Usefulness of TL18mm pancake lens?

[aksclix]

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I recently found a deal on the Paul Smith Leica CL and bought it right away. I have the TL 23mm, 60mm macro, 11-23mm and a Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 M lens.. I am finding it hard to justify keeping the 18mm.. Should I keep it with the kit or sell it? Apart from the really compact size of the lens I am not sure I like anything else about it.. I would walk around with the 23 or 11-23 often and don't see myself reaching for the 18mm. Has anybody bought the CL kit with 18mm and sold it off to regret it later? I don't think I would regret but just trying to see what others feel about this lens.. 

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[Mike1974]

In my case I bought the kit , I sold the 18mm and just a fews days ago I bought one back. Why? well I was missing the compactness ( don't know if you can see this ) of the lens.  It's not a perfect lens but its great for my street photography . My eyes are not what they used to be so I can really use m-lenses . The 18mm plus the new sigma I series are perfect for me. 

[aksclix]

4 minutes ago, Mike1974 said:

In my case I bought the kit , I sold the 18mm and just a fews days ago I bought one back. Why? well I was missing the compactness ( don't know if you can see this ) of the lens.  It's not a perfect lens but its great for my street photography . My eyes are not what they used to be so I can really use m-lenses . The 18mm plus the new sigma I series are perfect for me. 

the 56mm sigma must be a delight to use it on CL. not sure if you have that too.. I have it in Sony E mount and it's awesome

[Sjz]

I use the 18 more than the others, it too came as part of the kit, the reason I like it is the way it allows me to carry the camera, it fits is a winter coats’ pocket.

[aksclix]

2 hours ago, Sjz said:

I use the 18 more than the others, it too came as part of the kit, the reason I like it is the way it allows me to carry the camera, it fits is a winter coats’ pocket.

Ok, the flatter form factor of the CL with 18mm is likened to the not-so-big 23mm then.. to me the 23mm is compact enough and provides a decent option for portraits when needed.. the 18mm couldn’t quite achieve the same 

[Gregm61]

How do you like that Paul Smith CL?

The 18-35-60 makes for a very nice 28-50-90 M -like set up for the CL. I’m constantly swapping my outfit around as the 23mm f2 is the only TL lens I don’t own. Your 11-23, 23 and 60 setup is pretty darn sweet.

The 11-23 is a lens I could use exclusively traveling since it covers the 21mm and 35mm full frame focal lengths I use ALOT with the M262.

[aksclix]

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42 minutes ago, Gregm61 said:

How do you like that Paul Smith CL?

The 18-35-60 makes for a very nice 28-50-90 M -like set up for the CL. I’m constantly swapping my outfit around as the 23mm f2 is the only TL lens I don’t own. Your 11-23, 23 and 60 setup is pretty darn sweet.

The 11-23 is a lens I could use exclusively traveling since it covers the 21mm and 35mm full frame focal lengths I use ALOT with the M262.

I love the color block on the Paul smith and it is why I bought it to be honest.. it’s beautiful! In fact I’ve only been waiting for a Paul smith CL to be available in the used market.. found one and jumped on it immediately 
 

I have the SL2 and other brands too.. so wasn’t going to get a TL 35 but I will if I get a sweet deal 😌 11-23 and 23 are my most favorite TL lenses.. 
 

[HuntingSand]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb aksclix:

I recently found a deal on the Paul Smith Leica CL and bought it right away. I have the TL 23mm, 60mm macro, 11-23mm and a Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 M lens.. I am finding it hard to justify keeping the 18mm.. Should I keep it with the kit or sell it? Apart from the really compact size of the lens I am not sure I like anything else about it.. I would walk around with the 23 or 11-23 often and don't see myself reaching for the 18mm. Has anybody bought the CL kit with 18mm and sold it off to regret it later? I don't think I would regret but just trying to see what others feel about this lens.. 

I too got the very playful and visually enjoyable Paul Smith CL. As a T (and S) shooter, that was the only CL I was ever interested in. I did keep the 18mm to put on my TL2, as a compact wide angle shooter. You have the 11-23mm, which I consider one of the best WA zooms ever designed, especially in that compact a form factor. Anyway, that little 18mm doesn't eat any food from your table, you might as well keep it for it's pancake size. If after a certain amount of time it really doesn't fit into your setup, then I'd rethink the matter.

[aksclix]

42 minutes ago, HuntingSand said:

I too got the very playful and visually enjoyable Paul Smith CL. As a T (and S) shooter, that was the only CL I was ever interested in. I did keep the 18mm to put on my TL2, as a compact wide angle shooter. You have the 11-23mm, which I consider one of the best WA zooms ever designed, especially in that compact a form factor. Anyway, that little 18mm doesn't eat any food from your table, you might as well keep it for it's pancake size. If after a certain amount of time it really doesn't fit into your setup, then I'd rethink the matter.

Interesting.. since you mentioned TL2.. I recalled I was once contemplating getting an IR converted T or TL.. maybe I could use the 18 with that.. 

Edited February 24, 2021 by aksclix

[Mike1974]

11 hours ago, aksclix said:

the 56mm sigma must be a delight to use it on CL. not sure if you have that too.. I have it in Sony E mount and it's awesome

I had it , I tried it and I sent it back. The autofocus was to slow for me , I missed some photos . I'm waiting to find a the new Sigma 65mm to remplace it. 

[Dopaco]

Whether you have CL or TL2 for me, what best suits these cameras are the (L) 18-56 and 55-135 lenses, buy Epro 2 or Epro 52 to be able to take macros and close-ups and with 2 lenses you have one Very wide range covered for many types of photography.
 

Sigma lenses are good and usable, but they are designed primarily for FF cameras and some lenses have a diameter that exceeds the height of the CL or TL2, with the consequent aesthetic effect.

Edited February 24, 2021 by Dopaco

[nicci78]

If you plan to use the CL as a compact camera. Keep it. 
sole problem : CL is not a pocketable camera. Even with TL 18mm. 
So if you need a small bag anyway. You should be better off with TL 23 f/2 and/or TL 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6

 

 

[aksclix]

5 hours ago, Dopaco said:

Whether you have CL or TL2 for me, what best suits these cameras are the (L) 18-56 and 55-135 lenses, buy Epro 2 or Epro 52 to be able to take macros and close-ups and with 2 lenses you have one Very wide range covered for many types of photography.
 

Sigma lenses are good and usable, but they are designed primarily for FF cameras and some lenses have a diameter that exceeds the height of the CL or TL2, with the consequent aesthetic effect.

I hear you.. but I intended to use this for some wide shots only.. and some macro from time to time.. for portraits and all purpose needs I have the 23 and voigtlander 40 of course

regarding the sigma lenses - they’re not primarily made for FF, there are APS-C specific designs too.. especially the tiny 16, 30 and 56mm f1.4 lenses

[aksclix]

1 hour ago, nicci78 said:

If you plan to use the CL as a compact camera. Keep it. 
sole problem : CL is not a pocketable camera. Even with TL 18mm. 
So if you need a small bag anyway. You should be better off with TL 23 f/2 and/or TL 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6

 

 

Yea.. I don’t like putting camera in pockets though.. afraid of scratches and accidental falls 😌 I don’t see much use for a 18mm when I have the 23mm is my main concern.. I thought selling it would probably get me 800 bucks or so.. but as someone else mentioned I am exploring the option of getting much cheaper TL with IR conversion and slapping the 18 permanently on it

[robgo2]

19 hours ago, aksclix said:

Ok, the flatter form factor of the CL with 18mm is likened to the not-so-big 23mm then.. to me the 23mm is compact enough and provides a decent option for portraits when needed.. the 18mm couldn’t quite achieve the same 

Also, the TL-23 is a superior lens, IMO, even disregarding focal length differences.

[Sjz]

I suspect it could be the ‘softest’ lens I own.  I need to experiment more, stopping it down a bit.

I have the camera on a wrist strap, the 18mm makes that perfect ‘always with me’ camera.  For me, commuting by public transport, it’s a fantastic form factor.

(How can I miss commuting!)

[nicci78]

TL 18mm is indeed the softest TL lens. 
But it has the fastest AF. 
And it is the lightest and smallest. 
But it lacks a hood. Which is really annoying. You may experience loss of contrast. 
 

So does it worth it ? I used to owned one. Got it at 500€ Only. But in the end my Q was so much better in IQ. Then I paired it with a cheap 500€ brand new in box T.  But even with the TL 18. It does not make the T+TL18 a pocketable camera. It is still too wide and to heavy. So I got rid of both of them. 
 

[aksclix]

I hope you guys mean softest lens wide open? If I intend to keep it I wouldn't use it at f2.8.. it's got no pleasing separation whatsoever.. very bland and messy background for my liking.. I am going to give this a shot as a landscape lens with a TL camera converted to Super color IR.. with IR photography, sharpness shouldn't matter.. can't believe I started out to sell this but bought another TL body (for 600bucks) to convert to IR instead I am incorrigible.. if it works ok, otherwise I'll sell both of them as a package

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[ccdd]

I have TL, 18mm, and multiple M lens. The 18mm is always on the TL as my go anywhere camera, it fits my pocket. Love the lens and compactness. It is not good as M10 with 35 1.4A, but it is lens I can use wide open and still get sharp image(central is pretty sharp).

[Stephencdean]

Don’t all jump on me for saying this, but a CL Paul Smith with any smallish (not the 90mm) titanium M lens, looks really cool. The bottom stripe on the camera being almost titanium and a good match for the M lens!  It isn’t always about spec!