35mm and 50mm prime with 24-90mm zoom

[Einst_Stein]

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If you already have 24-90mm zoom, which prime you use or would use more: 35mm APO-Summicron-SL or 50mm APO-Summicron-SL. 

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[Leicaiste]

APO 50/2. 

[Jeff S]

All the primes perform extremely well, and the Summicrons share the same basic signature.  It really comes down to your shooting style and focal length preference.  And whether you plan to have more than one prime, in which case a 35/75 or 50/90 pairing might make sense.  The 50 Summilux has a more unique rendering, with obvious speed difference, which one must appreciate to deal with greater size and weight.
 

I own the SL75 in addition to the two longer SL zooms, but this was an easy decision for me since I like the focal length, but never bonded with the 75mm frame lines in my M bodies.  I’m on the fence, however, about adding the SL35 because the 24-90 stays mounted most often, with fine results for my needs.  Surveys won’t help; these are personal considerations.

Jeff 

[Stuart Richardson]

Agreed that it is a bit too personal to answer. For my part I would sell the zoom and get both primes, if possible, especially since I have the 50mm and am so impressed with it. I tested my friend's copy of the zoom and I do not think it is a replacement for the primes if you are interested in optical performance. You sacrifice image quality for a variable focal length...it has always been true and it still is true, despite marketing promises that it might be otherwise.

[Jeff S]

19 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

I tested my friend's copy of the zoom and I do not think it is a replacement for the primes if you are interested in optical performance. You sacrifice image quality for a variable focal length...it has always been true and it still is true, despite marketing promises that it might be otherwise.

No viewer looking at a fine print of a worthy pic would know or care if I used my SL75 or 24-90.  My print standards are high, but sizes are modest. I switch SL lenses primarily because of workflow preference or lighting/speed conditions, not because of IQ concerns. Others might certainly have other views.

Jeff

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Jeff S

[SJH]

I ended up with the 35 & 50 to join the 24-90 that I bought with my SL2, pondering on getting the 90 or the new Sigma 85 1.4 DN. The 24-90 is very good and a bit of a Swiss Army knife, so good for vacations and gernal shooting when you're not quite sure what you might encounter but it is heavier!! the 35 & 50 are both excellent but if I had to keep one it would probably be the 35 as on an SL2 you can easily crop to 50 but you can't the other way round and the 24-90 covers the 75-90 well.

[Dr. G]

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I'm a prime shooter and can't get along with zooms in the normal/wide, normal and portrait ranges.  I have the APO Summicron-SLs - 35, 50, 90.  I seem to compose better with a prime on the body as it forces me to look at things from the perspective that's available at the time.  I could be happy with a 50 on my SL2 95% of the time, but I do like having the other options when necessary.  

As much as I agree that a 35 can be cropped to 50, my eyes can easily see the perspective distortion a 35 imparts on faces - so I usually choose the 50 when shooting things that are tighter than an environmental portrait.

Also, as stated above, this is a very personal decision.  For me, if I wanted something on the wider end, I would probably choose the Sigma 14-24 for wider shots, architecture and interior photography - but I don't shoot those often; so in that case, price/performance would be a factor in my decision.

[MarkinVan]

Agree with SJH's comment. I have the both 24-90 & 16-36 and they are stellar but the 35 as a walk around lens is just that bit extra everything and I find it is on the camera the most and I couldn't be happier. I must add that on my M240, I use the 35 significantly more than the 50 as well. 

[Fedro]

I have added the 50 -  I love the focal length and use it with the 16-35 which is my favourite of the 3 zooms. With the 90 those 3 lenses cover everything I need, really

I don't use the 24-90 a lot as I find it too heavy, especially nose heavy when fully extended. 

It is a fine lens, but I only use it when changing lenses is not an option, so it is a very personal consideration

I have considered adding the 35 but would likely have to sell the 24-90 at that point

[MediaFotografie]

35SL, Leica's most outstanding lens, and more versatile than 50SL

[Einst_Stein]

I seriously doubt the quality  if cropping 35mm SL to 50mm. I doubt it’s IQ compared to 24-90mm. If no 24-90mm, degrade the 35mm to 50mm through digital zoom is a bad compromise, I am afraid.  What I read up to now, the value of 35mm SL over 50mm SL is merely the digital cropping. 

 

[SJH]

I think looking at the OP’s original question it’s very difficult to answer which lens would get more use (35 or 50 SL) as it’s such a personal choice. Owning both my comment was that the 35 is probably more flexible in theory but if you’re always having to crop to 50 well you’ve got the wrong lens. It’s just there if needed occasionally which you can’t do the other way round but if your subjects (and your eye) are more suited to 50 then the benefits of the 35 are irrelevant. 

[Per P.]

I agree with several comments above that this question is impossible to answer. I have, and use, the 35/75 combo alongside the 24-90 because 35 is my preference for environmental portraiture and 75 works really well when I want to go closer. So if I go for a hike, say, I bring the zoom. If I have more of an idea what I want to find, then I pack the Summicron-duo.

[caissa]

The primes are very nice, but expensive and it is a burden to change them. So I also use the Sigma 24-35 f2 Art. It is optically also excellent and I do not lose time with switching lenses. Which is nice in “action” like weddings or other gatherings of people. It has some vignetting and distortion at both ends, but this can be corrected automatically. IQ is very high, for practical purposes about equal to the SL primes. (I know you don’t like to hear that but tests show it.)

Currently I have to use an EF version, but there will be a L version sooner or later. 

It is a bit bigger than a single prime, but it offers three primes. So I like it in my lazy moments.

[jrp]

 

[Einst_Stein]

On 9/30/2020 at 11:12 PM, SJH said:

I think looking at the OP’s original question it’s very difficult to answer which lens would get more use (35 or 50 SL) as it’s such a personal choice. Owning both my comment was that the 35 is probably more flexible in theory but if you’re always having to crop to 50 well you’ve got the wrong lens. It’s just there if needed occasionally which you can’t do the other way round but if your subjects (and your eye) are more suited to 50 then the benefits of the 35 are irrelevant. 

I am not asking which is better, nor which one WILL be more useful. I am asking which one YOU HAVE used more. 

[SJH]

10 hours ago, Einst_Stein said:

I am not asking which is better, nor which one WILL be more useful. I am asking which one YOU HAVE used more. 

Fully understood and therefore it would be the 35 because for me it’s more flexible, however, its a very close second with the 50mm in terms of usage and therefore hence my comments above. In other words my answer to your question is not one of a significant gap in terms of the percentage usage but those stats would favour the 35 by a narrow margin.

[tom0511]

I own all three and for me the 50 would be more usefull, because I like the focal length also for images of my kids inside and here 50mm works better than 35mm. But it really depends a lot on your personal needs.

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[scroy]

Horses for courses

I have the 35/75SL + the longer zooms 24-90/90-280mm.

Indoors and for walk-around I use the primes, 24-90mm mostly for video, 90-280mm for events.

During Covid the 75mm has been the new 50mm for me

 

[Einst_Stein]

Compared the IQ improvement of Apo Summicron SL with 24-90mm zoom, it seems to me 35mm focal length range has much more improvement than the 50mm focal length range. However, the 50mm improvement is more likely to appreciated than the 35mm due to my personal habit of usage. 

I decided to stay with 24-90mm till I am further pressed to the prime.