Please help me decide on the right lens...

[Guest]

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4 hours ago, earleygallery said:

I’ve not read all replies so apologies if I’m repeating anyone. 

The M is rather different to your Nikon. I would suggest that you try to use it to give you a different viewpoint and advise against using it predominantly with a 90. Your Nikon (or a Classic F) is much better if you want to shoot 90 all the time IMHO.

M photography is much more about wide to standard lenses. Embrace that aspect of it. 

I have and use a 90 on an M2 so I’m not saying it’s no good, but it’s very much an occasional lens.

50 probably seems wide to you so start with that, although my personal favourite on an M is the 35 for general street/travel subject matter.

Also consider buying used lenses. Then you can buy a couple for the price of one! 

Hi, 

Thanks, but as mentioned a few times already, I'll be adding the 90 later on- in at least a year. I'm aware that's not an M-systems strong point, however great the longer lenses may be. I will be starting with either a 35 or 50 and currently deciding between those two lengths, as well as whether it should be a cron or a lux. 

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[Guest]

There is a Summicron 35 ASPH 11879 6-bit for sale locally for around $1700, is this a good price? Also, what does the 11879 refer to, is it some indication of when it was made? If it's an older one, how would it compare to the current ones? 

[a.noctilux]

😁 nice lens * at good price

11879 is the Leica code that it's Summicron-M asph. 2/35mm black anodized

see different versions or "code" in this link to Wiki

if you have serial number you can know when it was made ...

 

* same as the one I loved which I had in three "colors samples"

11879-black - 11882-silver - 11609-titan ... now "replaced" by Summilux-M/Summarit-M

* replaced since some years now with "version II" mostly same optical cell with more aperture blades

and different hood attachment (screw-on in place of clamp-on)

Edited August 14, 2019 by a.noctilux

[Guest]

28 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

😁 nice lens * at good price

11879 is the Leica code that it's Summicron-M asph. 2/35mm black anodized

see different versions or "code" in this link to Wiki

if you have serial number you can know when it was made ...

 

* same as the one I loved which I had in three "colors samples"

11879-black - 11882-silver - 11609-titan ... now "replaced" by Summilux-M/Summarit-M

* replaced since some years now with "version II" mostly same optical cell with more aperture blades

and different hood attachment (screw-on in place of clamp-on)

I believe 3892955 is the serial, printed on the front of the lens- what year and version would this be? Thank you. 

[a.noctilux]

4 minutes ago, White Buffalo said:

I believe 3892955 is the serial, printed on the front of the lens- what year and version would this be? Thank you. 

By using the link to Wiki page I provided, you would see that it was made in 2 000.

[ianman]

4 hours ago, White Buffalo said:

I'm aware that's not an M-systems strong point, however great the longer lenses may be.

Where does that come from? It's neither stronger or weaker than any other focal length.

[otto.f]

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9 hours ago, ianman said:

Where does that come from? It's neither stronger or weaker than any other focal length.

Sorry ianman but you are now questioning again general held convictions in the Leica tradition. Maybe it should have been put a bit different, but a Leica M and rangefinders in general are not the most convenient bodies for long lenses because of the small image you have to focus and compose with. Not to speak of the fact that focusing is physically less reliable because of the nature of rangefinder. OP is on his way of buying a film M so EVF isn’t an argument either. 

Edited August 15, 2019 by otto.f

[ianman]

11 hours ago, otto.f said:

Sorry ianman but you are now questioning again general held convictions in the Leica tradition.

There is no need to apologize  . And yes, I do question "general convictions" and "legends". I have to ask myself why would Leica include framelines for 90mm and 135mm and design the lenses if these focal lengths are not usable. I can speak for my own conviction and use, and say that using a 90mm lens works perfectly fine on digital (M9) and film (MP). I have never tried a 135mm. If required one can use a magnifier.

[logan2z]

14 minutes ago, ianman said:

If required one can use a magnifier.

I was just going to mention that. I sometimes use a Summarit 75mm on my M-A and use an eyepiece magnifier when I do. It's not strictly required for me but it does make framing/focusing a bit easier.  Should prove very useful for longer focal lengths. 

[Jon Warwick]

On 8/15/2019 at 6:39 PM, logan2z said:

I was just going to mention that. I sometimes use a Summarit 75mm on my M-A and use an eyepiece magnifier when I do. It's not strictly required for me but it does make framing/focusing a bit easier.  Should prove very useful for longer focal lengths. 

Which magnifier do you use (eg, Leica 1.25x)? I’m wondering if it might be useful for me to try out.

For portraits, I use a 75mm Summarit on my M7 (tripod mounted) with the newish Ektachrome 100 and get drum scans done of the few best images.

The resultant colour tonality of the 30”x20” prints is wonderful. The depth and realism is so high that I imagine I could press a button, and the person could start talking.

The process is a hassle compared to digital, but I never got this same “look” of realism and colour depth off the M240.

Maybe more modern FF sensors (the M240 is 2012’s technology) and/or digital medium format gets closer? .....

 

Edited August 17, 2019 by Jon Warwick

[logan2z]

11 hours ago, Jon Warwick said:

Which magnifier do you use (eg, Leica 1.25x)?

I use the 1.4x. 

[aesop]

     ...personal lens choice is not a 'committee' thing. Enjoy.

[Geoffrey]

As any leica user (and I have used M Leicas since 1966, will probably wish to have several focal lengths, my advice would be to look at the Canon range of lenses for their rangefinders dating from the 1950s and 1960s, before they switched to SLR lenses.  Not only are the lenses 10% of the price of Leitz glass (second hand on EBay), but they are better than any photographer handling them and they age better than old Leitz lenses.  Go for a 50mm f 1.8 or f1.4 (the Japanese Summilux), and the 100mm f 3.5.  There is also an excellent black 135mm ;lens.   Of course you will need a screw to bayonet adapter for each, costing £10 or less, and get the one that will bring the correct frame up in the Leica.  Japanese EBay retailers are pretty reliable.

Nobody will know you are not using Leitz glass because most of the comments on Leitz glow and bokeh are crap from the practical picture taking perspectuve.

Geoffrey Rivett, ARPS.

[ianman]

19 hours ago, aesop said:

...personal lens choice is not a 'committee' thing.

I second that !

Then again, this is a photography discussion forum.

[a.noctilux]

On 8/15/2019 at 7:22 PM, ianman said:

There is no need to apologize  . And yes, I do question "general convictions" and "legends". I have to ask myself why would Leica include framelines for 90mm and 135mm and design the lenses if these focal lengths are not usable. I can speak for my own conviction and use, and say that using a 90mm lens works perfectly fine on digital (M9) and film (MP). I have never tried a 135mm. If required one can use a magnifier.

Ian,

if you want to try 135mm field, one day, this 135mm Elmarit may be a nice candidate,

Leitz had done this for a while with magnifier x1.5 included in the lens, and use the "90" framelines for 135mm field, very cleaver design.

A bit heavy but very nice rendering for portrait or landscape, less "apo-like" than my thrusty lighter Tele-Elmar 4/135mm which is hard to focus in near range,

if marvelous at far away.

When I use one of these 135mm, I mostly use with x1.25 magnifier and in this case M6 x0.85 can become a sort of "monster" but with some experiences very usable.

For fan, these can be used also with Visoflex when necessary rings are mounted with their optical cells.

 

[ianman]

Thanks Arnaud, I'll look into this !!

[Steve Ash]

Very difficult question to answer. GAS will tell you that the next lens is the right one.