Samascha Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1 Posted June 5, 2019 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi to everyone here, I currently owned M6 and MP (type 240) by nature, i usually like shooting at 35 mm focal length. I am aiming to upgrade my summicron asph to a summilux which 35mm summilux lens will be the ‘one lens’that would fit with my two camera bodies?(digital and film) I will be studying abroad( in edinburgh), so i would like to hear thoughts and comments from fellow experienced users in this forum. Thank you Edited June 5, 2019 by Samascha Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 5, 2019 Posted June 5, 2019 Hi Samascha, Take a look here The only one lens I need. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted June 5, 2019 Share #2 Posted June 5, 2019 Personally I would go for the Zeiss Distagon 1.4 T* ZM 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 6, 2019 Share #3 Posted June 6, 2019 The Distagon being too big for my taste, i would pick a Summilux 35/1.4 FLE. Expensive lens though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted June 6, 2019 Share #4 Posted June 6, 2019 Personally I'd stick with the Summicron. 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexGig0 Posted June 6, 2019 Share #5 Posted June 6, 2019 Welcome to the forum! 😊 A Summilux is not, necessarily, an upgrade, relative to a Summicron ASPH, but a different tool for a somewhat different task. No? (I own neither lens, in the 35mm focal length, so will not be more specific.) If the different task is low-light shooting, rather than a actual preference for Summilux images, adding a Zeiss 1,4/35mm Distagon, as recommended by jaapv, might well financially allow keeping the Summicron ASPH. Some of the older Zeiss ZM lenses may not really rival their Leica-M counterparts, but the newer 35mm Distagon seems to be quite good. I started with a pre-owned Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, then added a pre-owned Summaron-M 3.5cm f/3.5, in Spring 2018. I recently added a pre-owned ZM 1.4/35mm Distagon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
benqui Posted June 6, 2019 Share #6 Posted June 6, 2019 You will hear different opinions because everybody uses "his" lens for different suituations. I like to use small lenses esp. for street photography or during travels. As a result the pre asph 35mm Summilux is the perfect lens for me. I use it on the M4 as well as on the Monochrom I. The "glow" on 1.4 does not disturb be at all because I do not use this lens wide open. All the other 35mm Leica lenses are for sure fantastic and the Zeiss 1.4/35 is really a beauty (but too big for me) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 6, 2019 Share #7 Posted June 6, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) 14 hours ago, Samascha said: I am aiming to upgrade my summicron asph to a summilux Why? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
g2van Posted June 6, 2019 Share #8 Posted June 6, 2019 I guess the big questions are what you shoot, how you shoot and what is the look you are looking for? I have used the following Leica 35s: 35/2 v3, 35/1.4 pre-asph, 35/1.4 FLE. They are all superb lenses and I wish I could keep all but I couldn't. I know you didn't ask about the 35/2 v3 but I think it's worth considering - small, light, good price, good balance between classic and sharp. Slightly lower contrast and slight "glow". Personally, I don't find the v4 or even v1 8 elements that much better than the v3 and they cost way more. The 35/1.4 pre-asph is the smallest 35 for Leica mount I believe (lighter than the Voigt 35/1.4). It's a fantastic lens but you have to like the glow at f1.4 and learn to control the glow so that it doesn't blow out highlights. But at f2 onwards, it becomes very similar to the 35/2 v3 - sharper, good contrast. So it's a great lens to have both older world glow and more modern sharpness and contrast at different apertures. The biggest downside to this lens is that you need the hood to protect from flare and to use filters and they are the special Series VII filters (drop in, not screwed in) but understandably some might not consider this a downside. The 35 FLE is THE modern 35 for Leica. Of course I haven't tried every M mount 35s out there including the Zeiss 35/1.4. But this baby is the perfect combo of small-ish, light-ish, sharp, modern, contrast, colours. For me, it's as big as I want an everyday walk-around lens. If you want to make it feel smaller, remove the hood and just screw in a filter. No real worries about flare. For me, this is THE "buy it and forget it" lens for 35s - I will never need to look for another 35 and will never sell this. The upside is because this has been and is still in production for quite a few years, it's easy to find a used copy. I bought mine supposedly rate 8+ and got a great price. Perfect glass, good to go! Here's a size comparison between the pre-asph and the FLE. The pre-asph with hood is 206g and the FLE with hood is 326g. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/297980-the-only-one-lens-i-need/?do=findComment&comment=3754682'>More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted June 6, 2019 Share #9 Posted June 6, 2019 (edited) JMHO, but the only plus I can see to the 35 'lux is it is +1EV faster than the 35 'cron and will have a bit more shallow depth of field at maximum aperture. That might come in handy with the M6 and M240 on some occasions. As for the M10 with a maximum ISO of 50,000 the +1EV light gathering ability of the 35 'lux is much less of an issue than with the M240 and the M6 in particular. If you just want the 35 'lux and have the cash on hand to get it, I can't see a reason not to. We live once. Edited June 6, 2019 by Herr Barnack 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 6, 2019 Share #10 Posted June 6, 2019 Speak for yourself. I’m on my third life. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankap Posted June 6, 2019 Share #11 Posted June 6, 2019 As James wrote: WHY? I propose a 21mm or a 90mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Glass Posted June 6, 2019 Share #12 Posted June 6, 2019 I had the 35 Summilux FLE in mind when I read the topic title. If you have the means, why not? I say this as someone who has only read reviews and looked at samples, but the lens is pretty unimpeachable on every point except price. The important decision was already made - you've settled on 35mm. There's no shortage of phenomenal lenses in that length, at every price point. Personally, I'm making do with a surprisingly good Voigtlander 35mm 2.5 Color-Skopar for the time being, but a Summilux is in my future when funds allow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted June 6, 2019 Share #13 Posted June 6, 2019 5 hours ago, g2van said: I guess the big questions are what you shoot, how you shoot and what is the look you are looking for? I have used the following Leica 35s: 35/2 v3, 35/1.4 pre-asph, 35/1.4 FLE. They are all superb lenses and I wish I could keep all but I couldn't. I know you didn't ask about the 35/2 v3 but I think it's worth considering - small, light, good price, good balance between classic and sharp. Slightly lower contrast and slight "glow". Personally, I don't find the v4 or even v1 8 elements that much better than the v3 and they cost way more. The 35/1.4 pre-asph is the smallest 35 for Leica mount I believe (lighter than the Voigt 35/1.4). It's a fantastic lens but you have to like the glow at f1.4 and learn to control the glow so that it doesn't blow out highlights. But at f2 onwards, it becomes very similar to the 35/2 v3 - sharper, good contrast. So it's a great lens to have both older world glow and more modern sharpness and contrast at different apertures. The biggest downside to this lens is that you need the hood to protect from flare and to use filters and they are the special Series VII filters (drop in, not screwed in) but understandably some might not consider this a downside. The 35 FLE is THE modern 35 for Leica. Of course I haven't tried every M mount 35s out there including the Zeiss 35/1.4. But this baby is the perfect combo of small-ish, light-ish, sharp, modern, contrast, colours. For me, it's as big as I want an everyday walk-around lens. If you want to make it feel smaller, remove the hood and just screw in a filter. No real worries about flare. For me, this is THE "buy it and forget it" lens for 35s - I will never need to look for another 35 and will never sell this. The upside is because this has been and is still in production for quite a few years, it's easy to find a used copy. I bought mine supposedly rate 8+ and got a great price. Perfect glass, good to go! Here's a size comparison between the pre-asph and the FLE. The pre-asph with hood is 206g and the FLE with hood is 326g. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Measurements like this should be taken from the lens flange, not the rearward extension of the optical cell. The earlier Summilux, is that the one with no filter threads? I shot with one belonging to a co-worker. Summicron, thank you. And thanks for the comparison, really. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsolomon Posted June 7, 2019 Share #14 Posted June 7, 2019 Stick with cron, I own and love it, it’s a great lens in my opinion Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnl Posted June 8, 2019 Share #15 Posted June 8, 2019 35 summilux fle. I absolutely love this lens. I have an assortment from a WATE to a 90 apo and this is my goto lens. Old friends were in from Colorado last year and I took this photo https://richardnlipow.com/portraits with my 35mm and m10. Every time I look at it, it is as if I can reach out and touch them. It's a great lens Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted June 9, 2019 Share #16 Posted June 9, 2019 On 6/6/2019 at 12:28 PM, g2van said: I guess the big questions are what you shoot, how you shoot and what is the look you are looking for? I have used the following Leica 35s: 35/2 v3, 35/1.4 pre-asph, 35/1.4 FLE. They are all superb lenses and I wish I could keep all but I couldn't. I know you didn't ask about the 35/2 v3 but I think it's worth considering - small, light, good price, good balance between classic and sharp. Slightly lower contrast and slight "glow". Personally, I don't find the v4 or even v1 8 elements that much better than the v3 and they cost way more. The 35/1.4 pre-asph is the smallest 35 for Leica mount I believe (lighter than the Voigt 35/1.4). It's a fantastic lens but you have to like the glow at f1.4 and learn to control the glow so that it doesn't blow out highlights. But at f2 onwards, it becomes very similar to the 35/2 v3 - sharper, good contrast. So it's a great lens to have both older world glow and more modern sharpness and contrast at different apertures. The biggest downside to this lens is that you need the hood to protect from flare and to use filters and they are the special Series VII filters (drop in, not screwed in) but understandably some might not consider this a downside. The 35 FLE is THE modern 35 for Leica. Of course I haven't tried every M mount 35s out there including the Zeiss 35/1.4. But this baby is the perfect combo of small-ish, light-ish, sharp, modern, contrast, colours. For me, it's as big as I want an everyday walk-around lens. If you want to make it feel smaller, remove the hood and just screw in a filter. No real worries about flare. For me, this is THE "buy it and forget it" lens for 35s - I will never need to look for another 35 and will never sell this. The upside is because this has been and is still in production for quite a few years, it's easy to find a used copy. I bought mine supposedly rate 8+ and got a great price. Perfect glass, good to go! Here's a size comparison between the pre-asph and the FLE. The pre-asph with hood is 206g and the FLE with hood is 326g. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Thank you for posting this visual size comparison. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jev_dk Posted August 29, 2020 Share #17 Posted August 29, 2020 I know this is an old post but this comparison is great! https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2017/3/30/leica-35mm-lenses-5-summicron-versions I have used 28 / 50 combo but now uses 35 FLE as my main lens. I may miss the 28 at times but it could never work for me as a single lens - the 35 can. The Summilux has outstanding colors IMHO 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted August 29, 2020 Share #18 Posted August 29, 2020 On 6/5/2019 at 9:46 PM, Samascha said: .....I am aiming to upgrade my summicron asph to a summilux I don't agree that a summilux is an 'upgrade' to a summicron asph, but if you do then I doubt you'll be satisfied with anything other than the current summilux. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.