MN-001 Posted December 17, 2014 Share #1 Posted December 17, 2014 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Guys, I have a bit of a lens dilemma. This is my leica timeline: - I started my leica adventure with an M9P and a full set of summarit lenses 35,50,75,90. - I then upgraded to an m240 but kept my M9P. - I purchased a noctilux F 1.0 Recently I noticed i did not use the M9P at all anymore so I sold it. Now thinking about it I mostly use the 50 nocti and don't really look at the summarits anymore, I don't want to sound spoiled but they just are not the same magic as the noctilux. Now I am thinking of selling the whole set of Summarits and buying a couple of nicer lenses instead with the money from my M9P and the money I get back from these. Now my question to you guys is what would your choice of 3 or 4 lenses be including my 50 1.0. I know I want a 75 or 90 but would you go for a 21, 24, 28 or 35? thanks for your help Edited December 17, 2014 by MN-001 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 17, 2014 Posted December 17, 2014 Hi MN-001, Take a look here lens selling/buying dilemma. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
DMJ Posted December 17, 2014 Share #2 Posted December 17, 2014 21SEM 35FLE or ZM35f1.4 75f2 Apo Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Livingston Posted December 17, 2014 Share #3 Posted December 17, 2014 21SEM35FLE or ZM35f1.4 75f2 Apo I agree... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delcredere Posted December 17, 2014 Share #4 Posted December 17, 2014 21SEM 35FLE or ZM35f1.4 75f1.4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uhoh7 Posted December 18, 2014 Share #5 Posted December 18, 2014 If you were still with M9, I would make a case for the 28cron. I love the SEM 21, and it does seem very good on the 240, as are the 18 and 24. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 35 cron asph, which is tiny, not to pricey and, unlike the ZM 35/1.4 a known commodity. The ZM 35/2, so superb on the M9, seems to defeat all profiles for color shift on the 240, but perhaps the 1.4, such a large lens, will not. The FLE costs a fortune, since you already have one huge lens, maybe the 35 should be smaller than the big new zeiss. The 240 is not so sensitive to low light, so the 35 cron might be pretty versatile. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted December 18, 2014 Share #6 Posted December 18, 2014 I doubt if you'll consider my experience helpful, but at one time I had 21ASPH, 35/2ASPH, 35/1.4ASPH, 90/2APO-ASPH and 135/3.4APO, sold all of them and went back to the prior generation (except the 35/1.4, I never replaced that). I never saw a practical advantage in all the money those lenses cost, plus I guess I just consider the Mandler-era lenses more of the iconic Leica glow look I got used to over the years and prefer. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted December 18, 2014 Share #7 Posted December 18, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) What about the little 28 2.8 Elmarit? No speed demon but small, reasonably sharp and easy to walk around with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckrider Posted December 18, 2014 Share #8 Posted December 18, 2014 ....I guess I just consider the Mandler-era lenses more of the iconic Leica glow look I got used to over the years and prefer. +1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,...... Thomas Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted December 18, 2014 Share #9 Posted December 18, 2014 Maybe Luigi and I can convince him to get a 35 3.5 Summaron... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbers Posted December 18, 2014 Share #10 Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) If you only shoot with the noctilux, maybe you should start by challenging your shooting style by not depending on what the Noctilux does, but using the other lenses you already have. They offer a lot of choice and possibilities and are fine lenses. You are not going to get any "break through" by upgrading them. Edited December 18, 2014 by Numbers 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted December 18, 2014 Share #11 Posted December 18, 2014 The novelty will pass and you will then discover that either your 75 or 90 Summarit lenses are needed. I think 28 50 90mm makes a very versatile lens set. So don't just think in terms of selling the lot. I would also keep the 35 until you were convinced that a 28 might be better for you. So, keep your 35 and 90 and start to use them. They are excellent lenses. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nr90 Posted December 18, 2014 Share #12 Posted December 18, 2014 If I had to pick 3 lenses of those I have currently available I would go: 28 mm elmarit 50 mm noctilux 1.0 90 mm summicron pre-asph Money no object I would swap the 28 mm elmarit for a summicron in the same size and upgrade the 90 to the asph/apo. That said, what David is saying makes a lot of sense. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted December 18, 2014 Share #13 Posted December 18, 2014 If you only shoot with the noctilux, maybe you should start by challenging your shooting style by not depending on what the Noctilux does, but using the other lenses you already have. They offer a lot of choice and possibilities and are fine lenses. You are not going to get any "break through" by upgrading them. Wise advice. I was fine with 35 & 50 Summicrons and 90 2.8 for 40 years. Then with an M9 got tempted by more modern fast lenses. That fast-wide open look wore thin on me quite soon, and now I'm back to my small kit. (Except use a 35 Summarit instead of my old Summicron on the M9.) I don't plan any more lens purchases. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirekti Posted December 19, 2014 Share #14 Posted December 19, 2014 If I wanted to pair 50mm with something wider, I'd go with a 28mm Cron. On the tele end I would probably leave 90 Summarit you already own. That would make a very versatile 3 lens set 28-50-90. My set is 24 Elmar, 35 FLE, 75 APO and 135 APO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted December 19, 2014 Share #15 Posted December 19, 2014 Maybe Luigi and I can convince him to get a 35 3.5 Summaron... I was just NOW reading this thread and, BEFORE (I do swear) reading your post, I was thinking of an elaborate answer of the kind "21 + 28 + 90 NEW... and given that 35 is close to 50, for this focal jump to some "oldstyle rendering lens".... lilke... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted December 19, 2014 Share #16 Posted December 19, 2014 I have the 1.0/50 Noctilux. The rendering and colouring of most of the modern lenses is very different to that of the 1.0/50 Noctilux. Almost incompatible if you want consistency of imagery. You could consider the 28 Summicron ASPH (if you want a modern lens) or one of the older 28 Elmarits. 28 pairs very nicely with a 50. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
derleicaman Posted December 20, 2014 Share #17 Posted December 20, 2014 I have been a happy user of the 35/1.4 ASPH since they first came out. It normally lives on my M9-P. Sometimes you need the speed and the wider perspective this lens gives. The performance is so close to the FLE for me, I can't justify upgrading. You will need a longer lens, so a 90 is a must. I regrettably sold my 90/2.8 Elmarit M some time ago, and am using a fat Tele-Elmarit. Again, I don't use it enough to justify investing more. Lately, I have been using my old standby, my second version 35/1.4 Summilux. I bought it new in 1973 and used it constantly with film M's until I got the 35/1.4 ASPH. Performance wise, no where near the 35/1.4 ASPH, but as with all Mandler lenses, it just has that ethereal Leica look that is fun to play with from time to time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MN-001 Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted December 22, 2014 Thanks for all the answers!! I have had a look and if i get a good price for my lenses I could get a - 24 1.4 summilux - 90 2.0 summichron then eventually get another 50 as the noctilux isn't as sharp as the modern lenses. I love it but its not as crisp as the newer lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 22, 2014 Share #19 Posted December 22, 2014 Thanks for all the answers!! I have had a look and if i get a good price for my lenses I could get a - 24 1.4 summilux - 90 2.0 summichron So you think the 90 Summicron will give you 'magic' that your 90 Summarit will not? Same question regarding other replacements for your Summarits. I bet there's lots of magic in any lens you pick, provided you figure out how to find and use it to your advantage in a disciplined workflow. Jeff 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted December 23, 2014 Share #20 Posted December 23, 2014 21SEM35FLE or ZM35f1.4 75f2 Apo Nice choice. Instead of the 21SEM you could get the CV21/1.8 (not very compact though) or the 24/3.8 depending on your "wide" taste. In any case you'll need the EVF. If you don't like the EVF, then: 28 of your choice 50/1.4 (for modern rendering) 90/2 APO (although I'd wait for a newer FLE version) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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