Which M-75mm?

JPSuisse

JPSuisse

Well-known
Local time
4:12 AM
Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
434
So, I'm going to be marching off to Venice for Carnival. My experience indicates that a 50mm won't be good enough. Too many crowded around all these masked people for a 50, and it is not my aim to irritate everybody else constantly!

I'm thinking I should try a 75mm, but which one? The choices seem to be:
1.) 75 2.5 Color Heliar
2.) 75 APO-Summicron
3.) 75 Summilux
4.) 75 Summarit
The 75 Summilux is probably too big for me and not easy to handle. The 75 APO-Summicron is probably easy to handle, good quality and relatively fast. The 75 color heliar looks to be a good bargain! Am I missing another option?

Any advice from the forum members on this subject?

Cheers, JP
 
If you have not used a 75 before, perhaps you should try the Color Heliar. I have one and like it. I just don't use the 75 length enough to justify the Leica lens. The 75 is an interesting lens to use. Good Luck. Joe
 
Joe, that's exactly why I put the 75 heliar on the list. It looks like a good lens for a try-out. And, it might even be good to boot!

One hears so much about the 75 Lux that I can't help but think that its rather a fad. What makes this lens stand out so much? And, what kind of rendering is it? More like a Summilux v.3 or v.4?

I mostly using the new lenses ASPH or Zeiss.

JP
 
Summarit

Summarit

I recently got the 75mm Summarit; it's my only 75. Light, compact, easy to handle, and very sharp. If f2.5 is all you need, it makes a lot of sense.
 
I can only speak for the 75 summarit. If speed isn't that important, its a great deal.
A very sharp lens, light weight and great build quality.
 
I like the lux, the German one:
263272083_VduVq-M.jpg
 
the lux is a beast. It's a hassle to carry it around but you will soon realize it's all worth it when you holding the negatives.
 
Here's a link to a comparison of the Summarit and the Summilux done by Guy Mancuso. He's one of the folks behind GetDPI.com. Lot's of good info here, in my opinion.

http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206

My take on it is that of the two you might be best served by the Summarit. I own a copy of the Summilux and absolutely love the look of the images it can produce. (So much so in fact that I also have the 80mm Summilux for the R system!) I think though that the long focus throw of the faster lenses is a definite drawback for shooting in any less-than-controlled settings. your intended use qualifies in my book!

All the best with finding what works for you!
 
Have you considered a 90mm? The latest 90f2.8 Elmarit-M is an incredible lens and it is such a bargain these days. I picked up a perfect chrome example for $750. I prefer it to the 90mm Summicron-ASPH. Its a stop slower but I can't detect a difference in sharpness and the Elmarit is more compact.

I also have a 75mm Color-Heliar. A very nice lens and also a fantastic bargain. I wish that it could focus down to .7m instead of 1m. I find that I don't use it much at all unless I pair it with a 35mm and leave the 50mm at home; a rare occurrence. I often thought about selling the 75mm but I always end up keeping it. I won't get much for it as it is already inexpensive when new. It is a very good lens and handy to have sometimes (when I remember to bring it with me).
 
Last edited:
fbf said:
the lux is a beast. It's a hassle to carry it around but you will soon realize it's all worth it when you holding the negatives.
Click to expand...

+1

Developed towards the end of Dr. Mandler's tenure, the 75 Lux utilizes the same glass as the Noctilux and also handles harsh high contrast lighting very well. I have no need for a Noctilux. I can take pictures with this lens that I can't take with other glass.

The slow focus can be alieviated by practice. A 1.40 magnifier also helps. The awkward nose heaviness can be over come by adding a Rapidwinder. A rapidgrip makes another improvement.

If this sounds like a lot, you are right, but my dream is to have another M-body just dedicated to this lense set up just this way. BTW for me a heavy camera is a steady camera.

Again, the negatives are amazing, but I will also say that a 75 Lux might not be for everyone. Some of my best shots are hand held in dim bars with a lot of black/extreame contrast.

Calzone
 
Hi guys

Thanks for all these interesting posts. I have some thinking to do now. I think the cron probably matches the finger print of my other lenses the most. On the other hand the CV seems like a good first good choice for experiments!

Errr!!

The agony of choosing.

JP
 
just for fun, why don't you visit venice during carnival by visiting tim ashley's website. http://tashley1.zenfolio.com/p834013227
if i remember correctly, tim was using an early model m8 for these photos. his coverage of carnival may give you some good ideas about which lenses (focal length) were most useful to him.

enjoy your trip

rick

ps. 75mm summilux :))
 
Last edited:
As you ask for photography which requires somewhat faster action, get a lens with a shorter focus through. The Summarit is very quick and reliable to focus.
 
I can only speak to the Summilux. It would be among the last gear I ever let go. However, it feels like it takes a deliberate touch, and I'm not sure that's what Carnivale demands. Do you plan to be shooting in low light? If not, perhaps another lens would serve better. That said:

Emma_070716-vi.jpg

07112523sm-vi.jpg
 
It appears you expect to be in the middle of things. Would a wide angle 28/35mm be suitable ? "Up close" rather than "stand back"...?

Enjoy your trip.

yours
FPJ
 
Nando said:
Have you considered a 90mm? The latest 90f2.8 Elmarit-M is an incredible lens and it is such a bargain these days. I picked up a perfect chrome example for $750. I prefer it to the 90mm Summicron-ASPH. Its a stop slower but I can't detect a difference in sharpness and the Elmarit is more compact.

I also have a 75mm Color-Heliar. A very nice lens and also a fantastic bargain. I wish that it could focus down to .7m instead of 1m. I find that I don't use it much at all unless I pair it with a 35mm and leave the 50mm at home; a rare occurrence. I often thought about selling the 75mm but I always end up keeping it. I won't get much for it as it is already inexpensive when new. It is a very good lens and handy to have sometimes (when I remember to bring it with me).
Click to expand...

This portrait was taken with Nando's 75mm Color-Heliar.

3966924326_1d7f79b05b_o.jpg


I almost bought it but my M5 doesn't have 75mm framelines.
 
@ Rick and FPJ
Let me first say a few words about Carnival. I have been there twice before and shot with a 50mm. Quite a few crowds can develop around the masked characters. The 50mm is really just too short in my opinion, because when you get in real close, you block everybody else's shots.... Of course, a 90 would be probably too long.

@ Photon42
Thanks for the advice about the long throw. This certainly would be a disadvantage. Really, I wish I had a data sheet for the 75 lux to see how big it is and how heavy it is too...

@ CapitalK
I've seen that shot on the forum before. It's great! I believe it was your father, right? ;-)


JP
 
Last edited:
lux 75

lux 75

560 grams.
large and the long focus throw is a long slog around the barrel....I never did get the hang of focus on a moving subject...make them sit still and use a tripod, traded it after two years for an SWC, best move for me.
 
Get the 75mm VC. save yourself a couple grand. Its a great lens and more than adequate for the work most of us produce.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom