Moving to M: Which 35 mm?

[deekay]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I am a Sony A7RIV and Q2 user and want to purchase a Leica M. I've decided to start with a 35 mm lens. Which one should I start with - Summicron or Summilux?
I enjoy using my Q2 and my Sony f1.8 and Voigtlander 1.2 lenses.
For Summicron vs Summilux I assume it's more than just considering size, weight and aperture.
What should I know and consider....? Thanks.

[Advertisement]

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

[malligator]

35mm APO-Summicron-M is the new hotness, but you'll not be finding one anytime soon.

35mm Summilux-M "FLE" is my personal lens. I love it, but it's big (for an M lens).

35mm Summicron-M is a great lens, but I'm not a fan of the big screw-on shade.

If I was starting from scratch again I'd choose the previous generation Summicron with the clip on plastic hood. Nice and small and reasonably priced.

[deekay]

4 minutes ago, malligator said:

35mm APO-Summicron-M is the new hotness, but you'll not be finding one anytime soon.

35mm Summilux-M "FLE" is my personal lens. I love it, but it's big (for an M lens).

35mm Summicron-M is a great lens, but I'm not a fan of the big screw-on shade.

If I was starting from scratch again I'd choose the previous generation Summicron with the clip on plastic hood. Nice and small and reasonably priced.

What is FLE?

[jaeger]

floating element

only if label was important to you, actually the voigtlander makes even better 35mm lenses than leica IMO. 

[Ba Erv]

Yep, do the 35 Lux FLE

[rsolomon]

2 hours ago, malligator said:

35mm APO-Summicron-M is the new hotness, but you'll not be finding one anytime soon.

35mm Summilux-M "FLE" is my personal lens. I love it, but it's big (for an M lens).

35mm Summicron-M is a great lens, but I'm not a fan of the big screw-on shade.

If I was starting from scratch again I'd choose the previous generation Summicron with the clip on plastic hood. Nice and small and reasonably priced.

I have a pretty much mint condition 35 summicron with the clip on hood, I would sell..... pm me if interested 

[a.noctilux]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

@deekay

Sorry to tell you that you would obtain as many answers as people who dare to answer.

So many choices of fine 35mm, not one is to avoid, neither one is best choice, so take one then use it a lot, you will see by yourself.

 

They are great in each case being ...Summicron/Summilux/Voigtlander/Zeiss/etc.

I was great fan of 35mm Summicron-M asph. ( I had three in each color titanium, silver and black) thinking I was done, but now I have none of those,

only other 35mm lenses.

We change  everyday !

 

 

more fun ...

Edited January 19, 2022 by a.noctilux

[Lelmer]

9 hours ago, deekay said:

What is FLE?

It stands for "floating elements" (to correct the focus shift) and it is the latest and current summilux version. It is my preferred 35mm, with the summicron v4.

[KFo]

OMG, you didn't say which generation 'lux or 'cron! 🙃  

I started with a new 35 Summilux ASPH FLE.  I do not regret that as a starting point.  I'd never had a fast wide lens so the experience was unique for me.

There are physical differences between the 'lux and 'cron that might affect your choice.  The Summilux is a good bit bigger, but interesting enough the Summicron hood is larger making them close to the same size with hoods mounted.  Don't underestimate the importance of the physical dimensions.  The 'lux captures a big chunk of viewfinder if that matters to you.  In fact moving to the M system you may find that view finder blockage becomes important to you.

IMHO, they both have benchmark quality and draw well in a modern way.  There are an almost ridiculous array of 35 options for Leica, so just start someplace and begin forming an opinion after seeing if they draw in a way that you enjoy.  Currently I use a pre-asph Summilux and a Zeiss Biogon 2.8 as well; both compact lenses that draw in interesting ways.

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!

Below, Summicron hood on the right.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by KFo

[deekay]

46 minutes ago, KFo said:

OMG, you didn't say which generation 'lux or 'cron! 🙃  

I started with a new 35 Summilux ASPH FLE.  I do not regret that as a starting point.  I'd never had a fast wide lens so the experience was unique for me.

There are physical differences between the 'lux and 'cron that might affect your choice.  The Summilux is a good bit bigger, but interesting enough the Summicron hood is larger making them close to the same size with hoods mounted.  Don't underestimate the importance of the physical dimensions.  The 'lux captures a big chunk of viewfinder if that matters to you.  In fact moving to the M system you may find that view finder blockage becomes important to you.

IMHO, they both have benchmark quality and draw well in a modern way.  There are an almost ridiculous array of 35 options for Leica, so just start someplace and begin forming an opinion after seeing if they draw in a way that you enjoy.  Currently I use a pre-asph Summilux and a Zeiss Biogon 2.8 as well; both compact lenses that draw in interesting ways.

Below, Summicron hood on the right.

Thank you KFo, and others too. That is really useful. I would never have thought about viewfinder blockage but I can see how that could be an issue in the beginning. Looks like the hoods attach differently too, as someone mentioned.

I must say that I am attracted to the 1.4 but maybe I need to be more conservative when starting out.

[LeicaS2]

Starting with a 35mm. Is a good choice. It’s the lens I leave mounted on my M. And so many options. Size is important to me, and with higher ISO now available, 1.4 is no longer as useful, but it’s what I have. You didn’t mention your budget. Tell me that and I’ll say more. 

[deekay]

2 minutes ago, LeicaS2 said:

Starting with a 35mm. Is a good choice. It’s the lens I leave mounted on my M. And so many options. Size is important to me, and with higher ISO now available, 1.4 is no longer as useful, but it’s what I have. You didn’t mention your budget. Tell me that and I’ll say more. 

Budget could potentially include the 35 lux.

[a.noctilux]

10 minutes ago, deekay said:

Budget could potentially include the 35 lux.

I have no doubt that you can buy what you want, but in real life use, there are other things to beware of like weight, size, finder blockage, focus throw and so on.

...

Those can be work out only when you really use one.

Edited January 19, 2022 by a.noctilux

[Jeff S]

3 hours ago, Lelmer said:

It stands for "floating elements" (to correct the focus shift) and it is the latest and current summilux version. It is my preferred 35mm, with the summicron v4.

The FLE (floating lens element) is intended to increase close-focus performance. The reduction in spherical aberrations has the additional benefit of mitigating aperture-related focus shift.

Jeff

 

[LeicaS2]

So your budget could potentially include a 1.4. Then get the 1.4.but be aware it costs 50% more than a 2.0. I got a used 1.4 and haven’t looked back, but I’m in a minority here having only one 35mm.

[Ko.Fe.]

Are you bokeholic? And which M mount camera?

Answering those two questions will define which lens you might need.

1.4 lens makes sense if you are photographing bokeh and/or have low ISO digital M mount body or film body and shy on flash.

 

[lostproperty]

If you haven't, take time to watch Red Dot Forum's discussion of Leica 35mm....informative and entertaining. These guys formed a large part of my lock down entertainment...much to my wife's amusement.

[Lelmer]

45 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

The FLE (floating lens element) is intended to increase close-focus performance. The reduction in spherical aberrations has the additional benefit of mitigating aperture-related focus shift.

Jeff

 

Thanks for the precision.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[deekay]

1 hour ago, Ko.Fe. said:

Are you bokeholic? And which M mount camera?

Answering those two questions will define which lens you might need.

1.4 lens makes sense if you are photographing bokeh and/or have low ISO digital M mount body or film body and shy on flash.

 

Bokeholic? Yes I am to a large degree although I am prepared in the first few weeks/months/... that not just the background will be OOF (coming from the AF world).

Which camera?  11

[deekay]

46 minutes ago, lostproperty said:

If you haven't, take time to watch Red Dot Forum's discussion of Leica 35mm....informative and entertaining. These guys formed a large part of my lock down entertainment...much to my wife's amusement.

Thanks - this looks perfect!