Stop me before I purchase again . . . !

[Al Kaplan]

Tell your wife that you love her dearly, fess up that you already have a girlfriend, and ask the two of them if they'd mind getting together to help you pick out a third. At least lenses won't gang up on you, carry on and scream like there's no tomorrow, and beat the crap out of you.

Or you could sell two of your three 35mm lenses and take the wife shoe shopping and out to a nice dinner. Once she knows, and knows that you know, how much that closet full of unworn shoes cost the ball is in your court!

 

[johannielscom]

voices from the crowd

voices from the crowd

don't do it man... she ain't worth it man... let it go... forget about her, you HEAR!!! 😉

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I just had an interesting 'episode' - that's made me stop and really think about all this 'lens lusting', I picked up a Konica FT1 ( evil SLR! ) and three primes, for less than the price of a night out ( and I don't cost her much! ). Those AR Hexanons, that cost peanuts, have absolutely blown me away!, and made me wonder about some of the big money purchases ( mistakes? ) I've made over the years!....if only they would fit the M2.......but SLR - or no....boy!..will they get used! 🙂
Dave.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I'm currently using the 35/2 v4 on my M8 so i'll be selling off my 35/1.2. I've always liked the v4 on the film M's - small compact and discrete. Wish i'd kept the 35/1.4 pre ASPH but there you go.....

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Are you married? Your wife could probably talk you out of it. If you are not married, talk to a woman who thinks that photography is kind of dumb.

LOL. My wife is a very understanding woman. She, quite rightly, thinks I'm nuts, but puts up with me for reasons I never hope to understand.

This is all fairly tongue and cheek. I readily concede I have more photo equipment than anyone needs; but a well made machine is a pleasure to use.

I think Tom A. has it about right. And no doubt the moment will come when I can part with something I have but don't use for something that will be more useful.

Best,

Ben Marks

 

[Thardy]

Sorry, I just received the Ultron 28 f/2. Can't help you with impulse control.

 

[kermaier]

Yes, do it! WANTING something is human nature. And the Summicron 35 v4 pre-asph is a great little lens. My favorite. I have two of them. They're mine, get one of your own. 😉 Good luck and have fun!

What's your feeling of the build quality of the v4? I've heard it's not up to the standard of earlier versions. I'm considering trading my UC-Hex for a 35 Summicron, and I'm wondering if it'll be a step down in fit/finish/feel.

 

[thomasw_]

Hehe, you have chosen your advice here 😉

I am not as avid a compiler of lenses as some here, but I do happily spend my hard-earned loonies on what I think are very fine optics in my favourite focal lengths: the 50 and 35.

In terms of the 35 focal length, I have 3 lenses that I use and love for different reasons. Others will be of the same view even if they have more lenses. My go-to 35s are the Summicron 35/2 IV and the Summilux 35/1,4 ASPH, as well as the CV 35/1,2 ASPH. I have thought about selling the Summilux at times, but then I look at its rendering. I have tried many 35s, but these are the ones I use and use and can't find a substitute for them.

 

[KM-25]

"Stop me before I purchase again . . . !"

OK, I'll try to help. I shoot Leica professionally, I own 3 lenses, use two primarily. 28 Summicron, 35 Lux asph and 50 Lux asph.

I have zero desire to own any other lenses, the ones I own do everything I want them to. I want to think about the photo, not the lens so I have fast lenses that excel at every aperture.

If you are always thinking about gear, then you probably are not making as good of a photograph as you can.

 

[ferider]

Sell all three, buy the 35/1.4 ASPH.

One day, I'll do the same.

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Al Kaplan]

If it weren't for you guys always chasing the WILL'O'WISP there wouldn't be enough clean used lenses for the rest of us to pick up on the cheap. Thanks, guys!

 

[Tom A]

What's your feeling of the build quality of the v4? I've heard it's not up to the standard of earlier versions. I'm considering trading my UC-Hex for a 35 Summicron, and I'm wondering if it'll be a step down in fit/finish/feel.

I have only shot a limited amount of bl/w films with the UC- Hexanon (dont have one - but it is on my list of "wants"). I dont think you are going to see much of a difference between the version IV Summicron and the UC Hexanon. I like both and judging from negatives - they are about equal.
From a "money" point of view - you can always pick up a version IV Summicron 35 - but the UC Hexanon is difficult to find and it was made in limited quantities so it will probably hold its value better.
My friend who has the UC Hexanon sold his version IV Summicron and bought the UC Hexanon and he likes it better - and I trust his instincts as he is a damned good photographer and critical of lenses too.
Dont think the build quality is much different. The version IV 35f2 has a bit lightweight aperture ring - but considering that I only managed to crack one of them since 1980 - it is not bad at all.

 

[David William White]

Tell your wife that you love her dearly, fess up that you already have a girlfriend, and ask the two of them if they'd mind getting together to help you pick out a third. ...

I do so dearly enjoy stumbling across such posts!

Why is that that I get the distinct feeling that Mr. Kaplan is not being entirely allegorical?

 

[Trius]

Sigh. I hadn't been thinking about a V4 before this thread.

 

[Al Kaplan]

David you're right, it's not completely allegorical. The first ex-wife is married and living in another state. I stayed at their house when I went to our son's graduation. The more recent of my two ex wives is now best friends with the woman withwhom I lived for close to a dozen years after our divorce. I still get along fine with both of them. The former wife lives just a few blocks from me, we have keys to one anothers house and trucks, and her two dogs still consider me Daddy, getting all excited when they hear my truck.

The sad thing about all these exes is that the've been an utter failure at finding me a new replacement.

 

[Nando]

Al, You ought to contact ABC and tell them you're their next Bachelor! 🙂

 

[thomasw_]

I have only shot a limited amount of bl/w films with the UC- Hexanon (dont have one - but it is on my list of "wants"). I dont think you are going to see much of a difference between the version IV Summicron and the UC Hexanon. I like both and judging from negatives - they are about equal.
From a "money" point of view - you can always pick up a version IV Summicron 35 - but the UC Hexanon is difficult to find and it was made in limited quantities so it will probably hold its value better.
My friend who has the UC Hexanon sold his version IV Summicron and bought the UC Hexanon and he likes it better - and I trust his instincts as he is a damned good photographer and critical of lenses too.
Dont think the build quality is much different. The version IV 35f2 has a bit lightweight aperture ring - but considering that I only managed to crack one of them since 1980 - it is not bad at all.

And Tom A, I think another huge difference for some uses is that the uc hex has 1 meter cllose focusing, whereas the IV cron has ,7 meter close focusing.

 

[kermaier]

And Tom A, I think another huge difference for some uses is that the uc hex has 1 meter cllose focusing, whereas the IV cron has ,7 meter close focusing.

Exactly -- that's the only reason I'm thinking of switching.

Same thing with my Summaron 35/2.8 LTM -- it's a relatively rarer lens than the M-mount version, but I'd really like the closer focusing capability.

And, of course, the argument in favor of the UC-Hex and the Summaron LTM is that if/when I get an M8 I can use 6-bit coded adapter rings.

 

[gavinlg]

I just had an interesting 'episode' - that's made me stop and really think about all this 'lens lusting', I picked up a Konica FT1 ( evil SLR! ) and three primes, for less than the price of a night out ( and I don't cost her much! ). Those AR Hexanons, that cost peanuts, have absolutely blown me away!, and made me wonder about some of the big money purchases ( mistakes? ) I've made over the years!....if only they would fit the M2.......but SLR - or no....boy!..will they get used! 🙂
Dave.

This is what I do when I get gear cravings too. Cheap and excellent gear like the konica SLRs and lenses is so much more satisfying to my cravings than expensive and excellent gear.


Go look at some photo projects by magnum photographers or fine art photographers and realise a lot of them use inferior gear to the ones you already own. Then think about the whole purpose of owning photography gear in the first place.

Now look at the price of the gear you're lusting for and ask yourself if it's going to make your photos any better.

Works for me most of the time.

 

[noimmunity]

Sell all three, buy the 35/1.4 ASPH.

One day, I'll do the same.

Cheers,

Roland.

I'm not surprised, Roland, after that illuminating test you did with the summilux asph and the nokton 35/1.4

I'd really like to get one, too!