Which lense(s) to give up?

[Ccoppola82]

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Out of the two, I’d sell the 35 and 135. 
 

reason being that between a 24 and 50 you’ve sorta eliminated the “need” for a 35. Also, should you decide to get another 35, there are TONS of options (cv ultron) down the road that compare well and are budget friendly. I would have a hard time selling the 75 lux. I don’t own one but for some reason that lens produces some of the best photos I’ve ever seen.  I know If I owned one and sold it, I would regret it. If I had to sell a 3rd it would be the 90 because you’ve already got your short tele covered with the 75. 

24-50-75 has you completely covered. 

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[m410]

I enjoy focal lengths with a distinctly different reach and perspective.  

- 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

[adan]

Lots of ways to juggle this.

Personally - on the M10 - I use 21/28/35/75/90/135.

Back when I made the transition from M8 to M9, (and reduced my lens collection to help finance that - I was laid-off at the time), I got rid of 15/28/50/90 lenses, keeping only a 21, and adding a 75 Summilux. Exactly because it did the same job on a full-frame sensor that a 50mm did on the cropped M8. "0.75m close-up ability" for studio and portrait work, and a fast aperture.

Then fairly rapidly got a 35mm (replacing the M8-cropped 28) and a 135 (replacing the M8-cropped 90).

Only recently have I added back a 90 and 28, because of their 1980s Mandler/Canada image character. It is "comforting" to have that available, if only in the closet.

But at this point, my 90 Summicron is "on the bubble" if I needed to get rid of one. I find the 75 to be much more flexible, on the larger sensor. Especially in its close-cropping ability (almost the same magnfication as a 90, while focusing down to 0.75m). And its DoF and openness is "friendlier" for rapid street shooting - still fills in for a 50.

My 28mm is next on the "hit list," as being distractingly close to the 35 or 21 - I don't have time to be weenying about a 7mm difference when shooting fast on the street, or anywhere else. But it pairs very nicely with a 75 for a two-lens sub-kit - one thing the Lenny Kravitz Drifter package gets right (without the faux snake skin).

https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/Leica-M-Special-Editions/Drifter

I do not carry all my lenses at once - I mix and match according to mood or situation, and enforce that with a tiny bag (+ a lens on the camera)

75-28 for almost-pocketable simplicity (my current 75 is the C/V Nokton f/1.5 - 335 grams)

21-35-90 for 1960s "M2 nostalgia"

21-35-135 (like M410) for "the long bridge across focal lengths," as Leitz used to market it. I can shoot travel for days with only that - unless the light is really bad, or I really need a tight close-up.

21-35-75-135 for "the long bridge" plus a faster, closer-framing portrait-tele option

My recommendation would also be like M410s - except keep the 75 Summilux if you can. Or at least expect to replace it with another 75, eventually. You will be surprised at how useful it can be on the bigger sensor.

BTW - the 75 framelines on the M8 are pretty lousy - much more accurate and "clean-looking" on the full-frame cameras, and especially the M10.

[a.noctilux]

To the OP,

To simplify things and to have the most money out of my lenses to buy M10,

If it was me, I'd sell ALL of the lenses (the listing you provide), then begin new life with Summarit-M lens line.

Even better if I can find 2.5 older/cheaper one or two 35/50/75 Summarit-M (I use those three now and I'm happy with them, small, light and as good as the M10 sensor can hold).

I can also add the asph. Elmarit-M 28mm as small but really nice results, if needing wider than 35mm.

 

Arnaud

[Fedro]

I would sell one between the 90 cron and the 75 Lux (Lux has the highest fetching potential) and the 135

35 and 50 are ideal on a RF, 24 is very useful and keep one out of the 3 long lenses

[250swb]

19 hours ago, DPBrooklyn said:

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?

Your answer is in which lenses you'll end up rebuying, so don't sell those in the first place.

[pippy]

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As has been said it's difficult for anyone other than yourself to say as we don't know which of your lenses get the most play-time but, FWIW, here's how I'd go about it taking a purely practical approach...

I'll assume you will be adopting the stance of "All My Lenses are of Equal Merit in My Estimation; I Have No Favourites Nor Any Place for Sentimental Nonsense."

Your short lenses. Sell the 24. With the M8 Your 24 is longer-than-28-but-shorter-than-35. Decide whether 28 or 35 would be more useful for your needs. If 35 then you are fine with your Summicron. If 28 then sell the 35 as well as the 24 and buy a 28. I'd go for the Elmarit ASPH if you don't need f2.

Keep the 50.

Your long lenses. Sell the 75. Keep the 90. Keep the 135. The 135 might not be used that often but it's hardly going to bring in much money so there's no point in selling it.

You will end up with 28/35; 50; 90; 135. This is a very good spread of excellent lenses for a FF body.

Sentiment, of course, would say Do Not Sell a 75 Summilux!

Happily that's your choice to make and not mine.

Philip.

[DPBrooklyn]

Hi All -

Thanks so much for the thoughtful replies! This was my first post on the forum, and I'm blown away by the fast and helpful input. It's great to be part of this community. 

One thing this has made me sure of is that I need to first get the camera (M10) and try the lenses with it before making a decision (I was originally planning to sell the lenses at the same time as getting the camera). Like many of you have pointed out, the full-frame sensor will give me a different experience than I'm used to on the old M8 so I'll want some time to get a feel for what works best.

I'm leaning towards keeping the 24 / 50 / 75 (selling the 35 / 90 / 135) - especially after all the great things many of you have said about the 75 - but we'll see how it feels with the new camera.

If you have any more thoughts, keep them coming!

A separate question (which I'll post under a different thread, too):

I found the used M10 (black) that I'm looking for - but, the store has a floor-model for sale (never owned) which has a unique "Betriebsk" engraving from Leica on top of the body. Apparently this means "factory" in Germany - it's printed on models intended only for showrooms / internal reference, but some have made it into distribution. The store assures me that it's an identical camera to 'standard' models. I attached an image for reference. Has anyone come across this before? Should I have any concerns getting this vs. a standard model without the engraving? I do like that it makes it more unique, but worry it has some consequence I'm not thinking of (e.g., lower resale value, etc.). 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello DP,

Welcome to the Forum.

1 option that you might consider is to put the 24mm lens in a drawer for a while & get your new camera.

Then you will find that you have pretty much the same coverage that you had before by using the lens that is 1 "step" narrower in the angle of coverage than the lens that you used before in the same situation. Except 1 step up from a 135mm F4 Tele-Elmar means that you would have to look at 1 of the 180mm lenses that are adaptable to an M10.

By the way, if your 135mm F4 Tele-Elmar is 1 of the earlier versions it can be used as a very fine macro lens by today's standards.

Then, after you are used to your new angles of coverage (Actually quite easy to do.) you might try that 24mm lens that is sitting in a drawer somewhere for a new point of view.

Enjoy your new camera & lenses combination. You might even consider keeping the older camera for a while, if possible, because you never know what new ideas you might think of.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited May 25, 2021 by Michael Geschlecht

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Again DP,

A "Betriebsk." on a body instead of the usual engraving will not take away from any future resale value in terms on any Leitz or Leica cameras that you might come across. As a matter of fact there are a number of earlier cameras with this type of marking that have sold at a premium in the Collectors Market. Leitz/Leica is a brand made up of the somewhat curious combination of both users & collectors. Sometimes in the same person at the same time.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited May 25, 2021 by Michael Geschlecht

[adan]

Having worked in a Leica dealership in the past decade, it is not uncommon for Leica to offer cameras (and lenses) to dealers that have been used by the company some way or another. maybe as the loaners to beta-testers, or by reps, or at trade shows (once upon a time) as well as in the factory. Generally with about a $1000 discount - they were, after all, "used" by someone in the Leica organization for some amount of time, even though never previously sold.

They come with "as new" packaging, warranty, etc.

I never saw a recent product inscribed "Betreibsk.," but Denver isn't NYC or Frankfurt.

Such corporate-demo items were usually referred to (but not engraved) as "Code U" products, when Leica USA called (about once a month or so) to ask if we wanted one.

(The other category, "QM2(3,4)," were "factory seconds" with minor (often even impossible to see, by my eyes) cosmetic flaws, where it was cheaper to just discount them on the market rather than recycle them through the production sequence for hand-refinishing.)

I would not consider the engraving to be a negative, and as Michael suggests, It might even be a plus for many (not me - I shoot, not collect ).

[m410]

3 hours ago, DPBrooklyn said:

Hi All -

Thanks so much for the thoughtful replies! This was my first post on the forum, and I'm blown away by the fast and helpful input. It's great to be part of this community. 

One thing this has made me sure of is that I need to first get the camera (M10) and try the lenses with it before making a decision (I was originally planning to sell the lenses at the same time as getting the camera). Like many of you have pointed out, the full-frame sensor will give me a different experience than I'm used to on the old M8 so I'll want some time to get a feel for what works best.

I'm leaning towards keeping the 24 / 50 / 75 (selling the 35 / 90 / 135) - especially after all the great things many of you have said about the 75 - but we'll see how it feels with the new camera.

If you have any more thoughts, keep them coming!

A separate question (which I'll post under a different thread, too):

I found the used M10 (black) that I'm looking for - but, the store has a floor-model for sale (never owned) which has a unique "Betriebsk" engraving from Leica on top of the body. Apparently this means "factory" in Germany - it's printed on models intended only for showrooms / internal reference, but some have made it into distribution. The store assures me that it's an identical camera to 'standard' models. I attached an image for reference. Has anyone come across this before? Should I have any concerns getting this vs. a standard model without the engraving? I do like that it makes it more unique, but worry it has some consequence I'm not thinking of (e.g., lower resale value, etc.). 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

 

Seems the M10 camera your are showing is a "LEICA WORKS" issue.   Photo from LHSA site.

Looks potentially pretty cool.

Might want to go with it!  

 

Photo from LHSA site.

 

Edited May 25, 2021 by m410

[Ernstk]

Welcome to the forum. Whatever you do with your lenses, please don't sell your M8.

Ernst

Edited May 26, 2021 by Ernstk

[autograph]

On 5/24/2021 at 8:15 AM, Dennis said:

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.

 

Ditto.

24mm and 35mm for street. and 75mm 1.4 to create difference. Characterful lens for creamy portraits.

[Danner]

Were it me, I'd shed the 90 and keep the rest.  The 75/1.4 gives you a DoF beast, and the 135 some reach.  You have to have a 35 & 50 (pretty sure there's a rule somewhere), and the 24 for tight spaces and expansive views.  Perfect.

[Steve Ash]

Am 24.5.2021 um 13:08 schrieb andyturk:

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

It is a real pity that noone is taking mother-in-law...

Edited May 28, 2021 by Steve Ash

[NZDavid]

Agree with comments here. The 24 is superb. The 35 is my most used lens. 50 is good for portraits but the 90 (I have the 2.8 Elmarit) is also superb. Dunno about the 75. I sold the 135 as I just wasn't using it enough and manual focusing is tricky. So yes, I think you're making the right move. 

[LarsHP]

I think it's a good idea to get the camera first before selling any of the lenses. 

To me, one of the basic ideas using M cameras and lenses is the compactness. This also implies not having a whole bunch of lenses in your bag. 

Regarding which focal lengths to keep or sell, it really is a personal matter. When I had a M4-2 in the eighties and nineties, I had 21, 35, 50 and 90mm. I never ever used the 50 and rarely the 90. I hated the 28mm focal length. Today, I love my Nokton 50mm f/1.2 and don't see any need for a 35mm, because it's too close to the 50mm, so I use a 28mm and like the focal length...

My M kit is now composed by 15, 28, 50 and 90mm. As you can see, there is a good distance between each focal length, actually just short of a doubling. Another kit with good distance between the angle of views could be 21, 35, 75 (and 135mm).

So, if I was you, which I am not, then I would select lenses with a good "spread" that intuitively and practically works for you. I would definitely sell either the 75 or 90mm. For instance, you could keep the 24, 35, 75 and 135mm lenses or 24, 50 and 90mm (and 135mm, since the value having it is larger than the money you will get from selling it).

As mentioned earlier, there are no frame lines for the 24, and this may suggest that you sell it for a 28mm or go even wider to 21mm. 24mm for a FF Leica M camera really is odd IMO. 

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[BradS]

I loath selling lenses but if I were coercerd,  I'd sell the... 35mm Summicron, 90mm Summicron and the 135mm tele-Elmar.