Summilux 75mm

[TomN]

Hi all. I currently shoot with three bodies, an M3 with a Wetzlar Elmarit 2.8/90, an M4 with a Summicron 35mm ASPH, and an M6 .85 with Summicron 50mm. I shoot weddings and use the three bodies (two around my neck and one on shoulder), and a fourth camera (IIIa with a Voigtlander Superwide Heliar 4.5/15mm) usually in the bag.

I have been thinking lately of going to two bodies and two lenses. I'll still keep the IIIa for those rare occasions that I need it. I just love the 35mm focal length, and love the lens. So I'm thinking about dropping the m3, the 50mm and the 90mm, and just using a 35mm and a 75mm. The 90mm is limited for me in church situations and the 1.4 aperture would be most welcome. I feel as though I would be able to hand hold these two lenses at full aperture at around about the same shutter speed.

Has anyone shot with this combination, or anyone have any thoughts on thies combination? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Never Satisfied]

Hi Tom, I use the 75mm and an M3. The extra finder magnification is very handy as the DOF is tiny with the 75mm. I'd use the M3/75 and the M6/35.
Andrew.

 

[ferider]

35/2 + 75/1.4 is a great combo, you can pretty much shoot anything with it. I used to do this with a pre-asph 35/2. Then I switched to the 35/1.4 Nokton SC (see my avatar).

The 75 Summilux is my favorite lens. Amazing signature. A magnifier or M3 helps using it at close focus wide open. You can get closer than with your 90, down to .7m.

Roland.

 

[mfunnell]

While it hasn't had an outing for a while, due to circumstances beyond it's control, my Summilux 75 is my best and in many ways favourite lens. It pairs up very nicely indeed with a 35/2. In fact, my favourite combination is a UC Hexanon 35 on my Hexar RF and a Summilux 75 on my M3. (Oh, and by the way, despite the low magnification finder, I've had good success focusing the 'lux with my Hexar RF, even wide open. It takes a little more care, perhaps, but I shouldn't be too concerned about perceived difficulty focusing the 75.)

...Mike

 

[TomN]

thanks for the feedback guys, so I think that the 35/75 combination is a logical one so I think I will pursue the lens.

 

[35mmdelux]

The problem with the 75 Lux as of recent is the extraordinarily high prices. Used to be able to pick em up $1600 (USD) with impunity. Now they cost much more. For gen photog and weddings the 35/75 is a natural. People who shoot w/ the 75 say they use it more than the 90mm.

 

[x-ray]

My 75 is probably my most used lens. Before the 75 summilux I used my 90 a great deal but the working distance with the 75 fits my style better and the performance at 1.4 is excellent. I have two 90's, APO asph and my trusty old first generation Elmarit but rarely use them. I purchased a Bessa R2 with a 75 cv & 35 pII to leave in my car and feel that if I could only own two lenses it would be a 75 & 35. No question for me these are my two main lenses.

I shoot the 75 on two .85x MP's and a 72x MP and M2 with no problems even at max aperture and minimum distance. The biggest issue with sharp images a not an RF problem but seems to be more movement of the subject be photographer. DOF is paper thin at close distances and max aperture.

 

[TomN]

well i did it, and i just love this lens. man is it big and heavy compared to my other m lenses, but on a .85 M6, it barely intrudes into the viewfinder. i shot a gig last saturday night, and found that i missed the focus on more shots than i liked, so i ordered the 1.25x magnifier.

Thanks to all who offered me their experiene and advice. I am very pleased with my purchase.

 

[__hh]

Reminds me that I need to make good use of my 75mm 'Lux. I've had it for a couple of months now but have not made good use of it (been lazy and spending most of my time with the comfortable 35mm FL). I'll give it a good shot and try to use it more and love it more... otherwise, I might as well let it go rather than sitting in my bag.

Please post more of the 75mm shots (either on this thread, or THE 75mm Summilux thread) to inspire me.

 

[TomN]

your wish is my command

PS. anybody know why my images do not embed and are showing as attachments?

 

[rickp]

hello tom
congratulations on the new 75mm summilux. yes, it's big and heavy, but somehow pretty well balanced on an m body. i also think the magnifier will be a big help.
as to large/small attachments, i have the same problem. maybe images posted from a flickr or other site will "skip" the thumbnail stage? i hope i'm right.
greetings from hamburg
rick

 

[Tom A]

I used Summilux 75's for almost 28 years (my first one was a pre-production version which I got in 1981). Last year I traded my last one off - not through any fault of the lens, it simply did not fit my "shooting style"(whatever that is).
It is a great lens, but it demands respect from the user! The DOF at 1.4 is wafer-thin, it can show some idiosyncrasies in focus and you should have your prime 75f1.4 body "set up" for it - matching lens to body. When it works there is really no other lens like it.
One thing I found out with it - was that it worked best on a Bessa R3M. Mainly because of the free standing 75 frame lines in that body. The M6/MP "mixed" 50/75 frames can be confusing. I did not have any issue with the focussing either with the R3. With my M6's a couple would throw the focus about 1 inch at 6-10 ft distance. With the 0,85 M6's it was fine, but one of those bodies was "matched" to the lens.
I now use either the Summicron 75 or the tiny 75f2.5 VC as 75 choice. Occasionally I miss the 75f1.4 - but not often enough to get another one.

 

[TomN]

With my M6's a couple would throw the focus about 1 inch at 6-10 ft distance.

aarrghh, that is scary.

 

[tbarker13]

I sure loved mine. But in the end, I came to the conclusion that I just don't use a telephoto on my M8 enough to have that much money tied up in the lens. Plus, the size sort of got to me. So I switched to a 90 pre-asph summicron (which I also enjoy quite a bit) and put the extra money into a 28 summicron.

Enjoy the lens. It is, imho, one of Leica's truly wonderful lenses.

 

[sleepyhead]

75mm Summilux on Leica M9:

 

[presspass]

The 35/75 combo is wonderful. I use a 75 Summilux on a .85 M6TTL and a 35 Summilux pre-asph on a .58 TTL. Just to round out the set, the bag also holds a 21SA 3.4 and a 135 2.8. All have served me well and this kit can cover just about anything I shoot except wildlife and sports.