What you want, what you need, what you like, what you can afford

[delander †]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

And it arrived this morning, Well done Ffordes and the Royal Mail - I was expecting it to arrive on Monday given the time of year.

 

Enjoy the new lens Steve, I bought my copy when I bought my M8, they were very hard to get hold of then. I like the lens very much, it is so small compared to the 24 Elmarit.

 

I'd be interested to know of your views on it versus the 24.

 

By the way your 'local' dealer can order a lens from Leica UK and have it delivered to you direct.

 

Jeff

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[pgk]

What I want, somewhat bizarrely I think, is a 21mm f/3.4 angulon, because I need a lens slightly wider than 24mm on my M8 and I like its small size and retro looks. Whilst I could, I suppose, afford one from a dealer I would actually rather get a well used but optically ok chrome lens to match the 35 Summicron version 1 which is currently getting most use on my M8 and the results from which I do rather like, so I'm keeping a look out. There is something rather pleasant about using older lenses on a digital M and there is a real appeal in bucking the trend of having to have the latest and greatest optic (although this said, the 21mm f/1.4 really does appeal I actually can't justify it yet!).

[KM-25]

For the most part, I only have what I need:

 

15 Heliar, need

28 Summicron, need

35 Summilux, need

50 Summilix, need

50 collapsable, want.

 

Ask me this a year, or even five years from now and the answer will be the same, I truly am set with Leica, love what I have, want / need nothing else...

[daveco]

I have a 28 summicron and a 15 c/v, and I often find myself wanting something in-between. I've been reading Reid Reviews, and searching and reading threads on the 21mm emarit and the Zeiss Biogon 2.8. I was looking at either purchasing the Elmarit from the UK, or the Zeiss 2.8 here in the USA. I am leaning toward the Zeiss, due to its sharpness in the corners and overall performance stopped down. Landscapes would be an intended use for the lens. The Leica, though, is tempting due to the bargain price right now in the UK. With the addition of the 21mm, I believe I would have as complete a kit as I would need, barring the purchase of a micro 4/3 camera with adaptor.

 

15/21/28/35/50/90/135

[Guest darkstar2004]

Need? A second M Body.

 

Want? 75/2 ASPH 'cron, 21 Summilux, 35/2 ASPH 'cron, and perhaps a135/3.4 APO.

 

If I could have just one, I'd pick the 75/2 as I have a 28/2 ASPH which fills the gap of the absent 35/2.

[timd.]

have? 15, 35, 35, 50

the 90 was sold after being carried around on holiday without being used - just too tele for me.

 

afford? i'm not parting from the vc35 - would't make me rich anyway.

 

like? all of the above

 

want? need? nothing i guess. sorry, mr. kaufmann, it's not your fault.

[JBA]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

In September '07, I got my first Leica, a C-Lux 2. This inspired me to get back into film photography after a long hiatus. I bought an M6 classic and 35 Summicron Asph.

 

In '08, I subsequently added, in order, an Apo 90 Summicron-M Asph., 50 Summicron-M, Leicaflex SL2, 35-70 3.5, Apo-Telyt 180 3.4, 19 2.8, 24 2.8, 90 Summicron-R, and 35 Curtagon.

 

Then, a 50 Summilux-M, black paint MP, and most recently a 21 Elmarit-M Asph.

 

Thus, I have been grievously afflicted with the dreaded gear aquisition syndrome (GAS).

 

Since I hardly use the R equipment, I would gladly part with the 35-70, 35 Curtagon, and 19 Elmarit, and replace them with a 35 Summicron and 50 Summilux. I'd also gladly trade the SL2 for an SL just for the focusing screen alone. I'd be tempted to trade the entire R rig for another MP if not for the promise of the R10 . . .

 

As you can see, I've tumbled headlong down the slippery slope.

[earleygallery]

I bought a Summaron 35mm 2.8 but its goggled and I have an M2, so I think its going to go and the Skopar will stay for now.

 

I also bought another Summar in fine condition and a Tamron zoom for the R3 which I've yet to use 'in action'.

 

Also a wideangle for the Bronny, and that was about it for 2008. Quite restrained really!

[biglouis]

Anyone who knows me knows how profligate I have been with lenses this year. I bought a 24/2.8 and 75/2 which I promptly then sold for 90/2. I also bought a CV28/3.5 (astonishing lens) but was enticed into purchasing a 28/2.8 asph when one came up at a good price. For good reason I bought a CV50/1.5 as a stop gap while my lux35 was being coded and it has been, if the truth be told, the best value for money lens I purchased the whole year. Finally, I couldn't resist the depression in Leica prices due to the cash back scheme and bought a s/h WATE. All in all a frickin' expensive year.

 

The problem is that I now have an astonishing collection of glass and no real justifiable need to purchase anything else again!

 

If I had to sell the lot I would keep the 28 Elmarit (lovely little lens and almost as good as the 24/2.8) and the lux-35 which on the M8 has to be the best lens you can use, imho.

 

LouisB

[berndr]

Hello,

 

I'm still dreaming of some R lenses in the old non AF style:

 

1. R 2/135 APO

2. new R 2.8/24 ASPH

3. R 1.4/50 ASPH perfomance like the M lens

 

and to make clear I'm really a dreamer:

 

Give me a compact digital fullframe body for M and R lenses with the EVF of the Pana G1 and the image quality of the DMR.

 

Kind regards,

Bernd.

[adan]

1. Want - camera with a square 25 Mpixel (5k x 5k) sensor with any lens mount that would mount focal lengths equivalent to 38mm, 50mm, 80mm, 150mm on a 6x6 camera. Digital "Hassy" or "Rollei" with more pixels than the CFV back, and no stupid rectangular pix. Square was good enuff for Irving Penn, Imogene Cunningham, Diane Arbus...... (I guess if the S2 allows masking in the viewfinder it may end up the answer)

 

2. Need - not much. Maybe an SLR of some kind eventually, but I can wait until the S2/R10 arrive before putting my money down.

 

3. Like - Mandler lenses...anything a Leica user would have had in their pack c. 1984. See below.

 

4. Afford - Likely nothing. Waiting for the newspaper to likely close within 2-3 months, and have no idea what the severance will be. Just glad I got my two M8s and my lenses squared away while times were good. With no film expenses I can shoot for cheap for quite a while. But it's why I'm waiting on an SLR - I need to be SURE it's the right one 'cause I'll only be able to afford buying once, and it'll have to be good for 5 years.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

*Bought a used ASPH/APO leica lens last Friday, and after a weekend using it came to the confirmed conclusion that I don't like the way the current lenses draw. Too much contrast, too pink, too much resolution at 40 lppm and not enough at 80-100 lppm. IMHO. Returned it and retrieved some good ol' Canadian glass I'd traded.

 

Keepers - all circa 1980-1984 with low 3-million serial numbers: 21 f/2.8, 28 f/2.8, 50 f/2, 90 f/2, 90 f/2.8, 135 f/4....+ Voigtlander 15mm, which is an honorary Mandler lens due to its smooth contrast.

 

If a 24x36 M9 comes out, I might spring for a 35 of some kind. I might get a 50 f/1.4 in the meantime (both of the 80's optical vintage). Other than that, the money from here on out goes for printing paper and inks.