Which lense(s) to give up?

[DPBrooklyn]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello!

I’ve been shooting with an old M8 and figured it’s time to finally upgrade to the M10. To fund the switch, I’m selling some lenses and looking for advice on which to keep / sell. 
 

My lenses include:

- Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH

- Summicron 35mm f/2 

- Summicron 50mm f/2

- Summilux 75mm f/1.4

- Summicron 90mm f/2

- Tele-Elmar 135mm f/4

 

I mainly enjoy street photography with some versatility appreciated for trips, so have been planning to keep the 24-50 lenses. 

Of the others, I’m leaning towards keeping the 90mm and selling the 75mm and 135mm. 
 

Does that seem reasonable to all of you? If you had to get ride of 2 of the above lenses, which would you part with?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

Quite reasonable - but analyze your photographs and see which lenses you use most and which lenses produce the photographs you like most before deciding. Take the difference in angle of view between the M8 and M10 into account. e.g. if the 35 turns out to be your preferred focal length on the M8, you will need to hang on to your 50 for the M10, etc.

Never sell that Elmarit 24 - it is one of the best lenses Leica ever made. 

Your best sell from a money point of view is the Summilux 75; though it is an unique lens, it is also a quite expensive one and you can always replace it by a Voigtländer Nokton 75.

Personally I never liked the Summicron 90. Though good, I found the Elmarit -M 90  the better and far lighter and more compact lens. A switch there might bring in some money as well.

And yes, 135 mm on an M is an acquired taste. But this lens is not the most expensive one around, so you might consider keeping it.

 

[Jeff S]

Jaap makes a good point regarding the cropped M8 sensor (1.33 crop factor).  My favorite lens on the M8.2 was a 28 (equivalent 37mm FOV), and now prefer a 35 on the M10.  But I’ve always liked a 50 on both the M8 and subsequent ‘full frame’ M bodies, never bonded with 75mm frame lines.  
 

These are personal matters.  Only you can determine what suits your style and vision.  Many here would recommend never selling a Leica lens, finding alternate funds if possible.  My view is more practical: keep what’s needed and minimize kit.  I only use the RF on an M (no external EVF or finder) and stick with 28/35/50 focal lengths.  Longer and wider focal lengths are used on an SL2, which serves different needs and offers a different shooting experience.  YMMV.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Jeff

Edited May 24, 2021 by Jeff S

[gotium]

That’s exactly what I would do, but that’s because of my personal preference for focal lengths. I like to have one long lens for occasional use, and 90 is about right (mine is the elmarit, which I like for the size and image quality, and I can’t focus well enough to justify a wider aperture). Otherwise I’d only carry 24-50 mm lenses.

[Printmaker]

Tough call. I love the 35/75 on the M10 But I have the 75 Summicron. It is smaller and lighter than the 75/1.4. And the Lux would net you the most. Personally, my 75 found a home on my SL and is quite happy there.

While the 24 is a great lens, the lack of frame lines could be a factor. Your 35 and 50 are definitely keepers. 90 Summicron, If it is an APO, I'd keep it. And the 135 Tele Elmar, as Jaap said, is not worth much but is a great lens. I took one to South Africa and used it to photograph lions and leopards. It was hard to hit perfect focus when they were walking a few meters away, but overall I was happy with the results. 

So I'd put the 24 and 75 on the block. The pair might bring enough for a new M10P/R... certainly more than enough for a used M10.

[LeicaR10]

DPBrooklyn,  Jaapv advice is IMO good.  When it comes down to what focal lengths you shoot the most but convert it to the M10 sensor.  I second Jaapv's advice about not selling the 24 Elmarit because it is an excellent lens.  Although many well meaning photographers will offer you their ideas, including me, ultimately it is your decision.  My 2 cents...keep the 24, 50 and 90.  You can crop or move a step back or forward to get your photograph.  Also, you will have a simple, practical kit with your new M10.  r/ Mark

[andyturk]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Keep the lenses. Sell a kidney, or maybe a child.

[Dennis]

3 hours ago, DPBrooklyn said:

- Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH

- Summicron 35mm f/2 

- Summicron 50mm f/2

- Summilux 75mm f/1.4

- Summicron 90mm f/2

- Tele-Elmar 135mm f/4

Keep:

• Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH
• Summicron 35mm f/2 
• Summilux 75mm f/1.4

Bye bye:

• Summicron 50mm f/2
• Summicron 90mm f/2
• Tele-Elmar 135mm f/4

And never look back. Outstanding kit. Sky is the limit. A win win.

 

[rramesh]

Personally I would keep the 35 and 50. These are the most useful on a full frame M. The rest you need to decide based on your photography needs. If portraits are needed, then 75 or 90. 

The 24 and 135 would not be my choice. 

[evikne]

Personally, I would keep the 35, 50 and 90. 

But I would never let anyone else decide which lenses to keep and sell.

Edited May 24, 2021 by evikne

[Guest]

5 hours ago, DPBrooklyn said:

Does that seem reasonable to all of you? If you had to get ride of 2 of the above lenses, which would you part with?

The same two as you. The result would be similar to what I have (24/35/50/90, plus MATE). I also ended up with this combination after selling a few lenses recently to buy an M10.

But I also like Dennis' idea: 24/35/75.

[luigi bertolotti]

Given that funding is a goal, Summilux 75 is the lens to trade...  I think you won't miss the focal. having the 90.  The other that can bring good cash is the 24..  I sold mine in the same situtation of you, years ago (switch from M8 to M240) . but of course time to time I regret... 😒  and later on I got an Elmarit 28 IV : the  residual consideration about selling the 24 is that under 35mm you can have good alternatives in the CV offering.

[jaapv]

The  problem with the 24 is my personal experience. I sold mine - which, in the end, forced me to buy it back in the form of the Summilux 24. It did not do my finances much good.

[Ouroboros]

16 minutes ago, luigi bertolotti said:

Given that funding is a goal, Summilux 75 is the lens to trade...  I think you won't miss the focal. having the 90.  The other that can bring good cash is the 24..  I sold mine in the same situtation of you, years ago (switch from M8 to M240) . but of course time to time I regret... 😒  and later on I got an Elmarit 28 IV : the  residual consideration about selling the 24 is that under 35mm you can have good alternatives in the CV offering.

I’d extend that comment throughout the focal length range to the CV 75mm.  It’s perfectly possible to put a range of 3-4 good quality CV lenses together for less cost than a single Leica lens.

Given the range of lenses the OP has, the least useful focal lengths for me out of the set would be the 50mm, 90mm and 135mm and those are the ones I’d let go.

[Narsuitus]

I shoot my M10 with:
21mm f/1.4
35mm f/1.4
90mm f/2

Therefore, I would keep:
24mm f/2.8
35mm f/2
75mm f/1.4

However, I could also live with:
24mm f/2.8
50mm f/2
90mm f/2

 

Edited May 24, 2021 by Narsuitus

[padam]

If you decide on selling a 75 Lux, just try not to look back at pictures taken with it. You might feel instant regret.
It is probably one of the best "cinematic street" lenses ever made, although I probably wouldn't want to use it on an M10 specifically, just because it works so well on so many other cameras.

P.S.: RedDotForum's upcoming episode will be about 75mm lenses, if I remember right.

Edited May 24, 2021 by padam

[evikne]

7 minutes ago, padam said:

If you decide on selling a 75 Lux, just try not to look back at pictures taken with it. You might feel instant regret.

I always do that mistake; I look back at pictures taken with lenses I've sold. And I miss them badly. 😥😬

[padam]

19 minutes ago, evikne said:

I always do that mistake; I look back at pictures taken with lenses I've sold. And I miss them badly. 😥😬

You probably have even better lenses now, so you can say "Well I have that, so it's fine"  the 75 Lux is that lens for me and it just gets even better over time
(for instance, 4k120p video with this lens is amazing, it is not just for taking stills)

Edited May 24, 2021 by padam

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[evikne]

10 minutes ago, padam said:

You probably have even better lenses now

"Better" is always relative. But I hope they suit me better.

[Stein K S]

Agree with Narsuitus... 24, 35 & 75.

I have that 24 and I will never sell that lens. I donˋt have the 75 lux, but the 75 cron... but only for moneys & supply reasons... the lux seems to be a lens that one very easily will miss...

PS: In general I truly hesitate to sell lenses to fund bodies... 😉