X2D destroyed my love to modern Leica-Advise on lens lineup

[Uwiik]

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Hi all, 

I got married in 2009 and soon found myself unable to afford the hobby anymore after shooting on and off since Nikon F70 days. Was a broke husband with three kids had to quit the hobby at around 2012-2013 during the Nikon D800 (my last camera) era and was deep into underwater photography at the time, broke my heart when a then novice diver neighbor hauled off my super trusty 4” Pelican case with everything in it for $4000

About 3 months ago I reconciled with photography hobby after a very long hiatus, apparently it came back with a loud bang! Started with Sony A1MK2 and all GMII lenses from 14mm up to 200mm which I immediately neglected exactly 7 days after nuptial for a new mistress called Leica M11-P, then soon followed by a mint Leica ‘sharkskin’ MP BP with Leicavit, debauchery after debaucheries so it seems, it was like a revenge relapse. Decided to get rid of the Sony A1MK2 setup with less than 2000 SC for a Hasselblad X2D with 80mm XCD to accompany the Leicas. Off course I was dumbfounded by the perfection of the X2D, it was so perfect yet so alive making Leica’s modern rendering looks dead, had to seriously did a sit down and performed some soul searching asking myself if I really want to go down further into that rabbit hole? Fortunately was able to find the answer and found myself still favoring the overall analog feeling, simplicity and characteristics of Leica but found myself strongly disagreeing with modern render on anything Leica. IMO modern rendering on Leica is dead compared to the fantastic X2D, but on classic characteristics that you can tune to create artsy works Leica is incomparable and X2D is dead on that department, it is best to own both system so it seems.

I never touch my 21mm Summilux nor 70 APO,  almost never touch my 35 & 50 Summilux FLE II too dead to my liking and I found myself gravitate heavily towards my 35 Steel Rim Re Issue which been modified to close focusing myself (thanks to Yukosteel), using 50mm Noctilux F1.2 re issue very regularly as I am hooked into boudoir photography with my loving wife as the model, IMO this lens is super flattering for boudoir. Lastly the lens I enjoy the most right now for EDC is Titanium 50mm Summilux Pre-ASPH V3, had brought home and tested a few brass bodied/ringed Leica Lenses (thanks to my fantastic dealer) and IMO this Summilux 50 V3 Titanium version posses the best built quality of them all, snappiest firmest ap ring, smoothest fc ring with IQ to match, not too heavy to be a burden, not too light to feel cheap, an absolute joy to carry and use I giggled for two days after acquiring this lens, not to mention its 0.7m MFD IMO just right for 50mm… 

I see and compose the best at 50mm, so naturally wanted to  expand the most on that size. Initially was set on adding 50 APO to the arsenal but since I began to dislike ( really not like it at all) Leica modern rendering, perhaps I better spend the money on Nocti 50mm 0.95? But my fantastic dealer said that 35/50 APO may look too ‘dead’ on color but it would look absolutely jaw dropping on B&W and I wouldn’t want to miss it? Problem is there is no used 35/50 APO locally so I cannot just bring home one to try… He also advised to give Nocti 75mm 1.25 a try as he strongly favor Nocti 75 1.25 compared to Nocti 50 0.95, he said once I tried Nocti 75 I will force myself to use 75 and will not regret it? He’s got a used Nocti 75 I can bring home and try but currently no Nocti 50 0.95 that I can try and I never tried any of the said lenses that I am contemplating. Help me with my sickness please… 

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Edited May 4 by Uwiik

[andybarton]

You’re not a broke husband any longer then 😊

Your dealer is trying to sell you a lens that he has, rather than one he hasn’t got. 

I’ve never tried one, but the 75/1.2 is a beast to focus accurately.

[Uwiik]

22 minutes ago, andybarton said:

You’re not a broke husband any longer then 😊

Your dealer is trying to sell you a lens that he has, rather than one he hasn’t got. 

I’ve never tried one, but the 75/1.2 is a beast to focus accurately.

I rephrased my words to “Was a broke husband” 😂.. me and wife worked together on our business, hard…. 

 

I believe he is the honest one, I actually found out about his Nocti 75 from another gentleman I met at his shop. He literally hid that lens from me before I found out hahahaha…. I can easily borrow the Nocti 75 but I don’t feel good borrowing it if I don’t buy anything afterwards and all the other alternatives I mentioned are only available brand new…to be totally honest, my own feeling gravitates heavily towards 50 0.95 Nocti right now, I can nail focus easily with the 50 1.2 Nocti, not that it can focus properly wide open anyway….wonder if the 0.95 easier or harder than 1.2 to nail? Also wondering about focusing on Nocti 75 vs 50 0.95? I have visoflex 2 but hate it with passion… 

Edited May 4 by Uwiik

[jankap]

With a 50mm Nocti, one can crop to 75mm easily. What do you want to do with a 75mm? Portraits? I am WA fan(atic).🫠

[andybarton]

If you’ve bought all your Leica kit from this dealer since Christmas, I wouldn’t worry about borrowing another lens from him. 

But, it seems to me that you’ve got your heart set on the 50/0.95. 

Whereabouts are you? Are there other dealers in your area?

[Uwiik]

Just now, jankap said:

With a 50mm Nocti, one can crop to 75mm easily. What do you want to do with a 75mm? Portraits? I am WA fan(atic).🫠

What I thought… Like I mentioned on first post, I have a 75 APO and I just do not use it… My curiosity piqued because the last week I have heard 2 different people raving about 75 Nocti swearing that it will convert me from 50mm and I happen to want another lens right now, preferably another Nocti, I already have 50 1.2 Nocti so 75 Nocti seems like logical, but my heart says otherwise… what to do.. 😑

[LocalHero1953]

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33 minutes ago, Uwiik said:

Help me with my sickness please…

Forget about any new kit. Buying a new lens will not cure your sickness, it will just feed it. Beyond a certain level of equipment no one will notice what you took photos with.

Go out and take photographs.

[jankap]

You could wait for the Nocti 135mm. That will be a caliber 70er at least.

Edited May 4 by jankap
Forget that I meant future

[Steve Ash]

If you do not even like the Summilux 50 Asph but prefer the pre-asph and the Nocti 1.2 I have my doubts that the Nocti 75 makes any sense for you. It is at the very opposite end of what you prefer. 

[Uwiik]

3 minutes ago, andybarton said:

If you’ve bought all your Leica kit from this dealer since Christmas, I wouldn’t worry about borrowing another lens from him. 

But, it seems to me that you’ve got your heart set on the 50/0.95. 

Whereabouts are you? Are there other dealers in your area?

Bought everything including the X2D from the same dealer except the Sony A1 and M11-P body, was still moving around different vendors at the time and finally settled with this shop…There are many other dealers but I only have good relationship to the level I can borrow used lens freely from 2 shops in town…

I reside between Jakarta-Indonesia and Vancouver-Canada, always shop for camera here in Indonesia as funny enough camera is way cheaper here than even the US.. Official Leica shop is a joke here, getting a M11-P is 6 months wait nobody buys from authorized Leica here, bought everything from independent camera shops.... 

[Uwiik]

15 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Forget about any new kit. Buying a new lens will not cure your sickness, it will just feed it. Beyond a certain level of equipment no one will notice what you took photos with.

Go out and take photographs.

I changed battery on M11-P twice a day when I am in Canada (just got back 2 weeks ago)… Here in Indonesia I am lucky to change battery twice in a week, too hot and humid to go outside…. But shopping for camera is fantastic here in Indonesia, way better than Canada in terms of price and in stock selections, even the uber rare ones…. 

Edited May 4 by Uwiik

[andybarton]

11 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Forget about any new kit. Buying a new lens will not cure your sickness, it will just feed it. Beyond a certain level of equipment no one will notice what you took photos with.

Go out and take photographs.

Excellent advice. 
 

Don’t forget to buy a big dehumidifier storage cabinet to keep all your new kit. 

[Uwiik]

19 minutes ago, Steve Ash said:

If you do not even like the Summilux 50 Asph but prefer the pre-asph and the Nocti 1.2 I have my doubts that the Nocti 75 makes any sense for you. It is at the very opposite end of what you prefer. 

Been waiting for this answer… I had a sense that IF (a big IF) one day suddenly something strike me and I suddenly preach 75 mm, there is a slight chance I prefer 75 Summilux than 75 Nocti based on what I have been reading… But everyone keep on claiming what a perfect lens 75 Nocti is and everyone keep on saying that something finally beat the god of them all 50 0.95 Nocti…. Cannot help but turning my head can’t I? But yes, I wonder if the 75 Nocti is too perfect for its own good making it not so ‘Noctilux’ anymore? 

I never ever tried a 50 0.95 but I absolutely love what I am seeing on my 50 1.2 Nocti, I just adore it from day one, perfect size even for EDC and I will not sell it. 

Edited May 4 by Uwiik

[Uwiik]

5 minutes ago, andybarton said:

Excellent advice. 
 

Don’t forget to buy a big dehumidifier storage cabinet to keep all your new kit. 

The whole house is controlled at 45%, me myself cannot stand the humidity here, normally 75-88% day in day out… 

[FrozenInTime]

Your dealer is not your friend ... just think how large and impractical that 75 Noct will be. Also very modern looking, as is the 50/0.95 Noctilux. These big lenses do not sell quickly and have terrible residuals once you realise they are not for you. Dealers have the 75/1.25 and 90/1.5 stuck on their shelves for years.

Just be happy with the 50mm Summilux v3.

Edited May 4 by FrozenInTime

[LocalHero1953]

4 minutes ago, Uwiik said:

I changed battery on M11-P twice a day when I am in Canada… Here in Indonesia I am lucky to change battery twice in a week, too hot and humid to go outside…. But shopping for camera is fantastic here in Indonesia, way better than Canada in terms of price and in stock selections, even the uber rare ones…. 

I lived and worked in Indonesia for three years in the early 80s (Yogjakarta, Surabaya, Madura, Bali). In that time I took more photos per day than anywhere else in the world (and bought my first Leica in Surabaya - M3, Summicron 50) - there should be no shortage of subject material. 

But I suspect my advice was not what you were looking for🙂.

[LocalHero1953]

3 minutes ago, FrozenInTime said:

Dealers have the 75/1.25 and 90/1.5 stuck on their shelves for years.

I keep waiting for one of those 75/1.25 dealers to drop their prices enough for me. They are clearly not looking for fast turnover!

Till that happens I'll keep using the poor man's Noctilux: the Summilux 75/1.4 😉

[dkCambridgeshire]

Another customer has likely not bonded with the 1kg 75/1.25 – and I wonder why? Perhaps he also thought it would be his grail lens?

If you could post a few of your 'boudoir' portraits on TLF maybe we could offer some opinions as to whether you really, really, need to buy another lens? 

The old adage, "It's not the camera or lens .... It's the ****** using the b––––– thing !"   – comes to mind.

 

[Uwiik]

1 minute ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I lived and worked in Indonesia for three years in the early 80s (Yogjakarta, Surabaya, Madura, Bali). In that time I took more photos per day than anywhere else in the world (and bought my first Leica in Surabaya - M3, Summicron 50) - there should be no shortage of subject material. 

But I suspect my advice was not what you were looking for🙂.

Hahahahaha, Indonesia in the early 80s-90s is something else entirely… That was the time when I as a kid still breathe out cold foggy air in the morning, when I can still breathe freely without feeling nauseous, when Indonesia was still cultured with endless cultural happenings as daily encounter everywhere…..Sadly that’s is not the case anymore, worse in the capital city where I make my livelihood… You can go to local traditional market for some unique photo ops of people but that’s about it, at least in the city…. Off course you can always travel to the remote area which are still absolutely fantastic and totally different to what you would normally see in the Western hemisphere but travelling around the island here is not something that you would call easy……What I am trying to say photo ops are something definitely not a doorstep away here… 

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Hallo,

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[LocalHero1953]

Even in those days Jakarta was somewhere to be avoided! I was fortunate that most of my work (water resources) took me to the countryside. I can still remember walking across the hills east of Yogyakarta listening to the distant sounds of a gamelan band playing for a village wedding.