Am I crazy? M11M + 35 Lux II instead of 35 ApoB

[Steadimann]

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Hello everyone,

after long inner debates I decided to go for M11M (a year after buying Q2M). Question is whether I go with 35 Lux II or 35 Apo? At first I thought Apo for being cleaner, sharper, but then again after long deliberations with myself - getting M11M for that total Leica feel, look, experience and solely personal photography as a joy, why would I need sharp, clean look if I want Leica feel and look? Yes, Mono is detailed, apo is awesome on Mono sensor, but I love artistic stuff, so Lux should be my choice for this wide open character. And yet, still sharp when stopped down if I want that.

Am I crazy?

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[MaticB]

No, absolutly no! I have M11Mono and 35APO, but also new summilux 50 CF! It is true, 35 APO is perfect lens, but new 50 summilux, although of same design as older one, is optimised for new sensor and that is obvious watching high quality prints. I presume, the same is with new 35 summilux, at least in sharpness from 2,8 on. Anyway, I read few days ago comparison of both 35 lens (with some pics added, I don't remember where) and in out-of-focus rendering, 35 APO predominate considerably! 

[la1402]

I have both new Summiluxes (35+50). The 50 Lux will never leave me. I now call it my beautifier, so nice are the results. A very pleasing mix of smoothness, sharpness, bokeh etc. The 35 Lux is very different. I have moments where it vows me and the mix of glow and sharpness are great, but especially in landscape and anything with nature in the background it can get pretty harsh, too and it can look almost too contrasty for portraits. If Money was no object, I would go 35 apo + 50 summilux as the 35 APO renders a bit smoother, is significantly smaller and focusses closer. But then, 35mm is also a good indoor lens and there the additional stop of the Lux is nice to have. Not easy but for me the APO 35 would be my choice. 

[Steadimann]

That’s interesting 🤔 i was thinking whether i should go for 28 +50 as it would ideal for me, but probably at this stage i am not ready to get two lenses now so i had a decision to go for 35 which i love as 28 is a tad too wide for me and 50 being too tight for street stuff.. and 35 + 50 are different but again a bit too similar in the pocket. Are you saying i should get new 50 lux for the magic look? 😀 

[justaguywithaleica]

IMHO, if you can afford it in addition to the M11M, and can find a 35 APO, I'd go with that lens and not look back. I don't have the M11M, but I have an M10M--and the combination of the 35 APO and a Monochrom camera is absolutely perfect. I have both the 35 Lux and 35 Lux Close Focus (which is currently on loan to my daughter), and they're also incredible lenses, but the 35 APO has taken over as my lens of choice since I got it this spring. I'd been on the waitlist for the 35 APO for 18 months and when my turn came and after my own inner debates, I almost didn't get it because I tend to be more of a "character" lens guy and was concerned the 35 APO would be too technically perfect and not have any character. I'll freely admit I was completely wrong. It definitely has its own special character, and it's exemplified perfectly on the Monochroms--to my mind, even better than on color. Really, they're both excellent lenses and you can't go wrong. Whatever you choose, enjoy!

[pippy]

3 hours ago, Steadimann said:

...I love artistic stuff, so Lux (v2) should be my choice for this wide open character. And yet, still sharp when stopped down if I want that. Am I crazy?

Not at all. You have described the very reasons why some photographers choose the 35 v2 Summilux over later incarnations.

Philip.

Edited November 6, 2023 by pippy

[la1402]

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1 hour ago, Steadimann said:

That’s interesting 🤔 i was thinking whether i should go for 28 +50 as it would ideal for me, but probably at this stage i am not ready to get two lenses now so i had a decision to go for 35 which i love as 28 is a tad too wide for me and 50 being too tight for street stuff.. and 35 + 50 are different but again a bit too similar in the pocket. Are you saying i should get new 50 lux for the magic look? 😀 

I wanted to go 35 mainly, but realized I like 50 a lot and more especially for people. I still like 35mm as a one-lens solution which I also take if photography is secondary priotiy like on business travel. But if you can afford the APO, you can afford two other lenses. It depends a lot how you want to take pictures. For the Budget of a new 35mm APO, I would probably buy the new Lux 50, a new Voigtlander 28 Ulton and a used 21 Super-Elmar. But that is me.

I love artistic stuff, so Lux (v2) should be my choice for this wide open character. And yet, still sharp when stopped down if I want that. Am I crazy?

You need to define for yourselves what you like as character. I just sold my cron v4 because after buying the new Lux 35, I did not use the cron v4 anymore because depite some occasional harshness in the Lux, i very much preferred its output over the v4 and I am willing to carry the weight/size penalty.

[Jeff S]

4 hours ago, Steadimann said:

.. after long inner debates I decided to go for M11M

Well, not that long… yesterday you decided on M11-P. 🤪

Don’t know where you live, but if in the US, you might consider renting or at least demo-ing options to decide, rather than forum surveys, where every possible opinion can be found. All of these options are fully capable in the right hands. Often things like ergonomics, controls and various handling characteristics, which require actual use, can matter as much or more than rendering, especially if one is well versed in PP and printing techniques.
 

I’m confident, based on my needs and preferences, that switching from my M10M and/or 35 Summicron v.1 or 35 Summilux ASPH v.1 would not materially improve my photography or print results.  And when I rented the 50 APO Summicron, I found that I preferred the 50 Summilux ASPH, irrespective of cost.

But if you insist on others’ viewpoints for  decision making, here’s one possible summary regarding the two lenses you mentioned…

 

Jeff

Edited November 7, 2023 by Jeff S

[Steadimann]

10 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Well, not that long… yesterday you decided on M11-P. 🤪

Don’t know where you live, but if in the US, you might consider renting or at least demo-ing options to decide, rather than forum surveys, where every possible opinion can be found. All of these options are fully capable in the right hands. Often things like ergonomics, controls and various handling characteristics, which require actual use, can matter as much or more than rendering, especially if one is well versed in PP and printing techniques.
 

I’m confident, based on my needs and preferences, that switching from my M10M and/or 35 Summicron v.1 or 35 Summilux ASPH v.1 would not materially improve my photography or print results.  And when I rented the 50 APO Summicron, I found that I preferred the 50 Summilux ASPH, irrespective of cost.

But if you insist on others’ viewpoints for  decision making, here’s one possible summary regarding the two lenses you mentioned…

 

Jeff

Hello Jeff,

I posted only now, but my choice has been bugging me for weeks

Anyways, I hear your opinion and it does make sense. No lens or camera would make my pictures better, but there is a difference in look which i'm looking after. I live in a small country of Lithuania, Europe there is no chance to rent the lens, but for sure I can check the lens at 200 mile away retailer. I also watched this comparison, stopped down lenses are almost identical. The way I see it get 35 apo for general usage, the lens itself should stay relevant for many years and get also 50 lux for portraits. Would be the best of both worlds.

[IkarusJohn]

7 minutes ago, Steadimann said:

Hello Jeff,

I posted only now, but my choice has been bugging me for weeks

Anyways, I hear your opinion and it does make sense. No lens or camera would make my pictures better, but there is a difference in look which i'm looking after. I live in a small country of Lithuania, Europe there is no chance to rent the lens, but for sure I can check the lens at 200 mile away retailer. I also watched this comparison, stopped down lenses are almost identical. The way I see it get 35 apo for general usage, the lens itself should stay relevant for many years and get also 50 lux for portraits. Would be the best of both worlds.

A good choice.

[Jeff S]

4 hours ago, Steadimann said:

The way I see it get 35 apo for general usage, the lens itself should stay relevant for many years and get also 50 lux for portraits. Would be the best of both worlds.

All superbly capable. I’m sure you’ll be pleased with one or both, as with other potential options.
 

Personally, as an RF-only M user, I have no need for close-focus capability, and find this new design/operational direction (35 APO) unnecessarily complex for my current M bodies.  But personal use cases and preferences vary.

 

Jeff

[jakontil]

16 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Well, not that long… yesterday you decided on M11-P. 🤪

Don’t know where you live, but if in the US, you might consider renting or at least demo-ing options to decide, rather than forum surveys, where every possible opinion can be found. All of these options are fully capable in the right hands. Often things like ergonomics, controls and various handling characteristics, which require actual use, can matter as much or more than rendering, especially if one is well versed in PP and printing techniques.
 

I’m confident, based on my needs and preferences, that switching from my M10M and/or 35 Summicron v.1 or 35 Summilux ASPH v.1 would not materially improve my photography or print results.  And when I rented the 50 APO Summicron, I found that I preferred the 50 Summilux ASPH, irrespective of cost.

But if you insist on others’ viewpoints for  decision making, here’s one possible summary regarding the two lenses you mentioned…

 

Jeff

from his video I thought my decision was correct when I got my lux 35 FLE 2, however, down the road, it started to develop sort of problem with the aperture barrel, like it stuck, long story short I swapped with an 35 apo

have it for the last few months now and been shooting with it, I think this apo is amazing creation, hard to describe, but even for portraits, streets, landscapes, it just gives beautiful renderings

to sum up, I m more than confident to travel only with this lens if I have to, the shorter focus distance while seems gimmicky, it is quite a useful addition, 10cm difference in real life, if ever used, really makes a difference 

[DrM]

On 11/6/2023 at 8:50 PM, Steadimann said:

Hello everyone,

after long inner debates I decided to go for M11M (a year after buying Q2M). Question is whether I go with 35 Lux II or 35 Apo? At first I thought Apo for being cleaner, sharper, but then again after long deliberations with myself - getting M11M for that total Leica feel, look, experience and solely personal photography as a joy, why would I need sharp, clean look if I want Leica feel and look? Yes, Mono is detailed, apo is awesome on Mono sensor, but I love artistic stuff, so Lux should be my choice for this wide open character. And yet, still sharp when stopped down if I want that.

Am I crazy?

Yes, insane.. GAS diagnosed. So what, go with your gut, what makes you happy.

 

[VanDooglz]

Meh. Both are boring process lenses for scanning the world, not photographing it. Get the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 Mk II. That's the perfect 35mm photography lens in the M-mount regardless of budget. And for examining skin pores and dragonfly anuses a $199 microscope from Amazon will beat any APO glass.

[Steadimann]

3 hours ago, VanDooglz said:

Meh. Both are boring process lenses for scanning the world, not photographing it. Get the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 Mk II. That's the perfect 35mm photography lens in the M-mount regardless of budget. And for examining skin pores and dragonfly anuses a $199 microscope from Amazon will beat any APO glass.

Not sure about that  While Voigtlander in many ways can be an option, i do not like the way it renders images. Reminds me of Russian Soviet era lenses. Cheap - yes, is it nice - i don't think so  p.s. as for the details, I can always put a diffusion filter on the lens what would make the apo not so detailed

Edited November 8, 2023 by Steadimann

[T25UFO]

35mm APO + 50mm f1.2 Noctilux reissue.  Sorted.

[Steadimann]

Settled for 35Apo + 50 Summilux 1.4 fle v2. Should be with me within a day or two together with M11M 😍

[Leica Filmmatic]

Congrats!  50 lux is the next lens on my list. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Steadimann]

So I have returned from the store with my M11 and 35 Apo + 50 Summilux V2. In the end it was M11-P not M11M  I am happy. Though the most important I wanted to share is my frustration with photos people post online While looking through M11 photos on Flickr and even quite a number of reviews, I was not happy with colours I see. Are people putting Vivid jpegs out of the camera?  

And those lenses, omg....  I just have no words. I had a possibility to see many lenses, but this... simply breathtaking. It's not the quantity of bokeh of course, but QUALITY. 

I am speechless.

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[Jeff S]

The colors with the M10M would have really sucked.  Clearly you weren’t committed to B&W exclusively, so most likely the P was your better choice. 
 

Jeff