Lens advice

[hborowski]

Hi!
In two weeks I am going to New York and I want to buy a new lens for my MP (I just only have a 50 mm Summilux f1.4 ASPH). I am thinking between the 28 mm Summicron f2 ASPH or the 35 mm Summilux f1.4 ASPH or the 35 mm Summicron f2 ASPH. I will use it for landscapes and city shoots; I am not considering to buy a M8 so crop factor is not of importance for me.
So I will appreciate your experienced opinion.

Thanks,

Herbert

[NZDavid]

Are you photographing or buying? I have the 2/35 ASPH. It's excellent. I've also used a 28 pre-ASPH, which was a fine performer. Size might be a consideration: the 35 is smaller. The 1.4 Lux ASPH is a lot pricier, and f2 really is wide enough for all but ultra murky light. Another thought: the 24 ASPH is a superb wideangle, great for travel, landscapes, interiors.
You will want to check out Photovillage and B&H.

[lmr]

Focal length is very subjective. Since you have a 50mm Asph Lux, you might want to look at the 28mm Asph Cron. The 35mm and 50mm is sometime a couple of steps forward or backwards. Use your frame lever, switch it back and forth to see which focel length you like more. In addition, search this forum, there are a lot of opinions and discussion on classic and non classic lens combo. (35mm & 70mm/28mm & 50mm/35mm, 50mm, & 90mm/21mm, 35mm & 70mm/ etc etc) i.e. if you are looking for a combo.

Like I said, it is very subjective, If you get a 35mm Asph Lux or Cron, that lens, in most cases lives on the MP. A few step forward, it is almost like a 50mm, and a few step back, it is almost like a 28mm. 35mm is sometimes the light weight one lens and camera combo.

Now that I have totally confused you... Good Luck. BTW... if you have an MP with a .85 VF... 28mm frame line is not available.

Robert

[peter_n]

Herbert welcome to the forum! I agree with Robert directly above. If you're looking for a lens to use as a pair with your 50mm then the 28mm is your choice. If you're looking for a lens to take out on the MP by itself then the 35 may be more to your liking. I use both 35mm ASPH lenses, the f1.4 and the f2. The f1.4 is a bit on the big side and for most purposes I'm finding the f2 to be more than adequate, it is much smaller and very sharp with really nice OOF rendering.

[darkstar2004]

I would recommend the 28/2 ASPH. I have it to go with my 50/1.4 pre-ASPH and my 90/2 APO/ASPH.

The thing I like about the 28/2 is that it is the widest lens that has a set of reference lines built in to the MP viewfinder. Any wider (24mm or 21mm) requires a shoe mounted external viewfinder, which I wanted to avoid.

The 28/2 ASPH is not cheap, but it is an outstanding lens. The f/2 max aperture provides good low light capability, although it is not as fast as the 35/1.4.

From what I have read, the 35/1.4 is very touchy about focusing when used wide open; this has not been a complaint about the 28/2 that I've ever heard.

The 28/2 ASPH has alot going for it. IMHO, you can't go wrong with this lens.

[xjr]

28mm f2

[Philippe D.]

Hi, and welcome to the crazy club!
You already have the best optic with the 50mm Summilux f1.4 Asph.
So take the second one, with the Summicron 28.
After that, you could look for the fabulous Summilux 35.

I'm looking for the Lux 50 Asph, i have the other both.

[luigi bertolotti]

28 by sure... Summicron if you have lot of money to spend ... Elmarit Asph if you like a compact excellent 2,8 lens... but don't forget the VF issue...

[vol72]

I only shoot film. The lenses I use most often are a 50 Summilux ASPH and a 28 Summicron ASPH. I sold my 35 Summicron ASPH; never loved the focal length, although a plenty good lens. The other Leica lenses I favor are the 75 Summilux and the Version 1 90 Elmarit. I have a 90 ASPH - modern contrast, very sharp, but I when I want a 90, it is usually the 90 V1, so I will probably sell the ASPH. I also have a CV 21, a nice little lens. Sold my 21 Elmarit ASPH; could not justify keeping it. I have a friend who really likes his CV 28 1.9; larger than a 28 'cron, but a fine lens. My advice is to purchase what you can afford, what you can justify, or just what you like. I can't think of a modern lens for your M mount camera that will give bad results; Leica, Zeiss, CV, Hexanon; while many vintage lenses are also great choices.

[batmobile]

I would rule out the 35 summilux if you dont need the speed and go for the 28 Cron or 35 cron depending on FL preference. If you are mainly shooting street scenes I would go 35mm, but if more scenic then 28.

However, if you want me to be really, really, brutally honest..I would buy a Zeiss 28/35 and save a fortune, or buy 2 Zeiss lenses and still save over a single Leica lens. They are VERY good lenses. doing outdoor street work or landscapes you are unlikely to expoit the asph's marginally better performance on centre wide open. The ZMs are (with the exception of the 28) sharper in the outer field so for cityscapes you will have wonderful resolution right out to the corners as well as negligible distortion.

Zeiss 21 4.5 and 28 would be about $2100-2200 i.e less than the cheapest lens you mention, the 35 asph cron.

Just a thought. BTW I have a MP and love my Zeiss lenses!