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I think I 'need' a Monochrome, should I sell a lens or two ?


IWC Doppel

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I am in a bit of a dilemma....

 

I have a nice (but expanding) lens collection. First things first, I am not a collector and they all get used. But less and less as I have only two arms and one camera. I have and do sell lenses if I no longer expect to use them. The question is how often will I use them. I have an M9-P that is a sturdy companion, just completed 20k exposures and running like a dream.

 

To put things simply I have wanted a monochrom since they were first announced and convert 90% of raw files to B&W and print mostly B&W (Although I am doing more colour this year than before)

 

My current lot :

 

12mm VC Aspherical II

15mm VC Aspherical II

18mm Leica Super Elmar-M

21mm Lecia Elmarit-M

21mm Leica Elmarit-M ASPH.

24mm Leica Elmarit-M ASPH

28mm Leica Summicron

35mm Summilux Aspherical

35mm Summicron MkIV

35mm Summaron f2.8

50mm Summilux pre asph E46

50mm Elmar-M

50mm Summicron MkV

50mm Noctilux f1.0

75mm Summilux

 

The 21 is an obvious decision to be made, so there's the first ;)

 

So should I sell a lens or two ....

Edited by IWC Doppel
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I would decide on use. Personally I do not gel with the 28 and 75 mm focal lengths, but it may be different with you.

Looking at your list, I would drop the Summicron 35/IV. With a Summaron and an 1.4 aspherical in the bag, it is neither fish nor fowl.

The Summicron 50/V seems redundant next to the Elmar-M as well.

And does the Voigtlander 15 get any use? - although it would not add too much to a Monochrom Kitty.

Edited by jaapv
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The 21 is an obvious decision to be made, so there's the first ;)

You are missing the wonderful Super-Angulon......

 

Whilst there are a few you could weed out, I suspect that they are the ones which would not raise enough to pay for a Monochrome. I'd say no personally.

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Would you consider waiting for the next iteration of monochrom? In the end since you're getting one I'd keep one of the 21/21/24 then sell one of the 35 asph/v4/ sumaron. Since you do use these lenses it will be hard to part but are they worth keeping for the sake of rendering and are the advantages of the monochrom worth more than those differences? Best of luck :)

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Have you played around with any MM files yet?

 

I wonder how much 'better' the images will look compared to your current workflow. Unless the MM offers a distinct advantage, for you and the way you want your images to look, then why bother?

 

That said you do have a number of lenses which would appear to be disposable....

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The MM offers a visible advantage over the M9P in resolution, tonality, and noise.I'm actually considering the same thing right now. I might sell one of my film cameras and two lenses, but I will wait for a new MM to be released or at least until Photokina before I pick up the current one. I've waited this long, so I don't want to be at the cliff of the depreciation point.

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Never sell a Leica lens my grand mother said ;). Seriously, if it were absolutely necessary, i would sell:

- either 21/2.8 or 21/2.8 asph

- either 35/2 v4 or 35/2.8

And if it were not enough, i would sell both 35/2 v4 and 35/2.8. If you need a slower 35 than your Summilux, you'd be better off with a Summarit 35/2.5 (or 2.4) IMHO.

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Monochrom,

 

11786372623_4a6cc7436d_b.jpgMt_Vernon_35ultron_Red_filter

 

M9.

 

11786536004_670e5a01b5_b.jpgMt_Vernon_35Ultron_NoSharp_Simulated_RED

 

Monochrom, 100% crop.

 

11786882106_1e1b37b427_o.jpgchimney_monochrom

 

M9 100% crop.

 

11786882086_4e3dab4ae2_o.jpgchimney_m9_converted

 

If the difference bothers you, you need a Monochrom. I did.

 

For selling lenses... Asking the Wrong Group! Just buy the Monochrom, keep the M9, than you have a set of lenses for each...

 

(disclaimer, I did sell lenses for the M9 and M Monochrom- but mostly ones that I converted to Leica mount)

Edited by Lenshacker
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I would replace these:

 

35mm Summilux Aspherical

35mm Summicron MkIV

35mm Summaron f2.8

 

With:

 

35 Summicron ASPH.

 

 

And sell these:

 

50mm Summilux pre asph E46

50mm Elmar-M

50mm Noctilux f1.0

12mm VC Aspherical II

15mm VC Aspherical II

18mm Leica Super Elmar-M

21mm Lecia Elmarit-M

21mm Leica Elmarit-M ASPH.

24mm Leica Elmarit-M ASPH

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I think you might sell the following lenses without regretting it too much later:

 

  • Voigtländer 15 mm
  • Elmarit-M 21 mm
  • Summicron-M 35 mm
  • Summicron-M 50 mm

That's four lenses to sell. Even after ditching these, there still will be more redundancy in your set-up than anyone would need. So rather than identifiying those which might go easily, you might approach the problem from the other direction: Which lenses absolutely must not go? I'd say in your collection, the ultimate keepers are:

 

  • Super-Elmar-M 18 mm Asph
  • Elmarit-M 21 mm Asph
  • Elmarit-M 24 mm Asph
  • Summicron-M 28 mm Asph
  • Summilux-M 35 mm Aspherical
  • Noctilux-M 50 mm
  • Elmar-M 50 mm
  • Summilux-M 75 mm

That's still more lenses than anyone needs, leaving seven to sell.

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I would replace these:

 

35mm Summilux Aspherical

35mm Summicron MkIV

35mm Summaron f2.8

 

With:

 

35 Summicron ASPH.

 

 

And sell these:

 

50mm Summilux pre asph E46

50mm Elmar-M

50mm Noctilux f1.0

12mm VC Aspherical II

15mm VC Aspherical II

18mm Leica Super Elmar-M

21mm Lecia Elmarit-M

21mm Leica Elmarit-M ASPH.

24mm Leica Elmarit-M ASPH

 

Really ! I have had two ASPH 35's and sold both !!

 

If I had to keep one lens only it's a decision Id make in 5 seconds and that's the 35 Aspherical. But the one lens only thought I have some sympathy for

Edited by IWC Doppel
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If I were in your position, with your stated needs, the answer would be simple:

 

YES.

 

Sell a few lenses to buy the MM, or in preparation for the Mk II. It is not the same as shooting with a colour body and, while I respect the comment that bodies become obsolete and lenses do not, lenses that are barely used don't make photographs.

 

I've written quite a bit about the MM on my site if you are interested. Still love mine and prob one of the best made and least regretted digital purchases for me.

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I recently had my M-E with the 18mm SEM stolen, luckily my insurance covered my losses. Instead of using the money to replace what was stolen I bought a MM instead, since I was converting most of my images to B&W anyway. I have absolutely no regrets about switching to the MM, the usable high ISO alone was worth it.

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My sets would be 18-28-50 or 15-21-35-75. For 35 I'd keep the Lux and the Summaron, for 50 the Noctilux and the Elmar.

 

Selling anything else and the M9 would probably get you an MM. Anyway, I favor the idea of billo101 with the M-A most :)

 

Lars

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I'd sell the whole bunch, acquire an APO Summicron 50 w/ MM and you're all set!

 

:D

 

I'm starting to be very inclined to agree with that comment!

 

I recently road tested the MM + 50mm APO at Leica Mayfair.

 

The combination of MM and 50mm APO is quite remarkable. Resolution is highly impressive (the highest i've seen out of 35mm FF), but it does this in a gentle / smooth way and with an "unprocessed" and convincingly natural look. Micro-contrast and tonality are just beautiful.

 

It is reminiscent of ULTRA-fine grain 120 format film, drum scanned by someone who knows what they're doing.

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