Surprises

[Roger Hicks]

We've all been surprised at how good some cheap lenses have been, but how often have you tried a more or less expensive new lens and found that hey, well, maybe there is some reason why it has a cult following after all?

I was more than prepared to be underwhelmed by the Thambar, Noctilux, 75 Summicron and 50/1.5 C-Sonnar; but when I tried them, I could see why some people all but worship them. Likewise my wife fell in love with the 18/4 Distagon and we'd buy a Tri-Elmar 16-18-21 each if we could afford it.

What I'm looking for is the exact opposite of a 'bashing' thread: rather, a celebration of lenses that did, in your experience, turn out to be worthy of their exalted reputations.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Solinar]

The first version of the 50/2.8 Elmar collapsible is a sleeper - beautiful bokeh, sharp by f/5.6, flare resistant - excellent by f/8 to f/11. I love the clip on lens hood that goes with it as well.

 

[sepiareverb]

The 28/2.0 ASPH. This is on the M8, but the 28/2.0 is my favorite on the MP. This is what I've always wanted in a 28mm lens: crispness right out to the edges, minimal falloff, great contrast. This quickly became my most used lens in the woods.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Addendum:

Of course, no one lens is going to suit anyone. I can see why some people love 300/2.8 teles -- but having had three (from various makers) for review, they did nothing for me, because that's not the sort of photography I do.

Obviously any praise will be subjective, but a sentence or two on why you liked a particular lens (like Solinar's brief observation) will also give us an idea of what people regard as important in a lens (size, weight, sharpness, flare resistance, focusing movement/range, focal length...) whch could be interesting. So might a note on which lens (if any) it has displaced, whether partially or fully, e.g. I use my 90/2 Summicron a lot less now I have the 75mm.

Cheers,

R.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

50 Lux ASPH
Contax SLR 50/1.4
Canon 35L + 85L
Contax G45

 

[charjohncarter]

I don't really own any RF lenses with great reputations; my 50mm Super Takumar F 1.4 has always been called great, but I call it greater.

 

[sepiareverb]

The 28/2.0 ASPH replaced the ZM28/2.8 in my kit. I'd long shot a Nikkor 28/2.0 Ai'd lens, and really loved the shallow depth of field 2.0 brings to a 28, and missed it when I moved to M's. When I was able to get a 28/2.0 ASPH I jumped, and ran it side by side with the ZM and a borrowed 28/2.8 ASPH. For me, the 2.0 was the winner. I quite dislike the hood, for it blocks too much of the VF and only rarely use it, no real troubles with flare yet.

 

[Rob-F]

My favorites: 24/2.8 ASPH; 28/2 Summicron; 35mm Summilux ASPH; 75mm Summilux. Reasons are pretty much the same in each case: top quality optics in focal lengths I really resonate with.

 

[thomasw_]

I agree with Bob about the 28/2 as a fine lens, but for me it isn't as much of a bread-n-butter lens as the Summilux 35-50 and 75. For me, the 75 lux is such a special lens in terms of its rendering, especially individual people. As great all-round lenses, the lux asph 35 and 50 are fantastic, but if I could only have one, it would be the 50 asph summilux; as 50mm man, it is the lens I can shoot from my heart.

 

[photogdave]

The 40mm Summicron-C. This is the one lens I have that seems to really capture the Leica "look" or "glow" or whatever you want to call it.
I also like it for it's size, handling and FOV but the image quality is really special for me.

 

[sepiareverb]

...For me, the 75 lux is such a special lens in terms of its rendering...

This is one I'm saving for, in fact I've got a bee in my bonnet for this or the last pre-ASPH 35 Lux as my next lens.

 

[jack palmer]

The 90mm f2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M, Super sharp. When I used Nikon , one of my favorite lenses was the 85mm f2. This is much better just really heavy in Chrome.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I'd have to say the Zeiss 35mm f2. But my reasoning is a bit different. It is just a great journeyman lens that doesn't add or subtract anything from the photo and allows the subject to be the center of attention. It just sits there in the background delivering very good optical quality, is reasonably fast and adequately compact. Of course it is my favorite focal length.

Or it may well be the Mamiya 7 80mm lens for exactly the same reasons above.

I want someone to view my photos and only think of the subject matter and not the lens, not the film, not whether it was 35mm or MF, not the print quality. Just the subject.

 

[tomasis]

I would say all Leitz lenses I have:

Super Angulon 21/3.4
Summilux pre-asph 35/1.4
Summicron 50mm 3rd
Summicron 90mm pre-asph e55
Elmar 50/2.8.

It is funny to say that all become surprises for me when I came from Om1 with various lenses. I was greatly surprised when I purchased M4 with Cron 50mm at first. Then I didn't know what lenses to begin, I simply copied Ned lens setup and indeed I was more surprised how characteristic are SA 21 and Lux 35. I think there are lot of lenses to discover. Some are left (of my desires): Nocti, Lux 75, Summarit f1.5, Summitar f2, Summar, 40mm Cron-C. For modernness sake I would try 50 Lux Asph, 28 Cron & Elmar Asph and see if it really fit me. 90mm cron preasph E55 is closest to current lenses I have and still I feel that the cron still retains old character I have seen of pictures of earlier version Crons.

I need many years to come over the shock 😀 It is hard to say which lens is most surprising for me. I love them all.

 

[tomasis]

I think I know the answer about the most surprising lens. IT is Summicron 50mm because it was my first lens for M mount then later it kept me like a drug and I wanted more and more 🙂 But even I wanted more, I recognized there are anything no more and I came back to Cron and I still think how great lens it is.

 

[Mackinaw]

For my Leicas' the 35mm Summicron asph, 75mm Summilux and Canon 50/1.4 LTM.

Jim B.

 

[sepiareverb]

Beautiful image endustry. You remind me I don't shoot enough Velvia!!!

I loved the image quality of the 28/2.8 ASPH I had borrowed from Darren, but found it just too small for my hands- I was simply unable to easily handle it. That, coupled with the little bit less DOF sealed my 28/2.0.

The 28/2.0 ASPH handles much like a 50 summilux, it is nearly identical in size.

 

[35mmdelux]

28mm/2.8 ASPH -- sharp, contrasty, small form factor. Sleeper pricing.

75mm/2.5 Summarit-M -- more than I expected for this lens. Sleeper pricing.

 

[helen.HH]

Well now
You boys might consider me Silly
having gone through so many lenses in 6 months
cv35 /2.5
90 Cron
50 3.5 Elmar
50 1.5 Summarit
35 3.5 Summaron
35 /1.8 Canon
Industar 61
35 3.5 Elmar
35/2 Biogon
all on my RD1s

My all Time FAVORITE
which I cannot part from.....The 1938 35 Elmar
its draws sooo Beautiful be it in Crispness & blks sooo blk
I ADORE this lens .... A PURRfect Sunny Day Lens
Its in mint condition / uncoated
and just the feel & turn of it is PURE magic
let alone seeing the final pix

Next week i will get via the Post
an M4
& a 50/1.4 pre asph
so we will see if my head spins & my heart beats faster
though I'm a bit worried ......:bang:
sometimes I think I should have opted for the Zeiss sonnar 50mm

LOVE, LUST & LENSES -A CELEBRATION
Best-H

 

[ferider]

The 75/1.4 Summilux.

Found it at a great price and bought it to resell it.

I kept it. My single highest valued piece of camera equipment 😱 I would have called you crazy if you would have predicted that I am using that lens.

Further, it motivated me to buy its little sister, the 50/1.4 pre-asph (v3). Love that, too.

Roland.