Skip Nikon Z8, and Buy My Next Leica SL Zoom Lens -- But Which?

[dpitt]

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On 5/13/2023 at 7:47 PM, skchurch said:

...

The high cost of Leica makes it hard as well, where every lens, no matter of focal range that is truly "Leica" is going to be $5k+ a pop, as it was a lot more affordable to build out the Nikon kit. Honestly, I think Nikon is the biggest bargain/value of everyone these days, and for me, I was glad to see the Z8 is a baby Z9, because the Z9 (to me) is wonderful except for its size. But, the M is a magical experience, and the way they implemented the SL, it's also a more streamlined an enjoyable DSLR-like experience for me. So, if make the full jump into Leica, it's a matter of what order to buy the lenses in, which is just as painful 😂😩.

Maybe, the way you do it makes Leica cost of ownership higher than Nikon. But you can turn this around. Almost all my Leica gear is increasing in value over the years, even my digital sets. The trick is to buy it used to avoid the initial loss of value that occurs when you walk out of the shop. This is the same or even worse with Nikon gear, but of course you get more bang for your bucks initially. Problem is that Nikon gear also deprecates in value much faster than Leica. So when you buy used, after a few years you will have lost more value on your Nikon set compared to the same investment in Leica. And at some point the Leica gear starts increasing in value. My M8 sells almost at double of what I payed for it 9 years ago, and my M9 is close to that.

e.g. My M9 was sold new for a bit more than the Nikon D800 in 2012, although in 2015 I payed less than the cost of a new (or newish used) D800 for it. Now I can buy a D800 in good condition for €550 and an M9 in good condition with (free) replaced sensor is around €2500. On lenses and analog gear the difference is even more than that.

Edited May 15, 2023 by dpitt

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[Ko.Fe.]

If you need more Leica, buy more. You have M as backup, IMO, here is no need in Z. 

[skchurch]

On 5/13/2023 at 6:16 PM, robb said:

edit:  I got the different posts mixed up above… but anyway, this is a great combo to strive for below:

Robb

 

I’d buy once and cry once and take your time adding the RIGHT lens rather than just adding “another” Leica lens.  I’d def add the 90-280 before you add the 24-90.  Try a used one at a more reasonable price.  Because you have the 35 and 75 summicron already, I don’t think the 24-90 would solve any issues for you.  And I don’t think you’d like it more than those.
 

the 21 apo would complete you trifecta of summicrons and top resolving power and I believe it is VERY close to being released.  I’d buy it before the wide zoom.  

I’d also add the 21 before anything long.  The long edif Nikon (you have) and also long L canon lenses are excellent with great quick continuous autofocus on the dslr bodies.  They are good enough until you can add the 90-280 to go all in on one system.
 

and fyi, the more I shoot with my apo summicrons, the less I reach for the 24-90.  The apo summicrons are just perfect for everything, fast, nice background out of focus, and lighter in the hand.  I really appreciate that.

21

35

75

90-280

all apo and you have a complete range with f2 for less depth but flat field sharpness to the corners.

Robb

 

I'm really considering this. Perhaps the only zoom lens I really need is the 90-280mm, and then because I really love and prioritize bokeh above most other things, having primes fill out the rest of the range might make most sense (maybe the 16-35mm as well for some landscape on the wide end) -- gain the advantage of the smaller/lighter sizes of the primes vs. the zoom as well. 👍

[skchurch]

After spending the weekend deciding, wether or not, to keep one foot in with Nikon by adding the Z8 and keeping my Nikkor zooms, I decided to sell the last of my Nikon glass and go all in with Leica. I really don't need the advantages that Nikon offers in the Z8 (and the S-Line Lenses), whereas, I really like qualities/aspects that Leica brings to my photography with the M11 and SL2-S. So...

I'm very likely going to add the Leica 90-280mm Zoom to the (already owned with the bundled) 24-70mm (Leica re-Badge). And then, I'm going to add one prime to start with (I already have the 35mm and 50mm Summliux-M lenses for the M11, but am still open to an SL version of either for the AF). So now, I'm going to start reading through the forms and learn all I can about the SL Primes! 🎉 I really appreciate this forum, and the perspectives offered in this thread -- thank you 🙏.

[robb]

You can use the excellent m 35 and 50 lenses easily on the sl2-s

so I would vote the 75 SL apo summicron

my favorite lens ever.  

and you won’t duplicate any of your existing focal lengths.  

Robb

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, robb said:

You can use the excellent m 35 and 50 lenses easily on the sl2-s

so I would vote the 75 SL apo summicron

my favorite lens ever.  

and you won’t duplicate any of your existing focal lengths.  

Robb

Agree on 75mm being awesome. The SL Apo Summicron 75mm is great.

... in a world in which the M Noctilux 75mm exists, I would never use any other 75mm prime on my SL2-S 🙂

[skchurch]

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1 hour ago, robb said:

You can use the excellent m 35 and 50 lenses easily on the sl2-s

so I would vote the 75 SL apo summicron

my favorite lens ever.  

and you won’t duplicate any of your existing focal lengths.  

Robb

Wow...your perspective (both times!) has been where I have been heading so far 😂 Yeah, I'm thinking since I have the 35mm and 50mm with the M, having the 75mm for the SL would be a great compliment. And, I've been reading a lot of great things about the APO 75mm too! If I keep going like this, I will slowly make my way to the kit you suggested in your first post 😂🙏

[hansvons]

6 hours ago, skchurch said:

Yeah, I'm thinking since I have the 35mm and 50mm with the M, having the 75mm for the SL would be a great compliment.

The 75mm APO SL Summicron is a brilliant portraiture lens if you are looking for a highly refined modern look. I can’t think of anything comparable in the market. It delivers 95% of its performances at f 2.0. The 75mm and the 35mm APO were on my list (plus the 50mm Summilux SL) when I started that journey with Leica three years ago. And if size and weight wasn’t a matter, and AF a thing I’d could leverage, I’d still choose these two. The images they can produce have a singular, unique quality. Their character shows best at full aperture. 

[skchurch]

Well, I did it...Nikon glass shipped off to KEH, and order placed with B&H for the 90-280mm and the APO 75mm. Those, along with my M and 35mm and 50mm should give me plenty to work with for a while (while I pay down the credit card charge 😂), but I feel really great about the focal lengths covered and just really going all in on Leica. Now it's learning the bodies and lenses the best I can -- the learning process is just as fun as the photographic results for me, so I'm looking forward to slowing down and really learning/re-learning it all. Thanks again, this thread was extremely helpful to me 🙏.

@hansvons I'm really excited about the 75mm, and it wasn't what I was initially thinking, but it does make the most sense (and I read so many good reviews on it). And yes, I do think I will pick the 50mm Summilux over the APO (along with the 28mm and 35mm APO) in my next go around (but also something at the wide end next as well, perhaps the 16-35mm). I know the Summilux is a lot bigger and heavier, but having a coupe of other APO's provides a smaller/lighter experience when that is needed...but then when that bokeh is desired (which it often is for me 😂), I'm really looking forward to the Summilux. But all of that will be another period of saving up, as there is no other Nikon gear to sacrifice 😂 But there's plenty of time, and I'm off to a great start with what I have and what is coming 🥳!

[Manual_Focus]

On 5/13/2023 at 12:47 PM, skchurch said:

@Malabito

Yeah, that's kind of where I"m stuck too...but I'm leaning to just going down to one platform/system -- Leica (because I'm for sure all in on the M11). From a conversation I'm having with another member:

 

I think I took a baby step first, by selling the Z9 and all the primes I had for it. That was more than enough to cover the SL2-S bundle with the 24-70mm and let me take it out before committing and selling the Nikon Zooms, because I knew I could get a Z8 and stay with Nikon if I felt any remorse.

So, I can say I have NO regrets selling the Z9 and getting the SL bundle, because I do think the SL handles better than the Z9, and even though the SL is heavy, it's not quite as big as the Z9...and honestly, for me, the Z9 was just too big. (I know nothing is as small as the M, and the SL2-S and Leica glass is also big/heavy). So I would have sold it for the Z8 regardless of considering the Leica. I do like the SL, and I LOVE the M, it's a completely different photographic experience and being able to use M-glass on the SL was also a big reason for thinking about going to one system/platform with Leica and leaving Nikon. I don't need a lot of fast auto focus and high fps shooting, because I don't do a lot of action, and for me making an image is more like an artistic hobby as opposed to a situation where I can't miss any shot. So I think Leica does that very well. So yes, the autofocus is fine on the SL2-S, and I imagine it will only be even better and a lot closer to competitors on the SL3 in the future. I've been more thinking about it as an investment in the overall platform, present and future, than exactly this moment in time, knowing that glass is actually the bigger investments and priority.

The high cost of Leica makes it hard as well, where every lens, no matter of focal range that is truly "Leica" is going to be $5k+ a pop, as it was a lot more affordable to build out the Nikon kit. Honestly, I think Nikon is the biggest bargain/value of everyone these days, and for me, I was glad to see the Z8 is a baby Z9, because the Z9 (to me) is wonderful except for its size. But, the M is a magical experience, and the way they implemented the SL, it's also a more streamlined an enjoyable DSLR-like experience for me. So, if make the full jump into Leica, it's a matter of what order to buy the lenses in, which is just as painful 😂😩.

I bit the bullet and sold ALL of my Nikon gear including the 2 Z bodies, the Z70-200, Z24-70, %00/5.8 pf, and the 2 Z teleconverters.  (I've was a Nikon shooter for over 20 years).  Once I got the Leica SL2-S Reporter I added the APO 35/2 SL, the APO 75/2 SL, and the 90-280 SL and have not looked back.  I did not need 2 systems and was only fooling myself with all of the what-if questions. I also have the Q2 Monochrom.  Yes, the cost of Leica gear is a tough nut to crack, but at my age (70) I decided to shoot with what made me enjoy photography.  I do regret the decision.

Good luck facing the dilemma. 

[Manual_Focus]

On 5/13/2023 at 12:47 PM, skchurch said:

@Malabito

Yeah, that's kind of where I"m stuck too...but I'm leaning to just going down to one platform/system -- Leica (because I'm for sure all in on the M11). From a conversation I'm having with another member:

 

I think I took a baby step first, by selling the Z9 and all the primes I had for it. That was more than enough to cover the SL2-S bundle with the 24-70mm and let me take it out before committing and selling the Nikon Zooms, because I knew I could get a Z8 and stay with Nikon if I felt any remorse.

So, I can say I have NO regrets selling the Z9 and getting the SL bundle, because I do think the SL handles better than the Z9, and even though the SL is heavy, it's not quite as big as the Z9...and honestly, for me, the Z9 was just too big. (I know nothing is as small as the M, and the SL2-S and Leica glass is also big/heavy). So I would have sold it for the Z8 regardless of considering the Leica. I do like the SL, and I LOVE the M, it's a completely different photographic experience and being able to use M-glass on the SL was also a big reason for thinking about going to one system/platform with Leica and leaving Nikon. I don't need a lot of fast auto focus and high fps shooting, because I don't do a lot of action, and for me making an image is more like an artistic hobby as opposed to a situation where I can't miss any shot. So I think Leica does that very well. So yes, the autofocus is fine on the SL2-S, and I imagine it will only be even better and a lot closer to competitors on the SL3 in the future. I've been more thinking about it as an investment in the overall platform, present and future, than exactly this moment in time, knowing that glass is actually the bigger investments and priority.

The high cost of Leica makes it hard as well, where every lens, no matter of focal range that is truly "Leica" is going to be $5k+ a pop, as it was a lot more affordable to build out the Nikon kit. Honestly, I think Nikon is the biggest bargain/value of everyone these days, and for me, I was glad to see the Z8 is a baby Z9, because the Z9 (to me) is wonderful except for its size. But, the M is a magical experience, and the way they implemented the SL, it's also a more streamlined an enjoyable DSLR-like experience for me. So, if make the full jump into Leica, it's a matter of what order to buy the lenses in, which is just as painful 😂😩.

I bit the bullet and sold ALL of my Nikon gear including the 2 Z bodies, the Z70-200, Z24-70, %00/5.8 pf, and the 2 Z teleconverters.  (I've was a Nikon shooter for over 20 years).  Once I got the Leica SL2-S Reporter I added the APO 35/2 SL, the APO 75/2 SL, and the 90-280 SL and have not looked back.  I did not need 2 systems and was only fooling myself with all of the what-if questions. I also have the Q2 Monochrom.  Yes, the cost of Leica gear is a tough nut to crack, but at my age (70) I decided to shoot with what made me enjoy photography.  I do not regret the decision.

Good luck facing the dilemma.