Sell the 35 summilux fle for 28 summicron?

[Mr.Q]

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The nuances must be lost in the grain

 

But I agree with Philip, you already have a fast 35, no need to have two. Get the 28 and see how you like it.

You're right. I was hoping that the FLE would replace the 35/1.2 but I rather deal with the size and weight of the Voigtlander at this point. There have been enough posts in this thread to confirm my issues with tge FLE's inconsistency. Fortunately I have a buyer on standby.

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[Daedalus2000]

Have you read this? It may help you understand the lens and why you are not enjoying it 

 

tashley1.zenfolio.com/blog/2013/4/leica-m-240-with-35mm-f1-4-fle---some-observations

 

 

[Mr.Q]

From what I've seen of the 35 FLE, when it's "on", it's incredible, but it isnt consistent. To echo others, if you dont like it, sell it, even if you dont buy something else.

 

The 28 cron, especially the V1, is an extremely consistent and predictable lens. From what I've seen of the V2, while clearly sharper across the frame, it acts less predictably in terms of field curvature....which is maybe what you're experiencing on the 35 FLE. The good news is that the V1 is still a great "sharp enough" lens (IMO) and some like myself actually prefer it over the V2 for it's faults, specifically with regard to the slightly lower contrast and maybe more muted color. The other good news is that when you sell your 35 FLE, should you decided to get a V1 28 cron, you'll also likely pocket more than $1K US.

Yes, I've decided to sell it.

 

It's relieving to hear that the 28 cron v1 is consistent. I'm not a beginner but not an expert either so I'd prefer not to use gear that is too demanding. The rangefinder presents enough of a challenge already.

 

Your right. I'll pocket more than $1K with the swap but some of it will have be spent on an alternate hood!

[Mr.Q]

Have you read this? It may help you understand the lens and why you are not enjoying it

 

tashley1.zenfolio.com/blog/2013/4/leica-m-240-with-35mm-f1-4-fle---some-observations

Wow thanks. This quote pretty much nails my experience...

 

"For that reason, I think that it is a great lens, on the M240, for beginners and experts. Beginners will be unlikely to notice the problems and will merely get a lot of lovely Leica Look for their money. Experts will quickly recognise and learn how to work around and then positively use its complexities. But intermediate photographers, those with enough experience to know when something is 'off' but not enough to work out exactly what or why, will be better served by the lens on the RX-1, with its un-fussy ability to place focus exactly where you expect it to, time and again."

 

Wish I had come across this article before I bought the lens... but at least I know I'm an intermediate photographer now! lol

[NB23]

From what I've seen of the 35 FLE, when it's "on", it's incredible, but it isnt consistent. To echo others, if you dont like it, sell it, even if you dont buy something else.

 

The 28 cron, especially the V1, is an extremely consistent and predictable lens. From what I've seen of the V2, while clearly sharper across the frame, it acts less predictably in terms of field curvature....which is maybe what you're experiencing on the 35 FLE. The good news is that the V1 is still a great "sharp enough" lens (IMO) and some like myself actually prefer it over the V2 for it's faults, specifically with regard to the slightly lower contrast and maybe more muted color. The other good news is that when you sell your 35 FLE, should you decided to get a V1 28 cron, you'll also likely pocket more than $1K US.

Faults?

Muted colors?

Sharp "enough"?

 

How can 28 summicron be a lens that's perfectly matched to the 50 summilux asph if it's so imperfect?

 

In this thread alone the 28 summicron went from perfect to a lens with faults.

 

That is the bs Inwas refering to.

[pechelman]

Faults?

Muted colors?

Sharp "enough"?

 

How can 28 summicron be a lens that's perfectly matched to the 50 summilux asph if it's so imperfect?

 

In this thread alone the 28 summicron went from perfect to a lens with faults.

 

That is the bs Inwas refering to.

 

There's really no reason to be rude.

 

If you go back and read what I wrote, I made no comparison to the 50 lux. Not one.

Further, if you go search and read the very very long and recent thread between the old and new (V1 and V2 as I called it) 28mm summicrons, my mention of "faults" is in relationship to those versions and those versions alone.

 

The V1 summicron is WELL documented to have soft edges\corners in comparison to the V2, especially at f2. Some would call this a "fault" of the V1.

The V1 is also well documented to have lower contrast and saturation compared to the V2. Not a lot, but less. Again, some people call this a fault.

 

The only BS in this thread is what you seem to be trying to generate.

[pechelman]

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Yes, I've decided to sell it.

 

It's relieving to hear that the 28 cron v1 is consistent. I'm not a beginner but not an expert either so I'd prefer not to use gear that is too demanding. The rangefinder presents enough of a challenge already.

 

Your right. I'll pocket more than $1K with the swap but some of it will have be spent on an alternate hood!

 

The stock hood is big, but sort of overplayed as an annoyance. I sort of like it and it makes changing filters easy.

Furthermore, one weakpoint of the V1 construction is the attachment of the front lens elements via 3 tiny screws. 

So you really dont want to attach anything too rigid to the front element like a screw in ventilated hood. In my opinion, as a mechanical engineer.

 

I think a reasonable alternative to the stock hood or the stupid expensive and rare 12466 metal petal hood is the 12589 hood for the older 35 lux.

Even still, this one latches on pretty tight after you twist the lockring, but at least the hood plastic itself is somewhat more pliable than the stock 12451 hood, so it should lessen the impact transmitted to those 3 tiny screws. Be very sure you are supporting the hood while twisting the lockring if you go this route, so you dont transmit that torque into those 3 screws.

It's also relatively impossible to change a filter while this hood is in place.

[lct]

Tim Ahsley was the discoverer of what we called here the "Boricron". I would not read his review of the 28/2 if i intended to buy the lens...

[microview]

FWIW I recently replaced a 35 Summilux FLE with the latest 28 Summicron and I find it a perfect complement to my 50 f2 APO. I like the size vs the 35mm and the new Summicron hood is far preferable to the old type. That said, I still hanker after some sort of 35mm lens but constantly argue with myself that its FOV is really unnecessary. I also have the Q and don't feel guilty about having two 28s! So a vote for the new 28 Summicron.

[MarkP]

Well I love my 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH v1.  One of my all-time favourite lenses.  It and my 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH (and more recently APO-50) are my usual 2 lens combination that, between them, cover almost everything I need. I find the rendering, look, drawing, or whatever one may call it of the 28 Summicron and 50 Summilux to be reasonably complementary.   

 

I use one of two alternate Leica hoods (see elsewhere in the forum re old 35 Summilux rectangular and the lovely outrageously priced metal scalloped hood) because the original hood, although effective, is an abomination.

 

I also have the 1.4/35 Summilux ASPH (FLE). To me it is an excellent modern lens.  There is some well described inconsistency across the field of focus but it has rarely been a problem, and the out of focus rendering is ho-hum, especially compared with the pre ASPH 35.. To me, 35mm is a jack-of-all-trades master-of-none focal length that is ideal where I want to take one fast general-purpose FL (but I may occasionally combine it with a 21 and/or 90). It is not an inspiring FL for me which probably also explains why I too get hit or miss results - not technically but artistically/inspirationally.  I do sometime wish that I had a 35 Summicron instead as a better trade off between weight/size and speed, but I don't use 35m enough to justify a second lens in that FL and the 35 Summilux is such a superb lens I still want to keep it.

 

If you already have a 35 you like, and you want a 28, then get the 28 Summicron. v1 can be bought in excellent condition for a reasonable price now the v2 is available. A number of dealers have advised me that the trade up form v1 to v2 really isn;t worth it and that's my thinking ...so far....  

 

Finally, there is an old saying around here "never, ever, sell a Leica lens as you will live to regret it".  Accepting to wrote you can't afford to keep both can you hang onto the 35 and 28 together at least for a while? This may give you time  to confirm that the changeover really is what you want and you won't miss the 35 once it's gone. It is an expensive lens to rebuy!

 

re the 28 Summicron v1. from post 14...

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/210636-tim-ashley-on-m240-and-28-cron/

 

Kind regards,

Mark

 

 

ps. I just saw the comment above re the Tim Ashley review of the 35 Summilux.  It was his review of the 28 Summicron that led me to post in reply in the link above and sarcastically name one of my favourite lenses the Boricron in post #28 :-)

 

Good memory ICT. I agree with you :-)

[lct]

Hi Mark, i would not swear that 28/2 v1 or v2 have less field curvature than 35/1.4 FLE but this is another story.

[Mr.Q]

Thought I'd report back that I still have my 35 FLE. As,much as I love my CV 35/1.2, it's size doesn't really make it manageable in many situations. So the 35 FLE stays. And of course there are the impractical reasons, mainly based on the old saying...

 

Finally, there is an old saying around here "never, ever, sell a Leica lens as you will live to regret it". Accepting to wrote you can't afford to keep both can you hang onto the 35 and 28 together at least for a while? This may give you time to confirm that the changeover really is what you want and you won't miss the 35 once it's gone. It is an expensive lens to rebuy!

 

I'm saving my pennies for the 28 CRON v1. In the meantime the Leica Q will be my 28mm.

 

Thanks for all your thoughts.

[mahakalaka]

Hello,

 

Not sure if I'm late to the party and your mind is already made up, but for what it's worth... I personally find the 28mm focal length a little tricky on standard viewfinder M cameras. Not in regards to seeing the framelines, but with regards to composition. With a 28 and standard viewfinder, I always had to force myself to get closer and really look at the framelines, otherwise my photos were always too far away. I've had several models of the GR cameras, a Q, I currently have an X70 and never had any trouble with these cameras, they are all intuitive and what you see is what you get, but when taking a quick shot with the M and a 28, I think my mind could never adjust to what I was seeing through the viewfinder looked closer than what the 28mm lens was seeing, and this is after having used a 28 as my only lens for a few years on an M6 and Monochrom v1. I've mentioned this a few time on here and never had anyone agree with me, so it may very well be just how my brain and eyes are wired.

 

Now I have an MP with a .58 viewfinder and I find the 28mm lens easer, but curiously enough, about the time I got this camera, I also started getting tired of the 28mm focal length and now only use a 35mm lens (no theory or reasoning why I only like to use one lens at a time, but I just do). After a few years of only shooting 28, I simply got tired of the wide angle look you get if you don't hold the lens dead straight and centered, but that of course has nothing to do with the lens itself, just my personal taste. I still have my 28mm Summicron at home if I get the desire to shoot 28 again. Now I'm using the latest 35mm Summicron and like it a lot. Smallish, nice image quality, no surprises, just a good all around lens. If you were twisting my arm forcing me say which lens I like the look of more between the latest 35mm Summicron and the v1 28mm Summicron, I might give an edge to the 28. I know at least one poster here will call BS on me for saying this, but I always loved the rendering of that lens! 

 

Cheers,

Max

 

 

[Mark T]

Hello,

 

Not sure if I'm late to the party and your mind is already made up, but for what it's worth... I personally find the 28mm focal length a little tricky on standard viewfinder M cameras. Not in regards to seeing the framelines, but with regards to composition. With a 28 and standard viewfinder, I always had to force myself to get closer and really look at the framelines, otherwise my photos were always too far away. I've had several models of the GR cameras, a Q, I currently have an X70 and never had any trouble with these cameras, they are all intuitive and what you see is what you get, but when taking a quick shot with the M and a 28, I think my mind could never adjust to what I was seeing through the viewfinder looked closer than what the 28mm lens was seeing, and this is after having used a 28 as my only lens for a few years on an M6 and Monochrom v1. I've mentioned this a few time on here and never had anyone agree with me, so it may very well be just how my brain and eyes are wired.

 

Now I have an MP with a .58 viewfinder and I find the 28mm lens easer, but curiously enough, about the time I got this camera, I also started getting tired of the 28mm focal length and now only use a 35mm lens (no theory or reasoning why I only like to use one lens at a time, but I just do). After a few years of only shooting 28, I simply got tired of the wide angle look you get if you don't hold the lens dead straight and centered, but that of course has nothing to do with the lens itself, just my personal taste. I still have my 28mm Summicron at home if I get the desire to shoot 28 again. Now I'm using the latest 35mm Summicron and like it a lot. Smallish, nice image quality, no surprises, just a good all around lens. If you were twisting my arm forcing me say which lens I like the look of more between the latest 35mm Summicron and the v1 28mm Summicron, I might give an edge to the 28. I know at least one poster here will call BS on me for saying this, but I always loved the rendering of that lens! 

 

Cheers,

Max

 

I completely agree with what you say about the viewfinder magnification. I reckon an 0.58 VF is the key to happiness with 28 mm. 0.72 is strained and I would prefer an external finder on an 0.85 VF than to use 28mm on a 0.72. Works better in combination with a long lens that way too.

[MarkP]

Yes it would be nice to have more room around the 28mm framelines in the camera's OVF. However, he disadvantages to a x0.58 for longer lenses does not justify getting a camera with that magnification just for 28mm lenses even though it is one of my more used focal lengths. 

[NB23]

Yes it would be nice to have more room around the 28mm framelines in the camera's OVF. However, he disadvantages to a x0.58 for longer lenses does not justify getting a camera with that magnification just for 28mm lenses even though it is one of my more used focal lengths.

You seem to forget the 35mm lenses, the 0.58' raison d'être

[lct]

50mm has been the  raison d'être of 0.91x & 0.85x, 35mm the raison d'être of 0.72x & 0.68x and 28mm the raison d'être of 0.58x in my most humble opinion. Congrats for the circumflex accent .

[NB23]

50mm has been the raison d'être of 0.91x & 0.85x, 35mm the raison d'être of 0.72x & 0.68x and 28mm the raison d'être of 0.58x in my most humble opinion. Congrats for the circumflex accent .

I can see your logic there but, IMO, there is no point of using a 0.72 with a 35mm lens if a 0.58 is available.

0.72 is too frustrating for 35mm shooting, personally.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[lct]

I can see your logic there but, IMO, there is no point of using a 0.72 with a 35mm lens if a 0.58 is available.

0.72 is too frustrating for 35mm shooting, personally.

 

Just the logic of some Leica users asking for more visible 28mm framelines if memory serves. Now 35 to 90mm frames are quite small at 0.58x and the rangefinder is more imprecise at that magnification. But 0.58x is handy for some eyeglass wearers i've been told and this is a matter of tastes anyway so YMMV needless to say.

 

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[NB23]

I don't know who Leica is kidding with these examples but they don't match reality. For example, the 0.58 35mm combo in a real life 0.58 camera would look like 0.72 35/135mm above.