tategoi Posted November 28, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) If you can only have one lens for your M9, which one would it be? Please take into consideration price-performance, and this is one that will cover your everyday use. I'd go for Leica 50 Summilux ASPH, 50mm being closest to our eyes' vision, and f1.4 for being 'fast'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 28, 2009 Posted November 28, 2009 Hi tategoi, Take a look here Only one lens for M9. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
konradhorst Posted November 28, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 28, 2009 The 50 Summilux asph will be a good choice for everyday and if you can or only have one lens. But for the price you can buy a 2/50 Summicron and a 2,5/75 Summarit. Both are excellent lenses. Horst Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 28, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 28, 2009 If you can only have one lens for your M9, which one would it be? Please take into consideration price-performance, and this is one that will cover your everyday use. I'd go for Leica 50 Summilux ASPH, 50mm being closest to our eyes' vision, and f1.4 for being 'fast'. We do not see with our eyes. We see with our brains. What we see is a construct, manufactured in the back of our heads by 'wetware' that beats Photoshop by miles. There is no single or 'natural' field of view: We concentrate on, or perceive, fields ranging from c. 1 degree (retinal fovea) to nearly 180, depending on eye and head movements. Small children have 'tunnel vision' not because of an undeveloped visual sense but because we learn to see as we grow up. Statements that one focal length or another is 'natural' are at best naive. What we have is culturally conditioned viewing and imaging habits. Given this, some lengths are technically more useful than others. My vote for the lengths with the widest range of usefulness would go to the two 'standard lenses', 35 and 50mm. They cover lots of taking situations -- they are useful compromises. But 'natural'? No. Photography is a most unnatural art. The old man from the Age of Experimental Psychology Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted November 28, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 28, 2009 If I only had one lens for the M9? 21 f/2.8. A fast 21 was the only thing I was missing in using the M8. it was the whole point of dropping $7K for the M9. Gotta dance with the one that brought you... Second - 75. Third - 35...and so on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikasmg Posted November 28, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 28, 2009 If you can only have one lens for your M9, which one would it be? Please take into consideration price-performance, and this is one that will cover your everyday use. I'd go for Leica 50 Summilux ASPH, 50mm being closest to our eyes' vision, and f1.4 for being 'fast'. This is one of those questions where I don't understand how anyone can have two opinions - and I'm simultaneously relieved that I don't have to restrict myself to just one. A 35mm - either a Summicron or Summilux, probably the former for its reletively compact size. - Vikas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanidel Posted November 28, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 28, 2009 I remember reading a poll (I believe on the RFF) on favorite focal length. Usually it was a split between 35mm and 50mm. So figure out if you are mainly a 35mm or 50mm shooter than go for one of the best ; Summicron or Summilux. The first being smaller, lighter and cheaper, the second being faster by one stop and has a distinctive look at F1.4. Easy, no ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartie Posted November 28, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I`ve just taken delivery of my M9 and after many questions like this on many forums I went for the 35 f/2 summicron,It`s fast enough for me,compact and delivers very sharp images..............( I don`t believe after many years of waiting I actually own a Leica....) Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wslam Posted November 28, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 28, 2009 50 Noct 0.95. I only took delivery of one a few days ago but it has completely stolen my heart. It is surprisingly good wide open, and it is surprisingly good in daylight as a 'normal' normal lens. If you only can get one lens, may as well go 'extreme'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwr50 Posted November 28, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 28, 2009 50 Summilux ASPH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baptiste Posted November 28, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 28, 2009 50 Noct 0.95.I only took delivery of one a few days ago but it has completely stolen my heart. It is surprisingly good wide open, and it is surprisingly good in daylight as a 'normal' normal lens. If you only can get one lens, may as well go 'extreme'. I have tried one yesterday, on a M9.... And, damn, it is just beautiful, as well as really performing at 0.95. But I felt uneasy with it: too big, I furthermore didn't have any belt on the M9 and feared to let the whole package fall. I must admit that I'm not used to Leica bodies, and wait for my first one... These few comments on the Noct because, putting apart its amazing quality, it appears not to be a lens completely in the spirit of the Leica bodies. On my side, I have ordered for 1 only lens to go with my M9... A 50 Lux. But I must admit that I have in mind to get a 21/24 lens during the next years. Purchasing 1 only lens, with no second thought, I think I would have picked up a 35. Best Regards, Baptiste Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted November 28, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 28, 2009 We do not see with our eyes. We see with our brains. What we see is a construct, manufactured in the back of our heads by 'wetware' that beats Photoshop by miles. There is no single or 'natural' field of view: We concentrate on, or perceive, fields ranging from c. 1 degree (retinal fovea) to nearly 180, depending on eye and head movements. Small children have 'tunnel vision' not because of an undeveloped visual sense but because we learn to see as we grow up. Statements that one focal length or another is 'natural' are at best naive. What we have is culturally conditioned viewing and imaging habits. Given this, some lengths are technically more useful than others. My vote for the lengths with the widest range of usefulness would go to the two 'standard lenses', 35 and 50mm. They cover lots of taking situations -- they are useful compromises. But 'natural'? No. Photography is a most unnatural art. The old man from the Age of Experimental Psychology Ah so! Lars. I spent a few years studying with and then assisting the great pioneer of visual perception, Hans Wallach. You speak the truth here, and eloquently! best...Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted November 28, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 28, 2009 Interesting. There was a thread about this recently in which the majority of replies suggested a 35mm lens, but this one seems to be going towards 50mm, albeit in Lux or Nocti forms. The OP might want to review this. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiukuic5609 Posted November 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 28, 2009 I agree the Summilux 50 may be a good choice, but I also like the Summicron 50 because of it's very small size and very contrasty results. It works well on my M8 and I think would be ideal as a 1-lens kit on the M9. I have a review on my blog with sample pics The Leica Summicron 50mm Version III Rigid Review for the M8 — Daniel Valente Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
!Nomad64 Posted November 28, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 28, 2009 Zeiss Planar 50/2. Same optical performance of Summicron and even slightly better in some cases (field curvature and flare control) according to Erwin Puts, at 1/2 of Summicron's price. You pay the other half in construction quality - cheaper aluminium however well machined vs. solid brass - and upon reselling. Summicron will retain it's value much better than the Planar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashwinrao1 Posted November 28, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 28, 2009 I would say that 35 lux asph or 50 lux asph would be my 2 choices. THe 35 lux has a unique look and allows one to go wider, so I'd probably go for this, were it not for the risk of focus shift (my copy doesn't seem to have much of this, at least on the M8). The 50 lux is just plain perfect! It would really achieve its look on the M9's full frame. I would say that if you are a reportage shooter, the 35 may be a bit more versatile. If you take more environmental protraits or like to be a bit further from your subjects, the 50 would do you proud. I think that you wouldn't go wrong either way.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tategoi Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share #16 Posted November 29, 2009 50 Noct will be a bit over-kill, not only the size, but the price as well. The main reason why I want to get a range finder versus DSLR is the portability. And at this juncture I still favor a 50 Lux over Cron, but in the end I might choose the Summicron instead for its size. Thanks Chris, I'll have a look and see why 35mm was preferred. But I thought *IF* I want to add another lens after the 50, I would want a 21 The 35 IMHO is neither here nor there kind of focal length. I share Baptiste's thinking. Vikas, besides J316 and Cathay, where else can I get Leica stuffs? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted November 29, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 29, 2009 For portability, which I also like, it's hard to beat the 35mm Summicron V4. Noticeably lighter than the ASPH Summicron 35mm or even more comparably, the 50 lux ASPH. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_K Posted November 30, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 30, 2009 I would also go for the 50mm Summicron if one lens is all i have to attach to a M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted November 30, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 30, 2009 Can anyone explain why the 50 is so popular? For an only lens, it doesn't seem wide enough to me if I was walking around on the street. I guess if you were doing a lot of portraits, but for general walk around it seems a bit claustrophobic to me. No? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted November 30, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 30, 2009 My very first Leica body was an R4 bought in 1984. At the time it was pretty expensive and the only lens I could afford was a used 35 Summicron. It was a perfect combination and it was years before I actually bought a 50. I would go for the 35 lux myself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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