buy Summilux 35mm or keep a bunch of stuff

[Tom B.]

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Luxury problem here: While writing down what my camera and lens inventory is worth for insurance reasons I noticed two things:

 

1. I hoarded too much stuff over the last few years

2. The value of most of this stuff added together is more or less worth the equivalent of a brand new Summilux 35mm

 

While number one was not a real surprise to me and less to my better half, number 2 really got me thinking! And here I am asking you for your opinion. :-) What should I do? Buy the lense or be happy fidling around with lots of old cameras???

 

I mean I would have to sell a Nikon FM2 with a f1.2 50mm, a Leica M4-2 with a Canadian made Summicron 35mm (Version III I believe), a Leica IIF with both a 50mm Summitar 2.0 and 50mm Elmar 2.8 plus some MFT lenses that I even use less than all of my perfectly working film cameras!

 

And another thought that is keeping me awake at night as well is, how much better can the Summilux be than the Cron I already have?

 

Decissions, decissions. What should it be?

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[TomB_tx]

Seems to be a common problem with guys named Tom B.

I also built an extensive old collection since I retired over 5 years ago, and likewise dribbled out funds that could have bought a new Leica lens. Yet I find classic cameras "functional art" that can be appreciated as much (or more) than a fine photograph or painting. I like repairing them, and also have used them more than once as allegorical illustrations in talks and lessons.

I don't think I'd use a new lens more than I do my old ones, so I'll keep my collection (although I won't build it farther, Dear.) But your case may be different.

I think I enjoy using my V2 35 Summicron as much as I would a new Summilux.

[Tom B.]

TomB_tx - looks like we really not only share names! Very well put answer, thank you!

 

I just noticed I forgott to mention that the Nikon S2 with the 5cm 1.4 would have to go as well

 

Maybe another important aspect is that I tend to take pictures when I am outside of whatever I feel is interessting - call it 'reportage' . And I am planing to use the 35mm on a film and a digital Leica body. Even though film sees very little use.

[luigi bertolotti]

Hum.. there is a missing info... which Digital Leica do you have ? For my experience of owner of many Leica film gear (and old lenses too) I tend, nowadays, NOT to use film anymore... I'm sorry for my M4, IIIf etc... but, plainly speaking, digital is too much addicting and quick to use ; I used (sometimes only) film until my digital was a M8... but when switched to Full Frame (M240 in my case) film doesn't exist anymore in my user horizon : in such a situation a new 35, with 1 stop more than the Summicron and a quality surely not worst IS a value that exceeds by sure the residual sentiment value of old film gear that has no use : this is logical reasoning, imho, which doesn't mean that I act in consequence... ... it's some time that I play with the idea to buy a certain Summilux (the 75, in my case) , but anytime I make some consideration about it and how much I could fetch from M4+M3+IIIf+IIIc + Rolleiflex 3,5f... it ends up to nothing...

[dugby]

One of my elderly friends allowed me to borrow his 35mm Summicron-M (III) to play with on my M240

 

After some time and many beautiful shots, I thought I should do the right thing and return the lens asap before I add any wear-n-tear to it.

 

So I went ahead and bought a 35mm Summilux-M FLE, which makes quite different images.

 

He often asks me why I spent money on the Lux, when he said I could use his Cron, I told him the truth that whilst it was a wonderful lens and appreciated his generosity, I didn't want to damage his lens by adding wear to it.

 

Anyway all I can say is that 35 Cron III makes some really pleasing shots,

and if I owned it, I think I could be happy with it, without needing to buy the FLE.