Lens of choice

[nightfly]

I use my 28/3.5 CV till it gets too dark than I use my 35mm 4th Gen Pre-Asph Summicron.

I hardly ever use my 50mm Canon Serenar and will probably get rid of it soon. Not really worth enough to matter one way or another really and it's a little soft and flattering for close shots of family which is why I keep it around.

My ideal lens would be a 28mm which is the same size as my 'Cron and just as fast but not so damn expensive as Leica's offerings or as big as the faster CV.

The CV 28 1.9 looks great but I like really small, compact lenses so my current compromise seems best.

 

[PlantedTao]

35mm (50%) mostly for street and when I want a pocket camera...either the cv skopar or my canon 2.8.

50mm summicron, early version, for everything else...although this is the lens of choice lately. great b&w rendition and bokeh.

 

[x-ray]

I rarely use my 15 and 135. I've not shot with the 15 in two years and only once with the 135 elmarit this year and none last year. I now rarely shoot the 21 but frequently shoot the 28, 35, 50, 75 and 90. The 25 is gaining use now. If I could only have two lenses it would be the 35 and 75.

 

[harmsr]

In order of use.

50 Lux ASPH
35 Lux ASPH
50 DR Cron
75 Cron ASPH
28 Cron ASPH

The 50 Lux ASPH is really my favorite.

Ray

 

[SDK]

Mostly 28mm/2.8 or f/2 ASPHs, for me. I also use 35mm/1.4 ASPH, 75mm/2 Apo ASPH, and Zeiss 25mm/2.8 and 21mm/2.8 Biogons. I don't use a few things much anymore, mostly 90mms, 50mms of which I have too many.

 

[Nachkebia]

25 - %60
35 - %20
50 - %20

 

[Toby]

I always find myself using a short tele, mainly because I specialise in portraiture for work. So overwhelmingly something around the 85mm mark in old money be it a 165/2.8 on a pentax 67 or a 50/1.4 on a Eos 20d or a 75/2.5 voigtlander I always seem to gravitate to the same formula. For street work I liked the 25/4 voigtlander but got really screwed with flare at the notting hill carnival this year so sold it. I'm currently using a canon 17-40 L until I have the cash to reconstitute a full RF kit after noting which part of the zoom I settle on.

 

[JohnM]

Generally, I usually use one of two 50mm lenses on an M3.

My most used lens is the latest 50/2 Summicron, but I have a 50/1.4 Nikkor LTM that's faster and is a little kinder indoors and for portraits.

I have a 90/2.8 Elmarit that I want to use more, but never do. I also have a new 40/2 that I have yet to use.

 

[Dougg]

For many years I had just the 35 'cron and 90mm T-E, and the latter got little use. Same near-constant use of the 40mm on the CLE for a long time until the 28mm 'cron came along, and then it's about equal usage between the 40 and 28, what a great 2-lens combo. (This even translates into medium format, with 65 and 45mm on the Bronica). I just like that view of the world, moving closer to the subjects for a more connected look.

I now have 15, 25, 50, and 75 too, and of those I'm surprised to like the 50 rather well on the Leica, and even got a second (faster) 50 too. Still love that old 35 'cron though! The 15 and 90 get the least use, and I don't treat them as "walk-around" lenses, and just put them on at need... if I happen to have them with me.

 

[johnkuo]

35 - 35%
50 - 30%
28 - 15%
75 - 10%
21 - 10%

 

[sleepyhead]

Lately, tri-elmar when there's a decent amount of light around, then either 35mm or 50mm pre-ASPH summilux's (50-50) under dim conditions, or if I want shallow depth-of-field.

Least-used is CV 15mm.

 

[Dralowid]

35mm 2.8 Summaron 20%
50mm Elmar M 60%
90mm Elmarit M 0%
135 Tele Elmar 20%

I guessed the above ratios but couldn't prove them.

The Summaron I appreciate because of it's size, the same can be said for the Elmar. I have a current Summicron but will be selling it since it never gets used. The 90mm Elmarit is silver and weighs a ton. I love it but hardly ever use it, however good the results. Over the years the 135 has had more use than I expected when I bought it.

I have learnt a few things (and these are specific to my personal use of the camera). M6TTL .72 plus 1.25 magnifier.

1 I value compactness more than anything else
2 However attractive a silver 90mm lens may be, the weight has put me off
3 I realised I used a tele enough to buy a SLR, so I bought a Leicaflex SL. Must have been the cheapest Leica around and it's built like a tank!

Michael

 

[nickchew]

35mm cron ASPH...
I think it is the most natural lens to use on a rangefinder, and it suits my purpose the most.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

lately been favoring the 50 elmar and collapsible cron ... small size big punch

 

[peter_n]

Recently a new(ish) 24/2.8, but generally I mostly use a 35 Summilux ASPH or 50 Summilux pre-ASPH, and least use a CV 15 and Leica 135.

 

[visiondr]

Easy question (since I have only one lens), the 50mm Elmar. I love the way the 50mm focal length looks. Nevertheless, my next lens will be wide, either 25 or 28 mm. I suspect I'll probably still be a 50 mm shooter, with occasional wide use.

Ron

 

[RdEoSg]

35 Summicron ASPH about 95% of the time, followed by the 90 and then 15 CV lenses.
I am always in the lookout in camera stores, antique shops, and garage sales, for an old 50 thread mount. Either a Summitar or a Summarit. I forget which I like, which means I will probably buy both before all is said and done! 😛

I find that I always want the smallest package to walk around/travel with. Normally I'd only take the camera with the 35 and some film, but I discovered that the little tamrac point and shoot bag I carry for film will actually hold the 15 with finder, the 90, and 4 rolls of film, so I just take all of it with me. The weight is nothing to worry about and I'd be taking the thing for film anyways so why not!

 

[erik515]

I use the 35mm Summicron most often for street work, foolwed by the 50mm Summicron second version. Both are great.

 

[loon]

I never said what i like to shoot...
Personally, when i shoot street with my contax G i use the 35mm 90%. Which means that the 35mm Summicron will probably be my first purchase for my m4-p followed by either a 50mm or a 90mm for portraiture work.

 

[JoeMac]

I use the 50 1.4 asph lux 100% of the time. Of course, it is the only lens I have.
Yet🙂