 90mm seemed to far for me. Love 75mm for portraits.

I'm switching between the MS Optical Super Perar 35mm which works very nicely on the GXR and the 50mm Summilux.

21mm Zeiss Biogon-C was a nice lens - but backlit skies gave me magenta clouds. The 40mm Nokton also played well, but I wasn't keen on the 60mm focal length.

I don't have too many shots through the GXR yet, but here are some:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=78552143@N00&q=gxr

 

[truefriendship]

It's become my favorite focal length. 90mm seemed to far for me. Love 75mm for portraits.

I'm switching between the MS Optical Super Perar 35mm which works very nicely on the GXR and the 50mm Summilux.

21mm Zeiss Biogon-C was a nice lens - but backlit skies gave me magenta clouds. The 40mm Nokton also played well, but I wasn't keen on the 60mm focal length.

I don't have too many shots through the GXR yet, but here are some:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=78552143@N00&q=gxr

Great website. You have a Monochrom? Is that why you haven't taken many shots with the GXR?

~Rif

 

[Godfrey]

The three lenses I have used the most with my GXR-M have been the Color-Skopar 21mm f/4, the Nokton 40mm f/1.4 MC, and the M-Rokkor 90mm f/4. Right behind them, the Color-Skopar 28mm f/3.5 is a wonderful lens.

You have no wides, so I'd look at 21 and 28 mm lenses.

G

 

[segedi]

Rif, yes, the Monochrom has taken my attention away from the GXR. But I've put the Monochrom aside and have the GXR and M7 in my bag for the next little while.

And thanks for the compliment!

 

[Tony Whitney]

I've used all kinds of lenses with my GXR M, including Leica, CV, FSU and even my Olympus OM lenses. I've had some great results with birds using a 200 mm OM lens. The lens that seems to spend most time on my GXR M is the Voigtlander 15 mm, as I'm something of a wide angle fan. As with any Leica M mount, there's a whole world of lenses out there and countless inexpensive adaptors from our Chinese friends...TW

 

[truefriendship]

I'm thinking of a CV 15mm too. It seems to hit the sweet spot between the 12mm and the 21mm in terms of speed, size and performance. And price.

 

[Tony Whitney]

Get that 15 mm and you'll never regret it. Amazing performer and of course, focusing is not an issue at all...TW