Finally made up my mind - bought an M9

[hepcat]

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Orla, my congrats as well. You won't regret your purchase.

 

My advice will diverge somewhat from what's been offered above. You'll find that, if you've never used a bright-line rangefinder camera with primes before, the process of thinking about, and then making images is different from that of the SLR/zoom world. Those differences take some thought and planning to get used to. Standing in one spot and zooming doesn't work; you have to move for perspective and angles. You have to decide whether to make the image with the lens you have on, or risk losing it by taking time to switch lenses. Some folks never make that leap in approach, but others wonder how they've missed this wonderful way of image making all their lives. For me, the RF body/prime lens setup is very intuitive.

 

So... some advice was given above that is really good. Look at your images that you like the most and figure out what lens they were taken with. Likely there will be something that stands out for you. Make sure that focal length is in your lineup.

 

Next, you have to decide how often you change field-of-view at the camera. If you shoot mostly with a 35mm, and you seldom change from that then you may never need to expand your stable of lenses. If, however, your shooting is like mine, I'm all over the map and have a need for frequent lens changes. That, of course, leads to a larger stable of lenses.

 

If you've got the cash to spend on Leica lenses, go for it. What's been said is correct; you won't find better glass and you'll likely never lose money on them. You'll need a large stack of cash, however. On the other hand, you can buy several CV lenses for the price of one new Leica lens, and make amazing images. There really aren't any modern lenses built in an M mount that are bad. Some are marginally higher quality machining in their lens mounts, and each may render a little differently, but they're all amazingly high quality, so you can't go wrong. LTM lenses with an M adapter can also give you some very different image treatments than modern lenses will.

 

I chose a hybrid CV/Leitz lens stable as cost is/was an overriding factor for me. I have five CV lenses and two Leitz lenses covering 28mm-135mm (with two 50mm lenses right now, the CV 50mm f/1.5 LTM and the CV 50mm f/1.1 M.) I bought them all "used;" most of them look like they'd only been mounted on a camera once or twice. My two Leitz lenses are late '60s versions. One thing I really like about the CV lenses is that the look and feel of them is very similar to the '60s Leitz style with click stops and the scalloped focus rings, so all of my lenses have the same tactile response. That is important to me; perhaps not such a big deal for others.

 

Anyway, that's my take on it and it seems that this may be an issue where I march to my own drummer on this forum. So be it... I'm really happy with my lens lineup. They're all better performers than I am, and best of all for me, I was able to buy the entire seven lens lineup for about the cost of a new 50mm Summilux.

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[orla]

In my process of what lens should do the best job in my first staggering steps with the Leica M9, I now lean in the direction Zeiss Sonnar 50/1,5. I’ll explain the logic behind.

50 mm is actually not my first choice and I know that I wont be using it as my standard lens, but there are absolutely occasions when this focal length is to prefer. So building my Leica-bag bottom up I think I’ll buy this lens, as a training tool and to keep in my bag for good - as fast as it is. It is of course also a question about money, and I find this lens gives a lot for the bucks. Pls correct me if I’m wrong. In the plan next will be - and as I think my everyday lens - a Summicron 35/2. From that I will go for a 90 mm and a 22 I think. In both cases Leica glass.

And - the black beauty has arrived, but a bit frustrating - the first thing when trying to set the date the camera freezes. Had to remove the battery to get it back again. Is this possibly a firmware issue? The camera is currently running on version 1.138.

[dpitt]

Orla,

 

Did you consider a Summicron 50mm? It is only about half a stop compared with the Sonnar and probably the same price or cheaper.

Most Leica owners end up buying at least one Leica 50 mm, so you might as well start with that

 

Any Summicron will do except the Dual Range with the nearby goggles:

- Mk1 collapsible is the cheapest and smallest. And it is collapsible as well. Will add to the Leica experience of putting a FF in your pocket

- Mk2 is considered to be the sharpest ever (except of course the new ASPH)

- DR CAN NOT BE USED ON the M9

- Mk3 has more contrast than Mk2, better coating maybe...

- Mk4 is a superb performer and smaller/lighter than Mk3

[rramesh]

In my process of what lens should do the best job in my first staggering steps with the Leica M9, I now lean in the direction Zeiss Sonnar 50/1,5.

Do note that the Sonnar is a reissue of an old design meant for film cameras. While it does possess some unique image rendering it does suffer from focus shift and somewhat harsh bokeh. As a first lens it may or may not be underwhelming. Do try it out first. An older Summicron may be better, I think. Do also try the Zeiss Planar.

[jaapv]

Actually you can get much the same results using a Jupiter at a fraction of the price of the Sonnar.

[Guest Duane Pandorf]

Orla, I'm also new to the Leica M and in the last month purchased the M-E. I decided to buy a fast 50mm lens for my primary shooter and found a mint Leica Summilux pre-ASPH. It came with the original box and both caps.

 

This stays on my camera most all of the time. The fast 50 is pretty versatile.

 

I also found a Leica Elmarit 90mm e46 in almost mint condition for portraiture work.

 

The last lens I need for my travel kit would be the Leica 28mm Elmarit.

 

I feel this makes the perfect traveling kit.

[orla]

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Orla, I'm also new to the Leica M and in the last month purchased the M-E. I decided to buy a fast 50mm lens for my primary shooter and found a mint Leica Summilux pre-ASPH. It came with the original box and both caps.

 

This stays on my camera most all of the time. The fast 50 is pretty versatile.

 

I also found a Leica Elmarit 90mm e46 in almost mint condition for portraiture work.

 

The last lens I need for my travel kit would be the Leica 28mm Elmarit.

 

I feel this makes the perfect traveling kit.

 

Thank you for your input Duane! As I said before it's easy to be confused at higher and higher levels once started digging for knowledge… I think your choice of lenses make sense. I was thinking about a 28, a 35 and a 90 mm, and to top off with a Sonnar 50/1.5. But that lens doesn’t seem to get much applause, so I may also lean In the Summilux 50 directions. The combo 28 - 50 - 90 is also very logic.

[tobey bilek]

My opinion is used Leica lens so you can sell at less of a loss should you change your mind.

 

Then you need to decide if you want fast lenses or if you photograph in bright light or use flash in which case, don`t waste money on 1.4 lenses.

 

Then decide how many lenses you goal is, 2 3, 5.

 

Three makes most people happy. I am a tradition guy, 35,50 90. I also own12,15, 21,28, 65, 75,135 200, 280,400, 560. A 50 gets the most work, say 50% 35 & 90 together maybe 40%.

 

A 50 is an under appreciated lens.

 

Some like a 28,50,90 set, others 21,35, 75. Play with the frame lines after the camera comes to check your style and interest. At the cost of lenses today, I would wait a year between purchases to see what I liked

 

Lens Rentals . Com if you wish to try and do not have a local store.

[Orient XI]

Thank you all, for your very kind engagement in my “process” of finding the right glass for my new M9! I really feel a warm welcome to this fantastic forum! Some of you asked what kind of a photographer I am, the answer is I’m “half professional” and as such shooting almost everything. But my own interest is in nature, industry/architecture, street photo and people.

 

To my process: as some of you mentioned - an open question, returns a broad range of answers. And you could say I’m still confused but on a higher level” :-) and a beginning feel that my plan for three lenses already is on the way to be overdrawn, occurs… It’s such a delicious “smorgasbord” (as we say in Sweden) of Leica-lenses. But to funnel down I’ve taken some vise advices to my heart and I will come back and tell you about my choices. And, for sure, a lot of stupid questions when I once get my hands on the camera… BR/ Örjan

 

Welcome Orla! If I can be a terrible warning rather than a shining example may I say with a range of interests similar to yours I have 26 Leica lenses ranging from 18mm (architecture) to 560mm (wild birds). Agreed I've bought these over a period of 53 years (a lens every other year isn't so bad is it?) but I have multiple lenses for the mid-range focal lengths for which there is no real excuse. Beware! it is all too easy to make the transition from photographer to collector, examples abound on this forum! Seriously though who can resist these superlative examples of optical and mechanical engineering?

Having experienced an age when 50 ISO was a fast film and large apertures were needed to obtain an image in only slightly adverse conditions, I feel that large aperture lenses are something of a luxury with the recent improvements in the high ISO performance of modern sensors. A much cheaper entry to the Leica system can be made by buying modest aperture, second-hand lenses from a reputable dealer. Many lenses dating from the '60s have the facility to operate on the Visoflex III housing (which would assist your close and long range nature photography) and it is worth considering these rather than their modern equivalents which do not. To see what old lenses can do, look at the threads entitled "x and old glass" on this forum.

Enjoy your search for a set of lenses and the use of your M9!

[Schnurretiger]

Congratulations for taking the plunge! Enjoy the camera!

[orla]

Thanks all for your kind advices! I can report that I’ve once again made up my mind… :-) …! - Today I unboxed a new Sumicron 50/2. I can promise I’ve been all over the place before I placed that order, but realized that I’m spoiled with high ISO-performance cameras - hence a quite fast lens was one deal breaker, and then 35 or 50, new or used, cheap or expensive? etc. It all landed with the Sumicron as my first choice. Next one will probably be a 90 mm lens. But first things first - now it’s time for shooting and get acquainted with range finder photo!