Lenses to Compliment 50mm f2.8 Elmar M?

[Urushi]

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Right now I have a M240 and an Elmar M 50mm F2.8. I am interested in maybe getting two more lenses to compliment the Elmar M but I am wondering if it doesn't make sense to keep the Elmar if I am going to have a small lens kit. I would like a fast walking around lens which probably limits me to 35mm. This is very close to the 50mm focal length.

What would be a good addition to the Elmar M if you had a 2-3 lens kit?

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[jankap]

Perhaps you could tell, what kind of pictures you take.

My minimal kit consists of an Elmar 50mm f/3.5, a Summilux 35mm f/1.4 and an Elmar 90mm f/4.0.

The Elmar is difficult, because I may not collapse the mount. So mostly I take a Summicron R 50mm f/2.0 with me.

I take landscape, animal, flower photos.

[lct]

For a three lens kit, my own additions to the Elmar 50/2.8 (last version) are compact "slow" lenses of similar character as far as possible. On FF cameras, Biogon 35/2.8 & Macro-Elmar 90/4. On APS-C cameras, Skopar 21/3.5 & Tessar 35/3.5. No way i let the Elmar go it is my favorite slow 50 and probably my favorite 50 and perhaps my favorite lens ever .

Edited August 15, 2019 by lct

[Urushi]

Interesting. So you have no "fast" lenses at all.

I want to take travel photos. I would also like to be able to shoot indoors. So for you guys though a 35mm isnt too close to 50mm?

[lct]

Oh yes i have fast lenses but they are in my "fast" bag . If i had one small bag only, for a three lens kit i would take a 50 because i "see" in 50mm but to shoot indoor, f/2.8 is too slow for me. I'm fortunate enough to have a Summicron 50 apo but i would bring a normal Summicron otherwise. A 35 too because i don't think it is too close at all and i don't like big noses much . A Summicron would be fine but the tiny Ultron 35/2 could do it as well. Also a 75 or a 90, probably a Summicron or the excellent Summarit 75 to keep the package as small and light as possible although i'd prefer an f/2 lens for indoor pics. For a two lens compact kit i would waive the 50  and pick a 35 and a 75 in the list above. Matter of tastes anyway...

[spydrxx]

It really depends on your vision. Indoor shots can vary from group photos to portraits...so you should narrow that down a little to help you make a good decision. personally, I think a 35 & 50 are a good combo, but some people think wider like a 28 or 24. I had a 35 as my first lens and loved its versatility...travel, people. I preferred a 50 or longer for portrait work. I tried 24 and found that it was just too wide for the travel shots I wanted, although it was a great lens. I have 28 lenses for my SLR bodies, but never really liked them on my Leicas. I do keep handy for unusual situations a 21, although I rarely use it. Best advice is, if you can borrow or rent a 28 and a 35, to do so and see which works for you. I personally think 28 and wider present too many keystoning issues for most of the work I do, so I prefer a 35.

[FrozenInTime]

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I think a fast 35/1.4 is a must for anyone capturing social interactions indoors. The classic designs are less corrected, but still do a great real world job . Their size is something no modern pixel perfect lens can get close to : Voigtlander 35/1.4 or 40/1.4 even MSoptics 35/1.4.

The 28/2.8 ASPH lens is a great outdoors pairing in any small outfit .

[cobbu2]

On my M240, along with my 50/2.8 Elmar-M is the 21/2.8 Elmarit-M (Pre-ASPH) and the 90/2.5 Summarit-M. This provides a nice range of coverage and happens to be the combo I’m taking to Banff National Park tomorrow.

By the way, I’m with Ict on this one... the 50/2.8 EM2 is my overall favorite Leica lens; it gets the job done with sharpness and compactness.

Edited August 17, 2019 by cobbu2

[MarkP]

If you are less worried about needing a fast lens to complement the 2.8/50 Elmar-M consider the 2.8/28 Elmarit-M and 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar-M. Spaced nicely around 50mm for maximum besrtility, small, light, not too expensive, compact, excellent imaging, and all use 39mm filters.  This is what I use for my "lite kit" for film or digital M.

If you need only a single fast lens then a 35 Summilux or Summicron would be most versatile.

[lct]

6 hours ago, MarkP said:

If you are less worried about needing a fast lens to complement the 2.8/50 Elmar-M consider the 2.8/28 Elmarit-M and 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar-M.

+1 if you mean the 28/2.8 asph. Great combo indeed.

[lexontario]

 

I have 50 summicron,  28 elmarit, 21 sem, great for outdoors . I would like to add a 75 or 90 someday

I find when shooting indoors (depends on lighting, my house is on the low  light side) with 50 f2,  higher ISO,  in some situations still not good enough, people blurred from movement from slow shutter speed.

I have a 50 F1.1 & artisans, It gets enough light  so shutter speed is high enough but now the focus plane is so thin can't really take pics with 2 or more people

as others are oof.

I let my wife do indoor shots with her nikon D750 with flash. 

[MarkP]

2 hours ago, lct said:

+1 if you mean the 28/2.8 asph. Great combo indeed.

Yes, I do 🙂

Yes, it is 🙂