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New 35 Summilux FLE - Keep or sell 35 Summicron ASPH?


StephenPatterson

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If I ever get the 35 Summilux ASPH FLE, I will sell my 35 Summicron ASPH. If I get a Noct, I will, conversely, keep my 50 Summilux ASPH.

 

Stephen, I'd sell the 35 Summicron, and get a 28 instead - small, butter smooth, and just a little different.

 

This is exactly the path I took, and no regrets.....I don't regret selling my Summicron and then subsequently getting a 35 FLE. I kept the 50 Lux when I got my Noctilux. The determining factor in the decision for keeping the 50's is size. You shouldn't have that problem with the 35's.

 

Do you have an opportunity to try out lenses from friends? Try the 28/2 if you can. I see you live/travel to China. If you are ever in Shanghai, I'd be more than happy to meet up and let you give it a try.

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Do you have an opportunity to try out lenses from friends? Try the 28/2 if you can. I see you live/travel to China. If you are ever in Shanghai, I'd be more than happy to meet up and let you give it a try.

 

Thanks for the offer. I've been in Shenzhen for the past five plus years, but we're moving to Chongqing after New Year's. The good news for me is I won't have to travel back and forth to the US 6-8 times a year. Also, I would love to meet up in Shanghai as 1. It's a fantastic city, and 2. I've never shot with a 28/2.

 

I'm going to keep the 35 Summicron for now, because it's been my favorite lens and as others have pointed out it's a really nice balance of speed and size.

 

Stephen

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  • 2 months later...

Just a quick update to this thread. I've had the new 35 Summilux FLE for a few days now and to say I am thrilled and delighted is an understatement. In short it's the 35mm equivalent of my favorite lens, the 50 Summilux ASPH. As the 35mm focal length is by far my most used I have a feeling this lens just became my new best friend.

 

Saying that, I just cannot part with the 35 Summicron ASPH. It's a completely different look, and as RickLeica pointed out it's extremely compact when out for a stroll with just camera in hand (or pocket).

 

And finally, as Jaap pointed out, "Never sell a Leica lens until it has been lying around unused for more than a year." Somehow I just don't see that happening with my old friend, the 35 Summicron ASPH.

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Sold mine, and don't miss it.

 

If I'm going out for a stroll, it's hard enough deciding between AA Summicron 75, Summilux 50 ASPH, Summilux 35 ASPH (FLE) and Summicron 28 ASPH, without complicating things by having a Summicron 35 ASPH as well.

 

I do concede that every now and then I wonder if I should have sold it, but then I know I would never use it and I'd feel guilty ...

 

Cheers

John

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I think the answer is more about cashflow IMO

 

If you don't need it then simply put the Summicron 35 asph to one side you'll know the answer. Like all of us you will have your honeymoon period with the new lens do enjoy it :-)

 

An interesting and very valid point reinforced by Stephen Fry discussing apple, if you like the 'thing' you use it more and that adds genuine value. I know if I could afford a 35 lux FLE it would be on the front often !

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You seem to like similar FLs to IkarusJohn and I: primarily 21 - 50mm (although I do have a 75 Summicron ASPH that gets some use).

 

My first 35mm lens was a Summmilux ASPH FLE but I really felt that there were times when I wanted a lighter, cheaper, (and perhaps less razor sharp) lens. I decided on the Summarit with which I'm very happy (but I do have occasional pangs for a Summicron).

 

I just went on a road trip with my son and as I would need to concentrate on supervising and entertaining him, and and the sort of travelling/hiking/etc that we were doing, I decided against taking my insured but irreplaceable Summiluxes (21,35,50). So I took my 2.5/35 Summarit, ZM 4.5/21 C-Biogon and ZM 1.5/50 C-Sonnar. Having a lighter kit that I did not need to worry about was refreshing and the Summarit images were fantastic. This was exactly the situation that justified having the 35 Summarit and Zeiss lenses. So keep the Summicron if you can - it is also the classic Leica lens and in time you will probably regret selling it.

 

 

Having said that, considering the range of focal lengths you use I think you may really like a 28 (I have a 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH). It nicely accompanies the 50 or 75 as a 2-lens kit, and is an excellent spacing between 21 and 50. I often take it out on it's own. The image quality is extraordinary. However much I love the 1.4/35 Summilux ASPH FLE, if I could only keep two lenses they would be my 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH and 28 Summicron ASPH. See if you can at least try a 28 somewhere.

 

Mark

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You seem to like similar FLs to IkarusJohn and I: primarily 21 - 50mm (although I do have a 75 Summicron ASPH that gets some use).

 

My first 35mm lens was a Summmilux ASPH FLE but I really felt that there were times when I wanted a lighter, cheaper, (and perhaps less razor sharp) lens. I decided on the Summarit with which I'm very happy (but I do have occasional pangs for a Summicron).

 

I just went on a road trip with my son and as I would need to concentrate on supervising and entertaining him, and and the sort of travelling/hiking/etc that we were doing, I decided against taking my insured but irreplaceable Summiluxes (21,35,50). So I took my 2.5/35 Summarit, ZM 4.5/21 C-Biogon and ZM 1.5/50 C-Sonnar. Having a lighter kit that I did not need to worry about was refreshing and the Summarit images were fantastic. This was exactly the situation that justified having the 35 Summarit and Zeiss lenses. So keep the Summicron if you can - it is the classic Leica lens and in time you will probably regret selling it.

 

 

Having said that, considering the range of focal lengths you use I think you may really like a 28 (I have a 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH). It nicely accompanies the 50 or 75 as a 2-lens kit, and is an excellent spacing between 21 and 50. I often take it out on it's own. The image quality is extraordinary. However much I love the 1.4/35 Summilux ASPH FLE, if I could only keep two lenses they would be my 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH and 28 Summicron ASPH. See if you can at least try a 28 somewhere.

 

Mark

 

Hi Mark, I find your comments very usefull indeed, especially the hint to a reserve set up for rougher trips, I still have A CV 15 and 35 1.4 plus a 50 Planar which have bee sitting around for quite some time, this might change.

 

As far as the 28 Cro is concerned, I agree with everything you said, it just is a fantastic lens, especially for street.......get close though!

 

Ralf

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Sell the 2.0 while you can get top dollar for it ( shortage) and buy something more useful.

 

Unless you are a collector, I can`t see having more than one unless you feel the need for a back up.

 

I've never shot with the 28 Summicron, but I plan to meet up with Shanghait sometime in the next few months and give his a go (letting him shot something of mine in return, of course).

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I really feel for you..... this is a heart-rending decision..... :p

 

I have a 5/2, 2x 50/1.4, Noctilux 0.95 and a MATE .... so thats five 50mm lenses... and I'm still dithering about which ones have got to go.......

 

The whole point of a Leica system was so that I didn't have a heap of metal and glass to back-pack around the world..... but here I am overloaded yet again..... :rolleyes:

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  • 2 months later...

I acquired a 35 Summilux in 1987. I did some of my best work with it, however, I was often disappointed by night shots ruined by an arc of flare cutting across the image. I decided to end my love/hate relationship with it, realizing suficient cash to prepay for a new 35 Summicron which I expect is in the process of being made for me as I write this.

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I've really enjoyed the 35 Summicron ASPH. It's a fantastic lens, it's small, it's relatively fast, in short it's been my most used lens with the M9. I ordered the new 35 Summilux primarily because I will be working on a project next year in rural China, so lots of poorly lit home interiors and alleys.

 

I come a bit late to the party but fwiw here are my thoughts.

 

The 35 FLE can do everything the 35/2 does, even on bright days. It just weighs 65 grams more (assuming your Cron is black) and is 11,5mm longer.

 

For me this does not make a difference in actual use (I don't put an M with a lens on (even my 2,8cm Hektor) in my pocket).

 

So, unless in need of cash, I would liquidate the Cron and buy something else.

 

Given your focal length setup - and since you're mainly using 35+50 and occasionally 90 and 21 - I would pass on another lens.

 

However, because you seem to be out and about quite a lot in rural surroundings a backup camera is a good idea.

 

good luck

philip

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...because you seem to be out and about quite a lot in rural surroundings a backup camera is a good idea.

 

good luck

philip

 

Thanks Philip. I've really been enjoying the 35 Summilux FLE these past few months, and the old Summicron is certainly not feeling the love. However I plan to stick with the timeline Jaap gave me and wait a year before making any decisions.

 

As for a backup camera, well I can't exactly pop down to the local Leica shop (or any camera dealer) here in rural central China, so I have a second M9-P.

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