My dilemma: Which lens should I consider purchasing?

[lilmsmaggie]

I have two used cameras: A Leica M5 and a 50th Anniversary Bessa R3M – both came with 50mm lenses. The Leica has a 50mm Summicron f2; the Bessa – a Heliar 50mm f2

I really would like a wider lens – as in 35mm. 😀

Lenses I’ve considered:

Leica 35/2.5 Summarit-M
Nokton Classic 35/1.4
Zeiss Biogon 35/2

Possible Trade-Off:

Buy a 35/1/4 Nokton for use on the M5 and a 40/1/4 Nokton for the R3M


Other considerations if I want to go wider than 35mm:

Sell the Bessa R3M and get the Bessa R4A


Or just keep the Leica, and spend bunches of money on external finders and learn to deal with framing inaccuracies. 🙂

 

[Neare]

What about the beast, 35mm 1.2?

Other than that, I think the biogon is a solid choice.

 

[alexnotalex]

keep the 50s, take a few steps back?

 

[Tom Diaz]

I have two used cameras: A Leica M5 and a 50th Anniversary Bessa R3M – both came with 50mm lenses. The Leica has a 50mm Summicron f2; the Bessa – a Heliar 50mm f2

I really would like a wider lens – as in 35mm. 😀

Lenses I’ve considered:

Leica 35/2.5 Summarit-M
Nokton Classic 35/1.4
Zeiss Biogon 35/2

Possible Trade-Off:

Buy a 35/1/4 Nokton for use on the M5 and a 40/1/4 Nokton for the R3M


Other considerations if I want to go wider than 35mm:

Sell the Bessa R3M and get the Bessa R4A


Or just keep the Leica, and spend bunches of money on external finders and learn to deal with framing inaccuracies. 🙂

Is this one of those cases where we can offer an opinion even if we have not owned any of the lenses you're considering? That would be me. I have owned a Summicron and f/2 Heliar, and also a couple of Bessas, but not the lenses you are considering.

I would buy either the Summarit (probably) or the Biogon on the general principles of build and optical quality. I would lean toward the Summarit if you can afford it. I have some CV lenses that I like a great deal, but for something in the mainstream, like a moderately fast 35mm, I would buy as well-built a lens as you can afford with as excellent optical quality as you can afford, because you will use it a lot!

Going wider than 35mm, to me, means a lens you will probably use much less frequently. So, for most people, that's where it makes more sense to buy a less expensive brand. I have a 28mm Leica lens, but my wider ones are CVs. I really like wide lenses, too, but the fact is that 90% of my pictures are shot with lenses between 28 and 50 millimeters.

Tom

 

[ferider]

Sell the Heliar, buy a Summicron v3. Then you have a nice matching kit and some money left.

 

[lilmsmaggie]

Is this one of those cases where we can offer an opinion even if we have not owned any of the lenses you're considering? That would be me. I have owned a Summicron and f/2 Heliar, and also a couple of Bessas, but not the lenses you are considering.

I would buy either the Summarit (probably) or the Biogon on the general principles of build and optical quality. I would lean toward the Summarit if you can afford it. I have some CV lenses that I like a great deal, but for something in the mainstream, like a moderately fast 35mm, I would buy as well-built a lens as you can afford with as excellent optical quality as you can afford, because you will use it a lot!

Going wider than 35mm, to me, means a lens you will probably use much less frequently. So, for most people, that's where it makes more sense to buy a less expensive brand. I have a 28mm Leica lens, but my wider ones are CVs. I really like wide lenses, too, but the fact is that 90% of my pictures are shot with lenses between 28 and 50 millimeters.

Tom

Yes -- I'm open to suggestions cause it really is a dilemma although the Summarit is a possibility --Gulp

Not sure why I'm hesitant. I've bought at least one new Schneider lens for my 4x5 but even that was less than $1100

It may have something to do with the fact that I bought the Bessa because I figured I'd never be able to afford a Leica ANYTHING!

Then it happened - The Price was right. I couldn't resist. :bang:

You know the rest.

If I had come across the M5 first - the decision to get the Summarit 35/2.5 would have been much easier.