andalus Posted April 28, 2012 Share #1 Posted April 28, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I wonder among those who have the 50 Lux asph as your favorite lens how much time, percentage wise, it's on the camera? I am in the process of selling even my Summicron 28 and going with just one lens...because my adult son wants a camera and is in medical school and I can't afford to assist him without selling some of my stuff. And I want him to get a D800E so I can use it, too. But I "think? the M9 and 50 lux only does make a very fine minimal combo/kit? Why have extra lenses if they are not used but rarely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 Hi andalus, Take a look here Have a monomania?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shadow Blaster Posted April 28, 2012 Share #2 Posted April 28, 2012 I wonder among those who have the 50 Lux asph as your favorite lens how much time, percentage wise, it's on the camera?I am in the process of selling even my Summicron 28 and going with just one lens...because my adult son wants a camera and is in medical school and I can't afford to assist him without selling some of my stuff. And I want him to get a D800E so I can use it, too. But I "think? the M9 and 50 lux only does make a very fine minimal combo/kit? Why have extra lenses if they are not used but rarely? I have a M7 with the 50 Lux and the 24mm Elmar and 90mm Cron APO/ASPH and love all three lenses but having said that, the 50 Lux is on my camera at least 80% of the time. Can't go wrong with it as your only lens in my opinion. Cheers, John S. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted April 28, 2012 Share #3 Posted April 28, 2012 Under duress, the 50/1.4 summilux ASPH will be removed from my hands last of all, the 28/2 summicron ASPH is a close contender for remaining firmly gripped to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted April 29, 2012 Share #4 Posted April 29, 2012 I would want a D800 also but not if it requires selling a Leica lens, a camera body is a transient item, a Leica lens is a permanent item. Please reconsider. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted April 29, 2012 Share #5 Posted April 29, 2012 I would not be caught dead with a 800. And while I own and love a 50mm Summilux ASPH, the 35mm sibling is most often on the camera. Last autumn I spent a week away from home carrying these two lenses, and a 90mm Elmarit-M. I never used the Elmarit. The two Summiluxes got about equal time. If you robbed me of these two lenses, I would throw the M9 after you, and make do with my X100. The old man from the Kodachrome Age Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted April 29, 2012 Share #6 Posted April 29, 2012 Yes, I'm sure an M9 + 50 Lux combo would be perfectly fine, albeit somewhat limiting. However, did you consider the fact that your son will require a bigger/better/faster computer to deal with the 36+ MP of the D800? And perhaps new lenses too (else, how do you put that sensor to good use)? Maybe a Fuji X-Pro 1 would be an acceptable alternative? It's cheaper - and you can keep your Leica lenses for use on both bodies... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 29, 2012 Share #7 Posted April 29, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) But I "think? the M9 and 50 lux only does make a very fine minimal combo/kit? Why have extra lenses if they are not used but rarely? Great photograph's are rare, that is why you should have extra lenses even if they do get used rarely. I have never attached worth to a lens based on how much I use it, and 90% of the time if I carry three lenses in a bag I will still have only used one by the end of the day. But unless I know in advance every photograph I may want to take, which would be boring both for me and any viewer, I take seriously the idea of going out equipped for a reasonable number of contingencies and allow ideas to flow. So I think 'one camera and one lens' is just an intellectual cul-de-sac, a fine idea that leads nowhere. Sell it and buy a cheaper CV 28mm, or sell the M9 and the Summilux as well and buy two D800E's. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted April 29, 2012 Share #8 Posted April 29, 2012 .because my adult son wants a camera and is in medical school and I can't afford to assist him without selling some of my stuff. And I want him to get a D800E so I can use it, too. It's nice of you to help him while he's still in med school. And once he graduates and goes into practice, have him buy you a whole collection of Leica lenses I'm sure you'll be fine with just the one lens. I did a 5-year project with only a 50mm. It was liberating in so many ways. It's kind of amazing what your feet, body, and mind can do when you only use one focal length. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted April 29, 2012 Share #9 Posted April 29, 2012 I have a friend in his 70s who's been making beautiful photos with his Leica ii with 5cm lens since before Noah was allowed near the paddling pool. He says he's never taken the lens off the camera, let alone considered buying another one. Incidentally, he looks and sounds very much like Private Fraser from Dad's Army. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted April 29, 2012 Share #10 Posted April 29, 2012 Under duress, the 50/1.4 summilux ASPH will be removed from my hands last of all, the 28/2 summicron ASPH is a close contender for remaining firmly gripped to. My feelings exactly:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinnfell Posted April 30, 2012 Share #11 Posted April 30, 2012 To me, Leica shooting is all about maximum quality in a minimal package. So even though I have several lenses I often go to shoots with just one. Its a gamble, but I feel that I really have to sharpen (!) myself, my vision and creativity when limiting myself in this way. At the same time this limitation frees up other worries as to "which lens should I use now". So if I had to live with just a 50 Lux I would still be able to do 90-95% of my (paid) photography. Most if not all Leica lenses are equivalent to money in the bank (especially these days with close to 0% interest on savings). Sell them if you must, and rebuy them if and when you can. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andalus Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted April 30, 2012 I did sell the 28 Cron, for three days. Buy is a collector but he spotted a small scratch on the silver body iof the lens. I am taking it back! And much relieved cause I knew when I sent it I'd miss it. And one person here is dead on: a lens IS as good as cash. Makes no sense, I now think, to feel an M lens for a D800E. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted April 30, 2012 Share #13 Posted April 30, 2012 I am pleased to read this conclusion, though wonder why all the agonising. A lens as brilliant as the 50mm Summilux deserves a companion (or two). My first Leica was an M3 with 28, 50 and 90; a set which stood me in good stead for forty years. Only much later did I add any more lenses with an M6, M8 and M9. While I often go 'hunting' with one lens, two lenses make more sense, with a third in reserve. The reserve might not see so much use, but when it does I know why I have it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayewing Posted April 30, 2012 Share #14 Posted April 30, 2012 When I bought my Leica M9 just over a year ago I got a Summilux 50mm to go with it basing the decision on my thirty years with an M2. However I recently checked my usage of different lenses and found that I use the Summilux in about 50% of my picteres, the Summicon 35mm in40% and the remaining 10% split between the Voigtlander 25mm and the Tele Elmarit M 90mm. I would not wish to be without any of them but if sacrifices had to be made the Summilux would be the last to go. P.S Is it a good idea to start your son off with a top of the range camera? Most of us start off with something simpler and work up over the years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andalus Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share #15 Posted May 1, 2012 Son has already had experience with my Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted May 2, 2012 Share #16 Posted May 2, 2012 I have never attached worth to a lens based on how much I use it, and 90% of the time if I carry three lenses in a bag I will still have only used one by the end of the day. But unless I know in advance every photograph I may want to take, which would be boring both for me and any viewer, I take seriously the idea of going out equipped for a reasonable number of contingencies and allow ideas to flow. So I think 'one camera and one lens' is just an intellectual cul-de-sac, a fine idea that leads nowhere. Sell it and buy a cheaper CV 28mm, or sell the M9 and the Summilux as well and buy two D800E's. Steve My take is similar to Steve's and with M lenses there's not much extra weight to carry around iot be prepared for eventualities. That said, the 50 asph is my favourite lens of all time, even though I also use other lenses. What's a D800? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted May 3, 2012 Share #17 Posted May 3, 2012 A few months ago I would have responded that I could be very happy with just an M9 and 50 Summilux ASPH, but that was before I acquired the 35 Summilux FLE. For me these are the two lenses that I would never want to be without. Sorry, this post should be in the "Have a duomania?" thread... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted May 3, 2012 Share #18 Posted May 3, 2012 A few months ago I would have responded that I could be very happy with just an M9 and 50 Summilux ASPH, but that was before I acquired the 35 Summilux FLE. For me these are the two lenses that I would never want to be without. Sorry, this post should be in the "Have a duomania?" thread... True, but the 75 Lux is fantastic, and the 28 Cron is so small, you wouldn't notice it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andalus Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share #19 Posted May 3, 2012 Back to duo mania now. 28 Cron and 50 Lux. That's it and I ain't going for mo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewsweeper Posted May 3, 2012 Share #20 Posted May 3, 2012 This is a very generous sacrifice you are considering. What is the opposite of monomania? Even though I love my 50 Summilux ASPH, I'm more bipolar. The two lenses I can't live without are my 90 Macro-Elmar-M and the 28 Summicron-M ASPH. The 50 is always with me, and used about 20% of the time. I have a mess of lenses, though, and they all see regular use. That said, I have spent large blocks of my photographic life limited to one lens, and when that has happened, I have always chosen a 50. What is your percentage? Of the shots you love, which lens was most frequently your culprit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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