mdg1371 Posted September 7, 2014 Share #1 Posted September 7, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Getting back into Leica with the purchase of a new M240 and a like new M4 ( in box essentially unused!) I'm also feeling the desire to simplify. My current lens lineup is as follows: CV 12mm f5.6 W.A.T.E CV 21mm f1.8 CV 35mm f1.2 35mm Summicron v.3 CV 40mm f1.4 50mm Noctilux f1 v.4 50mm Summilux ASPH 75mm Summilux 90mm Elmarit M 135mm tele elmar I shoot primarily portrait and ultra wide urban landscapes, and generally prefer thin DOF I think I have a pretty good balance of character lenses and sharp lenses. I'd like to simplify, and improve my lineup-- and have no qualms divesting myself of some gear. The only lenses I absolutely will not part with are the W.A.T.E., the Noctilux, the 50mm Summilux, and the 75mm Summilux. One thought is to eliminate both 35's and the 40mm--and pick up a 35mm Summilux FLE-- but 35mm is probably my least used focal length. Any thoughts are appreciated! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 7, 2014 Posted September 7, 2014 Hi mdg1371, Take a look here Help me simplify by...addition.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Numbers Posted September 7, 2014 Share #2 Posted September 7, 2014 Congratulations on your new cameras! You have have a wonderful lineup of lenses. The summilux FLE 35 was my first leica lens and is still my favorite, but if it is your least used focal length, that is an expensive addititon when you are well covered in this area and dont use it much. So the question is, I guess, if it is worth it to you? I think you will find the 35 FLE very different to the ones you already have. Perhaps you need to test it first, to see how it matches with your other lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted September 7, 2014 Share #3 Posted September 7, 2014 No 28s, do you not like 28mm then? Getting rid of 35 leaves a very big gap between 21 and 50. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 7, 2014 Share #4 Posted September 7, 2014 Well, if you have decided which lenses you like and use, you could sell the rest and keep those four. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malvolio Posted September 7, 2014 Share #5 Posted September 7, 2014 28 Cron. Essential with those 50's Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted September 7, 2014 Share #6 Posted September 7, 2014 Regarding 28mm, it can be either an awkward focal length or the perfect one, and really does depend on your style of photography and how ell you understand your own photographic impulse. I'm falling out of love with 28mm as a focal length, finding that where I used to use it with my 50 to the exclusion of almost everything else, I'm drifting wider so that I now rely more on a 35 and 21, with a 50 or 75 as my long lens. I also think a photographer can have too many lenses and become prey to a sort of technical-flavoured indecision, or pedantry perhaps, which results in a restriction of vision and creative imagination. Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone by any means, but it is a risk. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJWhite Posted September 7, 2014 Share #7 Posted September 7, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I also think a photographer can have too many lenses and become prey to a sort of technical-flavoured indecision Indeed. You might spend a week or two shooting with the 35mm lens only. That might help you decide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 7, 2014 Share #8 Posted September 7, 2014 All great! Don't sell any imo. But only put three of them in your bag at a time. The LEICA Billingham is the key: perfect size. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdg1371 Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted September 7, 2014 Thanks for the suggestions. Re: 28mm-- I've never taken to that focal length, generally what I want wide, I want WIDE, and 28 just feels to me like a stretched 35. Re: Too many lenses, I've thought of this lineup as several small line ups-- or at least that was my intention when assembling it-- low light: 21 f1.8, 35 f1.2, noctilux and 75 summilux Urban landscape: WATE, 12mm, 50 summilux, 90mm, and 135mm Portrait: 35 f1.2, noctilux, 75 summilux, Travel: WATE, 35 cron, 50 summilux, 90 or 135mm That's how I usually carry them, 3/4 at a time, or often go out just with the 50 summilux, or the 50 summilux and the WATE. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted September 7, 2014 Share #10 Posted September 7, 2014 All great! Don't sell any imo. But only put three of them in your bag at a time. The LEICA Billingham is the key: perfect size. I agree ...... buy loads more .... you can never have too many lenses. Just ration yourself to a few at a time when you go out. If you rotate round you will find that all have their uses. Imelda Marcos had the right idea ...... it's just we're talking camera gear, not footwear .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted September 7, 2014 Share #11 Posted September 7, 2014 I would replace the Elmarit 90 with a lens with better colors such as the Summicron 75. It is great at all distances (unlike the 90 APO) and very compact. If you love the Summilux 50, then this lens has a very similar character (derived design). The 35 FLE is a fantastic lens, but it has a different, more clinical character than the CV/1.2. Try it before you sell the latter (you may want to keep both). Note that Zeiss is releasing a 35/1.4 at Photokina. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billo101 Posted September 7, 2014 Share #12 Posted September 7, 2014 WATE Nocti and Madler's son. b Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted September 7, 2014 Share #13 Posted September 7, 2014 All great! Don't sell any imo. But only put three of them in your bag at a time. The LEICA Billingham is the key: perfect size. I can agree 100% with that. how many you lenses you own is not so much the issue to think about; the goal is to not carry all of the with you all of the time. My core lenses are my 28/2 and my 50/1.4; these two along with my M240 are light and easily carry-able on day long walkabouts. They cover 90% or more of my lens needs. Other lenses are added to the bag on an as needed basis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted September 7, 2014 Share #14 Posted September 7, 2014 I would want a 24 Elmarit f2.8 and a 28 Summicron for their focal length and the way they render. I'd lose the 40 and 35 VC's and the 135 and possibly 90 The 24 is expansive in a walk in kindof way and is the perfect length to get a lot in without pushing things too far into the distance and it has 3D in spades. Everyone needs a 28 Summicron....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted September 7, 2014 Share #15 Posted September 7, 2014 PS why not swap the WATE for an 18 SEM, this will help fund the 28 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted September 7, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 7, 2014 CV 12mm f5.6 W.A.T.E CV 21mm f1.8 CV 35mm f1.2 35mm Summicron v.3 CV 40mm f1.4 50mm Noctilux f1 v.4 50mm Summilux ASPH 75mm Summilux 90mm Elmarit M 135mm tele elmar I shoot primarily portrait and ultra wide urban landscapes, and generally prefer thin DOF I think I have a pretty good balance of character lenses and sharp lenses. I'd like to simplify, and improve my lineup-- and have no qualms divesting myself of some gear. The only lenses I absolutely will not part with are the W.A.T.E., the Noctilux, the 50mm Summilux, and the 75mm Summilux. One thought is to eliminate both 35's and the 40mm--and pick up a 35mm Summilux FLE-- but 35mm is probably my least used focal length. Any thoughts are appreciated! WATE 35 FLE 75 Summilux I really ought to reduce my collection to 21SEM, 35FLE, and 50 Lux Asph. I'm too weak. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted September 8, 2014 Share #17 Posted September 8, 2014 All great! Don't sell any imo. But only put three of them in your bag at a time. The LEICA Billingham is the key: perfect size. I just knew the solution would involve buying something. s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdg1371 Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted October 8, 2014 Thanks for all the input- after some consideration ( and purchasing), this is where I've settled: CV 12mm WATE 28mm Summicron 35mm Summilux FLE 50mm Summilux ASPH 50mm Noctilux f1 v4 75mm Summilux 90mm Elmarit M 135mm Elmarit M So, at least a slight simplification, reducing the total number of lenses by 2. Sold the 21mm f1.8, the 35mm f1.2, 40mm f1.4, and 35mm Summicron v3 going up for sale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stein K S Posted October 17, 2014 Share #19 Posted October 17, 2014 All great! Don't sell any imo. But only put three of them in your bag at a time. The LEICA Billingham is the key: perfect size. Hi Just received the Dothebag Mono 07... Just fabulous... and built for a three lens kit! Regards, Stein Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stein K S Posted October 17, 2014 Share #20 Posted October 17, 2014 All great! Don't sell any imo. But only put three of them in your bag at a time. The LEICA Billingham is the key: perfect size. Hi I just received the Dothebag Mono 07 and I am extremely happy about it. It is made for a three lens kit... And quality, feel and look I think is really fabulous! Regards, Stein Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.