Soon to be new to Leica, looking for lens advice...

[otto.f]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, jankap said:

What about a Leica SL (601)? Very decent prices second hand!

OP wants to go ‘simple’. In this context I don’t think an SL has something to offer alongside a Fuji GFX

[Guest Nowhereman]

ChrisB. - If you intend to buy the M10, I would go for the DR Summicron, a lens whose rendering with Leica digital cameras I love, both in color and B&W, with stupendous build quality and, last I looked, a bargain basement price. Although I use the close-up goggles rarely, I like them when I do. The DR Summicron, could not be used on earlier Leica-M digital cameras without having one of the cams filed down so much that the close-up range couldn't  be used any more. On the M10, however, the lens can be used as is, although on some M10s it may not focus at the final bit to infinity — but this is something that can be fixed by a tiny amount of filing down, which you can easily do yourself: there is a LUF thread on how make this trivial adjustment. I can't resist posting the image below, which I recently took using the close-up range goggles.

Alternatively, the other 50mm lens I would recommend is last version of the Summilux pre-ASPH, the one with the built-in hood. I bought it new when I learned that the Summilux 50 ASPH had been introduced, as I preferred its rendering to that of the ASPH lens.

M10 | DR Summicron 50 with goggles | ISO 6400 | f/4.0 | 1/60 sec

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!

Chiang Mai
____________________
Frog Leaping photobook

Edited April 3, 2020 by Nowhereman

[ChrisB.]

Thanks all for the opinions and links. Seems there are several good options out there. Waiting to hear back from a few places and we will see where I land.

[earleygallery]

The 2 lenses you mentioned in the OP are both fast lenses. Is this something you need or want? If so it limits your choices - for Leica you would want a Summilux or Noctilux. 

If speed isn't an absolute necessity then consider the Summicron as suggested or the Summarit which is also highly rated. Of course there are lots of other options to compare with these from Voigtlander, Zeiss and other vintage glass. 

[wosim]

If you like, you could have a look to my completely overhauled website with a huge collection of links to lens reviews (Leica, Zeiss, Voigtländer, older thread-mount lenses from Canon, Russian origin ...): https://sites.google.com/site/wosimsphotography/leica-camera-lens-reviews/links-testberichte-reviews. 

More information and different opinions could make decision making easier or more complicated ... 🤗

Good luck !

[otto.f]

Mostly more complicated, but I see you give very neutral inormation on your site 👍🏼

 

Edited April 3, 2020 by otto.f

[wosim]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

vor 43 Minuten schrieb otto.f:

Mostly more complicated, but I see you give very neutral inormation on your site 👍🏼

 

Yes indeed. Making the decisions is up to the user, it is only an offer of getting (hopefully) useful opinions. Years ago buying my first Leica M6 I had difficulties finding useful information. It took me days and weeks searching the net - and this has been the starting point for my website.

[Stein K S]

12 hours ago, wosim said:

Yes indeed. Making the decisions is up to the user, it is only an offer of getting (hopefully) useful opinions. Years ago buying my first Leica M6 I had difficulties finding useful information. It took me days and weeks searching the net - and this has been the starting point for my website.

I was not aware of your site! Looks sooo good! Look forward reading through it during this corona-easter 😃

Thanks a lot!

 

Regards,

[ChrisB.]

Ok. So I settled on a Summicron-M 50mm f2. Traded a couple of nice lenses for it, which was painful, should get it in by the end of the month. Thanks for the advice and opinions, hopefully I love the glass.

 

Chris

[budjames]

I purchased my first Leica, the M10, about 2-1/2 years ago. I sold off my Fuji kit to finance the acquisition of a second M10 body and a few lenses.

If your budget can swing buying new Leica lenses, I would suggest the Summicron 35mm ASPH and the Summilux 50mm ASPH. Both are current lenses. I find that 80% of the time, the 35mm focal length is what I use. 

I now own the Summilux and Summicon 35mm, APO Summicron, Noctilux and Summilux 50mm, APO Summicron 75mm and 90mm, and Super Elmar 18mm. It's a lot of money to have invested in glass. For now, my Summicron 35, Summilux 35 and APO Summicron 50 are my favorite lenses. When I want to travel light, I take the Summicron 35 and APO Summicron 50 and one M10 body. My iPhone 11 Pro is my "back up" camera.

If you have budget constraints, then you might want to check out Zeiss or Voightlander M lenses. I have never tried them, but I have heard some good reviews.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[ADLTN]

I’m pleased the OP got his answer and hopefully a great 50 summicron too. I have a similar quandary - and hope to get some inputs.

I also just got my first Leica (M240) as a secondary personal camera (in addition to my A7riii) for the pleasure of taking photographs.  i initially bought the Voigtlander 35mm f2 which I am happy with but am looking for a true Leica lens and building a 2-3 lens kit.  
 

I was thinking a 35 Summilux and a 90 Elmarit would make a good two lens combo.  I’m a bit worried if a 90mm is hard to focus and maybe I’d be better off with a 28mm Summicron and 50 Lux.  Any recommendations on using a 90mm and the different 35 summilux versions?

[jaapv]

The 90 Elmarit is not hard to focus and an excellent lens.. Which Summilux 35? If you have to ask about focusing, be aware that the pre-aspherical Summiluxes are prone to focus shift.

Personally I think that the Summicron 35 asph is the better match for the Elmarit.

[ADLTN]

Thanks for the advice - just joined this forum and it seems a great community!  Good to hear the 90 Elmarit isnt too hard to focus - I was thinking to go for the Elmarit E46 version rather than the tele-Elmarit m.  

I’m not sure exactly which 35 lux to consider - I was thinking about the aspherical (pre-FLE) - have you used that lens? - but it might be a while until I save up to replace my CV 35mm f2.  Why do you think that the 35mm summicron would be a better match?

I’m hoping for a pair of lenses with similar rendering and ideally the same filter size.  

[Ko.Fe.]

 I don't see any reason to have another 35, if you already own tiny 35/2. Only Leica lenses sounds nice, but difference in results is not very significant. More pleasing colours. If you like it SOOC... 

I would like to get A7III at some point. Leica M is pleasure to own, but I need photos in focus not just with still objects or at small apertures.

This is the main problem with fast lenses on Leica. Object should not move and you need some time to get it in focus.

28, 35, 50, 90 mm doesn't really matter.

[a.noctilux]

Good point for fast lens used wide open, difficult to have the focus right ( 😉 even if I'm happy to report that with some practice of pre-focus,

I do have some keeper without AF ).

With good technic AND practice, and why not close down the lens (the aperture ring is for that function) manual lens can be "faster to use than relying on AF".

Of course, this is not to have it right from first time use.

 

ADLTN, if you can afford the Summilux-M 35mm asph. , it's one of the best 1.4/35mm lens money can buy.

Over time I had two of same lens, first the titanium coated very heavy then the lighter plain black anodized, never have to complain even not the focus shift

that this lens is famous for.

 

Some decades ago Ti model

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!

 

and now, this one with friends 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by a.noctilux

[Ko.Fe.]

I use RF lenses on RF bodies since earlier eighties, if not late seventies.  I use prefocus without even looking at the lens, once I remember tab location.

But it has nothing to do with active family, pets photography indoors. I have two options, increase bulk, decrease FPS and get shadows cast (sometimes) from flash on digital M and use f8 or just get up to date AF camera.

I used to do it with Canon DSLR, but can’t handle its and lenses bulk anymore. 

[jaapv]

5 hours ago, ADLTN said:

Thanks for the advice - just joined this forum and it seems a great community!  Good to hear the 90 Elmarit isnt too hard to focus - I was thinking to go for the Elmarit E46 version rather than the tele-Elmarit m.  

I’m not sure exactly which 35 lux to consider - I was thinking about the aspherical (pre-FLE) - have you used that lens? - but it might be a while until I save up to replace my CV 35mm f2.  Why do you think that the 35mm summicron would be a better match?

I’m hoping for a pair of lenses with similar rendering and ideally the same filter size.  

I used to have pre-asph, and although I was not too bad at compensating for the focus shift, I found it too much of a hassle- having to remember at what aperture how much to "misfocus" On top of that I very much preferred the rendering of the Summicron asph, especially (and perversely ) in low light. The E46 version of the Elmarit was my choice for a 90 too, but I sold it as 90 mm is not really a preferred focal length with me. I tend to jump directly from 50 to 135.

[ADLTN]

8 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

Good point for fast lens used wide open, difficult to have the focus right ( 😉 even if I'm happy to report that with some practice of pre-focus,

I do have some keeper without AF ).

With good technic AND practice, and why not close down the lens (the aperture ring is for that function) manual lens can be "faster to use than relying on AF".

Of course, this is not to have it right from first time use.

 

ADLTN, if you can afford the Summilux-M 35mm asph. , it's one of the best 1.4/35mm lens money can buy.

Over time I had two of same lens, first the titanium coated very heavy then the lighter plain black anodized, never have to complain even not the focus shift

that this lens is famous for.

 

Some decades ago Ti model

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!

 

and now, this one with friends 

 

 

That’s a very nice setup.  I think I will buy the 90mm Elmarit E46 and stick with my CV 35mm f2 for a while.  Thanks for your advice on the focus shift - since I’m new to rangefinder it will take me a while to learn these subtle adjustments for sure! 

I will look through some more images of the 35mm summicron vs summilux rendering and enjoy the deliberation!