Decision help: should I sell my 28 Elmarit?

[jrh68uk]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello,

I'm fortunate enough to be in the position that I now have two 28mm M lenses: the tiny Elmarit-M Asph. that I've had for a few years (actually my first Leica lens) and now a 2nd generation Summicron-M Asph. (used) - the unusual point being that I didn't have to sell the Elmarit to in order to get the Summicron. The intention was always to sell it, though, as long as I was satisfied enough with the Summicron once I'd tried it out, in order to replace some of the Summicron cost.

Even though the Summicron was used, it has left a financial hole which, if I don't sell anything, I can manage. My family won't starve and everything will be OK, but I feel I ought to carry out my plan because the Summicron is everything I'd hoped it would be. Trouble is, something is stopping me from doing that right now.

I know this decision is personal and very specific to me but I'm concerned I might regret selling the Elmarit. I really like it, but the Summicron should replace it in every sense except size. Shouldn't it? No-one can decide for me but I'm having doubts either way. Does anyone have both Elmarit and Summicron 28s (any version)? Has anyone bought the Summicron, sold the Elmarit and regretted it? Should I just grit my teeth and do it? First world problem, I know, but help!

[Advertisement]

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

[wizard]

Keep both lenses for a certain period of time. Then, if you have not used the Elmarit during that period, go ahead and sell it. While it is your first Leica lens, and so some emotion may be tied to that lens, it does not make any sense to keep a lens that is not being used (except, of course, money abounds and you just like to keep it no matter what).

[earleygallery]

If you're not going to use it - and why would you if you have the Summicron - then of course you should sell it on.

OTOH if you don't need the funds right now, hang onto it and sell it when you do.

[Jeff S]

Your profile shows you also have two Leica 35mm and 50mm lenses. Seems you should have enough background to judge rationale and use of multiple lenses with same focal length.  But your site also suggests a strong interest in the gear itself (you’re viewing a used M10 ad in the classifieds as I write this!).  Gear vs pics? Only you can determine.

Jeff

Edited September 16, 2021 by Jeff S

[jrh68uk]

Haha Jeff - you caught me! I was actually looking on the classifieds to see how popular it is now... I've bought and sold on it before but that was years ago and I thought if I decided to sell, maybe I'd ty there first. I spotted an M10 and was just curious. That's my story and I'm sticking to it  

I have two 50s and two 35s because there is enough difference in their image quality, for each focal length, to warrant them, let alone the size differences. They all render beautifully, in their own way. It's taken me 13 years to get to this point and I know for sure I'd regret selling any one of those, not that I'm considering it (although I have done, briefly, in the past). For the 28s though, it's a bit different.

I think wizard has hit the nail on the head: the emotional attachment as it was my first Leica lens (when I had an M8). That should not be a reason to keep a lens that I'm (facing reality) not going to use often enough to justify keeping.

Thanks all for your input - just what I needed.

[spydrxx]

Seller's regret often kicks in when you least expect it (speaking from personal experience).

[Jeff S]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, jrh68uk said:

… a lens that I'm (facing reality) not going to use often enough to justify keeping.

 

Use ‘enough’ or not use at all?  If the former,  when/why would you use it in lieu of the Summicron?  If you have a legitimate reason to use the Elmarit rather than the Summicron, even occasionally, then you’ll obviously have to weigh the importance vs the financial aspects.   Nobody can do that for you.

Jeff

[AndreasG]

I even keep two 28mm Elmarit lenses, an old Mandler V3 design and the ASPH V1, I would not sell any of them, because the draw differently. So, just keep if you don't need the money, probably you even get more at a later time.

[jrh68uk]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

Nobody can do that for you.

As I said, I wasn't expecting that. Just some viewpoints from others who may possibly have gone through the same decision making process at some point. The comments so far provide me with some balanced views which is more helpful than just sitting here listening to my own thoughts going back and forth.

If I'm honest with myself, the reasons I'd use the Elmarit over the Summicron would be those of size and/or weight. But actually, the Summicron is so compact itself that I can't really see that as a valid thing to do. Otherwise, it would be (like my pairs of 35s and 50s) because of a marked difference in rendering between the two and me finding both equally valuable for their own reasons. That's the part I've been struggling with. They ARE different, but (from 2.8 on of course) are more similar to each-other than my other pairs. I wish they were more different as that would make the decision much easier!

 

[jrh68uk]

11 minutes ago, AndreasG said:

I even keep two 28mm Elmarit lenses, an old Mandler V3 design

 and the ASPH V1

Thanks Andreas. In your position I would probably do the same. And yes, there's something to be said for waiting (I don't NEED the money right now but I have just cleared out my funds!). That's the good thing about Leica stuff: it holds its value well. 

This is a very personal decision, I know, but I'm finding the thoughts of others very valuable.

[a.noctilux]

In your place,

I'd keep the Summicron to use

I'd sell the Elmarit, now or later

then later buy the Summaron 😇

I'm lucky to have some choices of 28mm, but that's only me, bad guy 🤥

 

seen here

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!

 

[M11 for me]

vor 1 Minute schrieb a.noctilux:

In your place,

I'd keep the Summicron to use

I'd sell the Elmarit, now or later

then later buy the Summaron 😇

I'm lucky to have some choices of 28mm, but that's only me, bad guy 🤥

 

seen here

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!

 

Do you say that you prefer the Summaron over the Elmarit? I would love to have one of those (or both) because of weight 🤑

But that is not the point here. If I can not make a decision I go to ask Mutti 😅

[a.noctilux]

3 minutes ago, M10 for me said:

Do you say that you prefer the Summaron over the Elmarit? I would love to have one of those (or both) because of weight 🤑

But that is not the point here. If I can not make a decision I go to ask Mutti 😅

No I have no preference for one lens.

I have preference only for having choices,

some 28mm are lighter than Leica's as 3.5/28 LTM Canon for example

 

I do use happily other 28mm also,

 

[Jeff S]

38 minutes ago, jrh68uk said:

I wish they were more different as that would make the decision much easier!

 

That would simplify my decision… less is more, no reason to double up…sell the Elmarit, which sucks at f2. But that would be my approach. (I own just the 28 Summicron ASPH v.1, which is tiny compared to my SL lenses, small even by M standards, and has never been the reason for any of my less than worthy pics or prints.)

Jeff

Edited September 16, 2021 by Jeff S

[Gobert]

1 hour ago, a.noctilux said:

In your place,

I'd keep the Summicron to use

I'd sell the Elmarit, now or later

then later buy the Summaron 😇

I'm lucky to have some choices of 28mm, but that's only me, bad guy 🤥

 

seen here

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!

 

Which one would you keep of the three if you had to make a choice? I’m considering to buy Summaron, although I have an Elmarit.

[M11 for me]

vor 24 Minuten schrieb Gobert:

Which one would you keep of the three if you had to make a choice? I’m considering to buy Summaron, although I have an Elmarit.

How would you describe the advantages from one over the other? I love 28mm angle of view and have the Summicron (besides Q2). As I use that lens mainly during hiking in the nature I imagine that a lighter version of my Summicron could be either the Elmarit or the Summaron.

 

[Gobert]

@M10 for you
 

Elmarit: razor sharp, almost clinical, feeling of medical laboratory.

Summaron: classic, vintage rendering, gives a warm feeling.

Edited September 16, 2021 by Gobert

[farnz]

7 hours ago, jrh68uk said:

Does anyone have both Elmarit and Summicron 28s (any version)? Has anyone bought the Summicron, sold the Elmarit and regretted it? Should I just grit my teeth and do it? First world problem, I know, but help!

I had the tiny 28 Elmarit asph but found it a little too contrasty for my taste.  I bought the 28 Summicron-M asph v1 because if its superb micro-contrast and sold the Elmarit on and have never missed it.

Later I traded the 28 Summicron towards my beloved 50/1 Noctilux but I always missed the Summicron.  I was fortunate to find a lightly-used silver chrome 28 Summicron-M asph v1 at the right price and I'm very happy with it and still don't miss the Elmarit.

In the 'Summicron gap' I used a Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron that is an excellent lens although not quite in the league of the Summicron imo and a tiny (smaller than the Elmarit) 28/3.5 Kobalux lens, which I'm very fond of and minds its own business almost invisibly in the corner of my camera bag.

Good luck with your decision.

Pete.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[M11 for me]

vor 36 Minuten schrieb Gobert:

@M10 for you
 

Elmarit: razor sharp, almost clinical, feeling of medical laboratory.

Summaron: classic, vintage rendering, gives a warm feeling.

I feel that I am the Elmarit type then. So my decision is not made yet. I look at all the published photographs in the respective thread here in the forum and I have major difficulties to make out what it means "classic", "vintage" etc. That part I will have to learn. By no means i would like to buy a Summaron to find out that it is not "sharp". But up to today all the images that I studied seem to be "sharp" 😏

I want maybe to add that it seems that I have some missing gene: As I have two 50mm; the Summilux in silver and the light Summarit that I love because of size and weight. But I can not make out differences between Lux and Summarit. Here I have to admit that I never "tested" seriously. I just look at my photographs and like or dislike them. Hm . . .

Edited September 16, 2021 by M10 for me

[a.noctilux]

Talking about sharpness with 28 Summaron-M is 'falling a side'.

In my use, I never complain about the sharpness thing in results from Summaron-M 28mm.

In dim situation, the blur is mainly from moving subject (or myself, slow speed), but for me this lens is sharp enough from f/5.6 to f/22.