What lens would you choose? 24mm, 28mm, 50mm. And What Version?

[Chubkins]

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Just curious what lens you guys would choose out of those three and I guess diving deeper, what version? Is ASPH important to you or are the characteristics of older lenses more ideal?

[albertknappmd]

what are you going to be using the lens for?

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[Narsuitus]

I have all the three focal lengths but none are Leica M-mounts.

I have the 24mm f/2 Nikkor.

I have the 28mm f/2 Zeiss in Nikon F mount

I have 50mm f/1.4 in Takumar M42 mount and in Nikon F mount.

 

If forced to choose a new 24mm, 28mm, or 50mm lens, I would choose a 50mm f/.95 Noctilux because I do not have anything that fast.

[Bill W]

I would chose the 28 cron current version or the 50APO cron. I have them both and and they are an awesome combination for traveling light.

[Herr Barnack]

Just curious what lens you guys would choose out of those three and I guess diving deeper, what version? Is ASPH important to you or are the characteristics of older lenses more ideal?

 

Not enough information to make an informed recommendation.

 

Tell us -

For a film M or a digital M?

If digital, which M body?

What facet of photography (landscape, travel, reportage, documentary, environmental portraiture, all around)?

Are you planning on working with just one focal length?

Do you want a two lens kit (or three) as many are interested in?

[Ko.Fe.]

None.

24 is weird range, I had it, can't figure it out. 

28 is giving me too much distortions.

50 is limiting tele lens, but I have many of them in Leica mount.

 

Take 35 Any Leica made 35 is good. I know one great photog with Elmar 35 3.5 on M6.

[Ccoppola82]

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28 AND 50

 

Or

 

 

35mm

 

I shoot film, so lower contrast is preferred. I can't get over how nice the Summaron 2.8 looks on film. It's perfectly balanced in my eyes. Build quality is the only one as good as the cron rigid, long tonality, the perfect amount of,sharpness, and I've yet to see any distortion.

 

Since you didn't have a 35 on your list, I like a 50 collapsible cron or v2 rigid. They are a good match for my Summaron.

[Gregm61]

I have all three (24 Elmar ASPH, 28 Elmarit-M ASPH and 50 Summicron) but none of them make up a part of my most used range of 21-35-75. I’ll sometimes go 18-24-35-75 and I’ve also gone with the 18 and 24 or 28 and 50 threesome, always with two bodies to cut down on lens changes, M262 and MP240.

 

All things being equal, I’d take them all when travelling and switch it up from day today, leaving the others in the room safe.

Edited April 28, 2018 by Gregm61

[M11 for me]

I would choose 50mm. I grew up with that focal length.

 

And when choosing 50mm I would go for the Summilux.

[evikne]

If I should choose only one lens, it would definitely be a 50mm, because that is the most versatile focal length for me. And I am replacing all my new ASPH lenses to older versions, because I have learned that I prefer their imperfect and "artistic" expression over the modern lenses. I have no need for a clinically correct reproduction in my type of photography.

[IkarusJohn]

If forced to choose - 28 Summilux-M ASPH and 50 Noctilux 0.95

 

But, my 28 Summaron-M and 50 Summilux-M ASPH would be shedding tears and crying “take me, take me”.

 

I guess it depends what camera I’m using them on. The second group seems to go well on the Monochrom ...

[Narsuitus]

 

What lens would you choose? 24mm, 28mm, 50mm. And What Version?

 

I currently have a 21/35/90 lens kit for my Leica rangefinders and do not feel the need for another lens.

 

I have no use for the 24mm because it is too close in focal length to my 21mm.

 

If I shot more landscapes with my rangefinders, I could add the 28mm. However, I prefer using medium format and large format cameras for landscapes.

 

I have never been a big fan of the 50mm focal length, however, if I needed more light gathering, I could add the 50mm f/.95 Noctilux.

 

If I were forced to start from scratch and build a Leica rangefinder kit around the 24, 28, and 50mm focal lengths, my selection would be in descending order:

 

24mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4, 90 f/2

28mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4, 90 f/2

24mm f/2, 50mm f/2, 90 f/2

28mm f/2, 50mm f/2, 90 f/2

[hexx]

I have Leica 28/2 ASPH (previous version) and Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.5. Most of the photos I have are taken with 28mm lens these days, before it was 50mm lens. I also have Nikon AF-D 60/2.8 Macro when needed and am thinking about adding 90mm Summarit.

 

[ktmrider2]

I just ordered a used Zeiss 25f2.8 for $700 from Classic Connection.  I remember reading years ago that it was the sharpest of the ZM lenses.  Well, if that is so, look out as I am stunned at how good the Zeiss 35f2.8 C-Biogon is.  

[rk-d]

50mm lux is a beautiful lens. I have a pre-ASPH and it’s lovely, aberrations or not.

 

28 is a bit of a tweener and I don’t find the perspective that inspiring. 24 is too wide as a normal lens.

 

35 is another great choice.