Question on lenses

[cp_ste.croix]

Well hello again everyone...it's been a while since i was here last. I still browse the gallery all the time though.

I have a question regarding the direction of my lens set-up.

Currently I have a 50 summicron, 50 1.5 Nokton and a 35/2 Zeiss. I've been contemplating faster lenses of late and wondered if folks here might have some words of advice...

I am contemplating the 50/1.1 Nokton in place of my 1.5 and either a 35 1.4 nokton or older version summilux...

Obviously I'd have to flip some gear for this to happen but what are everyone's thoughts?

I'm interested in low-light performance, obviously, but also how the lenses render and the OOF areas as well. I shoot primarily B&W but am considering a forray back into colour...

So which of my lenses would you sell and what would you replace them with? Are there options I'm leaving off? Is the difference between the nokton 1.5 and 1.1 enought to justify the price and size?

Subjective questions, I know, so your equally subjective responses would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Tim Gray]

Personally, I'd keep what you have. If you get rid of anything for the 50/1.1, maybe sell the Summicron if you don't use it much.

Reasoning:
- From what I hear, the 50/1.5 is a fantastic lens. You aren't always going to want to haul around the 50/1.1, and in the big picture, it's not that much faster. So having a good all-around alternate for it seems like a good thing.
- The Summicron is a nice lens, but if you use the 50/1.5 more, why not get rid of that. It doesn't do anything the Nokton doesn't.
- The Zeiss 35/2 is a fantastic lens, if you like 35mm. I loved mine while I had it. Almost no distortion, flare resistant, nice bokeh, etc. Great lens. The 35/1.4 is a bit smaller and faster, but from what I've seen, is not as consistent as the ZM lens.

Another alternative would maybe be to sell the 50/2 and pick up the CV 35/1.2...

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Tim said it all.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Yeah, I do love the 35 Biogon. Probably my favourite of the bunch. I think Tim you confirmed my thoughts about the 1.1 as it compares to the 1.5...I'll look into the 35 1.2 though, that hasn't hit my radar yet 🙂

I like it when people talk me down from the brink of a GAS attack 😀

 

[payasam]

"I'll look into the 35 1.2...". Far from cured.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Even faster lenses soon run you into problems with focusing and depth of field. I've retrenched slightly: I used to have two f/1.2 lenses but the fastest I have now is f/1.4. If I could afford it I'd buy an f/1 Nokton (I borrowed one for a year) but that's for the look as much as for the speed.

Cheers,

R.