Reaching the Ultimate Lens

raid

raid

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I sometimes think about my acquired lenses and my wish for more lenses so that I can try out new ways to take photos. It makes me think about why I do such things.


In particular, I use 50mm and 85mm-90mm lenses most often. I know what I want as a 50mm lens; simply a modern very sharp and contrasty lens so that I have something different from my vintage wonderful 50mm lenses. It is less clear to me what I want for another tele lens. I wish to stay with Leitz lenses as they have so far given me great satisfaction in photography, but I do not want to spend a small fortune on another lens.

In the medium tele range I have a Canon 85mm/1.9, a Nikkor 85mm/2, a Summicron 90mm/2 and a Steinheil 85mm/2.8. The latter was a fun addition, but it is not so bad. Today, I was considering a Canon 100mm/2 lens [which Mark bought ... Congrats!], and started to think about my tele lenses. Do I really "need" several lenses? Of course not.

Maybe I am just restless in searching for my ultimate lens.

Do you also have such moments?


Raid
 
I used to and then I realized it was a waste of time.

As a result, I have two 50's - a current Summicron and an older 50/1.4 LTM. That covers old and new. Not sure of how many more 50s I can use.

I have one (almost) tele - a 1960 90/2.8 Elmarit. I don't use the focal length much and one is enough.

I think people can make themselves crazy trying to cover all bases with lenses - I'm impressed by some of the collections of 50s some folks here have, but how many can you really use?
 
John: Your posting reminded me that I also have an Elmarit. I use most of my lenses on a rotation basis. You never really need all the lenses. Having 3-4 lenses total is enough.

Raid
 
Folly! 🙂

Just shoot, and shoot more. However, I can imagine you wanting to experiment. I'm just wondering when this urge to experiment starts to impede on the actual getting to know a lens, finding it's strong points and weaknesses, finding ways to use or circumvent those and learn to make due with that particular lens. Afte all, you can never take all of your lenses with you or use them when the situation would warrant it.
 
Raid, this kind of issue is why I've pretty much decided to stick to Canon chrome/Serenar lenses for the forseeable future. A good range of well made lenses that are still cheap enough that I can afford decent examples of them. I don't need lots of different lenses; I'd just like to have a nice set that covers the range of lengths.

William
 
I hear you, guys. My wife keeps on reminding me that this "game" should stop. I am advised to get "one realy good camera that takes good pictures " and to sell everything else.

RML: I use almost every day a camera with a lens, so I am using my lenses, but not as often as I would have done if I had a fixed set of useful lenses. I may have to sell many of my lenses to get some breathing space in my cabinets.

William: You did wisely. Canon lenses are the best deal with respect to quality and cost and classiness and sharpness.

Patrick: I realized this fact when I thought about writing my thought down here. 🙂

Raid
 
Raid,

I think you are restless. Perhaps a worth exercise would be to think about why you are attracted to the concept of finding the ultimate lens as opposed to trying to make the ultimate photograph (which can be attempted with the camera/lenses you now own).

I do have "such moments". I remind myself that more or different equipment can be a diversion.

I think you wife is right (except it is reasonable to own more than one really good camera!)

Best wishes,

willie
 
Most of the time I´m using a fixed lens RF, so no chances of thinking of another lens. But mostly on a regular basis I bring together the Contax and the Kiev with a J12 and a J11.
Need anything else? Maybe yes... a J9 or Sonnar 2/85, but mostly because I´ve found it as a nice focal lenght for everyday photography when using my Fujica SLR with the normal lens and a 2x.

If any of the lenses I have has some weak point, I´m quite sure my own weakness covers adequately lens defects, so why worry??

Ernesto
 
Patrick James has it - as long as there are competing manufacturers, there will never be an "ultimate" lens. For the non-Latin scholars around, "ultimate" means "the last", and that will never happen.

Given that this is supposedly a 'rangefinder' forum, one is fairly limited when it comes to lenses. SLRs are a different story.
 
Frank: I switched from saying "ultimate lens" to "perfect lens" because I doubt it that any lens will be the last one.

Raid
 
Actually the 50 is my least used lens and I don't have an 85 or 90 for any of my rangefinder cameras. I prefer to go to the wider end of the spectrum i.e., 35, 21, & 15 and zoom with my feet if necessary.

Don
 
Mark: It is then my search for the "Ultimate, Perfect FrankS Lens".

Don: I like to see more of my subjects and that's why I am biased towards 50mm and longer lenses.

Raid
 
I think your wife is right, raid. So, ask yourself, what is the one lens you want to have, money not being an object. Then go ahead and buy it. Chances are if you sell all the other lenses you have, you will have more than enough money for your ultimate lens.
 
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