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Which lens would you choose?


smartn

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Let's say you ar an amatuer photographer and you have a R4, you also have two lenses. A 50 mm three cam summicron f2 and a 60 mm three cam Elmarit f2.8 and you have to get rid of one of these lenses, which one would you keep?

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As always, it depends upon you as a photographer. The 50 is an exceptional general-purpose lens and is faster. The 60 is optimised for close-up performance. Personally, given that choice I would stay with the 50 but I am not you and have no idea what you like to photograph.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Keep the 50, sell the 60, and, if you just need to go very close-up very occasionally, buy a second-hand Elpro 1 or 2 (which perform remarkably well with the 50/2, even if not quite in the dedicated macro class) for just a few pounds.

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Hello smartn,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

It would appear I am in somewhat of a minority position here. I don't see any reason @ all to keep the 50. I see the 60 as a much more versatile lens w/ a significantly greater future than the 50. Here's why:

 

I don't see any advantage in usable lens speed between 2.0 & 2.8 @ the focal lengths involved. The focal legnths are also close enough to each other to be considered pretty much equivalent.

 

I do see a significant difference in being able to focus to 1 : 2 as opposed to 1 : 7 w/o

additional accessories even if you don't think it means much now. 1 : 2 can grow on you quite quickly if you are using a reflex as opposed to a range/viewfinder.

 

1 : 2 to 1 : 1 is done w/ the addition of a simple light weight extension tube.

 

Stopped down a stop or 2 the Elmarit's image quality is pretty much the same as the Summicron's. Closeup the Summicoron is lagging on many fronts. You will find over time unless speed is your primary perspective most of your photos, portraits, landscapes or otherwise, will most likely be made @ 4, 5.6 or smaller.

 

So what I am saying is the Elmarit is pretty much the Summicron + while, for me, the Summicron, nice tho it is, is pretty much lacking in versatility & room for growth.

 

I tend to be a minamalist. I like to be able to do the most I can with the least stuff & the least mental clutter. For me the Elmarit adds versatility & a number of current & future options while the only advantage I see to the Summicron is 1 stop of speed.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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I was simply going by Puts....

 

"Normally a lens is corrected for the infinity position, which is defined as 1000x the focal length. When you focus closer, there is an inevitable reduction in image quality, sometimes hardly visible, sometimes more disturbing. The Macro-Elmarit is designed so that at closer distances this reduction does not occur. Conversely the infinity position is not the optimal distance setting".

 

All that said, I am just about to fit my newly-acquired 60mm to my FM3a... ;)

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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I would keep the 60mm - it's more versatile to me: the focal length is close to normal, and it can do anything from macro to portraits. A one stop advantage is not that much, you can always choose faster film.

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Sell the 50 cron and get a 35mm or 90mm to complement the 60mm. Although the 60mm sells for more if cash is what you need but the 50 is more popular here so may sell more quickly, if fast cash is what you really need for an engagement ring etc.

Lincoln

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Sell the 50 cron and get a 35mm or 90mm to complement the 60mm. Although the 60mm sells for more if cash is what you need but the 50 is more popular here so may sell more quickly, if fast cash is what you really need for an engagement ring etc.

Lincoln

 

Agreed. My only two R lenses for my R8 are the Elmarit 60 and a Summicron 35. That is all I need.

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