The dream set of lenses versus the actual

[Ko.Fe.]

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Every time I look at old Leica masters photos, I realize it was not about lens.  But I have chased, tried and sold many.

For now I have single goal in photography. Which is about getting interesting photos. The only limits I have with it is to have enough time and get closer to by subject. 

I don't want heavy and big lens for it.  My "working" range is within 35mm. I have 35 2.8, 2.5 and 1.4 compact lenses for it. More than enough. I have some 50mm lenses, just in case.

Another focal lengths are not in my dream, priority list. Maybe Russar and getting back Orion-15. First one is kind of cool UWA and second one was giving very nice images on digital Leica.

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[Herr Barnack]

My current M lens kit serves me fairly well but to make my "dream set" I would add

28mm Summilux

50mm Summilux

75mm Noctilux

135mm Telyt

At the end of the day, these are probably more wants than needs.  But on the other hand, life would be hideously boring if all we were allowed were needs.

[Jeff S]

2 hours ago, lct said:

My dream lens does not exist yet: a compact 21/2 or a 35/2 apo the same size as the 35/2 v4. Don't ask me if i hold my breath

Marketed as a 35 APO, as Andy has occasionally noted...

Jeff

[LeicaR10]

Pgk,  Not to take someone else's quote from the forum, but the best dream lens set are: "The lenses you own right now".  For all the years of being on this forum reading and looking at photographs, it strikes me more people would find happiness if they spent time simply creating photographs with superb content.   Photographs that make the viewer; Stop, Look, Think and if possible Feel something about that moment in time.  As I tell my students, if you master the camera and lens at hand, it is the content of the photograph that separates a mere photo with one that is a most excellent photograph.  Alas, everyone has different thoughts and intentions with their photography...but for me and my clients it is all about Content.  r/ Mark

[Guest]

I am already living the dream in photography.

When at 60 years old a pension came about i was able to fulfil my dream of a leica [ m262] and 3 lens [summarit 35 and 50 and zeiss 28mm.

Don't want any fast lenses or hyper expensive lenses or any sort of telephoto because they do not fit in with how i enjoy using the rangefinder camera.

I have gone bonkers and purchased a zeiss 25mm f2.8 today to cheer me up with all this virus stuff going on,really looking forward to trying it out so in a way its my dream lens.

[Del-Uks]

I would love to try an Elcan 50mm f/2 with a Monochrome  

 

[lct]

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1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

Marketed as a 35 APO, as Andy has occasionally noted...

This is the one i'm dreaming about. A 35/2 apo the size of a 35/2 v4. Give it to me and i will tape the word apo i promise

[Nick N]

In a world where money were no object I would have a vintage set and a modern set.

for my vintage set:

35mm v4 summicron or the 8 element

50mm DR summicron

50mm summilux E46 version

for my modern set:

28mm summicron

35mm summilux FLE

50mm summilux asph

90mm summilux

I don’t foresee myself to be in a spot where I’d have all of those modern lenses, but it would certainly be fun! 

[pgk]

9 hours ago, LeicaR10 said:

Pgk,  Not to take someone else's quote from the forum, but the best dream lens set are: "The lenses you own right now".

Actually I think that I'm there. Any further Leica M lens buys would be opportunistic (if I have the money and see a lens at the right price which really appeals that is) but in all honesty there is nothing I actually hanker after. Eventually I will need to replace bodies I suppose, but I'm also quite satisfied with my M9s. I do of course have other photographic interests/projects including too many Gandolfis, many LF lenses, underwater gear (Canon/Sony) and so on, but it is the Leica M stuff which is most heavily used by far. I do find lenses interesting though.

[Ouroboros]

Leica M photography for me is all about making images on film with compact, portable Leica lenses.  My most used M lenses have been whittled down to the 28 summaron-m and 50mm elmar-m.  I've no need to add anything.  My 28mm summicron, 35mm summicron asph and 90mm elmarit-m f2.8 are all seldom used.  

I have a room full of  assorted cameras and lenses for my other needs. 

[Ccoppola82]

I have way too many lenses that I purchased out of curiosity. So, I have my dream setup which was just completed with an excellent 50mm v2 Lux.  My current “dream set,” set being 3 lenses...is the Pair of 28 Cron v1, 50 Lux v2 or cron collapsible depending on situation...and rounding out the set for when I want single lens setup is the 35 summaron 2.8 for BW film.  
 

I have more lenses, but those are the ones I will be using extensively.  

[sblutter]

16 hours ago, LeicaR10 said:

Pgk,  Not to take someone else's quote from the forum, but the best dream lens set are: "The lenses you own right now".  For all the years of being on this forum reading and looking at photographs, it strikes me more people would find happiness if they spent time simply creating photographs with superb content.   Photographs that make the viewer; Stop, Look, Think and if possible Feel something about that moment in time.  As I tell my students, if you master the camera and lens at hand, it is the content of the photograph that separates a mere photo with one that is a most excellent photograph.  Alas, everyone has different thoughts and intentions with their photography...but for me and my clients it is all about Content.  r/ Mark

You've got it - its not the equipment.  Its the intent.  I've got a ton of M lenses collected over 50 years.  I choose the one that's going to give me the shot I want - which rarely needs anything faster than f:2.0.  Light weight and compact are more important to me than 1 f stop.  My 50 lux  ASPH 1.4 get little use

[Narsuitus]

Dream Set of Lenses

 

35mm SLR dream set

180mm f/2.8

85mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

 

35mm Rangefinder dream set

21mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

75mm f/1.4

 

I have my 35mm SLR dream set.

Right now, I almost have my 35mm rangefinder dream set. I have the 90mm f/2 instead of the 75mm f/1.4

 

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Three-Lens Rangefinder Kit by Narsuitus, on Flickr

[Peter Zapp]

I could overcome the money, but not weight and bulk, where M still rules even over some APS-C mirrorless combos.

I like Summicron 35/2 Asph and Elmarit 90/2,8 for digital and 35/1,4 pre-asph, Tele-Elmarit 90/2,8 and Elmarit 21/2,8 for HP5. I am drooling to replace the latter by a Super Elmar 21/3,4 and a Super Angulon 21/3,4. 21mm does not get enough use to justify the expense. It's more about peace of mind with regard to building "contemporary" sets.  

Over time, with R lenses dropping in price, I was able to fulfil some dreams from my younger years without breaking the bank, from which the 80-200/4 actually gets some use. But most are just for the joy to own and to play with.

[pgk]

One interesting point that Peer Zapp raises is whether some lenses are more effective for film or digital platforms. I can understand this because I  do feel that older lenses often play to their strengths on film where absolute precision and ultimate detail are less relevant than they are on high resolution digital cameras.

So it could be suggested that there might be a case for 'traditional' and 'contemporary' sets of lenses.

As examples, I see a 'traditional' set as being something like; 21/3.4 SA, 35/1.4 press asph., and 90/2.8 T-E,

and a contemporary set: 21/3.4 SE, 35/1.4 asph., and 90/2.8 Elmarit-M (a later design although its 'contemporary' label is arguable - the Summarit is possibly more valid).

I rather like the idea of 21. 35 and 75 Summiluxes although this falls between the 'traditional' and 'contemporary' labels, but the 21/1.4 is well beyond my real needs and too costly for the benefits it would give me.

[TomLong]

Well, if we’re talking about dreams, then ideally I’d like a 35mm with the wide aperture and rendering of the current f1.4 Summilux but with the size, weight and pricing of an f2.4 Summarit.

In reality however, I am quite happy with the 35mm and 75mm Summarits that I currently use. They came as part of an M262 Entry set and I always planned to replace the 35mm with a Summicron but have subsequently found that I really like the size and handling of the Summarit, as well as it’s rendering and sharpness so I’ve opted to stick with it. 

I’m trying to resist buying any more lenses because I don’t want to carry any extra weight or to have the hassle of choosing which ones to bring. The Summarits are light enough that I mostly carry both with me so I always have what I need to hand.

That said, I do really like the idea of a 50mm Summilux. It makes absolutely no sense as the 35/75mm set does everything that I need and I’m not sure how often I would carry it with me but I do like the rendering and feel that I would be able to achieve some good images with it. Still, that’s going to remain a dream as I don’t have the funds for it.

Best regards,

Tom

[evikne]

I have carefully collected my dream lenses, one by one. I cannot afford any spontaneous purchases, so I only buy lenses that I have felt drawn towards for a long time. As a result, my current set of lenses is also pretty much my dream set.

It mostly consists of older lenses, because I love their rendering. But one modern rendering lens (with classic design) has also found its place:

• 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH
• 50mm Summilux pre-ASPH
• 50mm Summilux ASPH BC
• 50mm Noctilux f/1
• 75mm Summilux

[mike3996]

In one sense I lust after certain dream lenses, even if I could afford them but I won't go after them because of their limited use, weight, size considerations.

For example, 50 Noctilux, 90mm f/2, and 21 Summilux-M. All are super attractive but practically 50 Summilux, 90 Summarit-M and 21 SEM or a CV 21 f/3.5 will do me just fine...

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[james.liam]

I just can't wrap my head around a flock of 1 kg+ lenses as my "dream set". I too have slowly acquired lenses I was drawn to for one reason or another and am very pleased with the compact collection:  

• 21 SEM
• 28 Elmarit ASPH II
• 35 Summaron ƒ/2,8 
• 35 ZM Biogon C 
• 50 Rigid
• 50 Summicron APO  
• 75 Summicron APO

My only concession to the 'beastie boys' is a late-production German 75 Summilux recently discovered at a great price. Worth having around for unique portraiture

Edited April 26, 2020 by james.liam

[pgk]

2 hours ago, james.liam said:

My only concession to the 'beastie boys' is a late-production German 75 Summilux recently discovered at a great price. Worth having around for unique portraiture

It handles very well and I prefer it to the 75mm Summicron. Stopped down it produces a subtly 'smoother' image than the Summicron too.