Eternal dilemma: body or lens upgrade?

[Seba66]

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Sorry if this has been discussed so many times…

Starting point: M10 and 50mm CV Nokton f/1.5 VM II.

I have a budget of about 3.5, 4 k€

Option 1 : Selling the M10 and get a used mint condition M11, keeping the CV lens.

Option 2: Keeping the M10 and get the 50 lux ASPH used in mint condition.

I have no any concern with my actual kit, so I’m aware that is partly a new toy desire and partly a rational upgrade path…

Any advice will be appreciated 

[T25UFO]

Simples, keep body, upgrade lens.

[jgeenen]

For me, the advantages of the M11 in daily use was worth the upgrade. Admittedly the M11 has some downsides, too (especially the out-of-camera color balance) but the better battery life, the USB charging option, the reliable phone connection and the 60mpix option was it worth for me. The Summixlux lens instead is more a emotional improvement rather than a real advantage.

if you don’t want to go for option 3 (new focal length) or option 4 (save the money), I‘d go with option 1.

[250swb]

The 50mm Summilux is the only Leica lens that for me has no rivals, everything about it is exceptional, so I'd go for that if you didn't want to branch out a bit and maybe get a 28mm or 75mm, etc. I'd keep the body, 24mp is still the sweet spot.

[Dazzajl]

Or even option 5…..

Nowhere in the photography world is there a larger or more wonderful choice of 50mm lenses than the m mount. You could delve into some different characteristics and renderings, there is much to be enjoyed in those nuances too. 

[Flou]

I am in a similar situation…I decided to invest in a new lens and save money for the M12, which will hopefully not have all the issues the M11-models are suffering from. Till then, the M10 is good enough for me. 

[darylgo]

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Keep the M10, always.  24mp and Leica lenses were made for each other, this goes double for the summilux 50, an always lens.   

[Dazzajl]

1 minute ago, Al Brown said:

Are you SURE about that 😏?

Well I was. I stand ready to be corrected

[Nosferatu]

Keep the Body...wait for M12 or Later...buy the lens...

[Seba66]

1 hour ago, jgeenen said:

… the better battery life, the USB charging option, the reliable phone connection and the 60mpix option was it worth for me…

Some of those are the main points that, in a more rational way, motivate body upgrade: USB charging is a big added value during traveling and the 60MP, not for pixel peeping, but for cropping when it is not possible to change lens on the go…

[Seba66]

1 hour ago, 250swb said:

The 50mm Summilux is the only Leica lens that for me has no rivals, everything about it is exceptional, so I'd go for that if you didn't want to branch out a bit and maybe get a 28mm or 75mm, etc. I'd keep the body, 24mp is still the sweet spot.

I didn’t’ mention, I have 28mm and 90mm, so I’m not looking for a different focal length, maybe 35mm cron for a one lens kit as future upgrade 😄 and yes, I’m really attracted by the legendary 50 lux…

[erl]

Devil's Advocate here: What is wrong with your present photographs? If you know the answer, ask your self, will any 'new' gear fix that?

My betting is that it will not.

Assuming that you know the answer to the question, I bet the problem is not technical in nature, but probably more of a creative problem.

The only thing that can fix that is YOU.

This is a recipe that I devised for myself, but I believe it has universal application.

It has saved me 'millions' and improved my photography (IMO). 

[chris7273]

What about the new Thypoch Simera 50mm 1.4 ? 
 

[dennersten]

I sold my M11 mainly because of the colors coming out of it. To much postprocessing. And no IBIS. I purchased a Hasselblad X2D instead. I kept my M9 and I am searching for a M10-p. 

So get the lens! 

[lct]

Difficult to answer w/o knowing you better. Do you need LV? If yes, forget the sluggish M10. If not, keep it and wait and see what the M12 will look like. Lens will follow.

[Derbyshire Man]

5 hours ago, Flou said:

I am in a similar situation…I decided to invest in a new lens and save money for the M12, which will hopefully not have all the issues the M11-models are suffering from. Till then, the M10 is good enough for me. 

You could look at it the other way around, the M11 is now reaching maturity, the issues have very largely been ironed out and it's a very capable camera indeed. The M12 will be a leap into the dark with a new product potentially with a brand new set of rough edges and maybe some of the original ones for good luck!

My guess is that not many viewers of your images will notice the difference between the Nokton or summilux, nor M11 vs M10 output. That means in reality it boils down to usability, I tend to find Leica lenses to have better handling and more predictable focal planes, ideal for off centred images. Similarly the M11 has clear advantages in terms of handling if you want a battery that lasts longer, easily chargeable, large chunk of internal memory, ability to select resolution etc.

It very much depends on what annoys you or you feel you are missing.

[Photoworks]

M11 all the way and keep the lens

[Kim Dahl]

I will go for the lens - you write you are happy with your M10 ! :-) learn to use it on your M10 and save up or see what the M12 will be. 

[Seba66]

4 hours ago, Derbyshire Man said:

You could look at it the other way around, the M11 is now reaching maturity, the issues have very largely been ironed out and it's a very capable camera indeed. The M12 will be a leap into the dark with a new product potentially with a brand new set of rough edges and maybe some of the original ones for good luck!

My guess is that not many viewers of your images will notice the difference between the Nokton or summilux, nor M11 vs M10 output. That means in reality it boils down to usability, I tend to find Leica lenses to have better handling and more predictable focal planes, ideal for off centred images. Similarly the M11 has clear advantages in terms of handling if you want a battery that lasts longer, easily chargeable, large chunk of internal memory, ability to select resolution etc.

It very much depends on what annoys you or you feel you are missing.

Thank you for your valuable contribution. I agree with you about waiting for M12.  I wouldn’t get a brand new camera when is released, just because I can’t and I don’t want to pay 9k, if I should wait for M12 it means to wait no less than two years after its release, so maybe 5 years since now…

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[Seba66]

26 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

IMHO this should not even be a question. Get the 50 lux ASPH, maybe this thread I started will inspire you...

Ah ah, your thread It's one of the reasons why I would like to get the lux 😉