One body...one lens but which for smooth bokeh?

[dave lackey]

It is now time to decide on a lens for the one Leica body that I have my eye on.

One body, one lens means, to me, an everyday kit that would do well for low light interior as well as street photography. It seems then, that the lens choices would be from 28mm to 50mm...

But, with the many choices of Leica, Zeiss, CV, etc. lenses available, I need your help in picking a great lens with smooth bokeh.

I currently am using a Nikon F3/T but the bokeh is a bit harsh to me. It also does not render specular light in the manner that I envision. Examples of bokeh I do not like are:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=64620&stc=1&d=1225238683

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=64621&stc=1&d=1225238683

 

[johnastovall]

Leica 35mm IV Summicron, the Bokeh King.

 

[cmogi10]

Hah that's what I was going to say as well.

If I was going to go one body one lens it would be MP+Noctilux! just to stir things up.

 

[Tim Gray]

I think for a one lens setup, you should look at a 35mm lens.

For great bokeh, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the CV 35/1.2 Nokton. It's a bit big for a lens that you always carry, but probably about the same as your SLR setup. It's fast, its sharp, its the right focal length, and its capable of a lot of smooth bokeh.

 

[Mackinaw]

75mm Summilux.

Jim B.

 

[Papercut]

could do a lot worse than the Zeiss Biogon 2/35 for a one lens kit -- not the smallest lens size-wise but flexible, reasonable cost and speed, excellent all-around performance, and very pleasing (to me) bokeh

(full disclosure: I don't have personal experience with that many 35mm lenses, but I sold my CV color-skopar after developing the very first test roll with the Biogon and it (the Biogon) hasn't left my cameras since -- basically I've turned into a one-lens photographer since I got it) 🙂

 

[DwF]

If you are switching to Leica, I recommend the 35mm Summicron ASPH.

Here's why:
The lens is more compact and user friendly than the CV 35mm f1.2 (otherwise a fine lens) and it is much better (IMHO) wide open than the version 4 35.

Hopefully you'll be taking advantage of Leica glass and shooting at wide apertures. The 35mm Summicron is a great belnd of size and performance that way. The bokeh is smooth.

Good luck hunting,
David

 

[wlewisiii]

I'm rather old school about focal length - there is nothing as versatile as a good 50mm lens. The nicest current 50mm lens in terms of both image quality & bokeh, to me, is the ZM 50/1.5 Sonnar. Fast and flexible with a unique look & no where near as expensive as some of the other lenses bandied about here. That will leave you with more money left in your wallet for film.

Good luck!

William

 

[DwF]

Can't argue with that; a 50mm lens is always good advice when shooting 35mm format. The CV Nokton f1.5 is a nice lens too and the OOF rendering is really nice.

David

 

[Stu W]

Jim Beam, Haig and Haig, -Sorry, I thought you said one bourbon, one scotch, one beer. My mistake.

 

[raid]

Get a Pre-war Sonnar 5cm 1.5 plus Contax-Leica adapter, and you have an awesome bokeh machine.

 

[dimitris]

I would recommend sticking with Nikon and try a 50mm f1.4 or f1.2. The f1.4 can be found for a bit over $100. There i saved your wallet! 🙂

 

[Artorius]

Jim Beam, Haig and Haig, -Sorry, I thought you said one bourbon, one scotch, one beer. My mistake.

Stu- Glad to see you back/

As a one lens setup, I am really enjoying a v1 Summicron 35mm f/2. Looking good on the M8, as well as the M3.

 

[maddoc]

Either 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH or 50mm Summilux pre-ASPH (since the Noctilux you already ruled out).

 

[LeicaTom]

Dave,

Go with a Canon f1.5/50mm the "Japanese Sonnar" - prices are now at an all time low for them, you should be able to find a really nice example for under $300 - it`s a cult lens and one of my all time favorites to use 🙂

Here`s an example shooting the Canon/Sonnar on one of my 45' IIIC K`s wide open with it`s "dreamy" bokeh 😀

Enjoy!

Tom

 

[Honus]

what thomasw said ...

 

[LChanyungco]

what could be more classic as a "one body one lens" lens than a summicron 50mm ?

 

[MikeL]

interior= I'd lean towards a 35mm.
low light= f1.2-1.4 can be helpful.
and for smoothness in a 35mm, the f1.2 Nokton is very nice to my eyes when opened up. And it has a short focus throw for fast focusing. It's a little bulky but not as front heavy as some.

 

[Debusti Paolo]

Nokton 35/1.2 or summilux 50 asph.😀

 

[elshaneo]

I would choose between the Carl Zeiss Biogon T* ZM 35mm f/2 or the Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 😉