tofsla Posted October 10, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 10, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Its been long long long road to find a perfect lens. It took many years and resources equal of few years GDP of the small country somewhere deep in Pacific or in sub-Saharan Africa. So I will start with every lens I try and reasons I rejected it. Its very personal, so please don't be offended: 1. Try and hate it. Leica 135 f3.4 APO on M3, M7. Monster lens. Horrible ergonomic, hard to focus. Size of the image in viewfinder is smaller then post-stamp. You end up cutting chins hands, and other parts trying to make a photo out of it. Yes it is sharp, but so what? Nikon 135 f2 DC is faster sharper and better build also joy to use on F100 or any full frame camera 2. Try and hate it. Leica 75 f1.4 on M3, M7 and M8. Another franken lens. Makes M7 look like StarWar laser gun and my little daughter gets scared when I mount it on M7. And how about it takes long long long time for focus ring to move from infinity to some other place. So long that my hands getting tired. To get accurate focus you need to take about 10 pictures and be lucky and don't drink any beer. Not for me, I settle for Nikon 85 f1.4. Again just such a great ergonomics and I can focus so fast that my wife doesn't have time to stop smiling. 3. Try and hate it. Leica Noctilux 50 f1 on M3, M7 and M8. OK they claim its f1 lens? in about center of the frame. They did not tell you u losing 2-3stops as you moving away to the corners? What a waist of glass and speed. Again old good trusted Nikon Noct. May be its only f1.2 but at least its 1.2 everywhere! I wish they bring it back with IF and VR. But have to use what i have for now 4. Try it and love it! Old good Summicron 50 f2 Everything perfect when lens is mounted on M3 or M7, may be a bit too wide for M8. But its just the marvel. Its looks right its feels right. It makes you want to go and make photo without scaring kids and small animals 5. Try it but could not figure out why other love it. Summicron 35 f2. Small but a bit odd lens. Small focusing tab, small aperture ring. Too small for anything. Sold it and never regretted it 6. Try it and love it! Summilux 35 f1.4 ASPH. The lens! Not to big not to small, great hood, great focusing tab, great image. Works as charm on M7 may be a bit too contrasty on M8, But keeper! 7. Try it and love it! CV 28 f3.5 They need to teach Leica how to make tinny lenses. Its tinny but everything in the right place everything where its suppose to be and looks great and works great on M7 and M8 8. Try it and hated it! Leica 21 f2.8 pre-ASPH. What a waist of glass. Lens was good to make shorts of animals with very wide lens. So much distortion that you can send images to America Funniest Home Video. Had to go 9. Try it and keep it! Leica 24 f2.8 ASPH. Good good lens. Nothing else to say. Probably one wide angle i can tolerate in my setup. Get used often in M8 and not so often on M7 (too wide!) So after 10yr of buying and trying and selling and buying and trying and selling again and again. I end up with 4 lenses Summcron 50 f2, Summilux 35 f1.4 ASPH, CV 28 f3.4 and Elmarit 24 f2.8 ASPH. I was almost in Nirvana and I was thinking that my personal photo Paradise is here and now! But it all changed soon. One sunny day just few weeks ago, browsing thru this group i stumble into some messages that Tri-Elmar is discontinue! Oh, I got to get one! I got to try it out. It was something i never done before. And I got one! just about week ago! And I can say Om Mani Padme Um! I found what i been looking all these long years. True Paradise! Lens I always dreamed about, lens I always wanted to have but did not know that it was IT! Everything perfect: size, ergonomic, photo, how its feels about me, how I feel about her. I can leave 3 lenses at home and walk about just singing this U2 song One dream, One lens... Thank you everyone and comments welcome! :D :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 10, 2007 Posted October 10, 2007 Hi tofsla, Take a look here Paradise Found. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted October 10, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 10, 2007 An interesting and funny story...I'm happy for you yu've found your IDEAL lens... me too (who don't own it) have thoghts many times that Trie Elmar could be one of my favourite... but now that I use M8 only am no more so sure... 50 is a strange focal... And of course, if you are so happy of your Tri Elmar, go on with your search... sell the 28-35-50 primes (keep the 24 asph...) and chase for the perfect 90 !!! Start with the Macro Elmar... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6J Posted October 10, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 10, 2007 Well, I mostly agree with you, although I really like the Summicron 35mm (more than the Summilux, but this is another story) and I highly respect the Noctilux for the IQ of the darks (although its size is absolutely unacceptable for me, but this is personal of course). Many people try to justify the Noctilux shooting the wrong themes under the wrong lighting. For me, the strength of the Noctilux is with low available light, not at f/1 but slightly stopped down (say f/1.4 to f/4). It is nice that you are happy with your stuff! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 10, 2007 Share #4 Posted October 10, 2007 Firm believer in buy it and try it. Issue is i do it 2 or 3 times on each lens:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C. Posted October 10, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 10, 2007 I also find that there is no substitute for actually trying a given lens on the M8 before making a decision. While obviously expensive, one advantage of Leica glass is that the resale value is also very strong. So if borrowing lenses is not an option, it is possible to purchase lenses (preferably used but in fine condition), try them, and resell them if they don't meet expectations. Given the aggregate cost of an M8 and several lenses, losing a small percentage of that cost in order to really fine tune lens selection works well in my case. I have already bought and sold several lenses, not because they weren't intrinsically good, but because they just didn't click for me on the M8. So, for example, I tried the 28 'cron ASPH, found it to be an 'in between' focal length to my eye, and sold it at a small loss. It is an excellent lens, as almost all would agree, but the focal length didn't feel right to me, so I replaced it with a 24mm. As to the original poster's list, all I can say is that everyone has different tastes and criteria for lens selection. I happen to love the unique character of the Noctilux, use it mainly wide-open, and am not at all bothered by the weight, focus-shift, or long focus-throw. Regards, Tony C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack MacDonough Posted October 10, 2007 Share #6 Posted October 10, 2007 Ah, so now we might have a thread on what lenses you are happy you sold? Well I first sold an old 35mm 1.4 when I bought the new asph 35 1.4. and because I still had a 35 2.0 non asph I still had a compact lens to use when the 35 1.4 asph was bigger than I wanted to carry. So I was sort of happy I sold it, or at least OK that I sold it. Now having a 28 2.8 on the M8, I never use the 35 2.0 anymore and would sell it except that if a FF M9 comes out, I would want then use it. I sold a 75 lux six months before Leica reversed themselves and said they could do a digital M. I never used the lens as it was tough to focus at 1.4 but mainly it was so big and heavy I never wanted to pack it around. So I was happy to have sold it for six months before the M8 was announced and then annoyed. I have a new 75mm 2.5 on order now that will cost me almost what I got for the lux. I am very sorry I didn't hang on to the lens to catch the price inflation of used M lenses. Hey, in truth I am never happy to sell an M lens. But sometimes I rationalize that if I am not using the lens, I should recycle it to someone who will use it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted October 10, 2007 Share #7 Posted October 10, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I must have lower standards than you guys. I've loved every Leica lens I've ever bought. I've only ever sold one lens - 35mm pre-ASPH Summilux - and I wish I'd kept that too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustafasoleiman Posted October 10, 2007 Share #8 Posted October 10, 2007 I must have lower standards than you guys. I've loved every Leica lens I've ever bought. I've only ever sold one lens - 35mm pre-ASPH Summilux - and I wish I'd kept that too. INDEED... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 10, 2007 Share #9 Posted October 10, 2007 I have many regrets on what i sold , so it is never a pleasant experience selling a leica lens at some point you kick your own butt in and say why did you do that. I guess what i like to tell my wife is i am just improving the breed. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted October 10, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 10, 2007 Firm believer in buy it and try it. Issue is i do it 2 or 3 times on each lens:D That's exactly what I've done all the time ... LOL So after almost 30 years relentless searching for the right choice ... (in terms of the M) I've eventually ended up with the very basics incl. three crons (35/50/90). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 10, 2007 Share #11 Posted October 10, 2007 ... to find a perfect lens... Try it and keep it! Leica 24 f2.8 ASPH. Good good lens. Nothing else to say. Probably one wide angle i can tolerate in my setup... Guy, I have heard that some people like this lens a lot... It is my goto lens unless I need the 35 'lux-A for low light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tofsla Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted October 10, 2007 Thank you everyone for comments. Few more interesting observations: 1. What I personally found out that cost of replacing and trying and buying is almost 0, assuming you can buy used, hold on to the lens for a few years and sell it out. Net-net you break even. 2. Except few optical rejects: Canon 50 f0.95, Nikon 35-105 Zoom, Leica Noctilux 50 f1.0 its never been about optical performance for me. All lenses i sold been excellent for day to day use. But there is something more in good lens, then simple optical performance. Ergonomic, fill, how it works together with framelines on the camera. How easy its carry and focus, how smooth lens is, does it block viewfinder, is hood falls off every few minutes. Do you have same experience? Like and dislike for a lens doesn't come from optical performance alone? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 10, 2007 Share #13 Posted October 10, 2007 ... I personally found out that cost of replacing and trying and buying is almost 0, assuming you can buy used, hold on to the lens for a few years and sell it out. Net-net you break even... In my experience of using Leica M's and lenses, since 1970, a Leica item can be resold for its purchase cost (in original, depreciated dollars) throughout its life. There are, of course, periods when prices are unusually dear or cheap. These happen to correspond to my purchase and sale sales, of course. When I've bought, the cycle has been dear; when I've sold, cheap. This is speaking relatively, of course. I've never gotten hurt either buying or selling Leica stuff. The only part that hurts is missing the picture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodor Heinrichsohn Posted October 10, 2007 Share #14 Posted October 10, 2007 I must have lower standards than you guys. I've loved every Leica lens I've ever bought. I've only ever sold one lens - 35mm pre-ASPH Summilux - and I wish I'd kept that too. I agree completely! I have only sold one lens - the 135 2.8 1st version - and the next day I went and repurchased the same lens from the shop (paying a bonus too). That taught me a lesson. The only lenses I don't have any more are the ones that I have given to my daughter and my son together with several Leica cameras. I use each lens for its rendition that suits my taste and I have never tried to influence anyone else to adopt my beliefs. Surely the differences in judgement are in a large part due to people photographing different subjects and different preferences. Quite frankly, I have never really grasped exactly what MTF curves try to tell me. I look at the results with Kodachrome 25 (alas deceased), Sensia, Provia or very fine grain b&w and decide on which lens to use for which types of photographs. I find that the character of Leica/Leitz lenses holds with M8 files (DNG) as well, so that I have purchased two M8's. Teddy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted October 10, 2007 Share #15 Posted October 10, 2007 Theodor, my first M lens was a pre-ASPH 35mm Summilux - this followed years of using SLRs with 28-200 zooms. The sum total of my 'testing' was to get some prints made and saying "yup, that'll do". I currently have a 28-50 Tri-Elmar which is probably the most annoying Leica lens I've ever owned. But I don't think I'll sell it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted October 10, 2007 Share #16 Posted October 10, 2007 its not just lenses, when I took the plunge I bought a M6 and cron 50, and within a week I had returned it-I just could not get the hang of it and none of my then clients would have looked at 35mm film. I traded it in on a mamiya 7-the texas leica, and that was my training wheels so to speak for two years-two years of really bad pictures, until I understood what the camera was seeing. After that I was hooked on rangefinder, and went back out and bought a M6 and 28 elmarit that I still have. Added a 35versionIVcron-the vingnetting was too much to bear, so I sold it and plunged into the then new cron asph 35, which I still have. It has only be acquisition from there on. Currently feeling the itch to sell 21 and 28 elmarits either for a cron28 or noct. OY! Current paradise is found in a zeiss 25...but wondering if the Leica 24 might be better.....?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJB Posted October 10, 2007 Share #17 Posted October 10, 2007 Current paradise is found in a zeiss 25...but wondering if the Leica 24 might be better.....?? I am with you there robert. I've not used a sharper wide than the 25 ZM but it just does not seem to have the same qualities as my 21 asph or 50 asph lenses and predict that I will acquire the 24 asph in the very near future. Ken Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted October 10, 2007 Share #18 Posted October 10, 2007 I am with you there robert. I've not used a sharper wide than the 25 ZM but it just does not seem to have the same qualities as my 21 asph or 50 asph lenses and predict that I will acquire the 24 asph in the very near future. Ken ...weeping... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 10, 2007 Share #19 Posted October 10, 2007 ... Current paradise is found in a zeiss 25...but wondering if the Leica 24 might be better.....?? Robert, you can determine this from Sean's review site. There is a review the does these two lenses together. It was this review that determined my purchase of the 24. This is not to say that you will also prefer the 24 after you read the review. It is merely to say that Sean's review determined me to buy the lens, and specifically instead of a 21 or 28. Weeping is not necessary; just sell a lens you don't want -- [special note: this advice never works for Guy Mancuso!] AND a general note to all lurkers -- if you're not using Sean's site, you're missing a valuable tool in your photo kit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 10, 2007 Share #20 Posted October 10, 2007 I just got the 24 again and it is a sweetie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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