Which lens to take along?

M9 with 35 Summilux work together so well.
SWC is just so much fun to use.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The above is all I need.
 
I am tempted to also add the small and light E-PL1 with 25/1.4 for AF snapshots, but my iPhone can also do those.
 
Interesting thought experiment for me. I think I would bring 21-28-50-90 and two bodies. Stick a wide on one with colour film, a normal or portrait on the other for B&W, and leave everything else in the hotel safe for the day. Which lens gets brought along depends on the subject matter of the day -- tight streets, bazaar portraits, monuments, landscapes, etc.

For example: 21mm on Leica CL + 50mm on Leica MP for open rural spaces. Or 28mm on MP and 90mm on CL for city and towns.

I like to repeat this mantra: Don McCullin frequently uses a 28mm/135mm combo which he says is all you need (for reportage), Sam Abell uses 28mm/90mm (for travel), Dame Jane Bown used 50mm (for editorial portraits, mainly close ups and mid-shots), and Jean-Loup Sieff does well with 21mm (for environmental moody portraits, full length). So I pick my focal lengths accordingly as well.
 
If you haven't tried it, the CV21/4 is a great little lens. I'm surprised at how much use mine gets and I'm using it more and more for street photography.

I'll be bringing mine to Wetzlar; you can try it out and see if you like it Raid.

Ernst
 
Ruhayat said:
I like to repeat this mantra: Don McCullin frequently uses a 28mm/135mm combo which he says is all you need (for reportage), Sam Abell uses 28mm/90mm (for travel), Dame Jane Bown used 50mm (for editorial portraits, mainly close ups and mid-shots), and Jean-Loup Sieff does well with 21mm (for environmental moody portraits, full length). So I pick my focal lengths accordingly as well.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Apologies for quibbling but I thought Jane Brown used an Olympus (?OM) and an 85mm lens...

Regards, David
 
ernstk said:
If you haven't tried it, the CV21/4 is a great little lens. I'm surprised at how much use mine gets and I'm using it more and more for street photography.

I'll be bringing mine to Wetzlar; you can try it out and see if you like it Raid.

Ernst
Click to expand...

Hello Ernst,
I have the 21/4 in Nikon mount, but it cannot be used on a digital Leica even when using an Amedeo adapter with it.

Thanks for the offer. I will try it our in Wetzlar.
 
I usually take a 35 and 50 or a 35 and 90 if I expect to do portraits.

Currently I use a 35 Lux FLE and either a 50 Lux ASPH or 90 Cron pre-ASPH.
 
I have bene taking with me 35mm and 45mm Zeiss (because I like using this lens), but I also have in past years used 35/50.
 
Thanks, Michael.
Decided? Who, Me?!
It will be M9 with 35mm Summilux for sure.
The rest is not 100% decided yet.
Do I really need a MF camera with film?
Do I need a camera with AF for quick (and guaranteed) snapshots of Leica in Wetzlar?
 
I tried out today to carry my camera bag, with the equipment for the trip.
At first I tried:M9(35 Lux) with M8(45 Planar) with SWC: too heavy and too much bulk for my chosen camera bag. Then I removed the M8, and I tried packing M9 with 35 Lux and 75 Lux plus SWC. It is OK now. I will next decide whether I take along 120 and 220 backs or only one of the two. Using the 220 back cuts on film quantity, but film is dated.
 
Sound like a very nice kit Raid!
I look forward to seeing the pics, especially from the SWC!
Use whatever back you feel like packing, a few rolls of 120 doesn't take up that much space, and aren't the 220 back bigger?
Edit: I'd just go one of the two backs. Keep it simple.
 
Just came back from a 10 day trip to Montreal,Quebec City and 3 days with friend in Vermont. I took a Leica MP, a Leiva Millennium (both with 0.58 viewfinders) and the 21f4.5 C Biogon, the 35f1.4 Zeiss Distagon and the Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f1.5. Most of the time it was the Distagon 35mm f1.4, followed by the C Sonnar 50 and just a couple of rolls with the 21mm f4.5. There were a couple of moments when I missed a 75/90 - but not enough to have wished to haul it around. The trip was means to use up a credit with an airline - so nothing "important" except the visit with our friends in Vermont.
Everything worked fine, though I really found the Distagon 35f1.4 a bit heavy - but it is a good lens, really good. I could see myself doing a trip with just that lens and one body at some time in the future!
 
michaelwj said:
Sound like a very nice kit Raid!
I look forward to seeing the pics, especially from the SWC!
Use whatever back you feel like packing, a few rolls of 120 doesn't take up that much space, and aren't the 220 back bigger?
Edit: I'd just go one of the two backs. Keep it simple.
Click to expand...

Hi Michael,
The 120 back will be sufficient if I take along the SWC. It is all about keeping the weight down so that I better enjoy the walks.
 
Tom A said:
Just came back from a 10 day trip to Montreal,Quebec City and 3 days with friend in Vermont. I took a Leica MP, a Leiva Millennium (both with 0.58 viewfinders) and the 21f4.5 C Biogon, the 35f1.4 Zeiss Distagon and the Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f1.5. Most of the time it was the Distagon 35mm f1.4, followed by the C Sonnar 50 and just a couple of rolls with the 21mm f4.5. There were a couple of moments when I missed a 75/90 - but not enough to have wished to haul it around. The trip was means to use up a credit with an airline - so nothing "important" except the visit with our friends in Vermont.
Everything worked fine, though I really found the Distagon 35f1.4 a bit heavy - but it is a good lens, really good. I could see myself doing a trip with just that lens and one body at some time in the future!
Click to expand...

Hi Tom,
'I don't have a Zeiss 35 1.4 (except in Rollei QBM mount), so I will take the pre-asph Lux. The Lux and the M9 pair up very well based on my experience with them.
 
Our journey in Germany will be shorter than yours, I'll take M7 (35-50-75) for exteriors and the Leica x1 (fixed 35 eq) for interiors when I'll need higher iso. Not sure yet if color or B&W in the M7.

Maybe the I-1 for some fun 😀

robert
 
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