Leica TL2 with which lenses to start?

[Mantas911]

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Hi to everybody!

 

New to Leica and planning to buy TL2 this week.

 

Please tell me if it is right decission to start with these 2 lenses: Leica SUMMILUX-TL 1:1,4/35mm ASP and Leica VARIO-ELMAR-TL 1:3.5-5.6/18-56 mm ASPH?

 

Or maybe you can suggest which lenses to buy if I am not right with my decission.

 

Thanks for all!

[szabokristof]

I suggest you the Summicron 23mm f2 lens. With this lens the TL2 is very compact. The 23mm on the TL2 is very universal focal length. I use it for travelling, and it covers 95% of my needs.

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[LocalHero1953]

I recently bought a TL2 and lenses, and faced the same question. But the answer is that no one can tell you. It depends entirely on what you want to use the camera for (unless you just buy all the lenses).

 

I bought the 23mm, because I wanted the smallest native lens to carry around, and the 60mm, because I wanted it for both people and close-up/macro while walking in the country.

 

There is no right answer. Think about why you decided to buy the TL2, the sort of subjects you will have, when you want to use the camera, what other cameras and lenses you have (including smartphone). Then make your choice.

[Mantas911]

Thanks guys!

 

So at the end I decided to go with Summilux 35 and APO-VARIO-ELMAR-TL 1:3.5-4.5/55-135mm ASP. As the last one covers more range than 18-56...

[IkarusJohn]

It all depends on what sort of photography appeals to you - wide, standard or long? Or do you have no particular preference? Next, remember that the focal lengths are universal, unrelated to sensor size. The TL2 is APS-C, which has a crop factor of 1.5 to what we traditionally call full frame.

 

So, as a standard, the 23mm gives the same field of view as (almost) a 35mm lens, which used to be a standard field of view. These days, most cellphones give an equivalent field of view of 28mm. The reason I bore you with what you probably aleady know is that the 35mm lens gives you 52mm field of view and the 55-135mm closer to the traditional 80-210mm telephoto.

 

These are fine lenses, but they are reasonably large and have a very tight field of view. With the same choices recently, I bought the 35mm and the 11-23mm (field of view 17-35mm equivalent). Don't you think something wider might be useful? I can understand the attraction of the 35mm Summilux, but I would consider the 23mm Summicron, and hold off getting the telephoto for your next lens.

 

It used to be that the traditional Leica grouping was 28-50-90, but that was largely due to the rangefinder sweet spot.

 

It's a great camera - it is worth considering one compact lens like the 23 - it makes the camera pocketable.

Edited September 15, 2017 by IkarusJohn

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I'm a 50mm guy. Always have been. So in APSC sensors I got the 35mm 'lux and 18-55 as my first lenses.

 

Both are great. But now I have the rest except the macro (waiting a bit as I'd prefer a fast portrait lens). TL lenses are exceptional. No matter what you have you'll be surprised at how good they are.

 

Gordon

[Einst_Stein]

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A simple answer is, for most of the common users, 18-56mm or 23mm is definitely the starting lens. Between the two, the 18-56mm zoom would be slightly more preferred than 23mm for the same reason. That is why modern APS-C camera kit lens is always a zoom of this range. In the old time, for full frame film cameras, the 50mm prime is the starting kit lens. But now it is not as popular as the mid range zoom.

 

For you,  it is definitely 18-56mm zoom. otherwise, you will not ask this question.

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

I'm a 50mm guy. Always have been. So in APSC sensors I got the 35mm 'lux and 18-55 as my first lenses.

 

Both are great. But now I have the rest except the macro (waiting a bit as I'd prefer a fast portrait lens). TL lenses are exceptional. No matter what you have you'll be surprised at how good they are.

 

Gordon

Gordon

I'm getting the 35mm (its on the way) and I will probably buy the 11/23 before my trip to japan :)

 

Neil

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Gordon

I'm getting the 35mm (its on the way) and I will probably buy the 11/23 before my trip to japan :)

 

Neil

Mate, You'll love the 11-23. It's exceptional. The 35 is also wonderful. It does get some occasional purple fringing. But it draws beautifully.

 

Gordon

[Mantas911]

Thanks a lot of everybody for the help. As I already have 35mm and 55-135mm so the next buy for sure will 23 mm. Thanks again!