Secondary lens(es) for euro tourist trip

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I'm leaning toward the Biogon 25 2.8 as lens #2. Half focal length/aperture as my main lens, same filter size, etc.

 

I would check first and find out if the 25mm Biogon performs well on the M240.

 

As we now know the camera is an M240 you can crop the 50mm image to 75mm and still keep good quality, so a longer lens is taken care of, and you could crop a 28mm to 35mm in the same way. So with two lenses, 28mm and 50mm, that are both known to work well on the M240 you get two other virtual lenses. But with software that will cost far less than another lens you can do joiners or panorama's especially using the undistorted view of the 50mm in held 'portrait' format. So based around two lenses you get everything from panorama to short telephoto.

 

Personally I would also take an m4/3 body such as the tiny Panasonic GM5 (again cheaper than adding another Leica lens) with a small pancake lens (the 12-32mm) for the times you need image stabilisation and AF, and a cheap M adapter that will mean your 50mm becomes a 100mm.

 

Steve

[colonel]

It's personal preference but I used to be wedded to 50mm until I discovered 35mm.

Now I have done entire trips just with a 35mm. It's just narrow enough not to distort people (unless they are close or at the edges) but has a slight epic quality due to the mild wide angle and is great for setting people in their context, landscape and buildings, and therefore IMHO takes most of the best qualities from 28mm and 50mm and fuzes them together, when you want to travel light. Ok sales job for 35mm over

 

If you want to concentrate on 50mm then you are obviously intending to keep that lens on the camera most of the time. Therefore by implication you would only take it off only when significantly more wide angle or telephoto is required. What is likely to be more important, one or both ?

 

For wide angle I would try and avoid absolutely needing an external VF or LV and recommend 24, 25 or 28. All of the current Leica and Zeiss line up are excellent but I would particularly recommend as seconday lenses the 28m Elmarit for its size and performance and also the 25mm Zeiss if you want to go wider which approximates roughly to the whole VF window and therefore with both of these you can avoid an external VF

 

For telephoto I recommend any current Leica or the 85mm Zeiss or 75mm Voigtlander. In terms of previous generation the last version 90mm Elmarit (f2.8) is particularly recommended for its performance and compact size

 

Have fun!

[james.liam]

recommend 24, 25 or 28

 

Can you really get away without an external finder with a 24/25 mm?

[colonel]

Can you really get away without an external finder with a 24/25 mm?

 

 

If you don't use glasses it can be done but even less accurate then the frame lines

25mm is better then 24mm but note that many of these lenses are not exactly at the mm quoted, so that needs to be taken account of as well (for example I understand the 50mm lux is in reality more like a 52mm)

 

Rgds

[otto.f]

Can you really get away without an external finder with a 24/25 mm?

 

Oh yes, I can; with my Elmarit 24. But that's with digital. With film it's more risky. But I wouldn't choose a 24 or 25 as my second lens next to 50, but that's me, in this stage

[james.liam]

Oh yes, I can; with my Elmarit 24. But that's with digital. With film it's more risky. But I wouldn't choose a 24 or 25 as my second lens next to 50, but that's me, in this stage

 

Why with digital and not film?

[otto.f]

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Why with digital and not film?

 

Because you can check whether you aligned correctly on the screen afterwards and shoot again if necessary. Alignment is quite critical the wider you go.

[bobbywise]

Hey Joshua,

 

If you end up in Nantes, give me a shout !

 

With Well Wishes,

 

Rob

[Joshua Lowe]

Thanks, Rob!

 

I found a used Biogon ZM 25 2.8 w/ hood for sale in my area. I liked how it handled so I ended up buying it. I'm very impressed with the build and image quality, particularly the lack of distortion. It feels like a natural companion to my 50 lux. I kept going over the choices until it came down to the Zeiss and the Elmarit 28. Somewhere along the line I also realized that I'm just not that crazy about wide angle photos, in general... so I went with the cheaper option. I think I'd rather spend more on a 75 or 90 cron, rather than on a wide I'll infrequently use.

 

As far as frame lines go, the 28mm lines are working well so far. I can eyeball it using the RF and get pretty close after just half an hour or so of testing... and if I want to be totally sure I can use LV or EVF.

[Joshua Lowe]

Thought I would update this with some thoughts now that I've been traveling.

 

I ended up taking three lenses:

 

Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH

 

CV Nokton 35/1.2 II

 

CV Ultron 28/1.9 LTM

 

I also own a Zeiss Biogon 25/2.8 but I left it at home as I prefer the Ultron.

 

So far the Ultron has been my go-to lens.  I've been up and down the Riviera - Nice, Monte-Carlo, Menton, Ventimiglia, Antibes, Juan les Pins, Roquebrune Cap-Martin.  I've used the 50 a few times, but it's usually too confining for the narrow streets and crowded markets.  Even in more open areas, like around Port Hercule, I want to go wider in order to get more context.  

 

I think if I had it to do over I would do something like an 18, 28, 50 combo.  Or if I had to use just one focal length, it would be a 24 or 28.

 

The Ultron also has a very unique look in B&W.  Great contrast, not harsh at all.  When shooting at ISO 800-3200 it has a great "filmic" quality.

[MarkP]

I can only speak for myself, but if I was taking a lens to complement my 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH it would, without doubt, be my 2.0/50 Summicron ASPH. In fact, that's exactly two lens kit I take for travel. 

 

I also have the 2.8/25 ZM Biogon - glorious on the M240 but renders differently to the Leicas.

Better used with an external VF, but is OK using the full field of view of the optical viewfinder.

[MarkP]

It's personal preference but I used to be wedded to 50mm until I discovered 35mm.

 

It's personal preference but I used to be wedded to 35mm until I rediscovered 50mm  .

But I agree that if only taking one lens for general purpose photography a 35 is ideal.

[bocaburger]

I can only speak for myself, but if I was taking a lens to complement my 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH it would, without doubt, be my 2.0/50 Summicron ASPH. In fact, that's exactly two lens kit I take for travel. 

To each his own I guess.  For me having different focal lengths is important.  Carrying 2 of the same just to get some perceived differences in optical character is wholly unimportant.

[bocaburger]

 

CV Ultron 28/1.9 LTM

 

 

 

So far the Ultron has been my go-to lens.

 

The Ultron is an amazing lens.  I got mine for under $200, someone had painted over the writing on the front, and there's some brassing, but otherwise it's perfect.  I honestly prefer it to my IV Elmarit. 

[rodluvan]

to my 2w Morocco (narrow alleys to mountain tops!) visit I brought 3 ZMs: 2.8/28, 2.8/35 and 2/50. never felt any need for anything else (I was using an M4-P). you can probably get them all for the price of one new Leica 2.8/28 cron

 

wider than that really doesn't include anything more of importance imo, but lends itself only to general touristy stuff like taking pictures of the Eiffel tower or the Colosseum (suggestion; it's been done, buy a post card instead)

 

 

on a side note, I really can't understand how Bresson got by using mainly a 50mm in street photography. it's much too narrow to me, and I use it mainly for portraits

 

[Rick in CO]

I apologize, I should have specified what camera I was using in the original post - M240.

 

 

I'm leaning toward the Biogon 25 2.8 as lens #2. Half focal length/aperture as my main lens, same filter size, etc.

 

If I were to take a third lens it would be a 75 or 90. But I really want to K.I.S.S.

I use a 50 as my primary lens too.  My second oft-used lens is the 25 ZM Biogon.  I always recommend to read Erwin Put's ZM reviews before buying, he is spot on IMHO.

The wider 25 (than 28mm) is nicer for those European interiors and panorama shots, you simply use the entire viewfinder to approximate the field of capture.

Keep the camera level and distortion is not a problem that can't be easily corrected post-exposure.

Be aware that there exist two versions, one brings up the 28/90 frame combo, the other the 35/135.  I have the latter and it allows easier viewing of the edges of the finder window.

My Europe travel kit includes a 85mm ZM, rather bulky, but you can carry the camera around your neck (I use a strap that carries it secretly under my left arm) and

have the two extra lenses in separate jacket pockets.  Not ideal for mid-summer, I prefer to travel in early Spring or late Fall - cooler weather & less crowds!

Have fun!