POLL: How did I end up with this lens collection???

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Gadge

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When I first bought a Leica M, I originally only wanted one 50mm lens but I now have a full monty, 35/40/50/90/135 collection. How the heck did I let that happen and why don't I get rid of some?

35 is a chrome VC Ultron which probably could be bettered by Summicron 35 if I could summon up enough desire to buy one. Love the 39mm filter size as I have Leica yellow/orange/green 39mm filters.

40 is a Rokkor-M CLE F2 which now sports a very cool Ebay ventilated metal hood. Sharp results from a very compact lens with focus tab. The idea was to replace the Ultron with this or vice versa but now like 'em both for different reasons and can't bring myself to sell either :bang: 40.5 filter size is one thing I don't like. One thing I love is that it still fits inside a standard Ever Ready Case even with the Ebay hood still on .....NICE

50 is an ancient Summicron F2 Rigid from the Fifties. This was my first lens and was clearly engineered when time and money were not so thin on the ground. Heavy though! It literally "paints" a lovely BW or Pastel image despite slightly dusty glass and user condition. My first choice for indoor portraits when it matters. 39 mm size filters 😀

90 is an Elmar-C with slightly rough feeling aperture (ball bearing not seated correctly?). It still has its rubber hood and takes crisp and detailed pictures. Light and great to travel with. Does a nice outdoors head and shoulders portrait. Sort of does 39mm filters at a push 😱 Only drawback really is F4 max aperture.

135 is my latest buy. It's a beautifully engineered, lovely original condition Mk1 Tele Elmar with the proper reversible hood and caps but these sell for a fraction of what they should. Only used the Tele Elmar indoors to date but I bet it will deliver impressive results as soon as I convince myself to carry it somewhere! Not exactly lightweight compared to Elmar-C 😉 39mm filter size too.

So that is my humble collection of glass.

Actually, the whole lot added up is worth less than 1 x second hand 35mm Summicron Asph! So I guess it has been a lot of fun for the modest cost involved.

My more informed view today is that 35-50-90 is the Holy Trinity :angel:
28 and 135 are possible alternatives at either end but I can't really imagine owning a Leica .72vf and not a 35mm now. If I cut this back to two lenses to make a really compact travel kit then it is the 50mm that would go. Although if I were to cut back to one lens only it is the 50mm that would stay as 35mm close portraits don't work for me..

What lenses did you choose and why?????
 
Sounds like a good time for me to take stock of what I have...

CV Lenses
25/4 Snapshot-Skopar
28/3.5 Color Skopar
35/1.7 Ultron
35/2.5 Color Skopar P1
40/1.4 Nokton SC
50/2 Heliar Classic
50/2.5 Color Skopar

Leica
40/2 Summicron-C
50/1.4 Summilux
50/2 Summitar
50/2 Summicron (Collapsible)
50/2 Summicron-M
50/2.8 Elmar-M (Two in black, one in chrome)
90/2.8 Elmarit-M

Others
28/3.5 Canon LTM
40/2.8 Sonnar (from the Rollei 35RF)
50/1.4 Canon LTM
50/2 M-Hexanon (Two of these)
50/2 Jupiter-8
90/2.8 M-Hexanon

Well, that's about it. If I had to choose a few lenses... I'd take the Hexanons, the Elmar-M and the Elmarit-M. My favorite focal lengths are 50- (should be quite obvious), and 90mm.

The Hexanons have a nice blend of sharpness and smoothness. The Elmar-M has a great look at night, and well, I just got the Elmarit-M, but it's swept me off my feet.
 
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Gadge said:
When I first bought a Leica M, I originally only wanted one 50mm lens but I now have a full monty, 35/40/50/90/135
Click to expand...
Plenty more focal lengths to get yet:

12/5.6 Voigtländer
15 Zeiss or Voigtländer
18 Zeiss
19 Canon
20 Russar
21 (Lots)
24 Leica
25 Zeiss or Voigtländer
28 (Lots)
60 (Konica)
75 Leica, Voigtländer, Meyer
85 (Lots)
73/1.9 Leica Hektor
100 Canon
105/6.3 Leitz 'Mountain' Elmar
200 (I think someone in Japan offered one)

Plus a couple of Tri-Elmars and the Konica 21-35...

I don't like to be limited to one lens for my Leicas, which is why I have well over a dozen of them (that and historical accident) but I could live with just 35+75 on film.

Cheers,

R.
 
My first rangefinder was a Voigtlander R3A, so that explains the 40/1.4 SC. That quickly led to an M3 with 50/2 rigid Summicron; which, in turn, was soon joined by a 90/2.8 Elmarit (for extra reach) and a 50/2.8 Elmar (for ease of carriage). The 12/5.6 Ultra Wide Heliar just seemed like a good idea at the time. Luckily, it was, and still is.

Then I added a Canon 50/1.2 LTM for low-light work; and all these 50s demanded a second body, so a button-rewind M2 was added to the heap. This, of course, demanded a 35mm or two, so along came the Voigtlander 35/2.5 LTM and the Jupiter-12.

The 12mm called for a dedicated mount of its own, so along came a Leica IIIf BD, and that prompted the purchase of a 25/4 Snapshot Skopar; and after that it was but a short step to acquiring its 21/4 and 28/3.5 brethren, and then all these lenses - and the presence of a Nikon S2 that wasn't receiving the attention it deserved - lead to me picking up a pretty little M4.

And that's nothing compared to the assortment of glass I've picked up for my Pentax and Nikon SLRs.

Non, je ne regrette rien.🙂
 
I currently have:
15mm
25mm
35mm ... a few
50mm ... a few
75mm
90mm
135mm

that's rangefinder ...

... interestingly I have a better spread for my OM system!

24mm
28mm
35mm
50mm ... f1.2, f1.5 and f1.8
85mm
135mm
200mm

I'm only just starting to appreciate the value of wider focal lengths ... especially the 25mm Zeiss I bought off a forum member recently. I only bought it because I wanted something that would give me close to 35mm on my M8 but find myself really enjoying the 25mm length on my film bodies.

I could cut it to five lenses and be fairly happy I think 15mm ... 25mm ... 35mm ... 50mm ... and 75 or 85mm!
 
I am very modest compared to most of you guys! 😀

Here is my kit:
Leica:
3.4/21 Super-Angulon (just recently acquired)
2/35 v. IV
1/50 Noctilux
1.4/75 Lux
2/90 Cron (pre-ASPH)

Non-Leica:
4.5/15 CV
1.4/50 Canon LTM

Plus:
2.8/24 ASPH (on its way out)
1.4/50 Summilux ASPH (on its way out)

All to be used with 2 MP (2 M8s on their way out).
 
Here's another approach, one-body-one-lens 🙂

M4-P - CV Ultron 35/1.7
iiic - Summar 50/2
zorki 1 - Jupiter 12 with FSU finder
 
RF

35 1.7 ultron
50 2 jupiter 8
50 1.5 C sonnar, on the way

SLR manual focus

canon 28.2.8
50 1.8
85 1.8
Hoya 1.5 2.8
Zeiss ZF35 2 plus adaptor

SLR autofocus

Canon
50 1.4
85 1.8
100 2.8
24-105 4
70-200 4
70-300 not often used these days!
 
I accumulated my RF and Nikon SLR gear by deciding what I needed while making do with what I had. It was a slow process...

On the RF front...

First, two M6TTL bodies (black and silver chrome)
Later, much later, an M3 body.

With them came,

'cron 50 f2
Hexanon 35 f2
Elmar 90 f4 (sold later, too slow)
'cron 90 f2 (nice, but heavy; sold it to Brett from RFF)
'cron 90 f2, 3rd, pre-ASPH version
Elmarit 135 f2.8 (won by a fluke; later, much later replaced by a newer version)
Elmarit 135 f2.8 with 55mm filter size
Elmarit 28mm f2.8, just because I thought I needed one, it took me a while to get used to it
'lux 35 f1.4, which was my dream lens... and I didn't make me a better photographer! 😡
'cron 50 f2 collapsible for my M3

In sum, I have
3 bodies
7 lenses

On the Nikon front, I have about the same number of lenses (mostly zooms, 'cuz I like them)

Bodies: F100 and F5

Lenses:
12-24 f4.5-5.6, the Sigma zoom for film and digital
24-85 AFS
24-120 AFS with VR
24-70 f2.8, Sigma brand! The Nikon lens is bigger 😱
80-200 f2.8, push-pull version
200-400 f5.6, the old Tamron
105 f2.8 Sigma macro

I've been lusting for a 21, either Leica or VC, but for some reason I never take the plunge... and not for lack of chances or funds (until a few months ago). It's just that... I don't have the guts to go wider than 28 without a built-in VF. For my Nikon... I'd like some very big glass, but I wouldn't use it much and couldn't afford it either.

Oh, well... That's what I have in stock. And I'm enjoying and using it thoroughly! 🙂
 
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Ok, my RF lenses?
15mm
21mm
24mm - (sold)
25mm
35mm
50mm (a few)
90mm
135mm
400mm (f5, with Visoflex)

I inherited my first Leica kit, an M3, DR 50, goggled 35 'cron, 135 Elmar, 400mm Telyt and a Viso-housing. I'll always keep these, and keep shooting with them. I've since added a 90mm; then Voigtlander came out with their system and I picked up a wide or two, then a fast 50 (Canon f1.2, lovely lens) found it's way into my bag (thanks again, Raid!). Along the way, I added bodies to minimize changing lenses; I picked up another M or two, found deals I couldn't pass up on a Bessa L and a Bessa T. In the interest of paring down I have sold a few things that didn't get much use, but I still find I have a large-ish kit. I shoot weddings and other jobs with these often enough that I kid myself I can justify owning them all, even though the digital and film Nikons do more of the work; but still, I'd love to simplify, if only to minimize my choices in the field. I never carry all my gear- I'd spend all my time groaning under weight and indecision, and never shoot anything.

For me, it comes down to pairing lenses and bodies for the most useful kits to take into shooting situations so that I can just grab the right tools and work, and not jump through hoops in my head about what gear to be using. I don't much care for changing lenses in the field, so I'd love to have a body for each lens; the trouble is, I'd want about 5 M3's- I find them to be about perfect for every focal length except 28mm and 35mm. I'd have one for a coupled 21 or 25mm, one for a 50mm, one for 90mm, one for 135mm, and a spare. I'd love an M2 to dedicate to a 35mm; and I'd still keep a Bessa L or two for the 15mm and Snapshot Skopar 25mm. I'd like a little Barnack screw-mount for a really compact kit with the CV 21mm Skopar and a collapsible 50mm... I could go on, but I'd rather reduce, not keep adding.

These days I mostly carry three or four lenses- 21mm, 35mm and/or 50mm and 90mm, along with some film, filters, meter, etc. But sometimes I throw in the Bessa L with the 15mm, or the 25mm; or I'll try to carry the 135mm for extra reach, if I think I might want it...it never ends...
 
35mm RF interchanable lens camera = Kiev 4am

35mm Jupiter
50mm (f/1.8) Jupiter
135mm Jupiter
85mm Jupiter (in the mail)
28mm anything (nope, but I am looking)

6x7 RF = Super Press 23

50mm
65mm (currently not working)
100mm (f/3.5 collapsable)
150mm
250mm (no, but I can dream)

SLR = various Fujica screw mount, a couple of Minoltas, Some Yashicas, Some Pentaxes

(some more than one in the same or different systems, some TX)
18mm
24mm
35mm
40mm
50mm
135mm
300mm
400mm
500mm (mirror)
18-28mm
28-70mm
75-150mm
80-200mm
65-290mm
35-85mm
75-210mm (aperture doesn't work right, but OK as long as I only want to shoot wide open 😀 😀 )

I think I am missing a couple of zooms. What in the world am I doing with all those? Especially since I prefer wide to tele, and am getting less and less fond of zooms. And still some of you guys make me look like I have a small inventory.
 
hmmm here goes.

Leica:

21/Elmarit ASPH
28/2 ASPH
35/1.4 ASPH
50/1.4 Pre-ASPH
75/1.4 (x2 - one is misengraved, it appears to be quite rare, both version 2)
90/2.8 Elmar, about to unload this to fund a 90/2 APO
i Believe a Noctilux is on it's way with this 90/2 if i can convince the seller to give me a good enough price.

as for non leica,

I have a 16mm Zenitar. Awesome for the $200
I have a Canon f0.95.

i have 2 m8's and an m6.
thanks.
 
I've had a few lenses in my day (which hasn't been all that long).

21/4.5 Zeiss ZM
21/2.8 Kobalux (thinking of selling)
35/2 Summircron v3
35/2.8 Summaron M
35/3.5 Summaron ltm
50/2 Summicron latest (sold)
50/2 Heliar collapsible (traded)

Always liked the wider end of things.

I have an M6 ttl lhsa and a modified M3 (black paint, M4 spool)
R-D1 on its way.

I like these threads.
 
Gadge, when I bought my first interchangeable-lens RF, a used Leica M2, I bought a new 35 Summicron for it at the same time. It was just the ideal single lens for that camera, though I did get a 90mm TE a year later, seldom used. I'd sometimes combine the M2+35 with an SLR+85 for street shooting.

It was only recently I got a used 50mm Skopar for the M2 just out of curiosity over the controversial comments, and discovered happily that I liked seeing the M2's 50mm frameline with a little "air" around it!

Similarly, I had only the 40mm Rokkor for my CLE for a long time, until I tried the 25mm Snapshot Skopar that came with my Bessa L. The CLE has 28mm framelines though, which would be handier, so I got a 28 Skopar. That turned out to be too slow for the indoor environmental portrait project I'd started on, so I sold it and blew more than I'd ever paid before for a lens, and got a new-old-stock 28 Summicron. In retrospect that was a great choice, as I find it most useful on the Leica M8 as well.

I tend to plot and plan and calculate and read before making an equipment choice, pretty much the opposite of the "buy it and if I don't like it sell it" method. Even so, some choices have been better than others.
 
Oh my, I feel like a black sheep here!

For RF I currently have:

40/1.7 that's stuck on my Canonet QL17
A Canon VT body with no lens

I feel so naked! Funny enough, I'm pretty dang happy while out shooting 🙂

(of course, I do have a MF kit with two lenses.. that rounds things out a bit)
 
Hi guys
despite the several possibilities, I think we have to rationalize our needs. Some time ago I saw an interesting "game" posted maybe right here where you had to chose your unique lens from your whole collection, eliminating one at a time.
Actually, I'd reason about focal lenghts, not brands or specific lenses. Not now, at least.
I'd say that:
1) I wouldn't go over 18 mm wide and would choose ONE lens between 18 and 21 mm for extra wide shots.
2) Next one is between 24 and 28 mm, also depending on the next choice
3) One lens between 35 and 50 mm
4) A tele 85/90.
Going beyond that limit means moving in the SLR field and being only approximated in estimating your framed subjects. I think RF is born for wide to middle fov, not for tele.
Alternative choice:
1) A 18/21 lens
2) Tri Elmar 28-35-50 + a faster lens in the middle
3) a 85/90 mm lens.

As for a single kit lens, I think a 28 or a 35 would be the right choice to go.
 
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