which M lens should i buy?

[MP Guy]

I have a 21 and a 35. Now, should I get the 24 or the 28? Which has better optical qualities, which is more practical? Anyone shooting with either of these?

 

[Socke]

Why not a 50?

 

[MP Guy]

i thought about that. Maybe the new Zeiss ZM or a summicron? What do you think?

 

[FrankS]

I love your signature, Socke!

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

that is a tough call

The 24/2.8 asph is a great lens. But the 28/2.0 gives you an extra stop and is also sharp as a tack.

I ended up keeping the 28 because the 24 was too close to my 21. The extra stop didn't hurt either.

 

[Alec]

Hi Jorge. Why not buy a used VC Ultron 28? 😀
That way you will know both whether a 2/28 is useful to you, and whether the price difference with the Summicron is justified (if the Ultron is not good enough for you, you can always sell it at cost). For me, I kept the Ultron.
When you respond to this thread it will be your 1000th post.
Cheers!
ag

 

[peter_n]

I have a 28 and a 35. To me they are really different even though there's only 7mm between them. I "see" the 35 as a normal lens and the 50 as a very mild tele-photo. The 28 is a true wide-angle lens though. Leica's 28 has a stellar reputation in the firmament which considering the reputation of their lenses as a whole speaks volumes. I'd get the 28 and use it wide-open. I have an M-Hexanon 28/2.8 and sometimes I wish it was a stop faster but it is still a brilliant lens. I love that focal length. 🙂

 

[Huck Finn]

Jorge, in considering choices for my new ZI (arrival anticipated this week), I was re-reading Erwin's review of the ZM lenses & he found the ZM 25/2.8 better than the Leica 24/2.8 - even at maximum aperture! Zeiss also touts this lens as the best of their new lens line. The good news with this choice is that you also move slightly in the direction of a compromise between the 24 & 28 mm focal lengths.

Huck

 

[MP Guy]

Well, I think I will pick up the 50 sumicron and a silver 25 ZM. Now I need to wait untill next week when my credit card bill closes for the month 🙂

 

[vol72]

I also have 21 and 35 focal length lenses. I recently added a 28 Summicron and have discovered that it is quite a bit different than the 35 in angle of view. The 28 Summicron is a brilliant lens, has to be one of Leica's best. Heck, I would love to have the 24 Elmarit, but I feel that I pretty much have it covered on the wide side with the 21, 28 , and 35. FWIW, I also have recently purchased a .58 viewfinder M6 TTL. This camera makes using the wideangles even better.

 

[richard_l]

While the 50mm Summicron is undeniably great, I would take the road less traveled and get the lovely 50mm Elmar-M (latest version, preferably chrome).

 

[MP Guy]

I went with the 50mm summicron silver. Next month I will get the 24 leica or zeiss 25.

 

[peter_n]

While the 50mm Summicron is undeniably great, I would take the road less traveled and get the lovely 50mm Elmar-M (latest version, preferably chrome).

I don't think it is quite as less travelled as it used to be Richard. In the last couple of years more and more people are realizing that it isn't such an ugly duckling after all.

 

[Doug]

That new Zeiss 25mm Biogon really looks like it'll be a winner!

 

[raid]

It depends on your type of photography. I prefer 50mm over 21mm for its perspective. Many don't like the 50mm lens view. You will get both, so this is not a problem after all. Enjoy both and post many photos here.

 

[paulh]

I have both the 24 Elmarit and 28 Summicron. Ended up using the 28 more becuase its a stop faster. Its a brilliant lens......actually both of them are depending what you would like to shoot 🙂

Cheers,
Paul

 

[former member]

On the 50, save some money and buy a Canon 50mm F1.4 with proper hood and then get an M-Mount adapter for it. It is a fantastic lens. One of the only 6-Element F1.4 lenses ever produced in the course of History, using experimental glass and the knowledge, skill, and craftmanship of a day gone by.

And I know where you can get on from a highly reliable person.