Lens Acquisition Order

[Kiwimac]

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I have a Summilux 50.

I intend to have a two lens setup of 28 and 50 and a one lens setup of 35. All three Summilux.

I might add 90 and/or 135 much later.

 

Which order would you buy the 28 and 35 in? Both are presently available to me at the dealer.

[wda]

28 mm. You can crop to give you circa 35 mm equivalent; but not the reverse. 

 

 

 

[250swb]

It's always nice to have one of each lens, but on an everyday practical level I think most people would carry a 50mm with a 28mm because the jump from 50mm to 35mm, or 28mm to 35mm, isn't really very significant, the focal lengths are too close together. So I would get the 28mm first.

Many people love their 35mm, and it's a great focal length if you are only carrying one lens, but it becomes redundant if you have both the 50mm and 28mm because you can often use your feet to get closer or step further away and replicate the 35mm angle if view that way.

[Adam Bonn]

As above really.. I was a 50 guy.

Then I discovered the magical versatility of 35 and for a while it might as well have been my only lens…

Then some years later I borrowed a 28 for an afternoon and it really worked for me in these narrow euro streets

So I bought one 😁

Now I split my time pretty equally between 28 and 50 and personally I’m really enjoying the difference between them and the fact that I really will swap and change between them to get the view I want rather than trying to cram everything into 35 (plus using the 50 more now feels like coming home)

 

um yeah anyway, so another vote for 28

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

I have the 28, 35 and 75 Summicron. But realy I only use my APO-35 mm. In October I intend to visit Chile and Antarctica. So I think at the APO-Telyt 135 mm.

[wda]

Another example of personal preferences. We each have personal needs and priorities. 

 

 

 

 

 

[pippy]

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I don't know your shooting habits so can't give an informed opinion but from what I've seen over the years it's probably true to say most photographers would find 28/50 a more versatile pairing than 35/50.

Philip.

[fil-m]

When I am "on the street", I rarely carry one extra lens and I don't see myself switching lenses, it is a distraction (plus extra weight) that I just don't want. So for me it is either 50mm or 35mm for the street - I am trying to master the latter.

I just find 28mm too wide most often so I'll heavily crop, which makes it an unnecessary lens for me. Obviously some great street photographers shoot at 28mm, my point is that you just have to be sure that this focal fits your style. Personally, I would find a 21mm more interesting as an extra wide angle, from an experimental point of view.

So I stick to both 35mm and 50mm and pick one of them before leaving. And if I have to end up with only one lens, even though I am mostly a 50mm guy, I'd go for a 35mm today due to its versatility and the fact that with today's cams we can slightly crop without much prejudice. My experimental lens would be a 21mm, I am thinking about it. 

[pippy]

16 minutes ago, fil-m said:

When I am "on the street", I rarely carry one extra lens and I don't see myself switching lenses, it is a distraction (plus extra weight) that I just don't want. So for me it is either 50mm or 35mm for the street - I am trying to master the latter.

I just find 28mm too wide most often so I'll heavily crop, which makes it an unnecessary lens for me. Obviously some great street photographers shoot at 28mm, my point is that you just have to be sure that this focal fits your style. Personally, I would find a 21mm more interesting as an extra wide angle, from an experimental point of view.

So I stick to both 35mm and 50mm and pick one of them before leaving. And if I have to end up with only one lens, even though I am mostly a 50mm guy, I'd go for a 35mm today due to its versatility and the fact that with today's cams we can slightly crop without much prejudice. My experimental lens would be a 21mm, I am thinking about it. 

In case you missed it the OP asked a specific question which was;

"...I intend to have a two lens setup of 28 and 50 and a one lens setup of 35.......Which order would you buy the 28 and 35 in?..."

Jus' Sayin'............

Philip.

Edited February 19, 2023 by pippy

[Harout62]

I would suggest you pick up the 28 first, considering the 28lux is harder to find then the 35Lux . If your dealer has it in stock grab it. 

[Topsy]

I'd agree with most other replies here a 28 pairs with a 50 much better than a 35 but for only 1 lens days the 35 would be my go-to. So I'd say get the 28. FWIW my normal carry is 21/35/75 each on a body with 50 and 28 in the bag.

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

As to my opinion the APO-Summicron 35 mm is one of the best M-lenses without any doubt. But to get it means you will have to wait, wait, wait ... I am a landscaper. Last year I was in Alaska/Canada over 8 weeks. The 35 mm Summicron was the only one I used for long and short distance (30 cm). You should define you real preferences and than take your investment.

[pgk]

2 minutes ago, Topsy said:

FWIW my normal carry is 21/35/75 each on a body with 50 and 28 in the bag.

My normal carry is 21/35/75 or 90 and I do have a 50 but I've never got on with a 28 on an M. The 135 I also own is excellent, but gets very little use indeed. In an ideal world it would be good to try all lenses for a period then determine which focal lengths that you use most and stick with them. I know that my most used lens is my 35 (probably 3/4 of my photographs are taken on it, with 21 and 75/90 equally second and 50 and 135 used occasionally. I could live with 21/35/90 happily enough in all honesty. The problem faced by anyone building up a lens set is knowing which will most dominate in their picture taking; this probably varies with time and experience too. This question comes up regularly and whilst the proponents of each set will have valid reasons for their choices, these unfortunately may differ from the questioner's. Its a tricky one. What I would say is that I wouldn't leap into buying an expensive (fast) version of any lens unless it was at such a good price that you cannot lose money on it. Better to look for a cheaper version which is well priced and won't cost much to own and try and see how the focal length suits you before trading up to a faster version if required

[TomB_tx]

I find 28 & wider are most effective working close to your subject, where perspective gets interesting. However, I'm more comfortable working more distant, so used a 50 most often in film days. On digital 35 is most universal, but I retain a 35-50-90 kit for the way I shoot.

[spydrxx]

I was a 35 guy for the better part of 40 years (on my Leica). However, given your situation, I'd take the 28 first, for the reasons others have suggested, and you may not even come back to a 35.

[Jeff S]

Use your frame selection preview lever while out shooting to better determine your viewing preferences (and change your subject distance..move your feet.. in the process). Choose the next focal length that you wish you had more often.

With the M, I started with 35, added 50 soon after, and then 28 (all Summicrons). That was back in the 80’s.  My most used lenses remain 35 and 50; 28 not nearly as much (except when I used the ‘cropped’ M8.2). But I typically choose only one for an outing and stick with it.

Only you can decide.  

Jeff

Edited February 19, 2023 by Jeff S

[jaeger]

Anything over 50mm is very much hit or miss, unless you shoot things that ain’t moving.   

[charlesphoto99]

28/50. 35 is a good all around one lens-er, but I've always found it somewhat ho-hum compared to a lens that is either bit wider or a bit more compressed field of view. I rarely use mine. And you don't need a 28 'lux. Go for a 'cron and you'll have a much more compact kit. If you want to go long, I'd advise the 135 (APO if you can afford and/or find a good deal on a used one). All depends on what one is shooting I suppose, but I've now found that if one is going to go long, may as well have the longest available. That said I still have two 90's, the macro (v1) and Elmarit-M, both of which are fantastic lenses and not too much $, as well as 75 'cron, another very nice lens. 

[Jeff S]

2 hours ago, charlesphoto99 said:

28/50. 35 is a good all around one lens-er, but I've always found it somewhat ho-hum compared to a lens that is either bit wider or a bit more compressed field of view. I rarely use mine. And you don't need a 28 'lux. Go for a 'cron and you'll have a much more compact kit. If you want to go long, I'd advise the 135 (APO if you can afford and/or find a good deal on a used one). All depends on what one is shooting I suppose, but I've now found that if one is going to go long, may as well have the longest available. That said I still have two 90's, the macro (v1) and Elmarit-M, both of which are fantastic lenses and not too much $, as well as 75 'cron, another very nice lens. 

His lens selection resolved; see thread title and first post.

Jeff

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Life By Stills]

9 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

I have a Summilux 50.

I intend to have a two lens setup of 28 and 50 and a one lens setup of 35. All three Summilux.

I might add 90 and/or 135 much later.

 

Which order would you buy the 28 and 35 in? Both are presently available to me at the dealer.

28mm for me. Like some others have said, you can crop down to get a narrower field of view but not the other way around if you got the 35mm. Plus, I like my wider lenses anyway, so 28mm would be my choice.