35 to go with new M6 but also use on SL

[Big John]

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Hi all,

Currently have original SL with 24-90 but 95% of time use my ZM Zeiss glass (28/2.8, 35/1.4, 50/2).  Favourite FL is 35mm but Distagon can be a bit big and heavy on the SL.  My photography is light amateur, travel, family, street. 

About to buy new film M - prob an M6 (2022 version).  Need advice pls on a 35mm lens. Want to buy a Leica lens and am comparing the summicron (11673) and summilux (11726) both latest versions.  Whichever I get, it will also be used on the SL. My thoughts:

Summicron: f2 sufficient for film, smaller lens, could keep the ZM35/1.4 if need a faster lens (but it will be v large on the M6)

Summilux: faster, closer focus (although don’t think that will work with the M6), larger (but ok on an M6?), could be my ‘one 35mm lens for life’, could sell the Distagon

Any views from owners of either lens pls?  I might move from the SL to a digital M in the future.
 

Edit: online reviews seem to praise the Voigtlander 1.5 Nokton.  Should I be thinking outside of the Leica brand? Thank you all. 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Big John

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[photophile]

Given the nature of your "type of photography" - most of those tend toward smaller f-stops (generally). Thus, size might become more of a factor than maximum f. I have both the 35 cron (ver3) and the lux (fle) and use a variety of film/digital M's and an SL2-S. Unless I am specifically doing low light or portrait work, I almost always grab my cron. Lighter, less obtrusive (in viewfinder) and easier to put in the toy bag. (my camera bag). My 2 cents. Re Voigtlander -  I have the 28 Ultrons , v1 and v2. The v2 is outstanding and compares equally to many of my Leica lens, especially from 2.8 on.

[jankap]

My Summilux 35mm measures from the mount to the cap (inclusive) 54mm, the diameter has 54 mm too.

Edited December 18, 2024 by jankap

[jgeenen]

The Summilux 35mm with close focussing matches perfectly with a M film camera. Sure, it is bigger than the 2/35 asph or the 2/35 pre-asph. but it is a very attractive package. I have a 2/35 (the LightLensLab 8 element clone) and the Summilux 1.4/35 asph. (CF) and the Nokton 1.4/35 II  and did the comparison - each one a full weekend trip. My very personal opinion:

Size/Weight: The Nokton and Summicron are equally small but the brass construction makes the Summicron a bit heavier. The Summilux asph. is larger and heavier than the others. However, with a lens hood attached (the Summilux one in retractable), the size difference isn't that noticeable. So - size and weight, yes there are differences but those can be ignored in real life (at least I can ignore).

Image Quality: Both the Summicron and Nokton show "character" wide open. That can be helpful but restrict the usability wide open. The Summilux is already great wide open, and the assumed lack of "character" can be easily compensated if the photographer takes more attention on composition. On night shots and indoors the Summilux shines wide open. Where the "character" lenses are ruining many shots because of lack of contrast, halos or coma, the Summilux still shines (for me) because of perfection.

The CF function of the Summilux is obviously of no use on the M6, but the clear "click" is preventing false use.

So in summary - all lenses have their advantages, but in the sum of disciplines the Summilux 1.4/35 asph. FLE CF wins for me.

I however have to admit that both the Thypoch 1.4/35 and Nokton 1.5/35 are very nice new alternatives. Probably - if I did not own the Summilux already, I'd give the 1.5/35 Nokton a try because it seems equally performant, smaller and much more affordable than the Summilux. 

Edited December 18, 2024 by jgeenen

[Big John]

@jgeenen Thank you. Just on the size of cron re summ, I have seen a side by side image of the 2 lenses and as you say, once hoods are included, there is nothing in it. Is VF blockage therefore similar?  Thanks again. 

[jgeenen]

With or without hoods, the VF blockage of the smaller lenses is - thanks to the hood cutout - less pronounced (without hood there is no blockage at all at infinity).

[Big John]

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28 minutes ago, jgeenen said:

With or without hoods, the VF blockage of the smaller lenses is - thanks to the hood cutout - less pronounced (without hood there is no blockage at all at infinity).

Good point, thank you. 

[Smudgerer]

5 hours ago, Big John said:

Hi all,

Currently have original SL with 24-90 but 95% of time use my ZM Zeiss glass (28/2.8, 35/1.4, 50/2).  Favourite FL is 35mm but Distagon can be a bit big and heavy on the SL.  My photography is light amateur, travel, family, street. 

About to buy new film M - prob an M6 (2022 version).  Need advice pls on a 35mm lens. Want to buy a Leica lens and am comparing the summicron (11673) and summilux (11726) both latest versions.  Whichever I get, it will also be used on the SL. My thoughts:

Summicron: f2 sufficient for film, smaller lens, could keep the ZM35/1.4 if need a faster lens (but it will be v large on the M6)

Summilux: faster, closer focus (although don’t think that will work with the M6), larger (but ok on an M6?), could be my ‘one 35mm lens for life’, could sell the Distagon

Any views from owners of either lens pls?  I might move from the SL to a digital M in the future.
 

Edit: online reviews seem to praise the Voigtlander 1.5 Nokton.  Should I be thinking outside of the Leica brand? Thank you all. 

We Leica M users are really lucky these days to be honest, there's a mess of lens choices out there now for the M, analogue or digital, and performance wise unless you choose a plasticy Lomo sort of a lens there's really not a hell of a lot in it from high end to budget and unless you are one who examines the work through a strong loupe looking for faults rather than at the photograph then in my opinion you're missing the point of photography. As my granny used to say "there's a difference between scratching your arse or tearing it to pieces"................You, we, can obsess way way too much over this kind of thing.

I've let a friend long term borrow my M9-M, ( so long now that perhaps I should accept that it's "gone' now but that's ok ), he couldn't afford anything other than a used 7 Artisans 35mm f2 M mount lens for the M9M, but the results are really amazingly good despite the -€230 he paid.

I've used a full range of 35 lenses, a number of makes, it's my prime "go to" FL, everything from TTArtisan to Leica 35 FLE and for me what it comes down to is haptics......How the lens balances on the camera, how it handles regarding focusing and operation, and whether it feels made well enough though frankly most of the lenses offered now out there are certainly made "good enough" and some in some instances are better when compared with Leica's offerings. For instance I have both the 35mm f1.4 Steel Rim Re-issue lens from Leica and Voigtlander's Nokton 35mm 1.4 and I easily prefer the Nokton over the 'Lux simply because of how it feels and it handles better on the camera than the Leica, optically between them in my view it's pretty much a wash, but the difference in cost is substantial.

This forum has a wealth of good reports on lens choices including Leica that are worthwhile reading.

Just try a few if you can mounted on your M6 and see how they handle.

Edited December 18, 2024 by Smudgerer
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[Big John]

Thanks everyone for comments - very helpful.  After spending the afternoon reading reviews and your comments, I am leaning towards a new Summicron on basis of performance and size.  I don’t need a faster lens for film and always have the faster distagon for my SL.  Plus: it scratches the itch to own a Leica lens!