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What's the heaviest lens you'd put on your M?


Winedemonium

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The heaviest lens I have used so far is the f/1.0 Noctilux.  It is not exactly a walkabout set up, but it is worth the minimal effort required to carry this lens mounted on the M-P body.  If I someday get some long R glass, I will shoot mounted on a tripod most of the time, I would expect.

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A tripod is fine when you  really need it but for any photography with a bit of dynamism in it it is a killjoy. R lenses are basically balanced to accommodate hand-held photography, even the longer focal lengths.

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Umm.. I thought the purpose of the M series was to take photographs. The M240 adds the versatility to take more types of photographs. Why not use it?

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The heaviest lens in Absolute terms that I have mounted in M240 is the Telyt-S 800... But of course is the lens (6 kg) that supporta the camera and not vice-versa.

The heaviest that I have mounted directly supported by the body's flange is the Tele Elmarit 180 2,8.. 1,1 kg about plus the LEM VIS adapter in the middle

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I used a Noctilux 0.95 for a year, and never ever again... 

With a 35 FLE or 50 Lux ASPH I find the combination with either a MP (analog) or M240 to be too heavy still.

I would prefer about 500-600g including the lens as a total weight.

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The heaviest lens I have used so far is the f/1.0 Noctilux.  It is not exactly a walkabout set up, ...

I regularly walk about with set up in the winter months so I must respectfully disagree.

 

My early years of photography were spent hauling the massive Pentax 67 with lenses and purposely heavy tripod up mountains to shoot pristine vistas so I suppose it depends on what you're used to.  I don't consider my M to be a particularly heavy rig even with my 280/4 APO-Telyt-R although I rarely use the 280 for street shooting.

 

Pete.

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Two of my favourite Leica lenses are not light weights, or traditional M-series small.

 

v1 90mm Summicron

24mm Summilux

 

 

but, they have something in the image quality - and have speed - that I can’t get with something smaller and lighter, and there is something to be said for the weight factor, they settle the package down in the hand very nicely for lower shutter speeds. With a larger lens like these, the lens become the main ‘hold’ also, don’t worry about the lens mount, but do wonder sometimes about the strap lugs!

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400 grams or less, anything more and I might as well use another system / format since I find the hand holdable speeds suffer greatly due to sub-par ergonomics.

Actually, the heavier the combo, the more stable for slow shutterspeeds it is up to the point that it is so heavy that you start shaking, which I hope is beyond 1 Kg in your case.

As pointed out above, the way one holds the camera/lens is decisive.

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My largest and heaviest lens I use on both my Leica M cameras is my Voigtlander Nokton 50mm 1.1

Although I find it balances very well on both my M6 and M9

However my wallet is much bulkier than it would have been, had purchased the Noctilux :)

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Actually, the heavier the combo, the more stable for slow shutterspeeds it is up to the point that it is so heavy that you start shaking, which I hope is beyond 1 Kg in your case.

As pointed out above, the way one holds the camera/lens is decisive.

 

Somewhat true if the ergonomics are up to the task which in my experience, the M is not if a lens heavier than 400 grams is used. 

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Umm.. I thought the purpose of the M series was to take photographs. 

The purpose of the Leica M series has historically been to capture high quality images with a small and light camera (one whose lens does not block the viewfinder).

 

This is the reason I wrote, "Black paint 35mm Summicron Aspheric. Anything heavier defeats the whole purpose of the M series."  This heavy 340gm lens has most of its weight towards the back, and it does not block the viewfinder. It balances well on my M and is as big as I would want a 28-50mm M lens to be. It's a personal choice for sure...

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Did you try a hand grip or a thumb grip? I feel comfortable with a Thumbs Up [http://www.matchtechnical.com/Pages/ThumbsUpEP10S.aspx] and lenses up to 800 g personally.

 

I put some Griptac in the thumb grip area, I don't like the add ons because it makes an already portly M240 bigger. The grip would make it about the size & weight of the D750 which is a great camera. 

 

I'll stick with the 400 gram rule.

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