PaulJohn Posted January 27, 2018 Share #1 Posted January 27, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) In your opinion, ignoring rendering and other image related attributes, which lens do you think wins the ergonomics awards. I will include aesthetics too. 50mm - Moving from the 50mm summicron v5 to the APO I liked the addition of the focus tab but was disappointed in the shorter focus throw. The Summarit focus was too loose for me. The Noctilux would lose for viewfinder blockage. Maybe the Summilux or the Zeiss planar. I think 35mm summicron and 28mm elmarit are both pretty good. My winner is the 28mm Elmarit. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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michaelwj Posted January 27, 2018 Share #2 Posted January 27, 2018 The ASPH 35 Summicron and 28 Elmarits are more or less identical and perfect ergonomically. I'm yet to find a perfect ergonomic 50 M mount. I was going to include the current slower 21 and 24s but I don't think anything wider than 28 can be perfect because you need to do the finder shuffle. Of course EVF users might have a different opinion. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Q Posted January 27, 2018 Share #3 Posted January 27, 2018 The ASPH 35 Summicron and 28 Elmarits are more or less identical and perfect ergonomically. I'm yet to find a perfect ergonomic 50 M mount. I was going to include the current slower 21 and 24s but I don't think anything wider than 28 can be perfect because you need to do the finder shuffle. Of course EVF users might have a different opinion. If I may add to that, I feel a 35 is more ergonomic than a 28 because the frame lines are more visible. Therefore, I vote 35mm Summicron-M ASPH ver.2 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted January 27, 2018 Share #4 Posted January 27, 2018 (edited) Ergonomics are the whole package which includes but is not limited to the lens. My 'standard' outfit would be 21SEM, 35pre-FLE Summilux and 90 Elmarit-M. To me this makes a very well balanced set which works well in all respects including handling of body and lenses. I don't actually mind the viewfinder shuffle (like that phrase) myself at all. Familiarity does help and I've used this set a lot. Edited January 27, 2018 by pgk 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted January 27, 2018 Share #5 Posted January 27, 2018 The 35mm Summicron ASPH. I truly wish all lenses were as delightful and easy to use and carry around as this one. But the truth is, they aren’t. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romualdo Posted January 27, 2018 Share #6 Posted January 27, 2018 Summaron 35 f2.8, aesthetically & ergonomically especially on the Barnacks (have an LTM version) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted January 27, 2018 Share #7 Posted January 27, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'd say the v1 35 Summicron (or 2.8 35 Summaron). Ideal size, fingertip focus, well damped but light action, and I like the infinity lock that releases automatically as your fingertip is in position to focus. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted January 27, 2018 Share #8 Posted January 27, 2018 Any modern Leica lens which is not protruding into VF, has smooth, short and light focus, focus tab and aperture ring switchable easily. I think where are more than one Leica lens like this. I just own only one. Summarit-M 35 2.5. I took many images with it on the street and because of its ergonomics I mussed focus and my subject only few times. Cron 50 v4 with focus tab is close to it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted January 27, 2018 Share #9 Posted January 27, 2018 My choice is the current 50mm Summicron with no tab. Just a joy to use and so dependable. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberti Posted January 27, 2018 Share #10 Posted January 27, 2018 Support for the modern sliding hood Summicron 50 mm here too. The focus is so fast that I can quickly turn into focus, play around a bit until I am certain where the midpoint of focus is - all in the time with other lenses that arrive just at a first approximation of focus. My second best is the Elmar-M Macro for the same reason. And third in my possession comes the M-Rokkor 28mm, equally easy to focus (being a knock-off of the Elmarit IV). All my other -older- lenses have a long throw focus (>90 degrees) and have sticky (slow) grease, even those I have had re-lubricated by my repairman in Zoetermeer NL. So there is more to it than I understand. It must be by design some modern lenses excel on these criteria. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberti Posted January 27, 2018 Share #11 Posted January 27, 2018 (edited) I like to add other points of concern here. - The sliding hood of my 50mm Summicron does not click into place, and hence, with the smallest pressure it cedes again. Having a recess to turn it against, or just a small dent/recess would help. I bought a screw mount sun shade. - As regards the 90mm, a similar oddity occurs. When retracted (I have the first M-90) the lens barrel is free in movement, so that means it slides in and out with movement. When I keep it beneath my jacket for instance it will blob out, which is unpleasant. So two minor point in ergonomics. Edited January 27, 2018 by Alberti 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rent Posted January 27, 2018 Share #12 Posted January 27, 2018 My vote goes to Summaron-M 5.6/28. Can’t beat its awesome ergonomics if it’s barely there (without the hood). And you don’t ever need to touch the aperture or even the focus ring that much at all. Alex 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted January 27, 2018 Share #13 Posted January 27, 2018 For small and light, I vote for the 35mm Summicron V4 and the 50mm Summicron V4 (with tab). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coupdefoudre Posted January 27, 2018 Share #14 Posted January 27, 2018 28 Elmarit-M - ASPH. Great size, feel and images. 50 Summilux - same qualities, albeit larger! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell Posted January 27, 2018 Share #15 Posted January 27, 2018 For small and light, I vote for the 35mm Summicron V4 and the 50mm Summicron V4 (with tab). Yes, I have this pair, for this reason. Best for ergonomics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcg Posted January 27, 2018 Share #16 Posted January 27, 2018 MATE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted January 27, 2018 Share #17 Posted January 27, 2018 What are you going to do once every Leica M lens has been mentioned? 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted January 27, 2018 Share #18 Posted January 27, 2018 Perhaps we should ask which lens/camera combinations aren't ergonomic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 27, 2018 Share #19 Posted January 27, 2018 (edited) The 35mm Summilux V2 with locking tab. I do not know if they are common. Digressing now. with modification: 50mm Summicron w/o tab but with SK Grimes focusing lever. (As picture shows: it is made so that when the lever is at 6 O'clock the camera does not tip forward on a flat surface. Any tab-free lens with the appropriate Leica Goodies Steer. My own modification, a lever, for very fat lenses. Edited January 27, 2018 by pico Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnySeven Posted January 27, 2018 Share #20 Posted January 27, 2018 (edited) I think the V4 Summicrons win. They came out in a time when lens design seemed to peak in all aspects. The manufacturing in Midland and Wetzler was chugging along with high productivity, good materials and high quality control. The V4 summs stand up to and surpass a lot of the newer lenses. Even if the specs aren't as "great" they make up with feel, character and "soul". F.C.&S. always win over the numbers in my books. Edited January 27, 2018 by JohnnySeven Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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