Does it make sense to get a 35mm Summicron if Im using an APO Summicron?

[rcusick]

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I just went to Ecuador.  I tried to be smart.  I insured everything.  I used a cheap rollei 35 when roaming around dangerous areas - I.e. Guayaquil.  I’m brought more expensive and conspicuous equipment - ie sl3- to the countryside.  I probably would have been comfortable in town with an m.   I didn’t have room to pack it hence the rollei.  

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[kaiserphoenix]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

Insurance is far cheaper than a Summicron - and I highly doubt that any would-be thief will be thinking: "ah - not this one, it is just a Summicron - not worth it" 

Yes absolutely, though that wasnt really my original point tbf. I still want to take a solid lens, so willing to risk, my thinking was, if the worst were to happen, the M11M and Summicron are very easy to replace with insurance or not, whereas the APO is a harder lens to track down etc

[kaiserphoenix]

1 hour ago, dugby said:

I’m a regular M10-R/50APO/35FLE shooter, but recently chose not to take them to South America and Italy for the same two reasons that you mentioned. So I took other cameras (M240 with Zeiss planar, or Hasselblad Stellar)

I find it tiring to have a 1Kg M camera hanging off my neck-shoulder for the 14hr days of being away from our hotels, I find the initial 3-4 hours of M shooting fun, but after that I get tired with the weight.

I recently took a Leica X2 on a trip and surprised how good the images are, and it weighs 35% of my M10-R/35FLE. And the X2 fits in an ultra small Lowepro waist case.

Over many years of photography in my parents time and now my grand children’s time, recording family events with a good lens is more cherished, than shooting exotic travel destinations.

The X2 is now my preferred 350g light weight TRAVEL camera alternative to my M with 35FLE (1000g). The X2 elmarit lens captures amazing travel memories, and it’s not tiring to carry and use for 14hr days.
 

 

 

 

Interesting, I guess my logic isnt irregular at all then! 1KG, is still relatively heavy I agree for all day shooting, and particularly with no auto focus, it can get mentally tiring as well. Good shout on the X2.

[dugby]

10 minutes ago, kaiserphoenix said:

Interesting, I guess my logic isnt irregular at all then! 1KG, is still relatively heavy I agree for all day shooting, and particularly with no auto focus, it can get mentally tiring as well. Good shout on the X2.

Have a look at the the "X2 images" thread in the X-forum, the colours are outstanding even the BW are quite amazing for a non-M camera

The price of an X2 is about 25% of a "non-APO 35cron".

 

[graphlex]

No, not to me.  But I kept the 35 Summilux Steel Rim. 

[Smudgerer]

Oh, thanks for the "permission" Patrick!..........Pity I missed the good deal on a Summaron 35 2.8, I wish you'd posted this yesterday.

[ALScott]

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For insurance reach out to Hill & Usher and their Package Choice program for gear insurance.  It will not be as cheap as adding to your homeowners or renters policy but it will be a separate, stand-alone policy and doesn't cost that much more.  Separating the coverage from your homeowners is a good thing in the current environment for homeowners here in the U.S.  The cost and obtaining HO coverage is more difficult than ever.  If you were to have a claim it would be best to not jeopardize your HO policy with possible cancellation due to the claim.  If your HO were cancelled it would be very difficult to find replacement coverage and would cost way more than the premium H&U quoted me.  I am in insurance and have had my camera gear covered under a rider on my HO policy for years but I am moving it to a separate policy with H&U.  It was the best option I could find providing replacement cost coverage for a reasonable price.

[GFW2-SCUSA]

Could you rent a lens for your trip? Would it be insured, I don't know that. But it seems a less expensive way to go than buying a second lens. I wonder how many have had cameras stolen while on a trip, in fact. No one wants to be the victim, but we become victims when we live in fear. 

 

[Jean-Michel]

When travelling with my non-existent Noctilux I always surround myself with a non-existent armed security detail. I have plenty of non-existent photographs to show off as a result.

 

[BWColor]

15 hours ago, ALScott said:

For insurance reach out to Hill & Usher and their Package Choice program for gear insurance.  It will not be as cheap as adding to your homeowners or renters policy but it will be a separate, stand-alone policy and doesn't cost that much more.  Separating the coverage from your homeowners is a good thing in the current environment for homeowners here in the U.S.  The cost and obtaining HO coverage is more difficult than ever.  If you were to have a claim it would be best to not jeopardize your HO policy with possible cancellation due to the claim.  If your HO were cancelled it would be very difficult to find replacement coverage and would cost way more than the premium H&U quoted me.  I am in insurance and have had my camera gear covered under a rider on my HO policy for years but I am moving it to a separate policy with H&U.  It was the best option I could find providing replacement cost coverage for a reasonable price.

Thanks for posting this.  I have a trust policy with State Farm where I insure my home and automobiles.  The photo gear is State Farm, but a personal coverage.   I think that your advice regarding separating the coverage is a good one, but one of my prime concerns and one that I really haven’t been able to figure out is, how hard is it to collect when there is a loss?  Did you leave your gear on the back seat of a car.. not covered… hotel room .. not covered.. in a foreign country .. not covered.. foreign police report .. not covered.  Do you have a website… then you must be a pro.. not covered.??  There is always the initial expense, but actually getting paid for a loss is yet another thing.

Edited September 7, 2024 by BWColor
Addition

[ALScott]

H&U policy is geared toward professionals but they will write "hobbyists" such as myself.  They clarified that point so it's for either.  As far as paying claims I cannot comment on that.  I can say that after searching long and hard on the internet the H&U offering was the best I could find in my opinion.  They use companies that I am familiar with that provide the paper (policy).  As far the scenarios of potential loss that you provide they would be covered under the policy I am looking at.  That said, it is up to the buyer to read their policy to be certain you are getting the coverage you want/need.  And as far as claims payment that varies widely by carriers, the individual claim and the circumstances surrounding the claim.  I know of plenty of examples where the same carrier was great at paying one claim and a nightmare paying another, home, auto, professional, etc, not speaking on photography equipment claims.  Although, I had one many years ago with Safeco and they were fantastic but they do not offer a standalone product for photography equipment that I could find.

[swatch]

It seems OP concerns about availability of 35 apo (if it was stolen) more than anything else ( M11M is also expensive but bring a lower cost alternative M camera isn’t asked  ). It also seems OP can’t feel comfortable without 35 apo for long periods of time.  

Well, bring 35 apo along if the length of the trip is too long of being without this particular lens in the camera bag, otherwise put 35 apo at home and be happy with whatever 35 lens to be with during the trip.

Insurance does not make a person happier or the trip nicer as being stolen means without a tools that need the most being out there to record the trip. Whatever the main camera with lens to bring with, the true  insurance is a backup camera (iPhone? I don’t know) to bring with in the trip.

Edited September 8, 2024 by swatch

[RexGig0]

I do, very much, understand the desire to carry a more-easily-replaceable lens, while traveling. I know that it would be most difficult to replace my Thambar-M 90mm lens, for example. Whether fully insured, or not, finding a replacement Thambar would be no easy task. Not that I consider a 90mm M-mount lens to be something I would normally use while walking-out, as a traveler; it is simply my best example of a relatively expensive, relatively rare lens. (I doubt that I will ever be able to justify acquiring an APO Summicron-M 35 ASPH, or any other ~$8K US lens, unless I were to trade my Thambar, as part of the deal.)

On a personal level, I seem to be clumsier when I travel, more prone to walking into things, stumbling, or fumbling things that I am carrying. I reckon that being distracted by unfamiliar things has that effect on me. So, it is not just theft that concerns me, when traveling.

 

 

 

[Jean-Michel]

I do not have statistical data, but I suspect that there are far more cameras, and other stuff, stolen in house break-ins as opposed to stolen from tourists in either hotel rooms or on the street. There is a greater likelihood of your cherished expensive lens or camera being stolen from your home while you are away on vacation. Singular datum: I first travelled overseas in 1972, and quite frequently after that, including this year, I have yet to have lost any camera while travelling or at home. And, yes, I carry insurance for my equipment, it is a business expense. The only time I had a claim is when I dropped a 150 mm Hasselblad lens into a creek, that was a sad day!

[Sebastian S]

robbers usually go for big cameras and lenses, shiny objects, big logos on camera or straps. M cameras with ther small lenses look like grandpas cheap old cam for outsiders, especially when the paint is already beaten down. you probably attract more old timers who will stop you from taking pictures for a smalltalk how they also used to have a film camera in the 70s then robbers.

[DrM]

Google for insurance.. and enjoy

[Jeff S]

On 9/6/2024 at 8:16 PM, ALScott said:

  I am in insurance and have had my camera gear covered under a rider on my HO policy for years but I am moving it to a separate policy with H&U.  It was the best option I could find providing replacement cost coverage for a reasonable price.

I’ve used collections policies from Chubb and AIG, separate and in addition to their top level home policies, for photo gear, vintage prints and rare photo books. Reasonable cost… full replacement value, no deductible, worldwide, and comprehensive coverage circumstances. My single claim was settled immediately, without hassle.

Jeff

[wlaidlaw]

My answer to the original question would be to get a Funleader 35mm Zeiss Planar G lens converted to M mount. I have the 45 Planar-G conversion to M and these are beautifully done, IMHO fully up to Leica standards. My RF focus was spot on, which is more than I can say for some of my new Leica lens purchases over the years. Both my 35/2 ASPH and 50/0.95 lenses had to go straight back to Solms, as their RF focus did not correspond to optical focus. If you buy the 35 Planar, you would have to put up with a slightly odd characteristic of this lens (not shared with the 45). The focus plane object is exceedingly sharp and crisp but the focus plane has a very sharp drop off into a slightly weird bokeh. If you like focus "Pop" you will love this lens if you like smoother rendition you may struggle with it. It is interesting that Zeiss opted for the Biogon formulation for their 35/2 ZM lens rather than just porting the 35 Planar G over to ZM. 

Wilson

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Hallo,

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[aficionados]

On 9/9/2024 at 4:28 AM, Sebastian S said:

robbers usually go for big cameras and lenses, shiny objects, big logos on camera or straps. M cameras with ther small lenses look like grandpas cheap old cam for outsiders, especially when the paint is already beaten down. you probably attract more old timers who will stop you from taking pictures for a smalltalk how they also used to have a film camera in the 70s then robbers.

Don’t underestimate robbers, they are well educated, they might be frequenting this forum 

[wlaidlaw]

30 minutes ago, aficionados said:

 they are well educated,

They aren't. Most robbers are sad drug addicts with stoned brains. 

Wilson