Lens crisis

[Drmat]

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I know this is one you have all dealt with, but I am hoping for some insight and wisdom of the group.

My current lens lineup includes the 50APO, 50 Elmar-M, 50 Noctilux F1, 35 summicron (8 element), and 28 summaron (re-issue).  I use the M10M and M10P

I love the detail of the APO, but I am not sure I need so much detail and feel that maybe a lux 50 is good enough.  I love the character of the Noctilux, but I hate that I never have any detail.  I also hate that it breaks my wrist walking around.

The rational thought is sell the 50s, bank the cash, and settle on a 50 lux.  I used to own one but sold it when I got into wider lenses, only to later find myself back on 50s (that is where i do my best work).

I am not a professional photographer, just an enthusiastic hobbyist who loves to take photos.  I feel that, especially now that we have been stuck at home, I am preoccupied with gear and technical aspects.  Maybe it would be easier if I were able to do some real photography at the moment... it is just that right now I find that I am somewhat stuck tinkering around the house with my camera and then pixel peeping or revelling in the beautiful bokeh, or something to that effect (instead of being excited about the content of the frame).

Would love to hear about the experience of others.  Who votes for keeping the noct/APO, selling one or both, replacing with lux, etc? 

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[Kwesi]

Keep the 50 APO. Sell the the Elmar and Noctilux. Buy the 50 /1.4 ASPH Black Chrome

[spydrxx]

Although I have respect for the adage "never sell a Leica lens", I've sold and rebought many over the years...in fact I'm in the negotiations to sell one I coveted many years ago, but in the end found I didn't use it as much as I had expected. Then there's the "use it or lose it" approach, which is closer to my heart. My advice to you is to back away for a while and allow yourself to make a decision you won't regret later on. Yes, being cooped up sucks.

[Keith (M)]

21 minutes ago, Drmat said:

 I love the character of the Noctilux, but I hate that I never have any detail.  I also hate that it breaks my wrist walking around.

 

Have only had my f1 v4 for a few weeks, so am still getting acquainted with its characteristics.  However, I cannot say that I've noticed any lack of detail. Typical results at f1 on M10M & M240 (click to view in LightBox).  

PS - have had a 50mm Summilux-M ASPH, 5cm Summicron Collapsible LTM & ZM 50mm C-Sonnar f1.5 for some years.  The Noctilux won't be making any of those redundant - each has the own character and strengths.

 

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Edited February 14, 2021 by Keith (M)

[astrostl]

- Leica Summilux-M 50/1.4 ASPH. 11891
- TTArtisan M 50/1.4
- Voigtlander VM APO-LANTHAR 50/2
- ZEISS ZM Planar 50/2

I currently have those, and the only value for me is in being able to do comparisons. As far as use goes, the new VM APO is easily "one lens to rule them all" for me at the 50mm focal length. I should probably move the others, but if or when I will is another matter.

My off-the-menu recommendation would be to pick up the VM APO, sell some of the others, and look at the Hasselblad 907X and Fuji GFX 100S medium format cameras  You could still have money to spare afterward, and an entirely new system to enjoy with your M.

[M9reno]

I think you have a lineup of three very different 50s.  It doesn’t matter they are all 50s, as they are extremely different lenses in terms of imaging, aperture and build.  Really a perfect trio, which if I were you I would not break up.  I feel like you, cooped up and rather uninspired photographically, and just going through expensive bouts of GAS.

[Drmat]

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I see I am not alone.

@Kwesi I am inclined to think as you do.  But I am @spydrxx that taking some more time with the gear might make it clearer as to the correct path forward for me.

@Keith (M) It is not a lack of detail as much as a noticeable difference in the quality of detail.  I also think my hit rate with the noctilux is partially at fault, but that is a consideration.  I agree that your eye is less concerned about resolution because of the separation that happens with that lens.  Still, I think it would be a better description from my perspective that it does not produce the kind of detail I am comfortable with in my photography.  Maybe i need to change lenses, or maybe in need to re-orient myself to what makes a good photo and embrace the noctilux.

@astrostl that hasselblad has crossed my mind!.

[evikne]

27 minutes ago, Drmat said:

I love the detail of the APO, but I am not sure I need so much detail and feel that maybe a lux 50 is good enough.  I love the character of the Noctilux, but I hate that I never have any detail.  I also hate that it breaks my wrist walking around.

If size and weight of the Noctilux bothers you, you might consider the 50mm Summilux pre-ASPH v.3 instead. It has much of the character from the Noctilux, but it weighs less than half, only 275 grams.

Alternatively, sell both the APO and Noctilux and buy a 50mm Summilux ASPH.

[Drmat]

@evikne that summilux pre-asph is my all time favourite.  I sold it when i bought the M9 monochrom because i could not find filters and was under the impression I needed them.  When i first bought a leica i had the VC 35 1.4 and later the summarit 50 2.5.  I lusted for a summilux!  The noctilux seemed like a technical marvel and more of a luxury item.  I have taken good photos with any lens camera combination and need to remind myself that it is not about the gear.  It is just something about that character of the vintage lenses or the extreme detail of the modern ones that makes you feel that you are doing something wrong if you don’t have it!

[didier]

I am probably not the most legitimate to tell you which 50 to sell 🙄, as I own a summicron v4, the 2.8 Elmar, the lux asph, 0.95 Noctilux and apo. I bought them in that Order within 15 years.

I must say that since I bought the Apo I use it most. But from time to time I feel like testing another one and settle for a few weeks with it.

The lux asph is now the one that get least used as any of the others have more character or are better.

Didier 

[Drmat]

@didier so you have good perspective!  At the end of the day this is a personal decision for all of us.  Basically, I will listen to what everyone says and then look for the answer that agrees with whatever I am feeling!

I just want to get off the rollercoaster of feeling that if I don’t get that crazy character or detail or whatever, that my photos will not be as good as they can be.  It is an irrational thought given that all my favourite photos are not that detailed or have that impressionist character.  I will say that when i look through LFI, the photos that speak to me are usually with the summilux 50, but that might be more a product of the availability/affordability of that lens coupled with the quality of who is using it.

[Narsuitus]

1 hour ago, Drmat said:

The rational thought is sell the 50s, bank the cash, and settle on a 50 lux.  I used to own one but sold it when I got into wider lenses, only to later find myself back on 50s (that is where i do my best work).

I have never been a big fan of the 50mm focal length and the 50mm is not where I do my best work. However, I have six of them for 35mm cameras and would not part with any. All six have different features, different image characteristics, and different reasons for owning them.

Since you do your best work with 50s, my recommendation to you is to buy the Summilux 50 and keep the others.

[lct]

You won't have less details with the 50/1.4 asph. I would try a 50/1.4 v2 (left) or preferably v3 (right) if i were in your shoes. I use all those lenses and my only hesitation would be on a Sonnar 50/1.5 but it suffers from focus shift so i cannot advise it on rangefinders.

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[a.noctilux]

Concerning Summilux in 50mm, they are different in use and in results.

I had about a dozen (maybe more ? ) of Summilux lenses, and each one IS different to the others.

I did not like the asph. in 50mm but do like the 35mm , I can't say why.

I bought back 50mm Summilux-M pre-asph. and can not re-sell one of them, as now (don't need the money to buy other thing, you may differ ...).

The one "last released" pre-asph., that I have in titanium coated since long is nice but heavy ( 368g ) so, I have another in black (275g).

Those two accept easy to source E46 filters, focus to 70cm but short ( less precision ) throw.

The older E43 (300g) is my prefered since I have E43 colored filters.

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On lct's pic, we see very well the "focus throw", short in E46 and long in E43,

nothing wrong with that,

only personal preference 😉

[Drmat]

@lct i had the one on the left.  As I said earlier, it was my all time favourite.  I sold it for what are now silly reasons.  I will say i did not like the lack of a lens cap - not a fan of the reversible hood design.  Also, it is very large on my camera with that hood.  Then again, if the noctilux is a doable, then that summilux is even more so

@Narsuitus while i am inclined to agree with you, I think I am in the less is more stage right now.  My wife bought me a 80L cabinet, so I can go your route and justify an additional lens on account that if my wife wanted me to have fewer lenses she should have bought me a smaller cabinet!  Seriously though, she hates when i sell anything.

[a.noctilux]

Over time, my cure or anticrisis "kit"

with older/small/light LTM Lenses like here for Monochrom and SOOGZ to use E39 filters.

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[Danner]

50 Summicron covers a lot of photographic options, and it will deliver detail.  IMHO.

[evikne]

5 minutes ago, Drmat said:

@lct i had the one on the left.  As I said earlier, it was my all time favourite.  I sold it for what are now silly reasons.  I will say i did not like the lack of a lens cap - not a fan of the reversible hood design.  Also, it is very large on my camera with that hood.

The v.3 (to the right) has an ordinary lens cap and a retractable hood, almost like the modern ASPH version, but "inside" the lens, so it's invisible when not in use. In addition, it has 0.7 m near limit, unlike the other, which has 1 meter.

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[lct]

4 minutes ago, Drmat said:

@lct i had the one on the left.  As I said earlier, it was my all time favourite.  I sold it for what are now silly reasons.  I will say i did not like the lack of a lens cap - not a fan of the reversible hood design.  Also, it is very large on my camera with that hood.  Then again, if the noctilux is a doable, then that summilux is even more so

I have nothing to sell but v3 has a built-in hood and focus down to 0.7m instead of 1m for v2. FWIW.

[Flu]

1 hour ago, Kwesi said:

Keep the 50 APO. Sell the the Elmar and Noctilux. Buy the 50 /1.4 ASPH Black Chrome

Ditto!