Help me reflect around my 50mms and 35mms

[Leicaboy Norway]

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Hey guys

 

I need help to reflect

 

I have an SL2 and a M240.

 

35mm options

For 35 mm options I have CV 35mm  ultron 1.7 (not the old ltm one), Zeiss distagon ZM 35 1.4 and Summicron 35mm asph v1.

Zeiss is the sharpest one I think, I don't actually mind the size, but don't love the focusing and don't love the colors. So I think I'll sell that one.

 

But do I need both the CV and the Summicron? I have had some insanely nice portraits with the Summicron. Then other photos at around f8 where everything is just a little boring looking, not much character. 

I don't think the CV has a ton of character, but a tiny bit. It is sharp wide open and I dont actually mind the pecualiar size and handling of the lens. But it's not tiny as the Summicron and I doubt it's worth anything on the market, maybe $300. 

 

50 mm options

I originally had the Summicron 50mm v5 for my M240. I haven't been totally in love with the results on the SL2. But it's a nice lens. Resale value is probably around $1800 at least.

Then I bought the Summulix 50 asph and it just... shocked me. How good this lens is. Not only wide open or at wide apertures, but the colors rendering at 5.6-f8. Wow.

Not only is the Summilux super nice to focus with, but I have taken photos on the SL2 that has gotten a lot of recognition, potentially commercial.

 

So now I have 5 lenses for 35mm and 50mm for Leica M240 and Leica SL2. 

 

Based on what I'm saying: do you have anything to add to help me reflect more? 

I will sell the Zeiss. But I'm thinking to maybe hold on to the 2 Summicrons just because they're so nice. But I don't use them a whole lot now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[a.noctilux]

Trying is knowing ...

Time to try those little Summarit-M lenses, in 35mm and 50mm.

F/2.4 or f/2.5 or what you find.

At first If money is not a problem, I'd not sell one of lenses I have.

Many times I sold I had to buy back (for some reasons ...) more expensive (and troubles to find "same lenses" again).

[newtoleica]

You need to think what character / rendering of lens you want and whether you want differences or consistency....

Personally I like the 'modern' Leica rendering rather than 'character' so that means I don't get on with the 50 Summilux ASPH, but do like the 50 APO. however its too expensive for the use I get out of a 50mm lens. Actually very happy indeed with my recently purchased Voigtlander APO Lanthar 50mm f2 - same to my eye as the APO summicron but 1/8 of the price (used). 

 

Suggest you look at a lot of 35 and 50 comparative reviews and think about rendering...

[fil-m]

The Cron 35 and the Lux 50 Asph give you a balanced yet "rich" 35/50 combination, in which the first one is a relatively predictable and sharp lens in a compact format, while the second is a great 50 fit for many purposes including portraits and street work, with more character than the Cron 35. 

[Leicaboy Norway]

4 minutes ago, fil-m said:

The Cron 35 and the Lux 50 Asph give you a balanced yet "rich" 35/50 combination, in which the first one is a relatively predictable and sharp lens in a compact format, while the second is a great 50 fit for many purposes including portraits and street work, with more character than the Cron 35. 

I think you're right, just a bit reluctant to selling my 50 cron v5, but having just ordered the Q3 43, I should gather some funds too.

[a.noctilux]

2 minutes ago, Leicaboy Norway said:

having just ordered the Q3 43

Not the same as M system !

Now you are fixed, with fixed lens no lens choice "problem" anymore.

[spydrxx]

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Keep the ones you use, sell the rest once you're satisfied you probably won't get much use out of them.

[hansvons]

2 hours ago, fil-m said:

The Cron 35 and the Lux 50 Asph give you a balanced yet "rich" 35/50 combination, in which the first one is a relatively predictable and sharp lens in a compact format, while the second is a great 50 fit for many purposes including portraits and street work, with more character than the Cron 35. 

 

5 hours ago, Leicaboy Norway said:

Based on what I'm saying: do you have anything to add to help me reflect more? 

 

What fil-m says.

The 35mm Summicron ASPH V1 is my Desert Island lens. Why? It has tons of character, not far from the KOB (including curvature and flaring), but is distinctively sharper at the corners at full aperture. At f/2, I can't think of any other lens that combines personality and high IQ as balanced as the Summicron ASPH v1. The v2 of this lens uses the same optics but has a reworked aperture with more blades that render a modern bokeh, which I find undesirable. It also works nicely with the SL2. I'd sell all other 35mm lenses. 

I don't have the 50mm Summilux 50 ASPH, but I own the classic Summicron v4, which has the same lens design as your v5. I like it for its subdued character and spotless performance. Its virtues are somewhat hidden. But it shines with a pronounced flatness in portraits while keeping what people call 3D-pop. I can only guess, albeit somewhat informed, as I own for filmmaking a SummiluxR in its last iteration, that the Summilux at full aperture draws highly moody f/1.4-portraits with punch, clarity and enough sharpness, which can be very impressive. I also guess that at f/2, the Summicron and the Summilux render similarly for the untrained eye. From that perspective, I'd sell the Summicron. Also, the Summicron can be rebought easily anytime, as they are not rare. 

Cleaning the shelf is always a good idea!

 

Edited September 30, 2024 by hansvons

[lct]

35: I'd keep your Summicron 35/2 asph but i would miss a faster 35 so i'd go for a Summilux 35/1.4 FLE or a Nokton 35/1.5 asph to replace the ZM 35/1.4. The Nokton has the same size as the Summicron and could suffice as a single 35 if you are on a budget.
50: Not sure why you want another 50 than your Summilux asph but if you're after a more compact lens with a less clinical rendition a Summicron 50/2 v4 or v5 could do it.

[newtoleica]

LOL this thread highlights why lens rendering is such a subjective thing. Terms like 'modern bokeh', 'clinical' - very much a 'marmite' thing (to coin a UK term)....

[lct]

Clinical? High acutance.

[JoshuaR]

It seems pretty open and shut to me: 35 Cron + 50 Lux is a fantastic combination and hard to beat. I’d just stick with those two lenses. Just sell the rest and keep those two forever.

[burchyk]

35 cron would probably be a bit boring next to 50 lux.

Personally I'd either go for something with high IQ (FLE, Voigtlander APO), full on character (LLL 8E, Nokton f/1.4 v2) or make it wider (28mm or even 21mm).

[hansvons]

3 hours ago, newtoleica said:

Terms like 'modern bokeh'

Lenses of some vintage tend to have 6-8 aperture blades (I once owned a set of early 80ies S-16mm Super Speeds with a triangular aperture(sic!); thus, bokeh balls are only perfectly round at full aperture, and that only centre frame. On the other hand, modern lenses tend to have more blades and retain a rounded aperture as you stop down, making bokeh balls rounded at any f-stop. Add to that the phenomenon that older lenses tend to show swirly bokeh and cat eye-shaped bokeh balls at an image's edges, and you get your vintage bokeh setup. However, as today's internet lens testers promote modern lenses should show an impeccably soft, certainly not swirly bokeh (cat eyes are somewhat allowed for unknown reasons), one can distinguish between modern bokeh and vintage bokeh without Marmiting one's preferences 😉.

I find the bokeh discussion totally overrated. Bokeh came into my life in 2017 when I tested cine lenses for Canon, and the Canon folks asked me kindly how I liked the bokeh. 

[Leicaboy Norway]

19 hours ago, burchyk said:

35 cron would probably be a bit boring next to 50 lux.

Personally I'd either go for something with high IQ (FLE, Voigtlander APO), full on character (LLL 8E, Nokton f/1.4 v2) or make it wider (28mm or even 21mm).

you're right I think the Summicron is between those with much character and those clinically sharp. Either a good combo or not in any camp kind of situation.