Ecaton Posted March 8, 2007 Share #1 Posted March 8, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) What would you consider being the best high-speed general-purpose lens in the Leica range. I own the Summicron 2/50mm and the new Elmarit 2.8/28mm and plan to buy either the Summilux-M 1:1.4/35mm or the Lux 1.4/50mm ASPH. I read that the Asph Summilux wide open performance is outstandingly good and stopped down better than the Summicron 2/50mm. Based on your experience could either of the Lux be used as the universal standard lens and be deployed without any restrictions in image quality at all apertures and over the whole image field. Or with other words, if you could have one lens only, would you consider one of them your prime choice (I understand the subjectivity and individual preferences of focal lenghts, so please do not comment on those). Appreciate your input Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 8, 2007 Posted March 8, 2007 Hi Ecaton, Take a look here Best high speed general purpose lens for M8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted March 8, 2007 Share #2 Posted March 8, 2007 On an M8 I'd go for the 35mm Lux - you'll probably find 50mm a bit too long for a general lens. But as ever, it's your call. The lenses I've been using most since I got my M8 are a 28mm Voigtlander Ultron and my 35mm ASPH Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laki Posted March 8, 2007 Share #3 Posted March 8, 2007 hi martin, i have both asph lux's 50 and 35 and i'm really a very happy user of both on the m8. depending on what and how you're shooting you will have to decide which focal length you like more. as for me, i think i use them quite equal. i posted here some photos in the photo forum (see for example here: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/people/17997-rushing.html?highlight=Laki#post189612 http://www.leica-camera-user.com/people/18152-different-point-view.html?highlight=Laki#post191262 http://www.leica-camera-user.com/nature-wildlife/18248-trees.html#post192236 ), you will find more in my galleries mentioned in my signature, mostly under street and nature. cheers laki Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted March 8, 2007 Share #4 Posted March 8, 2007 How can you choose only one lens without taking the focal length into consideration, If you already have the summicron 50 and given the quality of the summicron v summilux Asph there is little point in upgrading the aperture by 1 stop. However there is a hole in your existing line up that the Summilux 35 Asph would serve well as both a general purpose and fast lens. If I had your line up that's the lens I'd choose, in fact I have both the cron 50 and the lux 35 and I don't feel the 50lux would be any compensation for loosing the 35lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_b_elmer Posted March 8, 2007 Share #5 Posted March 8, 2007 I fail to see how a M8-owner can live without the 35/1.4 asph. This lens is simply a must. If you should at a later stage want to acquire the 50/1.4 asph., you can always sell the 50/2.0, for which you will hardly find any use if you have the 50 Lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted March 8, 2007 Share #6 Posted March 8, 2007 Another vote from me for the 35 1.4 ASPH. It lives on the M8 and I occasionally change to one of my other lenses for something special Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pemayeux Posted March 8, 2007 Share #7 Posted March 8, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would go for the 35/1.4 ASPH as well, it is the sharpest of all my lenses on top of being fast. If I were you and had the 50cron and absolutely wanted another 50, I would go for the Noctilux for the extra speed and for that special Nocti look. I recently added one to the stable and while it is for very specialized uses, I really like it's fingerprint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogopix Posted March 8, 2007 Share #8 Posted March 8, 2007 I think arguments for 35mm lux are solid. However, I revently went thru same thinking but for general 'walk around' I prefer the 28/2 since it is a bit wider. In addition before my Noctilux came I was lent the new 50mm 1.4 by Dale, and the combination works very well. I am keeping the 50 1.4 I now have 35mm and 65mm equivalent (latter very nice for p[portrait) and do not miss the old stadby the 50mm (which on the M8 is what the 35mm is, really in FOV, if not 'look') I may get 35 lux someday but was also a little concerned about all the 'backfocus' discussion. whatever, I am sure you can make work, but do consider the 28 50 as a possibility. and yes, I am a statistician, so 'on average' the combo is a 35! :-) Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
egibaud Posted March 8, 2007 Share #9 Posted March 8, 2007 Well, I ordered a Summilux 35mm and a Cron 75mm along with my M8 I only received the 35 summilux with the M8 and I am still waiting for the cron 75. So, basically I am forced into a single lense system. And honestly I am very surprised not to miss a second lense :-) I still want the cron 75. But so far I can really manage with just my Summilux 35mm. Many people tend to recommend a 28 so they almost match the legendary 35mm angle. I use glasses and the 28mm frame is not as easier to see in the viewfinder not to mention a 24mm. I recommend you get a Summilux 35mm. The 1.4 along with very hight image quality at ISO 640, and acceptable at 1250 will give you plenty of light at anytime. Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogopix Posted March 8, 2007 Share #10 Posted March 8, 2007 Dear Eric I hear a lot about backfocus for some of the 35mm lenses, even Leica admit to this. Sounds like it doesn't really affect you, so you are not having this problem. There seem to be two camps those with, those without BF issues. May I ask the general serial number range you have (just first three digits, I am sensitive that one doesnt give out SN) regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchell Posted March 8, 2007 Share #11 Posted March 8, 2007 Martin, I'm no expert, but I will try to stay within the confines of your question and leave focal length up to you. From what I've read both the 35 and the 50 are superb outstanding lenses. The 50 is often refered to as the best 50mm ever made, and Leica says they used all their enhancments (asph, special glass, etc.) in producing it. And, the 35 gets raves as well, though the 50 seems to have special look. This is all second hand. I have a 50 Summicron and recently bought a Lux. I don't have enough experience to comment on it's images, but I don't find the size or handling a liability compared to the smaller Summicron. Sean Reid, in Reid Reveiws, an excellent subscription web site, does detailed evaluations of both lenses, and highly recommends them both. Because you can't go wrong with either, I think it comes down to your focal length preference which is subjective. I prefer 50. I throw this in just so you know the 50mm minority exists. Best, Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted March 8, 2007 Share #12 Posted March 8, 2007 I have found the 35mm focal length to be the best all around lens for my purposes on my M8. Just walking around I find it better then the 50. My 35 is the cron so it is small. I will move up to the lux as I want the extra stop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 8, 2007 Share #13 Posted March 8, 2007 I would also go for the 35mm f1.4 for my first or only lens. As I have posted elsewhere, I specifically went out yesterday looking for focussing trouble with this lens and found none. The clarity and sharpness of the images when wide open is startling, I had no trouble with focus shift on stop down and, for now, the lens occupies a special position. No other Leica lens is as wide or wider AND as fast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
egibaud Posted March 8, 2007 Share #14 Posted March 8, 2007 May I ask the general serial number range you have (just first three digits, I am sensitive that one doesnt give out SN) Hello my SN is 3995*** May be I am not used enough to Leica to notice back focus, but so far it seems to focus right where I want. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carcam Posted March 8, 2007 Share #15 Posted March 8, 2007 I recently traveled to Mexico for a week with the 21mm, 35 lux and 50 lux. 90% of my pictures were with the 35, 10% 21mm. I love the 50mm but never needed or used it...? I will leave it home next time and probably not miss it. Love the 35 lux. No BF issues either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sps Posted March 8, 2007 Share #16 Posted March 8, 2007 I have quite a few lenses, but also find the 35/lux to be a permanent fixture. If I want extra speed I put the Noct on. That being said I am planning to add the new 50/cron to the stable as a walkaround lens with the 35. A resource on the Leica website is a lens review that describes the relative sharpenss of lenses, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giulio Zanni Posted March 8, 2007 Share #17 Posted March 8, 2007 I would like to have a 28 summilux, but I have to be happy with the summicron. Giulio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrogers Posted March 8, 2007 Share #18 Posted March 8, 2007 I would expect that for most people a 28 or 35 is most likely to be their M8's main lens. So your fast choices are 28 Summicron or 35 Summilux. The 35 Lux Asph is my standard lens on the M8 (#388**** for Victor). I haven't done any focus shift tests (and won't) beacuse I've never seen it deliver anything but fantastic sharpness in a huge range of conditions. --clyde Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 8, 2007 Share #19 Posted March 8, 2007 A 28/1.4 would indeed be wonderful, providing it didn't block the viewfinder too much... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scho Posted March 8, 2007 Share #20 Posted March 8, 2007 I would expect that for most people a 28 or 35 is most likely to be their M8's main lens. So your fast choices are 28 Summicron or 35 Summilux. The 35 Lux Asph is my standard lens on the M8 (#388**** for Victor). I haven't done any focus shift tests (and won't) beacuse I've never seen it deliver anything but fantastic sharpness in a huge range of conditions. --clyde I would add the 28 f/1.9 Ultron. Inexpensive, but top performance. See Sean's review of the 28s, including the Ultron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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