What is the longest time you pondered a lens, and which one?

[IkarusJohn]

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10 hours ago, ValerieD said:

So the 35APO is the one 35 that managed to make you happy, if I understand correctly ? I’m kind of pondering that lens too. 
I have the summilux. I absolutely love it’s output at every aperture, but I stopped using the lens as it’s too big and removes the joy of using an M, for me. 

For me, subject separation and fall of are important.  This is where the APO stands out.  I still have the Summilux pre-asph (it’s having a CLA in Germany).  I never gelled with the Summilux FLE as it was not as smooth as I would like, and the out of focus treatment could be harsh and very busy. 

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[bpultorak]

On 11/10/2023 at 6:54 PM, setuporg said:

With the 35 steel rim Lux reissue, I've read a bunch of threads and saw a bunch pf photos and am unconvinced I should get it after getting the 35 APO.  However the compactness and character make it a very interesting one.  Then again I got the Noctilux 1.2 that has somewhat similar character and also works better for portraits.  Another important consideration is the QC issues.  Used one might not have the new hood; new ones might have been made too long ago and still have the old hood.  That's just an example of some pros and cons that delay getting a lens.

What was your longest process deciding on whether you want to get a lens, which one was it, what were the pros and cons, and how did it work out in the end -- did you get it?  And if you did, did you keep it?  And if not, what did you get/use instead?

Same here. I pulled the trigger in August and got the new steel rim. With 3 months struggle with back focus warranty battle I ended up with still unadjusted lens.

I had to service it myself but I don’t regret it. It’s such a unique lens!

 

 

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Edited November 14, 2023 by bpultorak

[fil-m]

1 hour ago, ValerieD said:

I agree with you. I've always wished for the FLE to be the first cousin of the Summilux 28, but sadly it is not. I find that the 35AA wide open resemble more the 28 Lux' rendering. 

Agree the 35AA is indeed unique and in line with the Sx28 (and IMO the Sx24) rendering with an even more pronounced fingerprint.

I hesitated a long time to get it until I finally made the crazy decision and bought one at a "reasonable" price through an auction (cheaper than prices seen at shops or on eBay). It was like an ON/OFF switch in my head cycling between the "forget it" and "just get it" until the auction came and I won, thus turning the page.

When we consider the APO 35, Steel Rim (+reissue) and AA, in addition to the FLE and even the older Summicrons, Leica's 35s have so many different & unique signatures, a very rich pool of multiple styles. It is a well designed trap!

[jakontil]

50 Noctilux 0.95, considering the price and various infos from the net, mostly say like summilux 50 on steroids gave me so much doubts, but it was a lens i have for some years and been used quite on regular basis

out of context, i have the noct 1.2 and though it’s better for portrait compared to the 35 SR, the latter is great when doing street photos, especially if you shoot films, just like the reissue noct 1.2 

[Olaf_ZG]

May be we could cameras as well to the thread?

[cesc]

Summilux 50 Asph... I've never had the chance to get one, or try one, and I think it's a "must", I had twice the Sonnar, twice Summicron v4 ... but never the Lux