On the APO fence

[crons]

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2 hours ago, Jeff S said:

they most definitely believed that their work was incomplete without superb prints

That's because they shot film. It isn't finished until you print them obviously. 

[otto.f]

On 6/11/2024 at 11:44 AM, Robert Blanko said:

IMHO, the photos taken with my 35 APO show an unparalleled clarity that is noticeable also at f/5.6.

It was stunning to see this in my first landscape photos when zooming in and where my subjective „wow“ impression was that it even offers a slight edge over my 50 APO.

That’s my experience too. I shoot landscapes mostly at f4 with my APO35 and what strikes me and my ‘public’ are the immense micro details very far away when zoomed in (shot with M10-R). Could be very handy for a papparazzo if he didn’t bring his tele 500mm. 
@OP: btw, I would not trade in the Summarit. The APO is a wonderfull lens but Leica has more 35’s with their own fingerprint, and the APO does not cover all those fingeprints It is a rather neutral lens and it is really a joy to see the details shown by it, which is good for printing too, also after radical cropping. I thought I could do with just the APO and swapped all my 35’s for it, even the Summicron 35 iv, but that was a mistake. 

Edited June 14, 2024 by otto.f

[lct]

30 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Yeah, hard to make prints and books without some worthy photos.  🤪

I took the cover photo myself for one of my legal books. Was not a print of course but a TIFF file, just a good snap that was worthy for me as the author and had nothing to do with the cardboard used by the editor. I can understand that some photogs are interested in printing, the same way as cooking for the HCB's hunter 😉 but it is not my thing, the same way as i was not interested in chemistry in the film days since i had print labs for that. Oops i realise this has nothing to do with apo lenses, sorry for the OT folks...

[crons]

3 hours ago, JTLeica said:

Lots of valid point here, but there is of course no requirement to print, that said I feel you are leaving 30% of the enjoyment oof photography behind.

However to @patrickcolpron, I personally dont think there is much link between Leica and the Medium that you present your photos through or on. I.e.only buy a leica if you print, etc. Or never buy a Leica if you only view digitally. I have a Leica (Many now oops) because is absolutely LOVE the simplicity, the feel and use, the menu system is a joy, the build quality is top notch, and the quality is at least as good as the rest of the market, arguably better with the M or SL APO Lenses... And oh, they hold their value so so well, so apart from the upfront capital spent, you actually dotn spend as much as you do on other systems.

Yes. That's and just the mechanics of taking a photograph with a phone vs a real camera. There's no comparison. I don't see what any of that has to do with the medium you choose to display your photos. 

There are a few photos I really would like to print professionally. I just won't be able to do anything with them. 

[Eoin]

I'm at a somewhat similar crossroads as the OP regarding the APO 35.

I prefer photography with my M's  for many years now, I've also had the pleasure of owning the Summilux 35 ASPH in Pre and now FLE v1 and enjoyed/enjoy both. I was thinking of adding the 35 APO M but I seem to be flip flopping between it 2nd hand, or trying a 2nd hand SL2 & Summicron-SL 35APO for a different use case. I wouldn't have much call for anything other than perhaps a SL 75 APO and would give me another more integrated platform to use my other M lenses on if needed. Cost wise much the same, but I think the Summicron-M 35APO is way overpriced and even more so 2nd hand. 

On the other hand I'm smitten by the Q2M's ease of use and quality, a colour Q2 could be a more practical solution for a grab and go. 

I realise it's just an itch that needs scratching, more a want, absolutely don't need. But photography as a passion is funny that way.
 

[Kim Dahl]

I have the Leica M35 APO - it's hard to see. Photo 1 is the original full section. Leica M-D Photo 2 is section. The Leica M35 APO is razor sharp and fantastic resolution. I will NEVER sell mine.

ps. I could not be allowed to upload in full resolution. But photo 2 is a section of the original.

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[JTLeica]

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The Leica 35 M App is a little better that the Voigtlander Panther, 10% maybe, but its a bargain basement price compared to it.

[JTLeica]

On 6/13/2024 at 11:31 PM, hansvons said:

I can very much relate to that. I know that the Leica game isn't cheap, and printing isn't cheap either. But I prefer a proper printer to the next fifty in my collection. I print a lot, stick the prints on my large whiteboard, and learn a lot. Some of the images go to an exhibition; others hang in some friends' houses. Many are in a drawer. Some are really large (100x70), and some are small. Photos love to be printed.

Paper, BTW, is as interesting as lenses. Today, I ordered a roll of PhotoRag Baryta. Yummy.

 

Is Baryta the semi gloss / satin paper?

[jaapv]

I had to take out nineteen posts in this thread because they descended into personal attacks. Please adopt a less ad- hominem and aggressive style of discussion  as moderation has better things to do. This forum is based on mutual respect. Thank you. 

[hansvons]

Just now, JTLeica said:

Is Baryta the semi gloss / satin paper?

To be more precise, I ordered a roll of Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta. This paper is based on Hahnemühle's famous Photo Rag, based 100% on cotton fibres. It's pretty heavy with a smooth, mildly textured surface. Its surface contains barium sulfate, which patients drink when CT scans need a stronger contrast. As a consequence, one's poop gets a metallic shine. The same happens with papers. The shine looks different from "regular" glossy surfaces, with a slight metallic shine. Combine that with Photo Rag's ability to display the deepest blacks, and you will get a wonderful B&W paper reminiscent of traditional wet print papers.

Hahnemühle also sells a Photo Rag variant that they label Satin. It's different from the Bayta variant by showing less gloss and no metallic sheen in the specular highlights.

[Jan1985]

The best thing about the 35 APO is that you are allowed to take photos with it.