Took the leap!

[earlstone]

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I've been a Leica lover for years. Staring with my M7 16 years ago. M9, MM1, M240, M246, and now the SL. I had a can't miss opportunity for a used S 007 and I jumped. I've talked to too many people that love it. I've been devouring info on this forum for a week now. Well aware that AF failures are possible, but I'm not deterred and I believe in the system. My question is sort of a common one- where to I begin? On the SL I really love my 35 and noctilux. The 28 summilux is great, but I wish the focus was closer. Are there any two or three lens people out there that have their favorite combo? I'm leaning towards 45 100, but 35 70 120 looks good too. So does the 24. So... help?

[Photoskeptic]

The 100 and 45 are special. But if you are a WA photographer the 24 is really boss.

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[RobertGeorge]

You'll love it. I'm at about 30 months with the S as my only system. I've left the camera merry-go-round, that I'm sure many of us have ridden, because I'm bloody satisfied. 

 

I've only used the S lenses at the longer end – 100mm, 120mm and the 180mm.

 

They're all superb. I wouldn't worry about sharpness, but perhaps consider rendering differences: e.g., I loved the APO on the 120mm and 180mm, but not as much as the natural perspective and ethereal rendering style of the 100mm. 

 

I'm on an S2-p, so the F2 of the 100mm, and it's quicker focusing, make it the standout. The AF and ISO limitations of the S2 are remedied on the 007, so might not be as important to you. 

 

The weight of the 100mm is fantastic. I've commented before that 3 weeks in New York with the 120mm was a slog. I can wear the S2 and 100mm on my shoulder all day, day after day on a photo trip.

 

I nearly, nearly loved the 120mm. The weight and huge focus throw (when it misses focus, it really misses) made it a struggle for candid portraiture. But, I'd have all three if I could afford it. 

 

If you want some examples there's some shots on my site: www.sunoxen.com

Madrid, El Rocio and San Fermín are taken on the 100mm. New York on the 120mm. And St. Petersburg on the 180mm. 

[Vieri]

Welcome onboard! About lenses, it all boils down to what you shoot, I guess. I do Landscape, and my kit is:

 

- S 007

- 24, 35 and 70mm S lenses (none is CS);

- SL

- S-Adapter T to use S lenses on the SL

- M-Adapter T to use M lenses on the SL

- 10, 12 and 15mm Voigtlander for ultra-wide work.

 

As you can see, I am leaning towards the WA...

 

Best,

 

Vieri

Edited September 8, 2016 by Vieri

[albireo_double]

Another vote for 45/100 but if you are on a budget then 35/120 can probably be found more easily on the second hand market (and they are also great, especially the 120). If you want to travel with the system, without photography being your only activity, then I'd suggest a two-lens combo (that is the maximum I am prepared to carry on my back).

[John McMaster]

24, 45 120 - maybe the 100 but does not focus as close and I have not used one ;-)

 

john

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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I'm a new S user as well. AFter years of buying 50mm lenses for the "small" format, I went for the 35, 70 and 120. The 70 is my most used lens. I "may" go for the 100mm as I shoot a lot of portraits and it's a focal length I'll use. But I'm quite happy with what I have now.

 

Are you a  35mm or 50mm shooter with your M or SL?

 

Gordon

[John McMaster]

I am 50mm on my M's but do not often use the 70mm on my S2....

 

john

[earlstone]

I'm a new S user as well. AFter years of buying 50mm lenses for the "small" format, I went for the 35, 70 and 120. The 70 is my most used lens. I "may" go for the 100mm as I shoot a lot of portraits and it's a focal length I'll use. But I'm quite happy with what I have now.

 

Are you a 35mm or 50mm shooter with your M or SL?

 

Gordon

I find I gravitate to the 35 for most purposes and 50 for portraits. That's what's led me to 40 100 for the S

[hoppyman]

Congratulations. I think that your choices for lens depend a lot on what styles of photography that you like.
I use my S nearly always in studio for fashion/beauty/art/editorial and have the 70CS and the APO Macro 120.
The 70 is the workhorse standard of course. maybe 90% of my S photographs are with that (and I have about 26000 so far)
The 120 is superb for portraits of course.
I tried the 45 as well and would love to own one. But then I got an SL with the 24-90 too!

Edited September 8, 2016 by hoppyman

[Jon Warwick]

Congratulations.

I do not own an S, but have given both the S006 and S007 a good go, and printed images to 50x33 and 60x40" off the latter.

I've used the 70mm and 100mm and 35mm. All were amazing -- really flawless and sparkly -- but I personally loved the look of the first 2 lenses more.

Both cameras were miles ahead (at any print size) of anything I get in image quality from the M240. And the S produces the nicest rendering of any digital images that I've ever seen ....subjective comment, clearly, but the smoothness and "undigital" look is striking.

I'd buy myself an S, were it not for me recently going back into 5x4" film to barbell large film quality (and camera movements) for huge prints, whilst using the M240 for the casual stuff.

Edited September 8, 2016 by Jon Warwick

[Arif]

Congratulations! The S-system is a pure joy to use even with the issues.  I have the 35/45/70/100/120 and the 180.  My favourites are the 45 and the 100 since I photograph mostly people (mainly geishas for the past many years).  Like Vieri, I also use the S to SL adapter and find it useful and can recommend it. If you don't print already, please start and you will find more joy out of the S.

Edited September 8, 2016 by Arif

[Bill W]

I have 24/35/45/70/100. Since most of my photography is landscape, I use the 24 the most. I have barely taken it off my 007 since I purchased it. All of my lens are CPO except the 70 that I bought with the body. Oh and congrats.....

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Hello Earl

Congrats on getting a new S007.

I have the 30mm 70mm and the 120mm. My 120mm is my faveriout lens of all time, It has been in Germany for the past 6 weeks getting a new AF motor. The guys from Leica Singapore were kind enough to loan me the 100mm f2 while my 120mm was in getting fixed.

Trust me there is no comparison between the two lenses. The 120mm knocks the socks right off the 100mm, it is faster, sharper, and can focus really close

"Faster meaning AF speed" And the bouquet is amazing

So my recommendation would be 120, and anything else that tickles your fancy.

Neil

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Congratulations. I think that your choices for lens depend a lot on what styles of photography that you like.

I use my S nearly always in studio for fashion/beauty/art/editorial and have the 70CS and the APO Macro 120.

The 70 is the workhorse standard of course. maybe 90% of my S photographs are with that (and I have about 26000 so far)

The 120 is superb for portraits of course.

I tried the 45 as well and would love to own one. But then I got an SL with the 24-90 too!

Geoff.........how many shutter acusisions have you got on the 120mm...... lol

[alan.y]

On the M and other 35mm full frame cameras, I used 35mm lenses the most, almost 95% of the time. The equivalent 45mm on the S, which I have, is a superb lens, but ponderous, as is the 120mm. Shooting these will be a far less spontaneous experience than the M.

 

On the S I like the 35 and 70 combo. Both are among the most portable and affordable lenses, and come closest to the spontaneity and speed of the M (if this is what you want). The 35mm is only slightly smaller than the 45mm but the difference in bulk is notable in use. I also have the 100 and 120 but don't use them much.

[djmay]

I have been using S since January. I have 30, 70 and 180. I use 30 and 70 frequently. I have only had the 180 a short time but I am quite pleased with what I have seen so far.

 

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-850L using Tapatalk

[hoppyman]

Geoff.........how many shutter acusisions have you got on the 120mm...... lol

Neil just checked in Lightroom Metadata for you. In my catalog About 2300 with the APO Macro Summarit S 120 since I got it 2 years ago and about 22 000 with the 70CS (which I got first a bit earlier). Some were deleted after import of course so the actual count would be a little higher.

[earlstone]

On the M and other 35mm full frame cameras, I used 35mm lenses the most, almost 95% of the time. The equivalent 45mm on the S, which I have, is a superb lens, but ponderous, as is the 120mm. Shooting these will be a far less spontaneous experience than the M.

 

On the S I like the 35 and 70 combo. Both are among the most portable and affordable lenses, and come closest to the spontaneity and speed of the M (if this is what you want). The 35mm is only slightly smaller than the 45mm but the difference in bulk is notable in use. I also have the 100 and 120 but don't use them much.

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[earlstone]

That's exactly it. What's optically amazing in a two lens combo, but isn't cumbersome. The 120 sounds slower in terms of finding focus vs the 100. The 70 is almost long enough for portraits, but maybe doesn't have the magic of the 100. The 35 sounds amazing. Being able to close focus a 28mm equivalent is a proven lens (Leica Q). The 45 seems to my eyes to be long enough to feel medium format in rendering. As in people look good, but a wider field of view. 35-70 vs 45-100. Down the road a 24 or a 120 MAYBE.