How much does lens size matter? Thinking of getting a Voigtlander to replace my 35mm 1.4 Summilux

[pippy]

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28 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Not lens, but folks have been debating many other more ethical issues.
https://thewire.in/media/afghan-girl-steve-mccurry-national-geographic

I would have thought that the deaths of over 50,000 civilians (and counting) raises more ethical issues than taking a portrait of a girl but perhaps that's just a 'Westerners' thing?

Philip.

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[pippy]

23 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Pointless asking me, I did not write the article. I am merely the messenger sharing internet's quirky links...

Oh, I certainly wasn't having a pop at yourself, Al, and I trust you know that?

If the writer of the article really wants to investigate ethical issues and human rights abuses then perhaps he should simply take a look closer to home? There's plenty of far richer pickings to be had. If, of course, that's what he wants. Somehow, though, I doubt it.

Have we've strayed marginally off-topic?......OK, here goes;

Lens-Size is of Absolute Importance!!!!!

There. Back on track............

Philip.

Edited July 20, 2023 by pippy

[rich_]

I prefer the smaller lenses otherwise the balance of the camera feels off and it’s value diminishes. The Asph summilux lenses are great and I owned the 35 and 50, but I don’t need that wide of an aperture for my photography. F2 is more than enough even for film, for me! 
 

[spydrxx]

2 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Not lens, but folks have been debating many other more ethical issues.
https://thewire.in/media/afghan-girl-steve-mccurry-national-geographic

Al, I don't think the question of ethics of this famous photo is particularly relevant to the discussion of lens size.

[Huss]

The 105 2.5 is a very nice size though.  I prefer the 105 1.8 because I have one so there. (Folds arms and pouts)

[Smudgerer]

20 minutes ago, Huss said:

The 105 2.5 is a very nice size though.  I prefer the 105 1.8 because I have one so there. (Folds arms and pouts)

The 1.8 is a better lens anyway, no need to pout.......

A couple of decades ago I had a UK company convert my 85mm 1.2, 105mm 1.8, 135mm f2 and 180mm f2.8 Nikkors to PL mount and reverse their focus throw too. Used them on 35/s35/s16 cameras, they were all wonderful lenses, great looks and separation on movie film. Sold the four of them as a set last year at a nice profit.

[Huss]

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The 105 1.8 has a very heavy focus action.

[graphlex]

I happily used the 105 f2.5 for decades.  I’ve even posted a couple of the pictures here.❤️

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[graphlex]

One more with the 105:

 

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Edited July 20, 2023 by graphlex
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[Huss]

4 minutes ago, graphlex said:

One more with the 105:

 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Is that golf club about to hit him in the head?

[graphlex]

He doesn’t look concerned.

[madNbad]

Did I stumble into Nikonians by mistake?

[acalmplace]

Small enough, or not too big, is another way to think about this. Most of is likely have a threshold for too big and too small, alongside thresholds for IQ, and thresholds for costs...

I am forever looking for the lenses that fit within all those personal 'just right' size, IQ, cost zones. Not many lenses in that space, plus the cost zone depends also on how many lenses you want to add. For me at least, each buy constrains future ones.

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by acalmplace

[graphlex]

6 hours ago, madNbad said:

Did I stumble into Nikonians by mistake?

 No, we were dragged into it.

[Pierre68]

Admin; how about renaming this thread: "Nikon gear for Leica users" ?

[adan]

ANYWAY.......  

For me weight is the main consideration, because I am usually carrying 4 lenses (one on the camera, 3 in a bag.).

Usually, weight tracks with size, but not always. My Voigtlander 75 Nokton f/1.5 for Leica M is only slightly smaller than Leica's original (separate lens hood) 75 Summilux - but is 38% lighter. Which makes it "a dream lens" for me!  😁

It is one of the reasons I tend to be less interested in Leica's current M lenses, which have ballooned over time (e.g. current 35/50 f/1.4 ASPHs)

However, it is true that better performance often requires larger size/weight (more elements, more elbow-room for the optical designer to chase down aberrations with a given technology set). Leica's bulky APO 35 Summicron-L still outperforms the more compact APO 35 Summicron for the M, at the margins.

Leica lens designer Peter Karbe said 1-2 years ago that smaller (and we may hope, lighter) lenses are one thing he hopes to pursue with the next generation of technologies (following the "generations" of: original - up to 1993 or so, ASPH, FLE and APO). He did not reveal what those technologies may be.

[graphlex]

I’d be happy with a small 50mm f/2.8. The lens I’m using most for walking around is the 28 Summaron.  The Summiluxes stay on the shelf.

[madNbad]

50 minutes ago, graphlex said:

I’d be happy with a small 50mm f/2.8. The lens I’m using most for walking around is the 28 Summaron.  The Summiluxes stay on the shelf.

Look for a Voigtlander 50 2.5 Color Skopar LTM. They have gone up in price over the last few years but it offers a lot for such a small lens. Brass body and with a decent adapter will work on any M camera.

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Hallo,

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[pippy]

5 hours ago, Pierre68 said:

Admin; how about renaming this thread: "Nikon gear for Leica users" ?

It wouldn't make any difference to the OP. They haven't visited the forum once since the thread was started and, as such, wouldn't even have seen the very first reply.

Perhaps the poster isn't quite as interested in our views considering their difficult predicament as some here might like to think? The poster has been 'active' here since July 2019 and has amassed a whopping 15 posts - this thread included - in all that time.

"I recently received an M10 and a bunch of Leica lenses as a gift but honestly..."

Honestly? Aye.

Philip.

[pippy]

10 minutes ago, Unknown said:

The issue partly is from people seeking perfection. Like this is going to make their photos better. 

Sometimes it does. End-usage is key.

Philip.