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GAS and the 135mm APO


tthorne

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I'm not going to ask for advice here because I already know I want it, but I would love to see what some of the folks here have done with the 135mm APO. I have seen a lot of stuff on the net and tried it out for a bit and so far I have been pretty impressed. I love my lens set so far, and even though I use longer lenses less often, this seemed like a fun choice. Currently I have:

 

21mm Summilux

35mm Summilux FLE

50mm Summilux ASPH

50mm Noctilux .95

90mm Summicron APO

 

I really don't think I NEED the 135mm, but all is good and I want another lens. Plus, I recently bought a 1.4 magnifier and tried it out with that lens and it seemed like focusing was pretty straight forward.

 

My buddy at the local Leica store suggested I go for the 50mm APO, which I may buy at some point, but I already have 2 50mm lenses, so I thought this may be a more logical (as much as something like this can be logical) choice.

 

So what do you guys that actually have put it to good use think about the lens? Please feel free to share images. I would love to see them.

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I really enjoyed my 135 until the inevitable unsteadiness of getting older took its toll. IMO, to use the any 135 to its best capability, you need support, viz., a tripod or a firm surface. Some of my best landscape shots and architecture (at a reasonable distance) were made with the 135 - - - but on a Tiltall tripod.

 

A good (younger) friend now has the 135.

 

Just my two cents

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I really enjoyed my 135 until the inevitable unsteadiness of getting older took its toll. IMO, to use the any 135 to its best capability, you need support, viz., a tripod or a firm surface. Some of my best landscape shots and architecture (at a reasonable distance) were made with the 135 - - - but on a Tiltall tripod.

 

A good (younger) friend now has the 135.

 

Just my two cents

 

 

Or a camera with excellent 5-axis IBIS. :D

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I really enjoyed my 135 until the inevitable unsteadiness of getting older took its toll. IMO, to use the any 135 to its best capability, you need support, viz., a tripod or a firm surface. Some of my best landscape shots and architecture (at a reasonable distance) were made with the 135 - - - but on a Tiltall tripod.

 

A good (younger) friend now has the 135.

 

Just my two cents

 

That makes a lot of sense. I know I would personally like to keep the ss at 1/250 for a lens like this, and that can be difficult with a f/3.4 max aperture. Then again, at apertures larger than that, DOF gets a bit crazy at this focal length. Anyway, very good point, even though I am 36.

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by the way,

 

I notice a gap in your lens lineup - the magnificent 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH

 

 

Just feeding the GAS :D

 

Thanks, thats all I need. Actually, I am more of a 35mm guy (my favorite focal length) and I consider them too close for me.I forgot to mention though that I do also have a Leica R 28mm PC which I use for architecture work, so in that sense, I do shoot 28mm.

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Thanks, thats all I need. Actually, I am more of a 35mm guy (my favorite focal length) and I consider them too close for me.I forgot to mention though that I do also have a Leica R 28mm PC which I use for architecture work, so in that sense, I do shoot 28mm.

 

I was a 35 guy until I moved to Leica 3 years ago and now primarily use 50 and 28 (the 35 still gets reasonable use). The 28 Summilux ASPH is a fantastic companion to the 50 Summilux as a two-lens kit. I bought and then sold the 28 PC for M240. The images from the 28 Summicron ASPH really are extraordinary and the 28-PC just doesn't come close.

 

 

Go try one and be prepared to blow the credit card :).

Edited by MarkP
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I was a 35 guy until I moved to Leica 3 years ago and now primarily use 50 and 28 (the 35 still gets reasonable use). The 28 Summilux ASPH is a fantastic companion to the 50 Summilux as a two-lens kit. I bought and then sold the 28 PC for M240. The images from the 28 Summicron ASPH really are extraordinary and the 28-PC just doesn't come close.

 

 

Go try one and be prepared to blow the credit card :).

 

I can see that you are a trouble maker and will report you to my wife Mark! Hahaha... Yes, not to slight the 28mm PC, which I use with the A7S more than my M240's, but it is definitely not up to the optical standards of the 28mm Cron (more from what i have heard/read vs personal experience). You tempt me sir.

 

Makes me also wonder if/when we will see a production version of the 28mm Lux.

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I'm not going to ask for advice here because I already know I want it, but I would love to see what some of the folks here have done with the 135mm APO. I have seen a lot of stuff on the net and tried it out for a bit and so far I have been pretty impressed. I love my lens set so far, and even though I use longer lenses less often, this seemed like a fun choice. Currently I have:

 

 

 

21mm Summilux

 

35mm Summilux FLE

 

50mm Summilux ASPH

 

50mm Noctilux .95

 

90mm Summicron APO

 

 

 

I really don't think I NEED the 135mm, but all is good and I want another lens. Plus, I recently bought a 1.4 magnifier and tried it out with that lens and it seemed like focusing was pretty straight forward.

 

 

 

My buddy at the local Leica store suggested I go for the 50mm APO, which I may buy at some point, but I already have 2 50mm lenses, so I thought this may be a more logical (as much as something like this can be logical) choice.

 

 

 

So what do you guys that actually have put it to good use think about the lens? Please feel free to share images. I would love to see them.

 

 

No 75Lux? :(((

 

No 75Cron? :(

 

You have to consider these masterpieces before you get a 135mm ...

 

Btw, what body/s do you shoot with?

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No 75Lux? :(((

 

No 75Cron? :(

 

You have to consider these masterpieces before you get a 135mm ...

 

Btw, what body/s do you shoot with?

 

I decided earlier not even to go there but the character of the 75 Summicron would be more in keeping with his current lens system.

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I decided earlier not even to go there but the character of the 75 Summicron would be more in keeping with his current lens system.

 

That's precisely why I got the 75 Lux, to have a lens of a different flavour when compared with my APO 90 or the rest of the new, super sharp Leica glass I have in the bag.

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No 75Lux? :(((

 

No 75Cron? :(

 

You have to consider these masterpieces before you get a 135mm ...

 

Btw, what body/s do you shoot with?

 

I shoot on a pair of M240 bodies and use my A7S for a few different types of projects as well. I used to have a Monochrom also, and I miss it enough that my wife teases me about loving a camera that much. Personally, I am a black and white shooter, but for work, I must have color as an option. This made the Monochrom my personal camera, which also made it the thing to sell when I wanted to make a big purchase (My Noctilux .95). I want another one, especially that sexy silver (both my 240's are silver), but I am also suspicious as to what Leica's future Monochrom plans are and when they might be as well.

 

Personally, I find the Monochrom pretty much a masterpiece, and I wouldn't change much. Perhaps the M240 rangefinder, LCD, battery, and shutter sound. Other than that, I feel great about the sensor and overall performance. I am sure I will love whatever Leica does with it next also.

 

See that? I got way off topic because i started talking about the Monochrom! Damnit I miss that camera... Heart broken...

 

Anyhow, my lens setup can seem a lot like a trophy kit, and in many ways it is, but I use 21mm as my go to wide angle because I find it is wide enough but not too wide. It hits my UWA sweet spot. Then I jump to 35mm because it is so versatile to me. One lens, no problem. 35mm. In fact, last year in Paris and Belgium I shot on 2 lenses only, 21 and 35.

 

50mm seems close to 35mm, and it is, but I use it differently. It is a single subject lens for me in the most part. I also use it when subject isolation is more important. Admittedly, I use and enjoy the Summilux ASPH more than the Noctilux due to the ergonomics and the fact that I simply have more time on the Summilux, but I am making an effort to cozy up to the Noctilux more lately.

 

From there I jump to the 90mm if I want to take a more serious portrait or put some distance between my subject and I, though I also respect the APO for it's landscape abilities. The thing here is that my 90mm sees almost no action at all. I am 95% a 21/35/50 shooter. So why am I thinking about the 135mm? Well, when I was using one for a short period of time, I really liked the working distance combined with how I could fill the frame from said distance. I also really liked how I could orient the subject within the frame as it related to the RF patch. Don't get me wrong, the 90mm APO has a ton to love about it, but I would venture to say the 135mm would be my go to portrait lens if I had it/when I have it.

 

So I never really felt the need to go with anything between the 50mm and 90mm, similar to how I feel between 21mm and 35mm. Leica makes really great lenses though, and my appreciation for them really leaves me never ruling anything out. I decided a while ago never to sell a lens again, ever, so chances are I will buy one every now and then that may sit on a shelf, but that is fine with me.

 

More about the 75mm options though... I really like the Summilux, not that I have shot with it though. I briefly had the latest Noctilux F1 before my .95, and I honestly LOVED the look I got from it. The soft classic glow while still detailed look was really nice, and the funky character filled bokeh, especially with certain backgrounds, was quite attractive and interesting to my eye. The 75mm Summilux reminds me of that lens, and I know they are both Mandler designs, so that makes sense. I can see myself owning the F1 again as well as the 75Lux simply because I find them to be... "Special"

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I decided earlier not even to go there but the character of the 75 Summicron would be more in keeping with his current lens system.

 

Yes, but that makes the 75Cron feel very redundant with my 90Cron. From what I have seen though, I know why people love that lens so much.

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Heya, nice collection you have.

Just looking at the collection you already have, the 135 is a very fine lens and would certainly round out the top end of your collection.

There are definitely times that I want to get closer but otherwise can't and the 135 is a good option to have at your disposal.

I have had good success with it so far, and it's good that you already have a viewfinder magnifier. I would also suggest an EVF2 is essential if you want to use it wide open.

I say go for it! I've attached a recent shot taken with it.

fbc45861370f594878ea2116bc320fe5.jpg

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Heya, nice collection you have.

Just looking at the collection you already have, the 135 is a very fine lens and would certainly round out the top end of your collection.

There are definitely times that I want to get closer but otherwise can't and the 135 is a good option to have at your disposal.

I have had good success with it so far, and it's good that you already have a viewfinder magnifier. I would also suggest an EVF2 is essential if you want to use it wide open.

I say go for it! I've attached a recent shot taken with it.

fbc45861370f594878ea2116bc320fe5.jpg

 

Thank you and thanks for sharing the photo also. This is actually a great example of that extra reach making a difference also, even in an intimate environment. It is not only about being physically blocked from getting closer, but also sometimes about purposefully not wanting to approach or disturb as things unfold.

 

Funny, i do have the Leica EVF, but have only used it to frame with the 21mm. I'm sure it will provide a capable focussing option as well though.

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That makes a lot of sense. I know I would personally like to keep the ss at 1/250 for a lens like this, and that can be difficult with a f/3.4 max aperture. Then again, at apertures larger than that, DOF gets a bit crazy at this focal length. Anyway, very good point, even though I am 36.

 

I'm 36 too and since a few days I have the 135. I think it is possible to use it at 1/125.

 

This picture I took in the Zürich train station with ISO 800, 1/125 and f3.4:

 

14825117219_8c447be548_b.jpgZürich by DirkR1977, on Flickr

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