28 + 35/50 Summilux on SL2

[teosnow]

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Good day everyone, 

I'm ready to expand my set of lens on my Leica SL2 actually with the 24-90 SL and the 35mm Summilux FLE I.

I would like to add probably 1 or maybe 2 lenses to my set, the reason is to have a lighter set of lenses to walk round with family, travel and outdoor shooting and avoid (when not necessary) to have the 24-90 with is absolutely excellent but of course it comes with the size and weight of a very big lens.

My summilux M 35 is great and I love using it (family and daughter, night shots and general travel & walk around lens), the only thing I would really like to have is the close focus capability . . at the same time I would like to have an APO SUMMICRON SL to have a different character and the autofocus of course. Last  . . at the very end would also be nice have a 28mm (M of course) . .  so I'm struggling shooting the new set up of prime lenses  between these choices  . . all from the used market of course . . 

- Change my 35lux for the newer close focus + 50 APO SL

- Change my 35lux for the 50LUX close focus + 35 APO SL

In both cases does it make sense to add a sum micron-m 28mm? (or maybe I can also look at the elmarit or why not at the lux28 . . or to heavy maybe). 

Any suggestion ir really really welcome . . 

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[Stuart Richardson]

If you are just looking for the best performance and lowest price, you could get the new 28mm APO Lanthar from Voigtlander, which looks to be the sharpest 28mm M lens ever made. For my money at least, I would change the 35mm Lux FLE for the closer focusing version and get the 50mm APO SL. Over many years I wound up with both the 35mm FLE (v1) and 50mm Summilux ASPH (V1), as well as the 35mm APO and 50mm APO. I would say that the 35mm FLE does a bit better on the SL2 than the 50mm 1.4 Summilux ASPH. It is subtle, but it loses less performance due to the sensor glass. I know it should be the other way around, but in my experience it is the opposite. I also think the spread is then better...you have a 28mm APO and 50mm APO on either end if you need the best performance, and you have a fast lens with a lot of character in the middle (not to say it isn't sharp). Anyway, that's what I would recommend based on this scenario. 

[teosnow]

Thanks Stuart, I'll take a look at the APO Lanthar . . does the character of the 28lux worth the weight & size?

About the 35/50 combos I was thinking the same 35lux CF could be better for low light picture also and the 50 APO SL maybe easier for portraits due to AF . . 

[LeicaR10]

Teosnow,  Stuart offers some sage advice.  At the end ot the day, it will get down to what do you really need/want, rendering of the lens and bank account.  Based on my nearly 50 years of experience with almost all the Leica systems, I will choose rendering, followed by my intended genre of photographic use as my rationale to choose a lens.  You may have different ideas on what you want to achieve.  Below are some links to highlight the different lenses renderings.  It might help you decide what is best for you.  r/ Mark

28 Lux Try:   https://onfotolife.com/lens_sample_photos?lens_id=348&page=1&focal_min=0&focal_max=800&aperture_min=0&aperture_max=32

50 Apo SL Try:  https://onfotolife.com/lens_sample_photos?lens_id=4184&page=1&focal_min=0&focal_max=800&aperture_min=0&aperture_max=32

35 Apo SL Try: https://onfotolife.com/lens_sample_photos?lens_id=1497&page=1&focal_min=0&focal_max=800&aperture_min=0&aperture_max=32

28 Cron M Try:  https://onfotolife.com/lens_sample_photos?lens_id=347&page=1&focal_min=0&focal_max=800&aperture_min=0&aperture_max=32

PS  The site has other manufacturers lenses such as Voightlander too. Plus the latest version of the Leica M 28 Summicron is now very high resolving across the frame and all corners.  The good news, you have lots of superb choices to help with your probable case of GAS (Gear Acquistion Syndrome)...that has no cure.

Edited September 22 by LeicaR10

[Stuart Richardson]

1 hour ago, teosnow said:

Thanks Stuart, I'll take a look at the APO Lanthar . . does the character of the 28lux worth the weight & size?

About the 35/50 combos I was thinking the same 35lux CF could be better for low light picture also and the 50 APO SL maybe easier for portraits due to AF . . 

I think that sounds like sound reasoning. It also depends on what your favored focal lengths are. I use the 50mm the most and the 50mm APO SL is probably one of my favorite lenses of all time. The 35mm APO is also incredible, if anything, even better, but I just don't see in 35mm quite as much these days. 

As for the 28mm Summilux, I can't say, as I have not tried it. But I would imagine on an SL2 it will be nice to use, as most of the lenses that feel too big on an M feel right at home on an SL2. I do have a 90mm APO M and that balances really well on the SL2. 

[Jeff S]

4 hours ago, teosnow said:

I would like to add probably 1 or maybe 2 lenses to my set, the reason is to have a lighter set of lenses to walk round with family, travel and outdoor shooting and avoid (when not necessary) to have the 24-90 with is absolutely excellent but of course it comes with the size and weight of a very big lens.

 

 

 

Another option that could meet your criteria for light, compact and outdoor use would be the SL28-70.  It has the added advantages of one additional lens vs 2 or more, weather sealing, and operates just like your 24-90 (AF, etc) in a smaller package.
 

I’m buying one for these reasons, and will keep my M lenses on my M bodies, where they serve me the best for complementary needs.

[Eoin]

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Personally, I find 35 & 50 focal lengths too close together to warrant carrying both in the bag. I tend to shoot either 21 or 24 on the wide and 35 & 75. My other 3 lens combo would be 28-50-90.

Since you have the 24-90 zoom already, it might be worth your while exploring your catalogue for that lens and see what focal lengths you tend to use most within its zoom range.
It seems a bit strange to be recommending (smaller) lenses already covered by the zoom's range 

Regarding lenses, I prefer the SL with SL lenses, but as you have discovered size and weight add to the bulk of the system. Were I in your shoes I'd be dispensing with the Summilux M 35 FLE and replacing it with APO Summicron SL 21 and a APO Summicron SL 35 or 50. With the resolution of the SL 2  and the optical quality of the APO SL lenses there should be plenty of overhead available to crop if needed.

I don't see a huge noticeable difference between the rendering of the Summilux 35 FLE and the APO Summicron SL 35 they are far more similar in the rendering than different. Image sharpness across the frame favours the APO Summicron SL at comparable apertures. That Super APO Summicron SL 21 is a stunningly well corrected lens, possibly the best 21 I've ever had the pleasure of using... period.

 

 

  

[teosnow]

In fact, my target is to build a complete set of lenses, avoiding changing or adding lenses so often just for the wish of buying them.
I'll use my SL2 for the upcomings 4/5 Years for sure and i actually love the moments when I use it paired with the Summilux 35, for its compactness, low light performance, and overall user experience, last but not least for the more intimate approach compared to the 24-90. The zoom is very convenient for general purpose, landscape and do it all in outdoor and daylight conditions. That's the reason why I would probably wish to have a couple of M lenses togheter with the performances of the APO summicron sl . . and i'm trying to understand how much redoundancy will be having 3 (close?) focal lenght with 2 M and 1 APO SL . . but having 28 35 and 50 focal lengths it's probably a non sense . .

[Eoin]

I think only you can answer if the focal spread of 28-35-50 meets your needs. For me the spread is too tight and if I already owned the 24-90 and happy with its range, then perhaps a M24 f2.8, APO SL50 & M90 f2.8 or Macro 90 f4.0 would be my choice to give me the same wide, middle and tele focal lengths in a smaller form factor.

Personally I use the APO SL 21, 35, 90 & Summilux SL 50 primes with my M lenses being able to fill the 24, 28, 50 & 75 gaps if needed.

[teosnow]

Yes of course there's no real answer to my question.

when i live the 24-90 at home, the plan is to go out for anything (low light, portrait, city walk, mountain skiing . . ) with max 2 lenses and for sure one must be an M lens because of size and max aperture.

I'll look for different rendering compared to 24-90, something less clinical and more magical wide open, that's why i'm towards the 35lux + 50 APO SL and maybe later on a 28 M to combo with the 50 apo . . . on the other hand there's the 28+50lux and a 35 APOSL

 

otherwise i just should stay with a 28lux + 50 APO SL or 35 lux + 50APO SL (maybe a 75apo sl for spacing, but less usefull as 1 lens oly)

Edited September 25 by teosnow

[keeping_a_balance]

My 2 cents... 

don't buy the APO SL lenses.  You state you want less clinical and more magical wide open.  APO is clinical.  Has magic, but I personally don't find it's the same magic as M glass magic..

I don't own the 24-90 but my thoughts after reading a lot about it is that it's clinical and basically an APO lens, that just does not go down to f2... So you have your APO needs 'covered' albeit not in the most convenient form factor.

By the sounds of it you want to buy every FL out there eventually so setup some alerts for the M models you want on ebay/or other used portals/ camera stores and wait for them to come in at prices you are willing to spend and condition is good enough...

This is a deep rabbit hole that has no end... especially with all these 3rd party manufacturers recreating vintage lenses that are pure magic until you buy them and you realize they may not be sharp enough... 🤷‍♂️...

Good luck

 

Edited September 26 by keeping_a_balance