Sell 35mm summicron … then what ?

[DIm77]

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Hello !

i use a M11 for my work as a photojournalist. It was paired with a 35mm summicron and I loved that… until I started using an old 40mm summicron. This little thing is now glued on my camera. It’s absolutely small, and the rendering can be crazy good ! Then, I added a Zeiss sonnar for my portrait works. 
But all that  introduced a mess in my mind. 
 

They are both character lenses. I like the rendering so Much I do not use the summicron 35mm again. 
 

i would like to sell it. Maybe for a 28mm summaron. But sometimes for work i miss a more modern Lens i could use easily in low Light conditions.
A 50mm summicron ? I was also thinking to a 28mm with capabilities at night when i have to follow strikes here in france ! I always work close to the action   

 

i would be happy to here you about that. I read with a lot of pleasure the recent post about How not to overthink the « Lens thing »

I don’t want to have plenty of Lens but a good combination for real use 

the Summaron is a temptation i can’t explain 

 

 

 

[Jewl]

I believe the new 28 cron or 50 cron might be a good choice to complement your 40. Or, if weight is irrelevant and money no object, then the summiluxes might be better!  

[chris7273]

keep the summicron and use a diffusion filter ? 

Edited February 26, 2024 by chris7273

[dpitt]

50 Summicron is great, but I would vote for the Summilux 50 pre-ASPH. I have a Summilux 50mm v2 and love it. It has a very usable F1.4 which will be handy and have more character than your Summicron 40 wide open.

IMO v2 might even be more like your Summicron 40 from F2.0 on than the Summicron 50 v3 or v4. To my eyes the 50 Summicron v3 looks to have an older design and the v4 (and v5) looks more modern, not APSH yet, but approaching that clean high contrast look of the modern M lenses. I still love my v4 but the Summicron 40 is a great compromise between classic and modern look.

[DIm77]

thanx for answering. I think what strikes me most using the 40mm summicron is the pancake factor. When you get used to such a small combo, it's eve hard to use a zeiss sonnar wih is objectively small. 

So i really dream of the 50 summilux, but how to use it with the Sonnar already great ? 

The Zeiss 35mm is incredible too but too big for my needs. I like to be discreet and i have to moove a lot when working on the field. 

[dpitt]

If you want a more modern lens for indoors and 50mm, then indeed the Summicron v4 or v5 could be the answer. It is still not strictly modern like ASPH versions but really a step up from the Summicron 40 in contrast and sharpness.

The 50 Summicron is not really small compared to the 40.
The only M lenses that small, are either the collapsible 50s, LTM and M versions, and Summicron 35mm. The Summilux 35 ASPH also has a variant that is quite small. This could be your indoors modern lens for low light conditions.

And then there is the Elmarit 28mm ASPH. I had this lens and used it very much on my M8 (40mm eq.) It is not exactly a fast lens, but one stop slower than the Summicron 40 should not make much difference with the M11. The Elmarit 28 ASPH is as modern as it gets, but it is one of the best small M gems IMO.

 

[hansvons]

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I assume you own a 35mm Summicron ASPH. If so, keep it. You will re-bond at some time. BTW, I do similar work and I thought that my similarly lovely 35mm Summarit would dethrone it. But it didn't. 

The 50mm Summicron V4 is my favourite 50mm lens for its form factor, handling  and rendering. 

If I were thinking of buying a 28mm, it would be the Elmarit ASPH. Super compact and with soul despite its performance.

Another great contender for a flary 60ies look is the 35mm Nokton f1.4 SC. Brilliant little lens.

The Zeiss Distagons have quite a footprint, unfortunately. 

 

[TomB_tx]

Bought my Summicron 35 new in 1969. My advice - never sell a Summicron - use it.

[Olaf_ZG]

The sonnar is a wonderful portrait lens. I love it. But use it mostly for either sensual or stills. The summaron made me fall in love with the 28mm. Such a great rendering. The 50lux asph is a class itself.

I do have a cron35 and an elmar24, but could be without them, as the above is all I need. 
Yet, I cant get myself selling yet. At the contrary, somehow lenses are being added.

Never should have bought into the M system. Should have stayed with the Q.

[RexGig0]

A modern, optically well-corrected 28mm lens, that is getting a serious amount of attention from some VERY talented photographers, is the Cosina Voigtlander Nokton 28mm f/1.5 VM. I do not, personally, prioritize a “fast” 28mm with a modern rendering, but, having seen others’ images, and having read their user reports, I believe that this Nokton is a competent lens. 

A Summicron-M 50mm is never a mistake. (I have the current version optical formula, though with a different, special edition cosmetic appearance.) A 50mm f/2 lens with more-modern coatings, less likely to show veiling flare, with more-modern, highly-corrected optics, is the Cosina Voigtlander 50mm APO Lanthar VM. I recently added one of these, too. (My 50mm portrait lens is the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, which was my first M-mount lens, six years ago. Yes, I do tend to accumulate 50mm lenses. 😉 )

 

[weatherproof]

12 hours ago, DIm77 said:

I was also thinking to a 28mm with capabilities at night when i have to follow strikes here in france ! I always work close to the action   

Depending on which 35mm Summicron, I'd sell it and get a 28mm from Cosina-Voigtlander and pocket any difference. If this is a v1 or v4, it's worth keeping if it's within your means.

[burchyk]

If you like 40mm, 35mm does not make a ton of sense, get a 28mm. Many good options to choose from.

[Jean-Michel]

For photojournalism work all you need is essentially f/8 and be there. Get the shot(s) relatively well exposed and in focus. Best to use a familiar camera and lens, and there is no need whatsoever to wring your hands over rendering, no one care for rendering in that field. 

[DIm77]

10 hours ago, weatherproof said:

Depending on which 35mm Summicron, I'd sell it and get a 28mm from Cosina-Voigtlander and pocket any difference. If this is a v1 or v4, it's worth keeping if it's within your means.

It's the last summicron, bought it new in 2022

[DIm77]

8 hours ago, Jean-Michel said:

For photojournalism work all you need is essentially f/8 and be there. Get the shot(s) relatively well exposed and in focus. Best to use a familiar camera and lens, and there is no need whatsoever to wring your hands over rendering, no one care for rendering in that field. 

I use f/11 and hyperfocal. It works so well with both 40mm and 35mm. But, i also love to use f/2 for specific pictures 

But f/11 is impossible at night :))

[JTLeica]

On 2/26/2024 at 11:00 AM, DIm77 said:

Hello !

i use a M11 for my work as a photojournalist. It was paired with a 35mm summicron and I loved that… until I started using an old 40mm summicron. This little thing is now glued on my camera. It’s absolutely small, and the rendering can be crazy good ! Then, I added a Zeiss sonnar for my portrait works. 
But all that  introduced a mess in my mind. 
 

They are both character lenses. I like the rendering so Much I do not use the summicron 35mm again. 
 

i would like to sell it. Maybe for a 28mm summaron. But sometimes for work i miss a more modern Lens i could use easily in low Light conditions.
A 50mm summicron ? I was also thinking to a 28mm with capabilities at night when i have to follow strikes here in france ! I always work close to the action   

 

i would be happy to here you about that. I read with a lot of pleasure the recent post about How not to overthink the « Lens thing »

I don’t want to have plenty of Lens but a good combination for real use 

the Summaron is a temptation i can’t explain 

 

 

 

Sell it then re-buy it two years latest at a loss. I do this a fair bit