Which lenses for travelling?

[Guest jvansmit]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

In a way. You can also look at it from another point of view.

 

The fact that the question of the OP arises is quite typical for the recent evolution of Leica's actual lens department. In the period from 30's to 80's there was no such question: almost every M lens was compact and any M equipment fitted well in a Hadley Small.

The storm of Summiluxes that came over us in the recent ten years puts the original idea of Barnack over its limits IMO. An average M equipment has become very heavy and bulky these days.

 

 

Totally, agree.

 

I often shoot at night, in dark streets, and Summicrons are perfectly adequate given today's high ISO capability. I'd swap my heavy 21mm Summilux in a heartbeat if Leica produced a 21mm Summicron.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[rramesh]

Bring along a cheaper camera. You will definitely want to be in some pictures.

[Ralfi]

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments so far, they are highly appreciated! Wow, this forum is really full of life!

I´ll make sure my girlfriend takes some pictures of myself so I am on some of them at least. Tending a bit to a 90mm rather than 135mm right now.

[wizard]

I hesitate to mention a lens you do not list, viz. the 28-35-50 TriElmar plus a 90mm Elmarit would give you a well-balanced kit with just two lenses in the bag. Add a 21mm if you anticipate its use for architecture or interiors.

 

Exactly the set I have used over and over again. It does lack a bit of speed though, but experience (in finding spots for stably supporting the camera) compensates for that.

[philcycles]

I'd think pretty hard about using a zoom. I quite like the Contax 28-70 Vario Sonnar.

The 240 doesn't really care what mount lens you use.

Pihl Brown

[Ralfi]

So thanks to all your help and comments I decided for a Summarit 90/2.5 and headed to the Leica Store Munich this afternoon. I had a quick look at the Apo 90/2.0 and then they had one Apo in stock for reduced price as it was in the window for a while. 2650 € instead of 3.300 €. Hm, this made me start thinking, i know the Apo is a bit more bulky and heavy but holding each one in another hand doesn´t seem to make much of a difference. I couldn´t withstand and went for the offer. Now i am a superexcited owner of the 90mm Apo Summicron lense and i will have a walk downtown right now!

 

[otto.f]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I didn't dare to advise you this one, but it's THE best choice!

[algrove]

So thanks to all your help and comments I decided for a Summarit 90/2.5 and headed to the Leica Store Munich this afternoon. I had a quick look at the Apo 90/2.0 and then they had one Apo in stock for reduced price as it was in the window for a while. 2650 € instead of 3.300 €. Hm, this made me start thinking, i know the Apo is a bit more bulky and heavy but holding each one in another hand doesn´t seem to make much of a difference. I couldn´t withstand and went for the offer. Now i am a superexcited owner of the 90mm Apo Summicron lense and i will have a walk downtown right now!

 

 

Congrats. Enjoy it in a most beautiful city. Who at the Leica Store sold you the lens?

[Ralfi]

Hm, one was Michi, don´t remember the others name.

 

Yesterday i took some first shots at night walking through downtown. All shots free hand

 

 

 

 

[stevesurf]

Absolutely gorgeous images; you make me want to go to Germany

 

Now that you have the ultimate traveling kit for the M 240, why not diversify this by adding a small second body that is film like M7 or MP? The new Cinestill film would be amazing for India at night, with it's unique light halos and color palette. Then you'll have a lens on both cameras ready to go, and you can swap out each lens for the new 90.

 

The Cinestill thread is here; best of luck and safe travels!!!

[k_g_wolf ✝]

A perfect decision, a great lens.

 

I traded up from a 90mm- ELMARIT a while ago and find it to deliver the most convincing images

if compared to those from other lenses.

 

Dare to take portraits, you will be delighted! In case a portrait appears to be toooo sharp - that´s what some people

are complaining about - use the sharpening function to reduce ist a bit ... In case you have problems focusing

properly, consider a 1.25-loupe for your v/f.

 

Best

GEORG

[Ralfi]

back from India, full with impressions and memories.

Here are some of my plenty images i have taken. It turned out that I mostly used the 50/1.4 lens, sometimes the 21/3.4 and rarely the 90/2.0.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ralfi74/sets/72157643513525564/

 

[Jeff S]

…. and rarely the 90/2.0.

 

Any second thoughts on the small, light 90 Macro-Elmar for travel given usage (including not much low light work you initially mentioned) based on this first experience?

 

Jeff

[otto.f]

... and rarely the 90/2.0.

 

 

Oh, I could have told you that! But I won't leave it at home when I go to China in June, certainly not! I'd rather carry myself a hernia.

Although I changed my Summilux 50 asph for an Elmar 50 collapsible to save weight

[algrove]

Oh, I could have told you that! But I won't leave it at home when I go to China in June, certainly not! I'd rather carry myself a hernia.

Although I changed my Summilux 50 asph for an Elmar 50 collapsible to save weight

 

So you will take a seldom used 90/2 and leave at home the venerable 50/1.4 which seems to be more widely used by most than a 90 for sure?

[otto.f]

For sure! I even sold my 50/1.4 asph in favor of a S'lux 75 because I find the Elmar 50 that excellent and the 75 gives me more satisfying selective focus and bokeh than the 50/1.4. I take my 15CV, 24/2.8, 35/2.0, 50/2.8 and the 90SAA. I'm still considering buying the 35/1.4 FLE for this trip though.

Also, my very personal experience is that I can shoot easily handheld at 1/15 with the 75lux with no problems at all, whereas this is quite critical with the 50lux

[algrove]

For sure! I even sold my 50/1.4 asph in favor of a S'lux 75 because I find the Elmar 50 that excellent and the 75 gives me more satisfying selective focus and bokeh than the 50/1.4. I take my 15CV, 24/2.8, 35/2.0, 50/2.8 and the 90SAA. I'm still considering buying the 35/1.4 FLE for this trip though.

Also, my very personal experience is that I can shoot easily handheld at 1/15 with the 75lux with no problems at all, whereas this is quite critical with the 50lux

 

Yes, I can even shoot at 1 second with my 75/1.4.

 

However, I use a tripod unless I pump up ISO to obscene levels or use my MM.

[IWC Doppel]

I'd add a 35 and see how much you use or hanker after the 90, you may end up where I did which was selling my 90 and filling in between 21 and 75

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[algrove]

I'd add a 35 and see how much you use or hanker after the 90, you may end up where I did which was selling my 90 and filling in between 21 and 75

 

Good points, but for me it is dependent on what subjects/venues I think or plan on shooting.

[ninicholas]

Absolutely gorgeous images; you make me want to go to Germany

 

 

 

Now that you have the ultimate traveling kit for the M 240, why not diversify this by adding a small second body that is film like M7 or MP? The new Cinestill film would be amazing for India at night, with it's unique light halos and color palette. Then you'll have a lens on both cameras ready to go, and you can swap out each lens for the new 90.

 

 

 

The Cinestill thread is here; best of luck and safe travels!!!

 

 

that's what i'm traveling with right now, M240 with Noctilux 50/0.95 and MP with Summilux 35/1.4. i'm using the former for day time photography (with ND filter, wide open, shutter speed 2000-4000) as well as night time (without ND filter, wide open) and i'm loading the latter with cine still film for day time use only.

 

 

Sent from my iPad Air 128G WiFi/Cell