giganova
Well-known
I don't care about the lens as long as it comes with that body:
What is your Leica M dream lens?
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x-ray
Veteran
I had the all black one I bought new in 1968 but my brother had the steel rim version. I shot with his and he shot with my Summilux. Honestly there's no difference in the two. I hear people say there's a difference but leica stated they only had one formula and both versions were the same. This was my finding too that the images were identical.
I worked as a journalist at the time and can say I didn't like the performance wide open. I lost some very important images of President Richard Nixon due to flare and coma from light sources on the edge of the frame. My lens produced secondary images at 1.4 within the frame if there was a bright source against a dark background as well. I posted images on here once but it's been a while. Fortunately I backed up the shots with my 50 Summicron.
Some people swear by them but I'd much rather have any of the non ASPH Summicron 35's. The only reason I kept the Summilux was I did have 1.4 if needed it and was usable under the right conditions and I owned it and didn't want to chase down another lens. It took some time to track down the Summilux. This was in the day that leica was always in short supply. I found one in Washington DC at Ritz and paid retail for it, $333. I couldn't find one anywhere else. The same happened with my 21 Super Angulon 3.4. They were non existent for the most part. The 35 Summicron v1 which was the current production was also in short supply.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Haha.... Laugh at myself a bit.
Have owned most of my leica lenses that were hi up on the desire list.
My color Skopar 50mm and 40mm cle lens are what I want and have.
Would like a nikkor f2.5/35mm ltm again some day.
Nothing against Leica. After trying do many, these humble lenses suit my RF 35mm film needs best.
Have owned most of my leica lenses that were hi up on the desire list.
My color Skopar 50mm and 40mm cle lens are what I want and have.
Would like a nikkor f2.5/35mm ltm again some day.
Nothing against Leica. After trying do many, these humble lenses suit my RF 35mm film needs best.
mfogiel
Veteran
A 35/1.4 that performs like 50/1.4 pre asph and is no bigger.
aizan
Veteran
the chrome 35mm summicron asph that came with special editions like the hammertone and anthracite mp.
also the chrome 28mm elmarit asph that came with the safari m8 and other special editions.
also the chrome 28mm elmarit asph that came with the safari m8 and other special editions.
pechelman
resu deretsiger
there are lenses I'd like to use for a week or two to see how I get on with them, namely the 21 and 28 summilux, but I'm not certain either of these would be considered a "dream lens" for me. To me, that means a lens that I'd want to use for the majority of shooting, and since both of those lenses are quite large, I'm not sure that would actually happen.
I really dont know if there's any "dream lens" for me, unless I can dream up some fantasy lens like a 50 .95 the size of a summicron. Back to reality though, at one point I thought I'd love a 35FLE but I just dont always bond with that fov. I'm much more of a 28 / 50 person I've come to realize. I guess if I was forced to choose, I'd probably say the 50APO, though I'm more than content with the 50 rigid and asph 'lux to really give one any serious thought. One of the noctilux series might be a close second, but on that choice, back to the size, not sure I'd really use it all that much.
I really dont know if there's any "dream lens" for me, unless I can dream up some fantasy lens like a 50 .95 the size of a summicron. Back to reality though, at one point I thought I'd love a 35FLE but I just dont always bond with that fov. I'm much more of a 28 / 50 person I've come to realize. I guess if I was forced to choose, I'd probably say the 50APO, though I'm more than content with the 50 rigid and asph 'lux to really give one any serious thought. One of the noctilux series might be a close second, but on that choice, back to the size, not sure I'd really use it all that much.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
I have both Summiluxes 35 mm pre asph here on my table: black 222xxxx and steel rim 177xxxx. There is a huge difference between the two. The steel rim is much better. The black one is only sharp in the center of the image. You have to stop down at least to f/8 to get the whole image sharp. I think however that later versions are again improved.
Erik.
maitani
Well-known
dreamlenses:
noctilux 1.2
elcan 50mm (from KE-7A)
e58 or early e60 noctilux 1.0
Silver-chrome cron 50mm v4 pre asph
noctilux 1.2
elcan 50mm (from KE-7A)
e58 or early e60 noctilux 1.0
Silver-chrome cron 50mm v4 pre asph
Darthfeeble
But you can call me Steve
Not necessarily a "dream" lens but I currently lust for a 21 Angulon. I have the CV and love the FOV.
airfrogusmc
Veteran
I have one of my Leica dream lenses, the 35 Lux FLE. I would also like to add a 21 Lux or maybe the 28 lux.
FrozenInTime
Well-known
For fun and form factor, the 50mm Anastigmat from the 0-Series replica would be great in M mount.
Now a true dream lens would be a Leica 35mm f/1 Noctilux - and/or something smaller and entertaining from Miyazaki San of MS Optical.
I'm lucky enough to be able to switch between the very different 35 Summilux ASPH non-FLE and 35/1.4 Apoqualia as mood dictates.
Now a true dream lens would be a Leica 35mm f/1 Noctilux - and/or something smaller and entertaining from Miyazaki San of MS Optical.
I'm lucky enough to be able to switch between the very different 35 Summilux ASPH non-FLE and 35/1.4 Apoqualia as mood dictates.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Disclaimer: I'm very fickle and financially challenged.
My dream lens right now is the 21/3.4 SEM.
I've also been hoping to acquire a pre-asph 35 summicron (1st would be nice, but they're all adequate for me), and a v2 50 summilux. Both are possibilities in the forseeable future.
But, remember the disclaimer 🙂
My dream lens right now is the 21/3.4 SEM.
I've also been hoping to acquire a pre-asph 35 summicron (1st would be nice, but they're all adequate for me), and a v2 50 summilux. Both are possibilities in the forseeable future.
But, remember the disclaimer 🙂
Jerevan
Recycled User
I believe my dream lens is whatever makes me get out of bed and out making photographs ... for me two Leica lenses stand out: Summilux 35/1.4 and the Summicron 35/2 v3. Both sadly gone.
I would love to try the first version Summilux 50.
I would love to try the first version Summilux 50.
smk
Established
35mm Summilux-M Aspherical (the double aspherical one, or AA as it is sometimes called).
Pioneer
Veteran
My dream lenses are not what I thought they would be when I started.
Like many I used to lust for the fastest glass I could get my hands on, and I bought many of them.
Then I bought the Null Serie reproduction and absolutely fell in love with the way that Anistigmat 50mm f/3.5 draws. I knew that I may lose the magic by removing that lens from the body.
So I found a very nice Elmar M 50mm f3.5 and found it to also be a dream to work with. Not fast but very subtle and quite beautiful when I catch the light just right.
Another dream lens is my collapsible Elmar M 90mm f/4.
On one hand these are nothing special, on the other both of these are classic Leitz glass with their own way of drawing the light. They are really only waiting for someone to work with them again.
Like many I used to lust for the fastest glass I could get my hands on, and I bought many of them.
Then I bought the Null Serie reproduction and absolutely fell in love with the way that Anistigmat 50mm f/3.5 draws. I knew that I may lose the magic by removing that lens from the body.
So I found a very nice Elmar M 50mm f3.5 and found it to also be a dream to work with. Not fast but very subtle and quite beautiful when I catch the light just right.
Another dream lens is my collapsible Elmar M 90mm f/4.
On one hand these are nothing special, on the other both of these are classic Leitz glass with their own way of drawing the light. They are really only waiting for someone to work with them again.
uhoh7
Veteran
I have some Leica dream lenses: 21 SEM, 28 Cron, 50 cron v4, 75 Lux, and 135 APO, and I love them very much 🙂
I would love to own, but doubt I will: 18/24 SEM, 28Lux, 35 v1, 35 FLE, 50 Lux Asph and cron APO, nocti .95, 75/90AA.
If you want to give me just one, I'll take the 28 Lux 🙂
I would love to own, but doubt I will: 18/24 SEM, 28Lux, 35 v1, 35 FLE, 50 Lux Asph and cron APO, nocti .95, 75/90AA.
If you want to give me just one, I'll take the 28 Lux 🙂
agoglanian
Reconnected.
Well with my first Leica experience back in 2004, I knew that one day that would be the system for me. It just felt right in my hands.
When I did finally buy into the Leica M system, I didn't have the budget for Leica's glass, so I bought into Zeiss and wasn't disappointed one bit.
When I made the decision to consolidate to Leica, I also decided then to begin acquiring the lenses I had wanted to try for so many years.
My initial goal was a set of Summicrons (28/35/50/90) Which I did ultimately acquire, but I wanted one fast(er) lens and that was the 50mm Summilux ASPH.
I sold the 50 Summicron (and some other things) and now have that Summilux on the way.
I don't find any particular draw towards the wide Summilux lenses (Though the 35 FLE would be one I wouldn't mind having) but I would like to eventually get the 21mm SEM. I don't need speed in a lens that wide, but I do want perfection across the frame, which that lens delivers.
As it stands, I'm thrilled to have the lenses I do (28 Summicron / 35 Summicron ASPH / 50 Summilux ASPH / 90 Summicron Pre-ASPH) but even that lot feels like too many for me. I don't think I'd get rid of any of them, but I try to go out with no more than two lenses at a time. Ideally one.
I would like to try a Noctilux one day but I doubt it's something that would see regular use by me.
When I did finally buy into the Leica M system, I didn't have the budget for Leica's glass, so I bought into Zeiss and wasn't disappointed one bit.
When I made the decision to consolidate to Leica, I also decided then to begin acquiring the lenses I had wanted to try for so many years.
My initial goal was a set of Summicrons (28/35/50/90) Which I did ultimately acquire, but I wanted one fast(er) lens and that was the 50mm Summilux ASPH.
I sold the 50 Summicron (and some other things) and now have that Summilux on the way.
I don't find any particular draw towards the wide Summilux lenses (Though the 35 FLE would be one I wouldn't mind having) but I would like to eventually get the 21mm SEM. I don't need speed in a lens that wide, but I do want perfection across the frame, which that lens delivers.
As it stands, I'm thrilled to have the lenses I do (28 Summicron / 35 Summicron ASPH / 50 Summilux ASPH / 90 Summicron Pre-ASPH) but even that lot feels like too many for me. I don't think I'd get rid of any of them, but I try to go out with no more than two lenses at a time. Ideally one.
I would like to try a Noctilux one day but I doubt it's something that would see regular use by me.
starless
Well-known
35mm Summicron: size, character, versatility
fer_fdi
Well-known
28 Elmarit asph, because I doubt I can ever justify it's price... but it is so small, light, sharp and contrasty... I'd love to have one.
There are many options for 35, 40, 50 and 90 but for a 28 that small, light and sharp...
As a fantasy lens I'd like a 40/1.7 with the snap of the 50 Wetzlar, the resolution of the 50 IV or V and the size and weight of the Summicron-C (but with 40.5mm thread and a lip to use a clamp-on hood)
And a CLE-2 with an EBL of 50, that focus down to 30cm and shoot up to 1/8000 and down to 15 secs. The above lens could focus down to 50cm but wides down to 30cm.
There are many options for 35, 40, 50 and 90 but for a 28 that small, light and sharp...
As a fantasy lens I'd like a 40/1.7 with the snap of the 50 Wetzlar, the resolution of the 50 IV or V and the size and weight of the Summicron-C (but with 40.5mm thread and a lip to use a clamp-on hood)
And a CLE-2 with an EBL of 50, that focus down to 30cm and shoot up to 1/8000 and down to 15 secs. The above lens could focus down to 50cm but wides down to 30cm.
ColColt
Established
35 f2 Summicron-latest version.
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