Willy Fog Posted August 3, 2012 Share #1 Posted August 3, 2012 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I've been taking photos last week in Shanghai with me M6TTL, I didn't have time to see the results, but will be soon. I've been shooting with the Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 that my brother in law borrow me. Now he told me that he need it, so he gave me a Summilux 50mm 1.4. I'm completely green in film/manual photography, so I guess I can start with 35mm or 50mm and get used to it, but which one will be better? I know that this question have been answered hundred times, but now is different, why? cause I don't know which is my style, I have the Nex7 to make photos of everything and I want the Leica to take more special photos of special things and momentos. Maybe the 35 will be the best for all occasions or maybe get use from the beginning to a 50mm will be better. So is not a question of, which lens should I use for this moment, no. I really like the 35mm as I like the 50mm. In some points I prefer the 50mm, like for example the square/frame that you can see through the view finder, I enjoy more with the 50mm than the 35mm. But the 35mm looks more easy to use. I have no lens yet (I have the 50mm but is not mine) only the camera. I have luck that my brother in law can borrow me his lens. So, if the 35mm should be my lens, I think I should start with a 35mm not with the 50mm and viceversa. Best regards Edited August 3, 2012 by Willy Fog Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 3, 2012 Posted August 3, 2012 Hi Willy Fog, Take a look here From 0 to 35mm or 50mm. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted August 3, 2012 Share #2 Posted August 3, 2012 Chances are that if you borrow a 50 Summilux from your brother-in-law, you won't want to give it back... If I had one, I wouldn't lend it to anyone Only you can tell whether a 35mm or a 50mm suits your style best, but for someone starting out with an M, either will do very well. Enjoy that Summilux, and start saving for one of your own! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted August 3, 2012 Share #3 Posted August 3, 2012 (edited) Hello, I've been shooting with the Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 that my brother in law borrow me. Now he told me that he need it, so he gave me a Summilux 50mm 1.4. Best regards He gave/loaned you a Summilux 50! :):) You lucky man! Seriously though, Andy is right regarding your working out what focal lengths may suit your photography. However, you have experience with the 35, so the discipline of now shooting only with the 50 (and a fine one at that) will be very useful. It's interesting how quickly your photography adapts (and possibly improves) if you only have one lens with you. Enjoy the Summilux. Edited August 3, 2012 by MarkP Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted August 3, 2012 Share #4 Posted August 3, 2012 ... so I guess I can start with 35 mm or 50 mm and get used to it ... That's a wise position indeed. If you have not established your personal style or preference yet then you can start with either lens, and you will get used to it. In absolute terms, there is no better or worse. Both focal lengths work very well as universal standard lenses. Which to prefer entirely is a matter of personal preference. So no help from here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted August 3, 2012 Share #5 Posted August 3, 2012 Perfect opportunity to see how you get on with 50 now and compare to 35 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Fog Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted August 3, 2012 Chances are that if you borrow a 50 Summilux from your brother-in-law, you won't want to give it back... If I had one, I wouldn't lend it to anyone Only you can tell whether a 35mm or a 50mm suits your style best, but for someone starting out with an M, either will do very well. Enjoy that Summilux, and start saving for one of your own! Thank you for your message Impressive is that he borrowed me this lens till December... How much does it cost? Imagine that I start to use it and I can't live with out ir:D Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Fog Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share #7 Posted August 3, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) He gave/loaned you a Summilux 50! :):) You lucky man! Seriously though, Andy is right regarding your working out what focal lengths may suit your photography. However, you have experience with the 35, so the discipline of now shooting only with the 50 (and a fine one at that) will be very useful. It's interesting how quickly your photography adapts (and possibly improves) if you only have one lens with you. Enjoy the Summilux. Thank you In ten days I'll be one week in Istanbul, so I'll have time to try the 50mm in in different situations, including a wedding 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted August 3, 2012 Share #8 Posted August 3, 2012 How much does it cost? Which version is it? If not sure there will be a 5 digit code number on the underneath of the lens behind the focusing ring. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Fog Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share #9 Posted August 3, 2012 That's a wise position indeed. If you have not established your personal style or preference yet then you can start with either lens, and you will get used to it. In absolute terms, there is no better or worse. Both focal lengths work very well as universal standard lenses. Which to prefer entirely is a matter of personal preference. So no help from here. Thank you very much for your message. I'll try the 50mm. Now as I said, I should know the price of this lens... Imagine that I start to like it.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Fog Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share #10 Posted August 3, 2012 Perfect opportunity to see how you get on with 50 now and compare to 35 Yes! But I think it's better to have both lens at the same time. Anyway, I'll try to enjoy with this 50mm Regards Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted August 3, 2012 Share #11 Posted August 3, 2012 Yes! But I think it's better to have both lens at the same time. Anyway, I'll try to enjoy with this 50mm Regards More persuasion required Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Fog Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted August 3, 2012 More persuasion required He told me no... He said that he need the 35mm. That's ok, I'll use the 50mm Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 4, 2012 Share #13 Posted August 4, 2012 The classical definition of a 'standard lens' was a focal length about = the diagonal of the film/sensor format. This held true for the standard lenses of 6x6cm cameras (75mm), 6x9 cameras (10.5cm), 9x12cm cameras (13.5cm) and 4"x5" cameras (6"). But the 'standard' for 35mm cameras has been 5cm/50mm ever since the Leica I in 1925, though the diagonal of the 24x36mm format is 43.3mm. And this is of course the reason for the itch for a 40 or 45mm lens, because a 'standard lens' is a very useful one. This is why the old-time cameras used to come with one firmly screwed in place. Now remember that the standard for Leica cameras has been actually close to 52mm all the time. My '50'mm Summilux ASPH is engraved '51.4mm'. Then you find that the '50mm' length and the 35mm one are actually about evenly spaced around the old-time diagonal standard. The '50mm' lens is a 'long standard' and the 35mm is a 'short standard'. And both are very useful indeed. About equally useful, in fact. So I use both, the 50mm preferentially outdoors and the 35mm indoors and in tight crowds. But the 40mm Tessar on my old Rollei 35 was a very handy lens indeed … The old man from the Age of the Roll Film Folder 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Fog Posted August 4, 2012 Author Share #14 Posted August 4, 2012 The classical definition of a 'standard lens' was a focal length about = the diagonal of the film/sensor format. This held true for the standard lenses of 6x6cm cameras (75mm), 6x9 cameras (10.5cm), 9x12cm cameras (13.5cm) and 4"x5" cameras (6"). But the 'standard' for 35mm cameras has been 5cm/50mm ever since the Leica I in 1925, though the diagonal of the 24x36mm format is 43.3mm. And this is of course the reason for the itch for a 40 or 45mm lens, because a 'standard lens' is a very useful one. This is why the old-time cameras used to come with one firmly screwed in place. Now remember that the standard for Leica cameras has been actually close to 52mm all the time. My '50'mm Summilux ASPH is engraved '51.4mm'. Then you find that the '50mm' length and the 35mm one are actually about evenly spaced around the old-time diagonal standard. The '50mm' lens is a 'long standard' and the 35mm is a 'short standard'. And both are very useful indeed. About equally useful, in fact. So I use both, the 50mm preferentially outdoors and the 35mm indoors and in tight crowds. But the 40mm Tessar on my old Rollei 35 was a very handy lens indeed … The old man from the Age of the Roll Film Folder Thank you very much for your message! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted August 4, 2012 Share #15 Posted August 4, 2012 @Lars- Some time ago a friend of mine showed me his old SL with a 40mm lens. Do not remember exactly the lens but I seem to remember it was a Summicron. While reading your post I was wondering if Leica stopped making the 40 so they could sell us 2 lenses (50+35) instead of just one 40. We all talk about taking a few steps forward or backward in order to better frame our shots with one lens. So having one 40 rather than a 50 and 35 could relieve my bag of a slot I could then fill with either a wide or tele. How about an APO 40? Or is it marketing reasons why we won't see it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 4, 2012 Share #16 Posted August 4, 2012 @Lars-Some time ago a friend of mine showed me his old SL with a 40mm lens. Do not remember exactly the lens but I seem to remember it was a Summicron. While reading your post I was wondering if Leica stopped making the 40 so they could sell us 2 lenses (50+35) instead of just one 40. We all talk about taking a few steps forward or backward in order to better frame our shots with one lens. So having one 40 rather than a 50 and 35 could relieve my bag of a slot I could then fill with either a wide or tele. How about an APO 40? Or is it marketing reasons why we won't see it? The only 40mm lenses Leica have made for the 24x36mm format has been the two intended for the Leica CL: The rapidly aborted 40mm Elmarit-C and the more successful Summicron-C. And the CL was the only Leica rangefinder camera that had a bright finder frame for the 40mm focal length. So a 40mm lens is not really appropriate for any M camera. The reason for the absence of this focal length is technical, not in marketing. The Summicron-C, though fairly mediocre in today's terms, has been used sometimes with other M cameras. But due to the separate rangefinder designs, focusing is not really certain, and you have to guess at the image limits. The Leicaflex SL was a SLR camera, of course, so various lenses could be adapted to it, but as far as I know, Leitz/Leica have never produced a Leicaflex or R 40mm lens. Correct me, someone, if I am wrong. The old man from the Age of Various Old Junk Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted August 5, 2012 Share #17 Posted August 5, 2012 The only advice I can give is, go shooting. You used 35mm for a time and now you have a 50mm. Shoot, Shoot, and Shoot some more. Experience is the teacher that will help you decide. Both good, but it depends on you and your artistic vision. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosophos Posted August 5, 2012 Share #18 Posted August 5, 2012 The only 40mm lenses Leica have made for the 24x36mm format has been the two intended for the Leica CL: The rapidly aborted 40mm Elmarit-C and the more successful Summicron-C. And the CL was the only Leica rangefinder camera that had a bright finder frame for the 40mm focal length. So a 40mm lens is not really appropriate for any M camera. The reason for the absence of this focal length is technical, not in marketing. The Summicron-C, though fairly mediocre in today's terms, has been used sometimes with other M cameras. But due to the separate rangefinder designs, focusing is not really certain, and you have to guess at the image limits. The Leicaflex SL was a SLR camera, of course, so various lenses could be adapted to it, but as far as I know, Leitz/Leica have never produced a Leicaflex or R 40mm lens. Correct me, someone, if I am wrong. The old man from the Age of Various Old Junk Points well made and taken. However, if Leica decided to produce a 40/1.4 lens, like the Voigtlander Nokton 40 I often use, but with all the Leica know-how and fairy dust behind it - I would jump on it. 40mm, as a focal length is extremely versatile, as it really can serve as both a 35 and 50. I don't mind the fact that 40mm frame lines do not exist on M bodies, as long as the 50mm frame lines are triggered (vs. the 35)... since I photograph (moving) people, the safety of margin afforded by capturing "a little more" in the frame is ok by me. Peter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted August 5, 2012 Share #19 Posted August 5, 2012 In the 1960s when I bought my first Leica, a friend loaned me his 50mm and a 35mm for a few weeks so I could determine which I wanted (I could only afford to buy one). For the next 10 years I used a 35mm as my primary lens, and a 135mm as my telephoto of choice. Later I gravitated to using a 50, but often it was just short of being wide enough for my work. Until this year, when I sold off most of my Leica gear...the 35mm continued to be my lens of choice. All I can offer as advice repeats what others have said....you're lucky to be able to use both over a period of time to see what works best for you, before making a large commitment of money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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