ddp Posted January 9, 2007 Share #1  Posted January 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) So...we all know Leica produces some nice optics. I'm curious as to what we consider the "best" lenses? Of course, we all have different uses for these pieces of metal & glass - and we'll all have different opinions on what we consider "the best." And WHY we consider them the best...  I know Erwin mentions in a few places what he considers to be phenomenal optics in an already great lineup.  In my experience, I'd rate the following highly:  R system:  90 Elmarit 180 Summicron  M System:  35 Summicron Asph 35 Summilux Aspherical 90 Summicron APO Asph  I have yet to seriously use the 50 Summilux Aspherical....and I am almost afraid to. Out of the question budget wise right now. I love my Noctilux, but it's a quirky lens to use...I just happen to like it's quirks!  I'm a relative newb in the Leica world - maybe 6 years, so I'm eager to read what else you guys have to offer up as far as your top of the chart lenses! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 Hi ddp, Take a look here Best of the Best. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TimF Posted January 9, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted January 9, 2007 At risk of getting flamed, I'll nominate the pre-aspheric 35mm Summilux-M. OK, it has certain abberations which many consider unacceptable, but IMHO it also has a unique rendition which Iove. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkness30 Posted January 9, 2007 Share #3  Posted January 9, 2007 I use R system and i think  180mm APO Elmarit,  280mm APO F4,  60mm Elmarit.  Mehmet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnkuo Posted January 9, 2007 Share #4  Posted January 9, 2007 M:  28/2.0asph, 35/1.4asph, 50/1.4asph, 75/2.0asph  R: 19/2.8, 50/1.4, 180/2.0, 180/2.8, 280/4.0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_parker Posted January 9, 2007 Share #5  Posted January 9, 2007 I only have R lenses but I would nominate the 180mm 2.8 Elmarit and the 60mm Elmarit is growing on me rapidly  I might get flamed for also nominating a zoom lens but the new 21-35 seems to have excellent performance in a lot of areas, as well as the flexibility of a zoom.  Not to forget the 50mm f2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaM8freak Posted January 13, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Hello I agree with the mentioned 90 Cron ASPH which produces great pics, next to that only one: the Noctilux ! a far underrated tool, not only in f1! If I had to only choose 1 lens to go with my camera it would absolutely be the Noct Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
strick Posted January 13, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) My choice, for the R system: Â 2.8/19 (unbelievable sharp and contrasty) 2/50 (best allround lens) 2.8/100 macro 3.4/180 (especially stopped down to f8) Â Cheers, Greg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted January 13, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Great post Dan. Â I'd give the nod to the 50ASPH. It is phenomenal IMO. I bought mine after seeing the results that William and Brent were getting from theirs and could not be happier with a lens purchase. Â The thing about the 35'Cron ASPH is its incredible versatility. It's probably the best as far as taking pictures under under all circumstances. Â Tough to choose a favorite between those two.... Â Thanks. Â Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdb Posted January 14, 2007 Share #9  Posted January 14, 2007 So, what woud be your advice for R lenses. I had to reconsider my equipment after my R9/DMR has been tolen along with all my lenses.  I bought the 180 Apo-Elmarit and the 90 Apo-Summicron. I still have an old version of the 60 Macro-Elmarit signed "Leitz Wetzlar". Is there a difference with the actual one?  What would you adivse me to get in order to complete this line of lenses?  I hesitate between several combinations:  The 19mm Elmarit, and the Vario 35-70 f:4 to fill the gap between 19 and 60,  Or the Vario 21-35  Or the 28mm Elmarit which is said to be the sharpest, and nothing else?  I have owned the Vario 28-90 which is a nice lens, but as I like architectural photograophy very much, the distorsion at 28mm bothers me, and on the other end, at 90, the aperture is two low as soon as you shoot shows and/or night photography. I do not think I might want another one.  What is your opinion about the sharpness and contrast of the two Varios 21-35 and 35-70 f4 (let's forget the f 2.8)?  Thanks for your opinions  Happy New Year Gérard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhsimmonds Posted January 14, 2007 Share #10  Posted January 14, 2007 Gerard  I have both the 28-70 F4 and the 21-35 which I use with my R9/DMR.  Both are nice lenses to use and light to carry around. The 28-70 is probably on my camera more than any other lens. When it is bang on focus and given the right lighting it is extremely sharp.  The 21-35 is also a very useful lens to have and is also bightingly sharp in the right lighting conditions but perhaps not quite so versatile as the 28-70. As always so much depends on what you photograph. The 19mm is a cracking lens for interior work, unfortunately I do not own one but I have used one on my R9/DMR.  My image taken with the 28-70 can be seen in the Photo Forums <People> titled "Seat of Studies" a few days ago so probably one or two pages back now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted January 14, 2007 Share #11  Posted January 14, 2007 Gérard  I have the R 21-35 and happily used it as the standard lens on my R8/DMR during a recent tour of Switzerland. I wouldn't want to replace it with the equivalent fixed focal length lenses for several reasons. The main one is that I'd need 4 ffl lenses to cover the range. These would add greatly to the weight and bulk of my outfit (I do a lot of travelling by train and like to travel light). They would also cost considerably more. The clincher is, however, that the 21-35 is known to surpass the performance of the R21, 24 and 28 in everything but maximum aperture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted January 14, 2007 Share #12  Posted January 14, 2007 Gérard I have the R 21-35 and happily used it as the standard lens on my R8/DMR during a recent tour of Switzerland. I wouldn't want to replace it with the equivalent fixed focal length lenses for several reasons. The main one is that I'd need 4 ffl lenses to cover the range. These would add greatly to the weight and bulk of my outfit (I do a lot of travelling by train and like to travel light). They would also cost considerably more. The clincher is, however, that the 21-35 is known to surpass the performance of the R21, 24 and 28 in everything but maximum aperture.  John  I agree - and it's also better in performance than the 35/1.4R too (though the latter is of course unsurpassed for low light, in which contexts the absolute performance isn't usually all that crucial). The 180/2.8AA R and the 90/2AA R are both absolute crackers. I love the good old double-Gauss 50/2 R for it's nice "look", and the 28/2.8PC is a temendous achievment given what it has to do. It's not an easy choice is it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 14, 2007 Share #13 Â Posted January 14, 2007 100 APO, 60 2.8, 280 4.0 APO, either new 180, Â For M camersa, my new 50 2.8 is outstanding, 75 2.0, either current 35, 90 4.0 new, 135 and 90 APO`s. Have to add the 21 and 24 and 28`s. Â All the above make pics sharp as a tack, but I still use older lenses without reservation including the much disparriged 1.5 Summarit. My red scale 50 3.5 still is in use as are my 50 Summitar, 35 3.5 Summaron, 90 4.0 Elmar in screw mount. Â The only lenses I never liked were the 24 2.8 R and 21 3.4 Super Angulon. Both are long gone, but I never sold another lens so I have 60 years worth of glass for my use. Â The zoom lenses 28/70 3.5-4.? is OK, but has a quite a bit of distortion easily corrected with Photoshop. I would not use it for optical printing where straight lines are important. I then use the 35/70 4.0. I also have the 70/210 4.0. Sharp wide open, but some distortion if lines are near the edges. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted January 14, 2007 Share #14 Â Posted January 14, 2007 This is an impossible question. It's like asking what is the best racing car.? To me it was the 250F Maserati clsoely followed by the 300SLR Mercedes. But they would both be demolished by current racing cars. Â For Leica lenses I would say the 3.5 Elmar was a staggeringly sharp lens that went on for decades. The Summar was exceptional for a very short time. The 50mm Summicron must rate as one of the best of the best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrj Posted January 14, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted January 14, 2007 This is an impossible question since what makes a lens best for one may not figure for another. For me in the Ms the 50mm dual range summicron is fantastic for its rendition and transitions to OOF. I also think the 135 tele elmar f4 gives superb colours. My most used lens is a v3 preasph summicron 35mm-I love its combination of sharpness, drawing and bokeh. In terms of use the 35 and 50 are on the camera the most. Â Nik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted January 14, 2007 Author Share #16 Â Posted January 14, 2007 Impossible questions are great though...and I like to see what other users rate high on their scale. The question comes more from users frequently declaring a certain lens as the best in its class, etc..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shk331 Posted January 14, 2007 Share #17  Posted January 14, 2007 Hello,  My vote for the M-line: 28mm Summicron, 1,4/35 current, 1,4/75mm  For R : the best is the 180mm Apo-Summicron, other lenses I use: 2,8/19mm, 1,4/80mm, and from the Apo-Telyt moduls the 4/400 is my favourite, I have both head and the 1,4x and 2x modules all give very high contrast and pure colours. To play and use wide open or to use at 5,6 for high contras is the 180mm Summicron and it has the best background blur at any blende setting. But I have never used the 4/280mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telyt Posted January 15, 2007 Share #18 Â Posted January 15, 2007 For R 50mm and up (my experience) I'd say the 60 Macro, 100 APO-Macro and 280 f/4 APO-Telyt are certainly among the best of the best. If price/performance ratio is considered I'd include the 80-200 f/4 and the 400mm and 560mm f/6.8 Telyts Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telewatt Posted January 15, 2007 Share #19 Â Posted January 15, 2007 ..for me the best lenses are the eyes of E. Fieger, E. Haas, Salgado, Burri, Morath...... Â regards, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christoph_d Posted January 15, 2007 Share #20 Â Posted January 15, 2007 ...and for me the best lens is the one that I have on my Leica when I take a picture... Â Regards, C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.