a.noctilux Posted July 20, 2019 Share #41 Posted July 20, 2019 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Need and want/preference can change with time and can be returned to the former need/want (my own experience of course over decades). We are lucky to have so many choices in Leica M (or LTM etc.) to mount on our beloved Leica M. Why not try to use them to have experiences with them over trying to find "the best" or "best suit". In the past I needed Noctilux to use the most out of Kodachrome 25 ISO, and even sometimes ennoyed by the lack of dof. In other focal lengths, Summilux were the "must" over Summicron, by then, so have the 35/75 Lux over Cron in 35/90 ... Even if I do keep some Summilux, I prefer now using mostly lesser weight Elmar/Summaron/Elmarit/Summicron. anyway, I think the best is not enough when the light/subject is not right Two examples for fun 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! Summicron 35mm Out of topic, here Super-Angulon 4/21 mm Edited July 20, 2019 by a.noctilux 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Summicron 35mm Out of topic, here Super-Angulon 4/21 mm ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/299417-35-vs-28-50/?do=findComment&comment=3781924'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 20, 2019 Posted July 20, 2019 Hi a.noctilux, Take a look here 35 vs 28 + 50. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
RagingCANE Posted July 20, 2019 Author Share #42 Posted July 20, 2019 I just looked at them at the Leica Store in London. The 28 Elmarit will be a good choice for travel but I’m going to shoot with the 35 Lux this trip and re assess my “needs” later. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harmen Posted July 20, 2019 Share #43 Posted July 20, 2019 Fitting something into the frame may sometimes require a specific focal length. However, most of the time the focal length is a choice of perspective, with the same subject fitting either way. I love how the strong divergent lines in a 28 or 21 photo emphasize the subject. At 1.4 you can even separate with focus. 35 already looks much more neutral. 50 and above make it easy to leave clutter out, but lack the emphasis of perspective. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted July 20, 2019 Share #44 Posted July 20, 2019 I have found that a 28mm and a 50mm will cover about 90-95% of my focal length needs. It would be hard to go wrong choosing those two focal lengths as a two lens setup. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted July 20, 2019 Share #45 Posted July 20, 2019 12 hours ago, bayernfan said: Consider the following: I can scale focus a 28 at f/1.4 (at moderate distances) and still have enough depth of field to feel pretty confident that the result will be acceptable. Doing the same with a 50mm would require some serious skill. Also, what if a faster shutter speed is required and high-ISO is not available (e.g. shooting film)? I'm a strong proponent of ultra-fast wide-angle lenses (and ultra-slow normal/telephoto 😆) Q: Scale focus? Like looking at the distance scale? How are you going to do this if the reason for 1.4 is for been dark? A: Most modern RF lens have similar focus scale. Not too long, not too short. It means in the dark, then it is real call for f1.4 and distance scale is not visible, focus tab position allows to pre-prefocus. It means less time to focus with RF. Next to none. I usually don't photograph something in the dark, but in the light spot. I could be in the dark, or light could be behind me, no focus scale is visible. Described method allows me to pre-focus fast and fine tune with RF. With this method I see no big deal about DOF. and focus. 28, 35, 50 doesn't matter as long as lens has focus tab. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayernfan Posted July 20, 2019 Share #46 Posted July 20, 2019 (edited) If you can fine tune focus a subject quickly moving towards or away from you with a 50mm at f/1.4, I applaud your abilities. The question was raised as to the need for a 28/1.4. I see this situation as a notable advantage for a 28mm when f/1.4 is necessary. Edited July 20, 2019 by bayernfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted July 20, 2019 Share #47 Posted July 20, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is an unanswerable question. I have one or more of most of the focal lengths but my habits vary. Sometimes I like 28 and other 24, to complement a 50. (I have had periods when the 21 was the answer.) It all depends on mood and subject matter. I started off shooting Summilux lenses at night, until I figured out that slower lenses, with fewer aberrations were preferable (at the expense on a small tripod). If you are still at a loss, check out the MTF charts for your candidate lenses. They will help you sort the character lenses from the clinical ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
indergaard Posted July 20, 2019 Share #48 Posted July 20, 2019 28/50 > 35 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrostl Posted July 20, 2019 Share #49 Posted July 20, 2019 M10/50mm + Ricoh GR III 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexGig0 Posted July 21, 2019 Share #50 Posted July 21, 2019 22 hours ago, RagingCANE said: I just looked at them at the Leica Store in London. The 28 Elmarit will be a good choice for travel but I’m going to shoot with the 35 Lux this trip and re assess my “needs” later. Good plan! Better to try your ‘Lux, for an extended time, than switch too soon, and then regret it later, in my opinion. An eventual 28mm Elmarit-M ASPH would nicely complement your 35mm ‘Lux. 😉 (For now, my 28mm Leica lens is an Elmarit-R, with adapter, a bulky combination.) My 35mm f/1.4 is a Zeiss Distagon ZM. I started Leica M shooting with a pre-owned 50mm Summilux-M ASPH, and a new M10, in April 2018, so am still relatively new to rangefinder photography, but consider both 35mm and 50mm, plus something a bit wider, to be must-have focal lengths. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingCANE Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share #51 Posted July 21, 2019 49 minutes ago, RexGig0 said: Good plan! Better to try your ‘Lux, for an extended time, than switch too soon, and then regret it later, in my opinion. An eventual 28mm Elmarit-M ASPH would nicely complement your 35mm ‘Lux. 😉 (For now, my 28mm Leica lens is an Elmarit-R, with adapter, a bulky combination.) My 35mm f/1.4 is a Zeiss Distagon ZM. I started Leica M shooting with a pre-owned 50mm Summilux-M ASPH, and a new M10, in April 2018, so am still relatively new to rangefinder photography, but consider both 35mm and 50mm, plus something a bit wider, to be must-have focal lengths. Yeah I love this 35 Lux! I’m keeping it. Then I’ll build out from there later. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted July 21, 2019 Share #52 Posted July 21, 2019 11 hours ago, astrostl said: M10/50mm + Ricoh GR III This is the best of both worlds in my mind as well: a fast 35/40/50 on M10 plus a wide angle pocket camera. A 28mm locked to an eye level perspective does not really compare to the compositions achievable with a camera on an outstretched arm with LCD view. I’ve not upgraded my GR to a GR-III yet as I’ve been getting good mileage from the TL2+18mm, but the IBIS and jacket friendly fly weight of the Ricoh are calling come winter. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingCANE Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share #53 Posted July 21, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, FrozenInTime said: This is the best of both worlds in my mind as well: a fast 35/40/50 on M10 plus a wide angle pocket camera. A 28mm locked to an eye level perspective does not really compare to the compositions achievable with a camera on an outstretched arm with LCD view. I’ve not upgraded my GR to a GR-III yet as I’ve been getting good mileage from the TL2+18mm, but the IBIS and jacket friendly fly weight of the Ricoh are calling come winter. I’ve had both the GRD and GRD II cameras but I sold them years ago. I was hoping for a full frame version but its not going to happen. Now, however, I can’t see the screen close up without readers so it doesn’t work as well for me. Edited July 21, 2019 by RagingCANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narsuitus Posted July 23, 2019 Share #54 Posted July 23, 2019 (edited) On 7/19/2019 at 1:11 AM, RagingCANE said: Any suggestions are appreciated. My suggestion is to accumulate a rangefinder inventory that consists of the following focal lengths: 21mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 90mm You can then select the lens combinations that meet your needs. Here are my combinations: My favorite one-lens solution is 35mm. My favorite two-lens solution is 35/90. My favorite 3-lens solution is 21/35/90. My second favorite 3-lens solution is 21/50/90. My favorite theatre kit is 28/50/90. My favorite individual portrait kit is 50/90. My favorite indoor architectural kit is 21/50. My favorite outdoor architectural/landscape kit is 28/50. Rarely do I carry more than three lenses at one time. Edited July 23, 2019 by Narsuitus 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingCANE Posted July 23, 2019 Author Share #55 Posted July 23, 2019 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Narsuitus said: My suggestion is to accumulate a rangefinder inventory that consists of the following focal lengths: 21mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 90mm You can then select the lens combinations that meet your needs. Here are my combinations: My favorite one-lens solution is 35mm. My favorite two-lens solution is 35/90. My favorite 3-lens solution is 21/35/90. My second favorite 3-lens solution is 21/50/90. My favorite theatre kit is 28/50/90. My favorite individual portrait kit is 50/90. My favorite indoor architectural kit is 21/50. My favorite outdoor architectural/landscape kit is 28/50. Rarely do I carry more than three lenses at one time. Yes, yes, more is more I know. I love the 35 so that’s my go to lens. I have also decided to get the 50 1.4 Lux in London before I return because it’s almost $900 less with the VAT refund than if I get it at home. They have both the “Limited edition” black version and the regular version. I’m not sure which one to get since the limited edition of 500 seems to still be readily available several years after release. Both the Noctilux and APO versions are too expensive for me to consider. I’m also not sure which lenses have been updated for digital sensors as I would hate to spend a lot of money on lenses that will be replaced when they release the 47mp version of the M11. Next, is a wider lens. The 28 2.8 looks like a good lens but maybe a 21 or 24 will suit me better since I’m keeping the 35. My hesitation with those two though is I think they were released to work on a crop sensor. Is there a list of updated lenses and due for update lenses anywhere? I can’t seem to find it. Edited July 23, 2019 by RagingCANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted July 23, 2019 Share #56 Posted July 23, 2019 I like to read that thread as probably most of us have bought a bunch of lenses over the years. So did I. When my M10 was new I often had 5 lenses in my bag to compensate for the zooms I had before. Then I seriously wanted to reduce. At the moment I am hiking in the Swiss Alps and we we visiting different places here around. I thought for a long ting wich lens to take. And I decided to take the Summicron 28mm. Through a long process I came to the conclusion that for my type of photography the 28mm is the most versatile and on top it is small and light. I am a real candidate for a Q2 😀. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark T Posted July 26, 2019 Share #57 Posted July 26, 2019 On 7/23/2019 at 10:55 PM, RagingCANE said: Next, is a wider lens. The 28 2.8 looks like a good lens but maybe a 21 or 24 will suit me better since I’m keeping the 35. My hesitation with those two though is I think they were released to work on a crop sensor. This is nonsense. It's like saying the 50mm Summilux Asph was designed to work on film. Plainly all these lenses will work on full frame digital. the 21 Super Elmar and the 24 Elmar are superlative lenses to the edges. Plus the 21 SE was released after the M9, so was FF anyway. Just pick what focal length you want. Quality will be perfectly sufficient. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingCANE Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share #58 Posted July 26, 2019 (edited) Hi resolution digital sensors will require higher resolving power. I know they all work and I’m sure they will be “sufficient” but when I’m spending several thousand on a lens I want it to be amazing and I plan on keeping it for a long time. Leica has to update the lenses if they are getting into the megapixel war and it seems like they are with the release of the 47mp sensors they are starting to put in their cameras. The APO 50 1.4 is the first designed for digital sensors I believe. Of course it is backwards compatible. I’m not worried about how they work on my 24mp M10 but when I am forced to buy a 47mp M11 if I want the next version I want to make sure I have the right lenses. For my Sony or Canon gear I don’t care because they are cheap in comparison. Edited July 26, 2019 by RagingCANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted July 26, 2019 Share #59 Posted July 26, 2019 1 hour ago, RagingCANE said: they are getting into the megapixel war and it seems like they are with the release of the 47mp sensors they are starting to put in their cameras. The APO 50 1.4 is the first designed for digital sensors I believ I much more believe that Leica has been and will always be working on their lenses to enhance the resolving power, whatever the image carrier. The Summilux 50 was the most necessary Summilux to renew at that time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregm61 Posted July 26, 2019 Share #60 Posted July 26, 2019 I switch out my lens systems constantly to get a different perspective. I definitely have a favorite of 21-35-75-135, but today I am going with 18-28-50-90. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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