What Lenses to Toss?

35mmdelux

35mmdelux

Veni, vidi, vici
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Here is my stable and request your suggestions on what to keep/toss: 28mmElmarit Mint, 35mmSummilux MInt, 35mm/1.7Asph VC (mint, on auction),
50mmM-Hexanon Mint, 90mm Elmarit-M newest style.

The 35mmLux is my go to lens. The ones I haven't decided on keeping/tossing
are the 28mmElmarit or the 50mmM-Hexanon.

I shoot urbanscapes, seascapes, portraiture, some street, some work in rainforest jungle, and just about anything that catches my fancy. I carry my M6 or M4-P all the time and like to travel light, generally only carrying my 35mm Lux. The the other lenses for occasional portraiture jobs.

Thanks
 
Keep what you use or enjoy and sell what you don't. If I decide to sell something it is for the simple reason that I am not using it either because it doesn't suit or because I have replaced it with something else. I don't need someone else to tell me. If you haven't used them enough to decide for yourself (which is feasible bearing in mind the "mint" condition of all of them), perhaps you should consider changing to a system that you will use and enjoy
 
Thanks for your suggestions. The lenses are Mint simply because I upgraded recently. Previously I owned user 35mmCron, 50mmCron, 90mm Tele-Elmarit.

Also in my small Domke satchel is a Isolette 6x6 and Contax T2, both w/ iso 400 B&W film. I use them all. My M's carry Superia 100 only. Not interested in fast color film.

THKS

BTW the other system I use and enjoy is a H'bld 503CX w/ 60mm Disti and 120mm Makro-P. I use that get-up for landscapes and portraits.
 
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35mmdelux said:
YWENZ,

So your suggestion would be to toss the 50mm and the VC35mm?
Click to expand...

Yes. 35lux for all around shooting, 28mm for extra tight environments and landscapes... 90 for portraits. I think that should about cover all your uses.
 
YWENZ,

Thank you for your suggestions. Sometimes its tough to see the forest for the trees after writing all the checks, if you know what I mean. I'm a shooter, not a collector.....

IMO your strategy makes good sense. This way I can actually use my stuff instead of having it collect dust.

Thanks again,

Paul
 
I also have to ask why you want to reduce the number of lenses. Using an analogy I don't use all the screwdrivers in a set but when it's needed they are all made to solve some specific problem. Not unlike the lens manufacturer making lenses. They are made because experience and time has shown a need for each them. I'd be careful here.

If you have 2 bodies and you shoot "urbanscapes, seascapes, portraiture, some street" each of the lenses will be used.

90 - portrait
50 - street
35 - street and urbanscapes/landscapes
28 - landscapes

If I was you I would move slowly. Going through the process of acquirining them a second time is a familiar story to many who sell this type of set up.
 
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As I said, if you haven't used them enough yet to decide, give them a chance. Put the 50 to one side and see if you miss it. If you do keep it, if not sell it. It would be a shame to make a mistake based on someone else's preference having just gone through an expensive upgrade.

Regards
Kim
 
Ditto what Jan posted.

Don't expect to use all your kit on a regular basis. Unless the reason for selling is financial, hold onto them (except the duplicate 35 which you've already indicated is on auction).

You are probably in a groove with the newer 35 Lux, but there will come a day when you want to try something different, or wish you had a different focal length for a particular shot and then you'll reach for the 28, 50, or 90. Considering the prices for Leica lenses are rising regularly, replacing any of them at a later date will undoubtedly cost more too.
 
I'd certainly hang on to all of them. If you're really shooting that much with the 35, then perhaps you should try to experiment with the others, especially with the 28. I know that as someone who preferes 50's it took me quite awhile to get comfortable with a 35.

Jan and Kim's suggestions also make a great deal of sense to me.

William
 
First, I would question the need for two 35s, especially with one being only marginally faster than the other.

Once that's out of the way, you're down to four, which doesn't seem like a crowd, especially if you're walking around with two already mounted on cameras. My working kit is 28/50/90, and even though the 90 gets the least use by a good margin, I wouldn't dream of being without it. When I do pick it up, it's the only lens that will do. That's reason enough to keep it. I've had occasional thoughts about other lenses, but really, this trio serves me damned well, and fits easily into my Domke 803 with two bodies, a pair of flash units, and the rest of it, so I never agonize over what to take or leave - the bag is loaded and always ready to grab, day or night (not counting grabbing a little extra film from the 'fridge). A far cry from my SLR days.

If you can comfortably carry four lenses in your chosen bag along with the rest of your your regular kit, my above recommendation stands - I don't see a real need for two identical focal lengths unless you just happen to have a true affinity for 35s - and, in your shoes, I'd obviously keep the Summilux. Then don't worry about what gets used most and just go out and photograph.


- Barrett
 
i would just sell the cv 35mm. keep the 90 and 50 for portraits, and the 35 and 28 for the other stuff.
 
If you really want to toss something you can toss that Ultron my way. 😛

(And I'm kidding. I have no money for an Ultron right now. But I really, really like that lens.)
 
Even if you only occasionally do portraiture, a 50mm is indispensible IMO. Especially when you would get a gap of more than 2x focal length between the 35 and the 90. The 50 is wide enough to pull in some of the environment, while being long enough to keep the proportions and perspective comfortable for the person being shot. Many photographers like a 35 for environmental portraits (and it can look very creative indeed), but the people in the picture seldom appreciate the end result..

What's more, the 50 Hexanon has some of the most pleasing portrait characteristics I've seen in a lens. Between f2-f4 it has a very friendly nature though it has plenty resolution/contrast/sharpness there. I wouldn't toss it if I were you.
 
Maybe it's because I've been infected by GAS just for two years now. But why would someone toss a lens? 😕

Toss 'em over here. 😀
 
Hi Stephanie,

I wish I could accomodate you but the lens was spoken for and is in the air as we speak. Keep an eye out for one, its as good as I've seen, and its dang fast.

Regards, Paul
 
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