to 75 or not to 75

[usccharles]

i don't use my 5D anymore. i do use it for Macro, but not really. i'm not really a big macro fan. i'm not really a big telephoto fan either, but i LOVE my 135 f/2. i was going to sell all my 5D gear since its just sitting dust now, but my 135 f/2... very hard to part with.

but if and when it came down to which camera i'm going to take out with me, i don't think i would ever take my 5D instead of my M8. so i think i'm going to part with my 5D.

then i got the thinking, why don't i get a telephoto for my M8?? 😀

75 f/1.4 should i do it? i already have the noctilux. you think the noct and 75 are too close in focal length to make the investment? i wouldn't go longer than 75 though. i think anything after 75 would be too difficult to focus on a M8.

i've got the itch!! 😀 help!

 

[steve garza]

I have one and don't use it anywhere near what I thought. Careful planning of the shoot is required to use the thing to its full potential. It's not really a fast-handling lens, but produces unique effects that you won't find w/ other 75's. You may want to pick up a VC 75 (at 2.5 it's still useful and quite sharp from examples available at this site), or a cheap 90 instead. The 75 'lux is best used wide open.

 

[Berliner]

I like 75 pared with 35. Very effective, compact kit, with good FL coverage. It's what I take traveling. I use the Summicrons. The 75 Summilux is a big lens. The 75 'cron not that much bigger than the 50'lux... If speed isn't a huge issue, some find the 75 cron easier to use. I do anyway. Try the VC 75 heliar, to see if this works for you, before dropping the retirement fund on the Leica...

 

[Joe Mondello]

I gotta second the 75 2.5 CV Heliar. It's a terrific lens and at $299 new hard to beat.

If you really really feel that the Leica 1.4 is what you need then you won't take much of a hit selling the CV.

 

[usccharles]

Very nice Advice~ i will look into this 75 Heliar. thank you ! 😀

 

[scho]

i don't use my 5D anymore. i do use it for Macro, but not really. i'm not really a big macro fan. i'm not really a big telephoto fan either, but i LOVE my 135 f/2. i was going to sell all my 5D gear since its just sitting dust now, but my 135 f/2... very hard to part with.

but if and when it came down to which camera i'm going to take out with me, i don't think i would ever take my 5D instead of my M8. so i think i'm going to part with my 5D.

then i got the thinking, why don't i get a telephoto for my M8?? 😀

75 f/1.4 should i do it? i already have the noctilux. you think the noct and 75 are too close in focal length to make the investment? i wouldn't go longer than 75 though. i think anything after 75 would be too difficult to focus on a M8.

i've got the itch!! 😀 help!

I was in the same boat, but eventually sold my 5D and 135 f/2 L (very sharp lens). Now I have the M8 and a bag full of small, but also very sharp lenses - including the 75 Heliar. I don't miss the 5D at all.

 

[Gilles L.]

UsCharles,

I have been caressing the idea to sell my 5D as well, but I can't do it... Although I have not really used it since getting the M8, the 5D is quite a camera, and the first digital camera which ever gave great satisfaction.

I have no experience with the 75 but if you are looking for telephoto lens, I would suggest the 90/2.8. It is not a small lens, but it is a fantastic lens. With the crop factor, it will get you closer to the 135L with 120mm while the 75mm will be equivalent to 100mm. I am also thinking about getting the Macro-elmar 90/4. It is a telephoto and macro, and it is barely bigger than a 50 when collapsed.

I know the hitch... scratch, scratch, scratch.... i have been hitching for a TE lately... try benadryl and if it does not work, you are going to have to buy a lens!

 

[Cindy Flood]

I sold my 5D, 35L, 135L, 100-400L and 300L and used the funds to buy M glass. I bought an XTi to use as a backup for my M8. I kept a Leica-R 35 cron, 60 macro and a Canon wide zoom, along with my 200L for wildlife and 85L (which I am now ready to let go). I haven't missed the 5D at all. The XTi is about the same size as the M8 (and you could keep your 135L.)

 

[Artichoke]

the 75 Lux is my most used lens

the 75 Lux is my most used lens

even though I don't yet have the IR/Cut filter for it ...still waiting on Leica to deliver the goods
despite Steve Garza's comment that the it is best used "wide open" I have found that like most lenses, it profits from stopping down a bit
not that it does a bad job wide open ...indeed it is remarkably sharp within its narrow plane of focus wide open, but in general I try to shoot it at f1.7 unless really pressed
stopping it down improves performance until about f13 and I often use it stopped down when the situation requires this ...the sharpness of this lens amazes me even when fairly wide open
the bokeh produced by this lens, even stopped down a good deal is outstanding & it handles point light sources with aplomb
I have many samples using it on the M8 in my M8 galleries here
http://www.pbase.com/artichoke/m8&page=3
I don't have a 50 mm, optiming instead for the 40 mm CV Nokton (which I like) ...the difference in focal length seems significant enough to me

 

[SnapperJ]

75 Lux is special. If you like to shoot wide open then this is the lens for you.

 

[SnapperJ]

If you do go for a 75 Lux do use it wide open some of the time. This picture was taken wide open hand held at 1/45's.

 

[mfunnell]

I don't know how the 75 Summilux field of view would work on the M8 (but if someone would donate the cash I'd be happy to test an M8 😀) . What I do know is that, to me, the 75/1.4 has a "special" quality at all apertures (at least to f8) that's difficult to describe but very real. I imagine the M8 would be very good at recording this - and I've seen examples that indicate that's so.

Sure the lens is large by RF standards and has a long focus throw - but its not that hard to handle with a little practice and a bit of prep-work for the shot (mostly just scale focusing then using the RF for final focus).

...Mike

 

[Joe Mondello]

The 75 1.4 'Lux is obviously a special lens for Leica just as the 85 1.4 Nikkor is for Nikon.

There is nothing like the shallow DOF and bokeh of a fine 1.4.

However, IF you are wondering how you are going to like the 75mm's FOV on an M8, I seriously suggest the CV 75 2.5 Heliar as a starting point. Especially at $299 new with a hood!

Its very sharp and contrasty and has nice bokeh wide open . . .

more here . . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musicandlight/sets/72157600092317202/

 

[Grober]

One primary reason to buy the 75 Summicron is that it is the closest focusing lens in the Leica M-stable (save for the 90/4 Macro which I don't own.)

I too am using my brace of three 50mm lenses (Summar, Nokton and Heliar) more since Leica has yet to ship the E49 IR-cut filter I need for the 75 'Cron. But none of my fifties can get as close as the 75.

-g

 

[Nemo]

The 75mm provides the FoV of a 100mm lens on the M8.
It is like a 90mm (more or less).
I have the 35mm and I have ordered the 75mm, for a classic combo 50/90 (FoVs).

 

[SnapperJ]

One from tonight. f1.4 @ 1/350s. Just love this lens.

 

[Joe Mondello]

One from tonight. f1.4 @ 1/350s. Just love this lens.

If THIS (above) is what you want you won't get it from the CV.

THIS (below) is about as close as I could get with the 75 Heliar on the M8 with no filter, no post other than resizing for web . . .

Not BAD, but no 75 'lux either.

 

[Gilles L.]

it is a lovely image SnapperJ

 

[usccharles]

AAAAHHHHGGG

you guys are driving my Nutts! Show me more pictures of CV75mm and 75mmLUX PLEASE~

They both take amazing photos. I was just going to consider the CV75 but after seeing the leaf in such shallow DOF... i'm drooling.

but i keep thinking... you think i'm wasting my money thinking about the 75LUX when i already have the 50Nocti? are they too close in focal lengths to rationally have both?

FYI i LOVE shooting wide open and 75 will probably never see the aperature ring turn just like my 50Nocti.

 

[Joe Mondello]

If you are after that really super shallow DOF, then the Lux is the way to go.

I don't have a Noctilux but do have some pretty fast glass for my Nikon kit and understand the appeal, believe me!

My next purchase will likely be the CV 35 1.2 Nokton which some say yields results very like the 35 'Lux -- at 1.4 the price.

I have to admit that if I had the extra cash, I'd be all over a 75 'lux (and a 35 'Lux and a 50 'Lux) in a heartbeat -- and a WATE and the new 28, etc etc etc.

Let me go check the prices on that 75 Summilux so I can get back to reality! hehe

OK, $2479 USED at Popflash! I think I can get by without it for another week . . . one week at a time! ONE week at a time! keep repeating that until a week goes by! haha

Actually for about that price I got both my Nikon D200 and a 105 2.8 Micro Nikkor VR which also has super shallow DOF and arguably is going to be easier to use in close cos you can see through the lens.

It's 1 AM I'm going to bed!