Question about lenses...

[Clandrel]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi

 

Would you go for 35mm and 50, or 35 and 75?

I have a Summicron 35 ASPH and debating buying either a 50 Summilux ASPH or a 75 Summicron APO asph......

 

Thanks...

 

C

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[bill]

What I - or anyone else - would choose is irrelevant to you.

 

Why not tell us what sort of photography you want to do and what sort of effects you want to achieve and then we may be able to give you some informed opinions.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Jeff S]

To add to what Bill says...use your one lens a long time to get to know it well, and to determine what you're lacking...for your style and subject matter. Toward this end, remember that you have a frame preview lever on your camera to visualize alternate FOVs. In the meantime, use of your feet will compensate more than you might think.

 

Jeff

[bill]

Wise words. Use of the podal zoom facility inherent in all prime lenses is sadly under-utilised, I fear.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Clandrel]

Well, I totally agree with you.

I do al lot of portrait photos, but also buildings, houses etc.

 

I want to have to lenses that are far from eachother, but not too far.

Two lenses that fit together for all purposes. I feel my 35 is a perfect all purpose lense, but want to get something that is a bit closer for portraits...

 

best

 

C

[stunsworth]

Use the frame selector lever to see which lens would suit you best.

[JLV]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

C,

 

I will answer telling what I felt best for me.

I started with the 35 cron asph with the M9 and I wanted a two lenses kit. I got a 50 lux asph.

I felt it was too close to the 35 and sold it for a 75 cron AA.

I don't regret it at all. I carry both of them on a small bag and switch from one to the other and cover most of situations.

This is my best 2 lenses kit.

 

After that I bought a second hand mint Elmar 50 2.8 last version chrome wich is fantastic if I want a one lens for all purposes (including portrait ).

 

finally, I bought a 21 Elmarit asph for landscapes and architecture and that's it.

 

This way I have one lens kit to four lenses kit.

 

35 cron and 75 cron asph is the best combo for me to fit the M9.

 

The 75 has this unbelievable special glow. It is a terrific lens.

 

 

All the best,

Jean-Luc

[novice9]

I would definitely go for the 75. Apart from the fact that it is a more sensible complement to the 35 you own, it is the best lens i own (measured by the % of magical shots it yields), from a stable of 21, 24, 35, 50 luxes and 75 and 90 crons.

[Clandrel]

Thanks guys...

I think the 75 is it!

 

C

[stunsworth]

For years my two standard lenses on my film Ms were a 35mm Summicron and a 50mm Summicron. I can't say that I ever found them to be too close together wrt focal length.

[Jeff S]

Thanks guys...

I think the 75 is it!

 

C

 

Gosh, that was quick. If you wait long enough, you might get a hundred posts or so, offering some percentage voting for 50, 75, 90 or other. Then you can consider other factors, do a multiple regression analysis, calculate standard deviations and so forth, and arrive at THE correct answer.

 

Or, you could spend the time to do some real work and reach your own conclusion.

 

I hope you don't follow the former method to determine what and how to photograph.

 

Jeff

[Clandrel]

Well, I was leaning towards the 75 anyways, and the 50 lux is impossible to find.

Those were the two lenses I was thinking about.

 

By the way, I find your comments pretty offensive. I was just curious to see what other members think, and as I said, I was leaning towards the 75.

[Jeff S]

 

By the way, I find your comments pretty offensive. I was just curious to see what other members think, and as I said, I was leaning towards the 75.

 

No offense intended. I gave my best advice in my first post (#3). As that was ignored, I gave a candid response. You might not like the words, but I bet that experienced photographers among us might agree with the advice.

 

Fred Picker was a curmudgeonly guy, but a good photography teacher. One of his favorite responses, when someone asked his opinion, was "try it." It's not the easy answer that's always the right answer.

 

Jeff

[stunsworth]

By the way, I find your comments pretty offensive. I was just curious to see what other members think, and as I said, I was leaning towards the 75.

 

But the point that was being made is, how can _we_ decide what's right for _you_? If 100 people responded by saying "get the 75mm" what is that advice worth if you happen to prefer a 50mm (or a 90mm for that matter)? We can't make up your mind for you, all we can do is say what we prefer, and that could be totally at odds with what you'd prefer yourself.

 

It's the sort of question that's been popping up from day one of the forum, and the answer's still the same; only you can decide what's best for you.

[bybrett]

I'm happy to give Mr C my opinion... 35/75 Summicrons is exactly what I would have gone for, they make a sensible pair for many photographic situations. I'm not making a decision for him but he's welcome to take my advice. Cheers.

[scott kirkpatrick]

I agree with everybody here. I don't tell anyone what they should do, but I find I am using the 35 and 75 on the M9 at moderate, touristic distances, and wider when I am working close to people or stuff. I thought the 75 would feel short after I had grown comfortable with its effective 100 mm focal length on the M8 and with 100's on SLRs, but it doesn't. I have a Nokton 50/1.5 (it's really about 1.7 or 1.8 in light-gathering capability) and use it when i need the extra half stop.

 

scott

[ChristopherGrant]

2 cents:

 

Have been a professional photographer for 8+ years but have only recently started using

rangefinders (again).

 

Have had my M9 for about 4 weeks now, and am still only using my 35mm Summicron

with it. I will likely purchase a 50mm Summicron in the next 4 weeks, and this is based

off of what I've learned using just the one lens so far.

 

Basically I'm just re-arranging the words echoed by others; use one lens for a bit, then

once you've got a handle on how the camera/lens combo works, you'll likely get a feel

for what you're missing. For me it was a 50, but you it could be something entirely

different.

 

Luck!

[adli]

Most photographers have either 35mm or 50mm as their base lens. To start with both makes little sense. Start with one of them as your base lens, and then ad a longer or wider lens (in this case probably a longer) as your second lens.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[microview]

For years my two standard lenses on my film Ms were a 35mm Summicron and a 50mm Summicron. I can't say that I ever found them to be too close together wrt focal length.

 

Agreed. After trying other focal lengths these are the two I have settled on. I would be patient and wait for a 50 Summilux because the quality is profoundly rewarding. That said I still regret selling my black paint pre-ASPH Summilux. The 35 Summicron has the virtue of small size/weight, and long large lenses are a bit of an encumbrance when you are out and about unless you are desperate for their focal lengths for some specific purpose!

[lct]

...I feel my 35 is a perfect all purpose lense, but want to get something that is a bit closer for portraits...

Then it is either 50 or 75 for you. Just pick up a cheap 50 on e**y and try it in the first place. Will be easy to sell if it doesn't suit you.