Jump to content

Should I sell ?


IWC Doppel

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I bought my 90 Elmarit-M some time ago and I have yet to really use it, by that I don;t mean taking a few shots but to 'get' 90mm

 

I spent time with my 75 Summarit and much preferred the rendering of the 90 Elmarit-M, I find 75mm usable, but 90 is very long for me. I really liked the 75 Summilux that I spent 2 weeks with, big heavy but the shots I have from that I want to print over and over, anyone mention the blacks and just how lovely this lens renders in gloomy conditions....

 

But the 90 is long....

 

Anyone think I should keep, just in case ?

 

My lens is mint and has been cleaned, serviced and 6 bit coded by Malcolm Taylor, so I may find replacing takes a little time, but it's on the shelf and gets used very rarely 279 shots out of 10,200 this year (this includes jpg's so you can divide by two)

 

:confused:

 

PS I really want an F1.0 Noctilux !

Link to post
Share on other sites

I find I don't go near certain focal lengths for a while. Then all of a sudden, use it and then like it. Something like a 90mm has it's uses which I don't think, personally, I would want to go without. Just because I've not used it in a while doesn't mean I won't use it more someday in the future and as your style does change/grow/adapt you might find your self wanting of it and no lens to satisfy you.

 

Personally I would hold on to it.

 

However.

 

If it's about clearing funds for the Noctilux, which you really want and prefer then do it. The elmarit is not hard to find if you find yourself wanting of one at a later date. Still I can't help but feel if you wait a bit longer you can have the best of both worlds.

 

I'm in the same boat with 75-90 lengths. I love my 75 Summilux but I'm also wanting something that is sharper and more contrasty at wider apertures and that Summicron is really in another category. The Summilux is good (actually is sublime) but I do really need something sharper too and I can see what I want/need in Summicron pictures. I've decided to keep the Summilux and get the Summicron as well. I guess my point is I just can't part with the Summilux! I would also potentially think of an APO 90mm.

 

Personally, unless I don't like a lens I would never sell it

Link to post
Share on other sites

There is a wise old saying around here:

 

NEVER SELL A LEICA LENS!

 

I primarily use 21 to 50mm (suits how I see the world for photography), and then progressively less from 75 (Summicron ASPH) to 90 (Macro-Elmar) to 135 (just acquired an 3.4/135 APO-Telyt-M).

 

As Paul wrote, you might need the lens for a specific purpose or just start seeing the world through a longer lens and it isn't around. You are unlikely to be able to replace your outstanding sample of this outstanding lens in the future without losing money on it. I suspect that the longer lenses will become more in demand with the new M etc.

 

If any of those 279 photographs were really good, and you would not have acheived a similar or better result withought the lens then keep it.

 

Having said all of that, do you need to sell the lens to fund a Noctilux. if it was the only way that you could afford a 1.0 Noctilux E60 (which I also have and love), and I assume you use a 50 frequently, then that may make the decision more difficult.

 

Mark

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

What Mark P said: NEVER SELL A LEICA LENS!

 

If you do, you will come to regret it. I went through that when I sold my Voigtlander 35/1.2 Nokton. I hardly ever used it. I had a 28 Summicron so I sold the 35/1.2 - and was kicking myself six months later. Lesson learned.

 

After the above situation, I sold my Mamiya 7II and three lens set to be able to purchase a 50/1.0 Noctilux. I never regretted that sale. And I still have the Noctilux, four years later.

 

My rules are simple -

1: Never sell a Leica lens.

2: Never sell a Leica film camera.

3: When tempted or in doubt, repeat aloud rules #1 and #2 until you come to your senses. ;)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Experience taught me that it's a bad idea to sell a Leica lens. You'll almost always find yourself wanting to buy it back once it's gone!

 

For what it's worth, 75mm makes a good companion to a 35mm for a two lens set. For three lenses, I find that 28-50-90 works better. If it were me, though, I'd sell off both 75mm Summarit and 90mm Elmarit, and use the funds towards a 75mm Summilux since it's obvious you love that so much.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the thoughts guys,

 

right now I have :

 

21 Elmarit-M ASPH

24 Elmarit-M ASPH

28 Summicron ASPH

35 Summaron f2.8

35 Summilux ASPHERICAL

50 Elmar-M

50 Summilux pre asph VII

90 Elmarit-M

 

I am very happy with all and use mostly 35, followed by 50 & 28 then 24, 21 and rarely 90.

 

I think I wild like to end up with trading the 90 for a Summilux 75, trading the 50 Summilux for a Noctilux f1.0, not sure I could sell the 50 Summilux as the rendering is lovely.I have owned 35 Summicron ASPH, 35 Summilux ASPH, 75 Summarit.

 

Other lenses I am interested in are a 21, or 24 Summilux (For internal wide angle in natural indoor lighting), the 35 Summicron 8 element (I love the pictures posted form this lens and I'd like to see which I prefer for a small classic 35 over the Summaron) I like the rendering and image quality of all of my lenses, I didn't like the 35 Summicron ASPH or the 75 Summarit as much.

 

I have yet to get 90, here is a shot of the 75 Summilux which is not only stunning for portraits but scenery in UK weather. The 90 images look great but it doesn't do the same thing for me.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I love these discussions how they twist and fold into other things and we work at drawing to concusions which are so hard to come to. Trying to justify it all and hoping people can shed light on it. Brilliant.

 

Really nice image. It's exemplary of the tonality you can achieve from that lens. I agree about the comment on Black and White tonality. ON a straight conversion that lens has the most incredible black and white tones. So creamy and smooth.

 

One added benefit of Leica lenses are when you buy a 35mm you kinda get a 35-75 in that you can crop them down heavily and still get a good image. That often helps me decide on which lens to get next.

 

Once you crop a 75mm frame down to a 10x8 it's very close to the size of a 90mm. That is one of the reasons my 90 gets so little use and the image quality from these lenses is more than capable. Bear in mind though I can crop the 90 down even more if need... To be balanced, depending on what I'm shooting I do find the 50/75mm frame lines distracting at times.

 

You shoot mainly 35 and 50, right? The Noctilux is one lens I would be happy if it were the only lens I owned. I would personally be happy to drop the 50 summilux in favour of the Noctilux. There is nothing else like that lens. It just floats my boat. I would certainly be confident cropping it down to a 75 and even 90 equivalent if the need or want was there. It's the sort of thing you may notice at the time of doing but a year of looking at that image I bet you would forget completely that you've cropped it.

 

I've never found the size or weight or finder blockage of the Noctilux a problem, Ive never cared about that sort of thing. It just ticks all my boxes so I don't even notice it's supposed negatives. With that in mind I have no pressing need to have a smaller 50, particularly when my Noctilux serves me as well as it does. I can see why you would keep the elmar though. So keep that one for sure.

 

I still feel you should keep the 90 but it seems you have little need for it. I would certainly be OK, personally, with dropping the 50 Summilux and 90 Elmarit for a Noctilux and 75 Summilux. Any day. Still, only you can really answer that in the end.

 

I've actualy thought the next purchase should be the new M. That way I can shoot 35 and 50, my two most used lenses at the same time more easily. That is where I live and it's how I see.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I think if you have no trouble with weight of nocti and lux, sell the lenses. you can always buy back those thus much cheaper compared to them which youre gonna purchase. ;)

 

For example I have difficulties to decide if Id sell 35 Lux preasph and 21 Super Angulon haha.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, I have decided to sell and put the money towards a Noctilux, I hope I don't regret it, I did check on production numbers and thye were made from 1990 to 2003 so not irreplaceable , I just hope I find one as nice if I change my mind !

 

A wise choice.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I like the picture and your thinking, the 50 Noctilux is really a 50 f1, 75f1.4 and 90 f2.8 all in one :D

 

That makes it cheap !

 

It really is! I have even cropped down on heavily on jobs and it's not been a problem. These lenses allow that. I wouldn't dare to try that with my Canons.

 

Here is another snap with my 35mm Summilux FLE at 1.4 and cropped down too.

 

8135310586_49c03e1d72_b.jpg

 

8135282239_830fb1f156_b.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

Please keep to the Forum rules with regards to image sizes. 960 pixels on the longest edge, 300 kb file size (600 kb for Sponsoring members)

This includes images linked through from outside, such as on Flickr.

Thank you.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...