28mm or 35mm Summicron? Oh the decision...

[Life By Stills]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi all,

I have been umming and ahhing for a while, and thought I'd come to see what people's opinions might be. There's no right or wrong answers to this - I just wanted to see what people's opinions might be to help me make a decision.

I am at home shooting with either 28mm or 35mm (I have a Q2, and use a Summarit-M 35mm f/2.5 on my M10-R). Ignoring what I have at the moment (I am happy with what I have, but I just want to treat myself to a new lens! lol) - I am trying to decide which Summicron to get - if you were able to simply pick either a Summicron-M 28mm f/2 or a 35mm f/2, which one would you pick and why?

Looking forward to hearing your views. Many thanks in advance!

[Decimusmaximus7]

I loved 35mm until one day, in a museum, my back hit the wall and I couldn’t get the shot, so I have defaulted to 28mm since.
 

But even then, I am currently trying to decide between either the 1946-1960: Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron or the 1958-1974: Leitz 35mm f/2.8 Summaron to complete a 60s era set.

[Advertisement]

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

[Life By Stills]

12 minutes ago, Decimusmaximus7 said:

I loved 35mm until one day, in a museum, my back hit the wall and I couldn’t get the shot, so I have defaulted to 28mm since.
 

But even then, I am currently trying to decide between either the 1946-1960: Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron or the 1958-1974: Leitz 35mm f/2.8 Summaron to complete a 60s era set.

LOL yes, I have been there and done that and then wish I had my Q2 with me if I only had my M lol. It might not seem a lot just from reading numbers, but boy is that 7mm difference really vital sometimes!

[Luke_Miller]

I can't decide either. My 35 Summicron usage is about one third higher than my 28 Summicron usage.  Both great lenses.

[Kwesi]

I would go for a 50.
The 28/2 v2 is a wonderful lens but then so is the the 28 on your Q. The current 35/2  ASPH non APO is a very good lens but not significantly better than your summarit. You will be bored with both options in about a month. A 50 will keep you in the zone visually but will force you to start isolating things and also actually start using depth of field as a creative tool. 

[rramesh]

You have both a 28 and a 35. Try something different. A 50 or even a 75 for those nice full frame portraits. 

Edited September 3, 2022 by rramesh

[Huss]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, Luke_Miller said:

I can't decide either. My 35 Summicron usage is about one third higher than my 28 Summicron usage.  Both great lenses.

That makes sense as the 35mm lens is one third longer.

[a.noctilux]

I use the Summicrons in many focal lengths, and so long that I can not decide which is only one to use, it's a pity.

 

As side move, OP I'd give a chance to Elmarit-M 2.8/28mm asph. as small/light companion to the (also) very nice Summarit-M 2.5/35mm.

I use them all and each is great BUT not universal use or "perfect" (= meaning nothing for me).

[spydrxx]

So you got the itch! Given your current gear I'd go for something longer than a 35, either a 50 or if you wanted to really stretch yourself, a 75. Why - you already have the wide end well covered (for most purposes). The addition of a longer focal length will open a different set of perspectives for you.

[Life By Stills]

20 hours ago, Kwesi said:

I would go for a 50.
The 28/2 v2 is a wonderful lens but then so is the the 28 on your Q. The current 35/2  ASPH non APO is a very good lens but not significantly better than your summarit. You will be bored with both options in about a month. A 50 will keep you in the zone visually but will force you to start isolating things and also actually start using depth of field as a creative tool. 

20 hours ago, rramesh said:

You have both a 28 and a 35. Try something different. A 50 or even a 75 for those nice full frame portraits. 

6 hours ago, spydrxx said:

So you got the itch! Given your current gear I'd go for something longer than a 35, either a 50 or if you wanted to really stretch yourself, a 75. Why - you already have the wide end well covered (for most purposes). The addition of a longer focal length will open a different set of perspectives for you.

Thanks @Kwesi @rramesh and @spydrxx for the suggestion of a 50mm. I had a 50mm which I recently got rid of as I didn't like shooting with it. If I do any portraits, I prefer environmental portraits so the 28mm and 35mm are my preferred lenses. But you know what, I am getting the itch to have a collapsible 50mm, not because I will use it a lot, but because I just want to have a collapsible one for the collection LOL.

So... this may be somewhat of a controversial update... I sold the Q2! I managed to get £3k out of it, and I then I blew the whole lot LOL. So now I have a Summicron-M 28mm (latest version)... but also seeing what some of the replies were saying about delving into the longer focal lengths, I added a 1957 collapsible Elmar 90mm f/4 (which is still sharp as anything), and a 1986 Elmarit-M 135mm (the one with the goggles, although when I had a look at the Wiki, it says it's an "Elmarit-R" despite the lens saying "Elmarit-M" on the front ring around the front element - anyone able to help explain that?) to my collection. Never been a fan of 50mm or 75mm, but I now have the 90mm / 135mm for my portrait work (which I rarely do), 135mm for planes, and 28mm / 35mm for my bread and butter photojournalism.

Edited September 3, 2022 by Life By Stills

[Jeff S]

GAS is not born out of logic. No need to explain or justify.

Jeff

[Mute-on]

Neither. I’d get a 28 Elmarit or 28 Summaron. I value smaller size over wider aperture in a 28mm, and prefer 28 over 35. Since you already have a 35 in M mount, the 28 would fill that gap, and give you a one body system. 

[D Fuller]

For me, a 28mm f/2.0 is one of my favorite lenses on any camera. The combination of that focal length and the limited depth of field seems very special to me. A 35mm is just not as interesting in virtually any situation.

If I could afford it, I'd buy a 28mm Sumilux and be very happy indeed.

[D Fuller]

2 hours ago, Life By Stills said:

I blew the whole lot LOL. So now I have a Summicron-M 28mm (latest version)... 

Well done!!

[Ouroboros]

I have both; a 35mm summicron asph v1 and a 28mm summicron asph safari.  Head to head, I prefer the rendering of 28mm summicron on both film and digital (MP and M10-R) and use it far more over the 35mm summicron asph, which although faultless in most practical ways, I find rather bland.  

I mainly use the 28mm as part of a three lens set along with 50mm & 90mm summicrons and the 35mm as an occasional single lens or as a two lens set with the 75mm apo summicron.

When I want something smaller I use a 28mm summaron-m and a 50mm elmar-m, either as a pair or as single lenses where both are at their best (imo) on Portra 400 in good light. 

 

 

 

[Life By Stills]

8 hours ago, Mute-on said:

Neither. I’d get a 28 Elmarit or 28 Summaron. I value smaller size over wider aperture in a 28mm, and prefer 28 over 35. Since you already have a 35 in M mount, the 28 would fill that gap, and give you a one body system. 

Oh yeah, I love the Summaron. Although I decided to go the way of TTArtisan rip off and I have their 28mm f/5.6. It's such a good lens... for a fraction of that price! LOL.

[lct]

Not the same beasts. I would choose the 28mm or 35mm FoV i prefer and decide which model to buy afterwards. 

 

[Edwin Ho]

I own 28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 75mm Leica lenses and will be planning a "walkabout" day for street photography to a local weekend market soon.

Which lens should I use? I think I will attach the 35mm on the camera but will also take along the 75mm in case I wish the subject to be isolated. With a small bag, it can comfortably accommodate a camera with two lenses. This entire combo is lightweight and will be very easy to carry and I should enjoy my photography outing; perhaps with a break to enjoy a nice coffee.

I do not know how the above will impact the OP's decision. Choice of FOV is rather personal and it should fit the purpose it's intended purpose.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Edwin Ho

[Edwin Ho]

On 9/4/2022 at 6:59 AM, Life By Stills said:

 

I sold the Q2! I managed to get £3k out of it, and I then I blew the whole lot LOL. So now I have a Summicron-M 28mm (latest version)

Brave! Now that you have only one lens in 28mm, you may wish to consider a 75mm FOV instead of a 35mm. IMO, less is more.

Caution, GAS is dangerous 😁.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Edwin Ho

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Edwin Ho]

I went back to the OP and the question was really between 28 and 35mm; good choice on the 28mm. You can always crop images shot with a 28mm. I used my 28mm less on my M9 because the frame lines were too close to the edges (I use spectacles). But with LV on my M11, I can now compose my shots accurately.