Indispensable Lens

[pgk]

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We've had lots of threads on 'best' or favourite' lenses but here's my take😉; which lens do you find indispensable? It may not be your favourite but may well be your most used. For me its my 35mm f/1.4 Aspheric (pre-FLE) Summilux which is usually the lens which stays on the camera until I need a different focal length because it is so versatile. So which would you nominate from your set of lenses?

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[newtoleica]

The same. 35 Summilux M ASPH pre-fle.

Love the 35mm view and the way the lens draws. I find the FLE a bit harsh and the v2 too much ££.

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[Harout62]

for me has to be the 35 as well, for years it was the FLE, and now it’s the FLE v2 

[Ray Vonn]

I'm guessing a lot of "Summilux 50mm ASPH really is the very best/ prise from my dead hands, etc" type responses but for me it's the Summicron iv 35mm which is not not my most used lens but the one lens solution that arises when I not taking a 28/50 combination.  In that regard it's the glue that binds all of the other lenses together and it's versatile in that I can make it cover for those focal lengths after I'm forced to think, which is a good thing.  Another plus for me is that I'm used to it which means I know what I'm getting and am able to get soft/ sharp images when I need them to be which are never "too contrasty".  Nothing wrong with those type of lenses of which I own quite a few, but the Summicron is the balance in amongst them all.

[Tom R]

Leitz 35mm Summicron (any version)--preferably on an M2, but any M body (except M3 which required goggles).

[shirubadanieru]

Focal length wise it has to be the 35mm. I think Summicron beats Lux (if talking about ASPH options) simply due to the cheer size / weight difference VS versatility of just one extra stop in the age of digital cameras that can do ISO 10000000000. 

If it’s a lens I own, then the summicron 8 elements. 0.7m min focus, f2, compact, light, and 35mm is a focal length that can do everything well (travel / portraits / street). Summilux pre-asph 35mm comes in a close second, followed by any Summicron 50mm. 

[fil-m]

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The APO Summicron 35M won my heart! Compact, brilliant IQ, lovely character (subjective of course), close up distance, great ergonomics, if I had to keep one lens and live with it, that's would be it. In fact I sold many of my previous lenses to buy it and I am not looking back. 

Second in line is my "recent" Noctilux 50/1 replacing the .95 that I had.

It is a very difficult choice choosing between the APO 35 and the 50/1 being so different, different generations, different design priorities etc etc... If it wasn't for the size, I'd consider the 50/1 to be the "indispensable" lens due to its unique character and the lightly more comfortable 50mm view. But for street photography, smaller is better IMO!   

[TomB_tx]

Even though I use a 35 most of the time on my M10, I still shoot film almost as much, so overall I'd say a 50 Summicron is most indispensible - either v3 or 5. I've used the v3 over 50 years, so it's an old and reliable friend.

[anonymous]

I think Ray Vonn called it for me.  50 lux asph.

[Ecar]

My MATE. Not my favourite lens, by far, but couldn't be without it on most travels. Also easily my most used according to Lightroom.

[pippy]

'74 35mm Summilux v2.

Philip.

[Stein K S]

The 35 Lux pre-FLE. Representing my ¨technical¨ choice. Can truly do it all; extremely versatile, with loads of charm fully open and more than sharp enough closed down. The choice by heart, however, is my 35 cron v4... can never let go of it. In many ways THE leica lens... especially in-hand & also by the looks (jepp, I dare to say so 😜).

[Chris W]

1980's 35mm Summicron.

[NigelG]

50 Lux ASPH makes the only images where my wife realises on her iPad they’re not iPhone photos…

Had 3 at one point  (Black chrome, silver chrome and black anodised) now back down to 2 - silver chrome and a black anodised if I’m saving weight travelling (at maybe £2000 for 150g less 🙄)

[miessli]

Summilux 50 ASPH is my alltime Favorite!

[Sjz]

Going to buck the trend the 50 APO, its ability to be sharp AND the transition to out of focus.  Not my most used lens but if I could only have 'indespencable........'

[Lelmer]

My indispensable, most favourite, most used...no doubt, Summilux 50mm Asph. 

[Robert Blanko]

My 50 APO for landscape photography.

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Hallo,

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[evikne]

I didn't believe it when I first bought it, because I sold it again pretty quickly. But then I regretted it and bought a new one, and now my 35 Summilux pre-ASPH v2 has become my favorite lens. It has its charming quirks, but images never get boring with this lens.

[Stein K S]

16 minutes ago, evikne said:

I didn't believe it when I first bought it, because I sold it again pretty quickly. But then I regretted it and bought a new one, and now my 35 Summilux pre-ASPH v2 has become my favorite lens. It has its charming quirks, but images never get boring with this lens.

Aarghh… tempted, continuously so tempted 😉