M9 plus a 50?

[budhudson]

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Well all

 

I have asked previously about getting an M8(.2) and which lens to compliment my X1

 

This has now moved on and i am now in a positon to get an M9 so am looking to go for something to compliment my X1 again

 

I think i have settled on a 50mm for the M9 but would welcome comments about the Leica range (summilux, summicron etc) and if this would be a natural partner for the X1?

 

Mainly landscape and street stuff with odd portrait type of shooting occasionally

 

Thanks in advance

 

Mark

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[Hariseldon]

The difference in angle of view between the 35 and 50 is fairly significant, the M9 preview lever will allow you to confirm this and make a judgement.

 

My choice is the summilux, superb in all respects, the summicron is cheaper and one stop slower, the Zeiss planar is cheaper again but very close in performance terms to the summicron. If you can afford it the 'lux if not the alternatives are very, very good.

[Gerard]

If you already have a wide with the x1, and you enjoy landscape and portraifure; check out a 75.

[Jeff S]

the summicron is cheaper

 

Well, one of them is.

 

Jeff

[JPizzzle]

Hey Mark,

I think it's great your asking feedback and trying to put together a good system, but may I suggest a perspective shift. In your place, I would purchase the lens length and aperture that I find the most appealing, rather then trying to find what would compliment the x1. The m9 will be the thoroughbred in your stable now, so make sure it has your favorite lens on it.

 

Having said that-I would highly recommend the 50 lux asph-It's a beauty. My second choice would be the 35 lux fle.

[budhudson]

All

 

Thank you very much for the comments and suggestions etc

 

I take on board all that is said and appreciate the input from more experienced users than myself

 

I am probably going to go with the 50mm summilux at present (this was my 1st initial choice as well) and let this sit by the side of the X1 until i need to progress with longer (and possibly shorter) focal lengths

 

Again, thanks for the information to date

 

Mark

[lars_bergquist]

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Good luck to you. The 50mm Summilux ASPH is a superb lens. Last autumn I travelled for a week with it and my 35mm Summilux ASPH (current version) and used both of them about equally – that's how different the two focal lengths are.

 

Any camera bag with space for a Leica M and one or two extra lenses will accommodate your X-1. In due time it will probably be teplaced by a 35mm Summarit lens ...

 

The old man from the Kodachrome Age

[rsa212]

I was in the same situation as you a couple of years ago. I first bought the X1 and after a few months bought the M9. In my decision to buy my first M lens, I thought about what focal length would complement the X1 so I considered a 50mm. However, the 35mm field of view suits me so much I decided to get the 35summicron as my first lens. I thought that even thought the x1 has the same view I won't be bringing it with me outside when I'm shooting with the M9. It will be most likely be just a back up camera left at the hotel room. You can crop a 35 if you need to while you cannot expand the scene of a 50. My second lens was a 90 summarit as I realized I needed a longer focal length. During my travels I kept on using the preview lever to check what kind of framing I will get from different focal lengths and realized the 90 was what I needed. I only use it about 10-15% of the time but am very happy with the results I get with it.

After a few months I realized I needed something in between and went with the 50summilux. I had to wait 6 months to get the 50 but I'm quite happy with my three lens set up.

[lars_bergquist]

35+50+90mm is of course the 'Holy Trinity' of the rangefinder cameras' golden age. The combo covers nearly everything, especially if either the 35 or the 50 is a fast lens.

 

The old man from the Age of the M2

[albireo_double]

If you decide for the 50mm lens, then I suggest you go for the Summilux Asph which is really an exceptionally good lens. I would advise against the 50 Cron (non-Asph) as I had experienced a lot of moire with that lens (probably too much resolution for the M9 sensor) and it was prone to flare, especially where there was a lot of white sky in an image. The Summilux is significantly better on both counts - no moire in the same situations and very flare resistant.

[budhudson]

Once again thanks for the comments

 

I am going to have a look at one on Friday and can test a selection of lenses at the store so this, along with the comments, will help me make a choice

 

The 35mm comment makes perfect sense and, indeed, i may even end up with one if not now but in the future as it is my current weapon of choice (through default of the X1)

 

Will post what i do if interested

 

Thanks again

 

Mark

[vk2109]

50 lux asph I would go for. I personnally prefer to have the f1.4 on the 50 than 35.

it's a beautiful lens and when you master it produces great 3D effect and the bokeh is just great !!

the next addition I suggest is the 35cron or 35summarit (35 lux)

 

I personnally use 50lux & 35cron asph . 35 is totally different than 50 and they both complement each other. For longer range which I don't use I have my canon 70-200 f2.8 on 5d2.

[wda]

I often use M9 with 50 Summilux together with my X1 on short day trips. I particularly like the X1 for framing relative close shots, while the M9 feels like the front-runner for most work.

[Alexander Charles]

Dear Bud, I'm a late comer to this thread and many of the other members are far more qualified to comment on this particular issue, but I felt compelled to offer an opinion based on recent experience. My lens recommendation is the 35mm Lux ASPH.

 

On a recent trip to Africa, a family member dropped my M9 on the 2nd day of the trip causing the focusing mechanism to decalibrate (btw, yes I was pretty upset). The positive outcome of this experience was that it forced me to figure out which of my lenses could still be focused through use of the aperture and controlling depth of field.

 

The 35mm came shining through. In fact, even panoramic photos were so sharp that details could be cropped and still remain amazingly sharp. The wide angle also served as a telephoto. So, there's my two (very long) cents. Good luck.

[trylab]

Me too, in my bag on day trips I have M9 with 50 summilux together with 75mm summicron AND X1 as 35mm and backup camera.

Sometimes I swap the the X1 for the 21 summilux.

Your choice: 50 summilux asph, if you ask me.

[budhudson]

Hello all

 

Well tomorrow is the day when i go and pick up my X1 from repair

 

Oh, and also have a look at an M9 with the 50mm Summilux

 

Finally get to see them side by side and make my mind up once and for all

 

Thanks again to all who have posted replies

 

Mark

[jdlaing]

The 50 Summilux isn't a mandatory choice over the Sumarit but it is sure nice to have when you want it.