My first Leica Film Body - thoughts on First Glass. 35APO Sumicron/ 50APO Sumicron

[kivis]

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On 8/22/2021 at 9:11 PM, ktmrider2 said:

I think both those APO lenses are overkill for film.  If you want Leica lenses, the current version of the 35 or 50 Summicron would be outstanding.  However, both Zeiss and Voigtlander are making killer lenses in those focal lengths as well.  The 35f2.8 C Biogon may be the sharpest lens made in 35mm and goes new for less than $900 while the 50 Planar or Sonnar also have a number of fans and cost less then half of the Summicrons.  And although I don't know much about them, remember that Voightlander is making APO lenses in both 35 and 50 focal lengths for a cost of about one tenth that of Leica's APO"s.

Personally, I shoot both the 35 f2.8 C Biogon and 35f1.2 Nokton (and still have less than a new Summicron would cost) and in 50 I have the latest 50 Cron purchased back in the mid 1990's and a new 50f1.2 Nokton which has knocked the socks off lots of Leica lovers here on this site.  

But honestly it would be really, really hard to get a bad 35 or 50 or even 90 among the current offerings from Leica, Zeiss or Voigtlander.

And IMHO the M2 has the BEST viewfinder of any Leica if you like 35 while the M3 has the best for 50.  All other Leica's are just a modest refinement of the classic M2/M3.  Presently, I use an M4 (modern features of film loading and rewinding) while still has the classic German workmanship while my button rewind M2 may be the most elegant Leica body (missing self timer) if you can live with 35/50/90.

 

 

I totally agree on this. My current setup (over the last 15 years) is a 50mm and a 21mm.

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[cobbu2]

Unless I missed it was already mentioned, may I suggest the 50/2.8 Elmar-M? Very sharp and collapsible making a very compact combination. It lives on my M6.

[Herr Barnack]

On 8/22/2021 at 5:20 PM, Giguchan said:

...I am wondering which Lens  should i start  off with first?  The 50 or the 35? I already have the 28  in my Q's so i don't  think I'm going that wide. I tried both and i kinda like the 50 the best. There are times  when i wish i did have the 35.   To tell you the truth  i think that if you  have one.. eventually  you will purchase the other.  I don't know anyone  who has an MP with more  than  2 Lenses.  

Thanks 

What Focal did you start off with?

 

It sounds as if you like the 50mm - so get the 50mm.  For film, I would get the 50mm Summilux f/1.4 ASPH rather than the 50/2 Summicron APO, though.

I started my Leica journey in 2003 with a black paint 0.72 MP and a 50mm Summilux Millennium black paint (last non-ASPH 50 Summilux). 

You would be hard pressed to go wrong with the 50mm Summilux ASPH, particularly on a film M camera.  The extra +1EV will serve you well when shooting with film.

Edited October 4, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[Giguchan]

17 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

You may shrink your picture size before sending (attaching) to this site, max size 2.44 MB as seen belw.

Have a read here, link to ...

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302227-how-to-display-images-on-the-forum-in-text/

Thank you!!

[Giguchan]

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

It sounds as if you like the 50mm - so get the 50mm.  For film, I would get the 50mm Summilux f/1.4 ASPH rather than the 50/2 Summicron APO, though.

I started my Leica journey in 2003 with a black paint 0.72 MP and a 50mm Summilux Millennium black paint (last non-ASPH 50 Summilux). 

You would be hard pressed to go wrong with the 50mm Summilux ASPH, particularly on a film M camera.  The extra +1EV will serve you well when shooting with film.

I did go with the 35 Summilux first.  I do plan on the (50mm Summilux f/1.4 ASPH) but that will have to wait a tad longer. I figured that this would be a great place to start.  I almost went with the less expensive "Cron" but i knew that one extra stop  would  come in handy when  shooting Film.

Edited October 4, 2021 by Giguchan

[MarkP]

On 10/3/2021 at 3:12 PM, Giguchan said:

Hello  Good People,

  I wanted to mention that i made the decision and purchased the 35mm  Summilux.  I tried to show the  Box  with the lens  but with the  file limit.. that was nixed.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and replies!

 

I agree that one could not justify an APO-Summicron for film. 

I would have suggested any other 35 or 50 depending on what FL sits best with you, and a Summilux of you needed the extra stop (probably more important for film that digital) . Can't go wrong starting with 35mm.  

Which 35 Summilux did you get?

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by MarkP

[Giguchan]

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1 hour ago, MarkP said:

I agree that one could not justify an APO-Summicron for film. 

I would have suggested any other 35 or 50 depending on what FL sits best with you, and a Summilux of you needed the extra stop (probably more important for film that digital) . Can't go wrong starting with 35mm.  

Which 35 Summilux did you get?

 

  Hey there.

  I took a ride up to Leica in Boston and picked up the Leica  Summilux-m 35 f/1.4 ASPH. Today i visited the  Leica shop in NYC and picked up the filter. for my Film kit I will only  have 2 lenses  so i figured that maybe splash  big.  I understand that if you have a lot of Leica Glass  then maybe B+W might be a better move- like i did with my Nikon Kit.   I have a lot of Nikon Glass  and would have to  Liquidate a fair bit of it to fund my 50.  I  still like my Nikon kit  so I'm going to  keep it intact. I just have to figure out which glass gets used more than others.    I realize that  for the price of the Lux  i could've purchased  both the 35 F2 AND the 50 F2.  I know i'm going to be happy with my purchase.

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by Giguchan

[MarkP]

1 minute ago, Giguchan said:

 

I also use B+W for protective filters on all my lenses (and coloured filters for B&W film). 
 

[Giguchan]

 They're really great Filters!

 I have them on my Q2/M  as well.