My perfect Leica M Travel Kit - YMMV

[benqui]

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Normally I use the Visoflex 2, M10, Voigtländer 4.5/15 and 1.4/35 Summilux. Sometimes with Apo Summicron 2/50 depending on my needs. As a travel bag I have the Filson Magnum bag and it is a very good one. The Q2 is my backup. Furthermore batteries, SD cards and a charger. At the moment I am in Iran again and I did not know whether it is now maybe difficult to take photos or not. In fact I was a bit afraid with my Leicas and took only the Nikon Zfc with the kit zoom 16-50 and the 2/40 with me. In Vienna one day before I left to Teheran, I saw the Sigma 1.4/30 which I test now too.

 

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[keeping_a_balance]

8 hours ago, thrid said:

Sekonic 308 cine

Curious, with the M11 do you find your light readings are off?  Having never used a light meter like that I have always trusted the camera... just curious... 

[thrid]

2 hours ago, keeping_a_balance said:

Curious, with the M11 do you find your light readings are off?  Having never used a light meter like that I have always trusted the camera... just curious... 

Security blanket? Force of habit?

I just upgraded from the M10 this week, which I heavily metered by hand. 

I'll probably leave it at home, once I feel comfortable with the M11.

[Torpille]

My perfect kit is the m10 with the lux 35 fle. A killer kit. 

Sometimes, i take an Apo 75 with me or the 90 Elmarit-m. Used maybe 10% of the time.

Both are great lenses but quite difficult to use with the range finder( especially the 75mm).

and the 90mm do not match the 35mm fle  colors.

So i think next trip will be with 35fle and 50summicron. I would take the Summilux 50 instead of the summicron, if I had one.

and to be honest the q2 is a perfect travel kit too !

 

 

Edited October 23, 2023 by Torpille

[marchyman]

10 minutes ago, Torpille said:

Both are great lenses but quite difficult to use with the range finder( especially the 75mm).

Subject drift.  I used a 1.25 Viewfinder Magnifier when the 75mm was on my M262.   Now that I have an M11 I find I don't need it. That is a good thing as the one I have doesn't fit the M11.  One of these days I'll get rid of the magnifier and M 262 thumb rest.  Or they'll join the other items on the "gear I don't need anymore" shelf.

I typically keep a 35mm lens (Zeiss C-Biogon) on the M11 but also take the APO-75 with me.  Doesn't take up much space and when I want it, I want it!

[Torpille]

vor einer Stunde schrieb Al Brown:

I have done some research before buying the 75 APO - in silver. The trouble when focusing was present before 2018, after that Leica beefed up the QC. There are no reported silver samples issues and later production (post-2020) troubles regarding focusing, FLE going into misalignment and other woes that were pesting this lens before the mentioned date. As @adan confirms here - he was one of the vocal critics - nowadays all is well on the 75 APO front. I confirm that as well.
 

Is there any solution to have this lens really fixed?

i really have a love hate relationship with this lens. 
So much frustration in Lightroom with focusing!

Edited October 23, 2023 by Torpille

[crf59]

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So my herd at present (with M10P and M11 - these days the M11 nearly 100% of the time) is:

15mm Voigtlander 4.5 (little jewel of a lens), 21mm SEM, 28mm Elmarit-M (latest version), 35mm FLE V1, 50mm Lux (new version), 90mm APO, 135mm Tele-Elmar-M f4 (last version before APO).

Despite being a hobby photographer for 50 years, I still anguish over what lenses to take when. A constant is the 50mm Lux (have had several but really love the new close focus Lux - just a superb lens). From there it gets tough. I have lots of other gear, but I really like Leica. Many of you talk about light, but I have a stable of SL gear as well and a Nikon D850, Z7II and lenses. So carrying several M lenses is nothing. SL2 with a 90-280 is a LOAD.

The 15mm is a little bit of a niche lens, but it is really useful inside buildings (ADC - another darn church, my wife LOVES church interiors). Plus you can set it at f8 and never have to focus. The 21 is just superb and I tend to look for an excuse to take it. I am not as drawn to the 28 as some are. I tend to take the 21 and 35 over it, though friends have told me the 28 Cron might change my mind. So my leaning (though it varies), is 21, 35, 50, 90. If only 2 lenses then I'll go 35/90.

I find the 135 f4 to be nearly as good as the APO 3.4 at a fraction of the cost. I don't mind spending money on lenses, but the value proposition of the 135 is harder for me to justify going to the APO. And yes, it's certainly harder to focus (but the new Visoflex, though a brick, is really useful in that regard). The 90 APO is just terrific and I use it evidently a lot more than many on here. For landscapes and street shooting it's wonderful. Yes, street shooting. With the Visoflex, focusing is so fast it makes it manageable. I like sharp many times, and it is very much that.

I'm headed to Scotland in Dec for Christmas lights and castles. So the sweating begins on what to take. My current leaning is 15, 21, 50, 90. But heck, may take them all and cycle them in my kit as desired each day. 

By the way, my pack mule bag is the new Gura Gear City Commuter. I can pack my M11 and all those lenses with no problem. Then I carry a smaller bag in my checked luggage (stuff socks and such in it to save space) and whip it out for daily excursions. I have a sickness for bags and could probably stock B&H with them.

Sorry for the rambling, but this is a topic I truly struggle with regularly. And it's not a problem, it's part of what keeps my juices flowing. 

[algrove]

On 5/4/2023 at 6:02 PM, OldMan said:

I think this covers my bases - light, compact and versatile.  

Wotancraft Pilot 3.5L w/ Air Tag plus Wotancraft Modular Pouch:

• Leica M11 & Leica 50mm f/2.0 Summicron APO with Grip and Rope PD Neck Strap.  
• Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 FLE & Leica Elmar-M 24 f/3.8 ASPH on Double End Cap
• In Wotancraft Pouch:
  • Wipes, Lens Brush & Blower
  • Spare Camera Battery & SD Cards
  • Notebook & Pen

Travel for what? Street, landscape, macro, night? This determines for me what "travel kit" I take and for how long. I ask since I often travel for weeks at a time. How long will this travel be since duration also determines lens choice for me?

Edited November 3, 2023 by algrove

[algrove]

On 9/30/2023 at 6:33 PM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

Personally, I'd be matching either a 75mm or 21mm/24mm to a 35mm lens system. I think 50 is too close to 35 for a travel system.

Gordon

Nor for me I most always take 35 and 50 plus a wide (18 or 21 or 24) and a 90 tele

[algrove]

On 10/20/2023 at 8:09 AM, keeping_a_balance said:

Curious, with the M11 do you find your light readings are off?  Having never used a light meter like that I have always trusted the camera... just curious... 

Never, better than any previous digital M I have owned.

[Leica Filmmatic]

My travel kit for work and leisure is my M11 with 35crom, MP with VM28mm ultron and X2D with 55m.  I have a trip to Portugal after Christmas that I want to pickup a 21mm for which would replace the 28. 

[adrianh]

3 hours ago, Leica Filmmatic said:

My travel kit for work and leisure is my M11 with 35crom, MP with VM28mm ultron and X2D with 55m.  I have a trip to Portugal after Christmas that I want to pickup a 21mm for which would replace the 28. 

Impressive kit, but I wouldn't call it portable 😃

[Leica Filmmatic]

It all fits in my oberwerth backpack and sometimes i only take 2 out of three out at a time.  My girlfriend also usually grabs the x2d and shoots with that while I shoot the m11 and mp. 

[dscdsc]

My default is always the M11 + 35 FLE II. If I'm willing to carry a sling or camera bag I add on the 28 or 50.

[Kiwimac]

I’m travelling in Portugal at the moment. 
 

I’ve got with me the M11, 50 Lux and the 35 Apo Summicron. 
 

So far my most used photography tool is the iPhone 15 Pro Max as I don’t use the Leica to take snaps. 
 

When I’ve used the Leica, I’ve only used the 35 and I am carrying it in PacSafe travel shoulder bag. 

[Mobios]

On 10/19/2023 at 11:53 PM, benqui said:

As a travel bag I have the Filson Magnum bag and it is a very good one

I know these bags have been out of production for a while, but I have been on a quest to find a used one. If anyone knows of one please reach out.