JDFlood Posted January 22, 2018 Share #1 Posted January 22, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I purchased an M10 and set out with the idea of owning a single lens, fully knowing that wasn't going to last. I did a lot of research and realized the Leica lenses are not "budget", "intermediate", and "the good ones"… via price points. But each line of different specifications and characteristics. My strategy was to choose the most expensive lens to give me paper thin DOF when needed and then lighter and less expensive lenses follow for the wider lenses where physics works against thin DOF. This strategy has worked for me. Primary lenses Summilux 50mm f 1.4 - when really thin DOF is desired or will be shooting in very low light at a distance. Put the money here because the DOF is already narrow. Summicron 35mm f 2.0 - my normal lens, use 70% of time. Perfect for street, landscape and cityscape unless really boxed in. Usually shoot at f8 for street, and take advantage of it's normally large DOF for dark forest… don't need f1.4 or wider. Elmarit 28mm f 2.8 When I want to go wide, really nice DOF and usually try and enhance this by shooting at f4 and above when in forest / city. Fantastically light and sharp. Love it's rendering… this sure is no budget lens, but nicely priced. For extraordinary circumstances: 75mm Summarit f2.4 - when a tele is needed, nice an light, budget friendly. 21mm Zeiss f 2.8 - for real wide angle, really heavy. This was and experiment. I have to admit for no particular reason I can put my finger on, wish I had purchased a Leica 21mm. Maybe I will sell and replace. I use the first three lenses 92% of the time. For me, this group of lenses feel like the best set. Will obviously be different for different people. But the line up of having the 50mm for paper thin DOF and working away from that wider was the right strategy. JD 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 22, 2018 Posted January 22, 2018 Hi JDFlood, Take a look here My Leica M lens journey. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted January 22, 2018 Share #2 Posted January 22, 2018 (edited) My journey is not important. It was of over fifty years and ended with a lens I could not have imagined at the beginning, CV 10mm, and settled forty years ago with 35mm V2 Summilux. As the typical Leica owner I have more lenses that found their home in deep storage. Far away. Edited January 22, 2018 by pico Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted January 22, 2018 Share #3 Posted January 22, 2018 So, what is the new here? M camera and 35 mm lens. Whateither M number is or f size, it is M and 35mm. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 22, 2018 Share #4 Posted January 22, 2018 So, what is the new here? M camera and 35 mm lens. Whateither M number is or f size, it is M and 35mm. You tell us! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 22, 2018 Share #5 Posted January 22, 2018 Some people see the world in 35mm and others in 50mm. Only the latters are true Leica men obviously . Just kidding. My Leica M journey is 30+ years with a little ton of lenses but always one 50mm at least. 50/1.4 or 50/1.5 for low light or portraits, 50/2.8 in good light, 50/2 for travels. Or the same in 35mm on APS cameras. Nothing new i'm afraid... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulJohn Posted January 22, 2018 Share #6 Posted January 22, 2018 My 35mm journey started with the Zeiss 35/2 Biogon then 35mm Summicron then CV 35mm 1.2 Apart from the weight I am happy with the CV. If I change again it will be back to the Biogon. My 50mm journey started with a Summicron v then APO then added a 50 lux pre ASPH then sold the APO for a Summarit (to fund an M-A). My 50 lux pre ASPH is a keeper. My 90mm journey started with APO then swapped for previous version which I prefer for portraits Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 22, 2018 Share #7 Posted January 22, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) 35 Skopar f2.5 Elmar 5cm f2.8 9cm Elmar f4 The Skopar is the most used. I have a different set for my lllf 25 Skopar f4 5cm f3.5 Elmar RS 5cm f2 Summar Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted January 22, 2018 Share #8 Posted January 22, 2018 50mm long journey and no stop Begin with Summicron, then Summilux, Noctilux 1.0, modern Summicron, older Summicron, some Elmar, Summar, Summarit 1.5, M-Hexanon, Nokton 1.1, Set of Canon 1.8/1.4/1.2, MATE , Anastigmat, etc. now Summarit-M 2.5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDFlood Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted January 23, 2018 Ok, let me put it another way... I am really happy with this set.... and really want this not to be an evolving process like my Nikon and Fuji equipment... cuz that is going to be really expensive! JD Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted January 23, 2018 Share #10 Posted January 23, 2018 (edited) expensive and Leica are exclusive you would see with time and nothing comparable as Leica things in photographic world till now Edited January 23, 2018 by a.noctilux Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted January 24, 2018 Share #11 Posted January 24, 2018 My Leica journey is a journey in drugs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonatdonuts Posted January 24, 2018 Share #12 Posted January 24, 2018 I purchased an M10 and set out with the idea of owning a single lens, fully knowing that wasn't going to last. I did a lot of research and realized the Leica lenses are not "budget", "intermediate", and "the good ones"… via price points. But each line of different specifications and characteristics. My strategy was to choose the most expensive lens to give me paper thin DOF when needed and then lighter and less expensive lenses follow for the wider lenses where physics works against thin DOF. This strategy has worked for me. Primary lenses Summilux 50mm f 1.4 - when really thin DOF is desired or will be shooting in very low light at a distance. Put the money here because the DOF is already narrow. Summicron 35mm f 2.0 - my normal lens, use 70% of time. Perfect for street, landscape and cityscape unless really boxed in. Usually shoot at f8 for street, and take advantage of it's normally large DOF for dark forest… don't need f1.4 or wider. Elmarit 28mm f 2.8 When I want to go wide, really nice DOF and usually try and enhance this by shooting at f4 and above when in forest / city. Fantastically light and sharp. Love it's rendering… this sure is no budget lens, but nicely priced. For extraordinary circumstances: 75mm Summarit f2.4 - when a tele is needed, nice an light, budget friendly. 21mm Zeiss f 2.8 - for real wide angle, really heavy. This was and experiment. I have to admit for no particular reason I can put my finger on, wish I had purchased a Leica 21mm. Maybe I will sell and replace. I use the first three lenses 92% of the time. For me, this group of lenses feel like the best set. Will obviously be different for different people. But the line up of having the 50mm for paper thin DOF and working away from that wider was the right strategy. JD Very, very similar journey. I originally started with a mandler elmar 50mm collapsible, but then gave it away. After a 10 year hiatus, I came back to photography finding myself with a 50mm Summilux ASPH (absolute magic at night), 35mm Summicron (most used), and 28mm Summaron (for the sheer hell of it). Next on the list is a 21mm Super Elmar and then I'm done for life. Unless I can find another 50mm elmar collapsible for old times' sake... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raid Amin Posted January 24, 2018 Share #13 Posted January 24, 2018 Leica gear: 35/2 Summicron V1 50/2 Rigid Summicron 50/2 Summicron DR 50/2.8 Elmar 50/3.5 Elmar 75/1.4 Summilux 90/2 Summicron 90/2.8 Elmarit 90/4 Elmar 90/4 Elmar-M 135/2.8 Elmarit. I also use lenses that were not made by Leitz. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted January 24, 2018 Share #14 Posted January 24, 2018 and really nothing wider than 35? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raid Amin Posted January 24, 2018 Share #15 Posted January 24, 2018 No Leica lens wider than 35mm. I use a Rokkor-M 28/2.8 and I use SLR lenses with adapters such as the Canon 17/4 FD and Rokkor 21/4 with adapter and Canon 19/3.5 ltm. My latest acquisition is a Zeiss Hologon 16/8 that DAG is converting to M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
autograph Posted January 24, 2018 Share #16 Posted January 24, 2018 (edited) I started with M typ 240 and a 35mm 1.4 distagon (mounted 70% of time on camera) Than 75mm Apo summicron (10%) And than 50mm 1.5 nokton. (20%) The last one might be 21mm 2.8 biogon. Edited January 24, 2018 by autograph Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stein K S Posted January 25, 2018 Share #17 Posted January 25, 2018 Even more than 40 years ago at the age of 15 I was an ¨oddball¨ buying my brand new Canon Ftb with a 35mm... not the more or less required 50 as included in all kits at a good price. When buying my first Leica 17 years ago I again choose the 35 cron IV as my normal/only lens. GAS... and possibly the economic situation, however, now show a Pelicase with a 21, 24, 2x28, 2x35, 2x50, 75 and 90... However, having access to these lenses have in a strange way ¨proven¨ to me that a 35 only after all would do very nicely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldhrads Posted January 25, 2018 Share #18 Posted January 25, 2018 First Leica Lens was a V4 50/2.0. I enjoy 50's so I've gotten a few now, (Noctilux 50/0.95, Summicron SL-50/1.4, Summarit 50/1.5, APO Summicron 50/2.0, Elmar-M 50/2.8). Second Leica Lens was Summicron ASPH 35/2.0 lovely lens Bought a pre ASPH Summicron 90/2.0 that rarely gets used, but is really nice when it does. Also have 90/2.8 TEM which is a great great lens. Summilux 75/1.4 25/2.8 and 28/2.8 are both Zeiss Biogon, get used occaisionally. 18/4.0 Zeiss, very rarely All fun! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted January 26, 2018 Share #19 Posted January 26, 2018 (edited) 24 (5%), 28 (50%), 35 (10%), 50 (30%), 90 (5%) does that add up to 100% - yes it does I do have a desire to get a 10mm and a 135mm, but not for any reason then desire and inquisitiveness In terms of journey, I always start with the dull lenses and end up with the brightest lens in each group. So my advice is to cut out the middle man and get the brightest lens for each FL you are interested in Edited January 26, 2018 by colonel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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