35 Lux Vs 50 Lux for my shooting style..

[pack_tor]

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Hi,

 

Here are the facts of my case:

 

I currently own Canon 5D Mark II, 35L, 50L, 85L & 135L. My favourite lengths are 35 & 50mm - so much that the 85 & 135 are collecting dust. I love to shoot wide open and in dark situations.

 

I'm overwhelmingly tempted by M9, just based on the fact that it seems to suit my style (people/documentary photography at close quarters) and considerably less bulk. Also the Leica should help me get over my shyness shooting strangers as it doesn't draw too much attention.

 

To finance, I'm thinking of selling the 85L, 135L and a bunch of other accessories, but I'm torn on what lens to get as my first - 35 Lux or 50 Lux. I love both lengths, but a slight edge to the 35. I'm a little concerned about the focus shift issues with the 35 (i've faced similar issues with the 50L). This would be my only lens for a while, so it's a tough choice.

 

What would you guys recommend? This would be my first experience with a rangefinder (i have no problems shooting manual, so i should be fine)

 

Thanks for your help!

[dpattinson]

Well - wide open there is no focus shift problem with either lens

 

I think this is a tough call, but if you are unsure about the 35lux you might consider the 50lux and later on pick up a second-hand 35cron for the field of view.

 

I use both lenses on my M8, and the 35 gets a lot more use. Of course that's close to the 50fov on the M9, so I might end up using my 50 more on a M9.

 

Difficult choice really.

[Shootist]

Persoanlly If "I" had a do-over of all my lens purchases I'd buy the 50 Lux ASPH as my first new lens.

 

I own a M8 and have had many M film cameras over the recent years and the first new lens I bought after getting the M8 was the 35 Cron ASPH and then a new 50 cron.

After some other lens purchases, 75 Cron and 28 Elmarit, I bought the 50 Lux ASPH.

It is my most used lens, even on the M8, and it can't be topped by any other lens (75 Cron comes real close).

[yanidel]

The 35mm forces you to get closer and to fight one's shyness. I started with 50mm FOV but now have switched to 35mm. I find pictures more interesting when I get closer as they include more background. It is also more versatile IMO as a travel and street lens.

Another advantage I see with the 35mm Lux since you like to shoot wide open (like I do) is there is more room to compensate for slight focus mistakes at F1.4 with a large DOF (remember, no auto-focus ) . Very important for street scenes with moving subjects.

Focus shift on the 35mm, there is some, but usually I have more issues with my focusing wide-open not being spot on.

Hope this helps, you'll probably get a lot of different opinions on this.

[DeLosLindos]

Hi pack_tor,

 

I'm in the same situation as you are, 5DII, 35L, 50L, 85L, 70-200L, 16-35L, 15FE and tired of the bulk, weight, wistles and bells and realy tempted by the M9 in combination with the highspeed Leica glass.

 

I try to solve this dilemma to shoot the next two months only with the 50L and after that for two more months only with my 35L (I've digged a hole in the backyard and burried the rest of my glass there ). This should shed some light on my needs, otherwise I'll flip a coin to crack this issue...

 

regards, DeLosLindos

[wem]

Since you are selling of your 85L and 135L, I would recommend the 50. You already have the 35L. I am thinking of getting a m9 and 50 myself. An m9 and 35 would be great too, but I already have the 24L, and 85L. The 85/50 ratio is larger than the 35/24 ratio, so I chose the 50 since it contributes the most to my other set of equipment.

 

If you plan to use only the leica in the future, that is a different kind of question.

[noah_addis]

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Like so many of these questions it's a matter of preference. But since you asked...

 

I'd definitely go for the 35mm. If I had to go with only one lens it would be the 35mm, in fact I have two 35mms as backup and for different purposes.

 

I've had no problems with focus shift on my 35 Summilux Asph on either the M8 or the M9 that I tested. In some situations I prefer the smaller 35 'Cron Asph, but if you're a wide-aperture fan the Lux is a great choice. And as others have mentioned focus shift is a phenomenon that affects a lens as it is stopped down. WIde open it's not an issue.

 

The framelines for the 35mm on the M9 are very large, which may make the transition to rangefinder shooting easier as you'll be composing in larger frames.

 

The only reason I'd change my mind and say go for the 50mm first is if you shoot with the 50 much more than the 35 on your canon.

[doug_m]

35 mm vs 50 is a personal choice. However, the 50 lux ASPH may be the best 50 mm lens -and one of the best lenses period- ever made. The Nocti ASPH is of course superb but its a "specialist" lens. You may think the 50 lux ASPH is expensive but it is really a great value item and very small considering what it delivers. It is just about impossible to go wrong with this baby. You might also have trouble finding one at the moment.

Good luck.

[glenerrolrd]

Having worked with both M and FF SLR systems ....I have always preferred a slightly wider FOV with the M s . So I would go with the 35/1.4 asph .

 

The 50/1.4 asph is the superior lens for pure IQ (preferences aside) but FOV first , speed or character next .......all the current leica m glass is great.

 

The intended use is important. If you said ...I do a lot of black and white ...classic street shooting.....its the 35lux. If however you said..I do a lot of travel,landscape ..sunny day ..photography ..I prefer the 35 summicron either the asph or the pre asph . If its a lot of family images with many portraits....the 50 lux asph or even the pre asph 50 lux are good choices.

[LLT]

It is a matter of personal preference. I have a 35/2 asph and 50/1.4 asph, have not touched the 35 since I bought my lux! I too love street and documentary photography. The 50 has not disappointed one little bit! Wide open, it renders beautifully and very sharp.

[Mauribix]

Also the Leica should help me get over my shyness shooting strangers as it doesn't draw too much attention.

 

Some may disagree, but IMHO the M9 won't help you get over your shyness at all.

There's something in the life of a Photographer that comes as a sudden revelation, that will be the moment in which you'll get over it.

It may happen when you see someone shooting, or then again while you shoot someone you didn't think you could have done.

I hope anyway that the M9 would help you in this, that's a great camera, and probably the placebo effect may help you in that way (don't get me wrong, I want to be kind, and no offense is intended).

Anyway the 35vs50 is a great debate, personally I love both on the M9, with the 50 as my favourite (while the 35 was the best for me on the M8 since I prefer the 50FOV).

For what's practical, the 50 is less flare prone, it has the telescopic hood (soooooo important IMHO), no focus shift stopped down, and great colors and bokeh.

The 35 has got an amazing "glove" wide open, a great bokeh, but an external hood, it's more flare prone e you may find a focus shifting copy (even if the effect seems to be reduced on FF).

 

Hope this help, and you you come into the Leica crew!

 

Ciao

[pack_tor]

Thanks everyone for the very informative responses. I expected the opinions to be divided, but the discussion has me thinking on the direction to head. I'm currently tending towards getting the M9/50Lux, keeping 5DII, 35L & 85L. This way, I atleast have a bit of the long end covered (even though I rarely use it). I think selling the 50L & 135L shoul be enough to cover the price of the 50 Lux. Still thinking, but getting closer....

 

Re: leica helping with the shyness, most of my trouble is in pointing a huge piece of equipment at strangers. i think leica will give me a lot more comfort level with strangers, even if it is psychological. I'm always up for trying new things, so the shift from SLR to a rangefinder would actually be fun for me.

 

btw, are there any canadian posters here? if i were to look for used leica lenses, where should i ? - especially in the toronto area? Also, anyone know of the availability of the M9 in canada?

 

Thanks for all your comments!

[chrism]

Vistek will always be there in Toronto, and there is Eight Elm if you prefer a more personal approach. Secondhand and grey market lenses can be had through Harry's Pro Shop.

 

Vistek sent me my M9 this week. Love it!

 

Chris

[jonoslack]

Hi There

Well, perhaps the question deserves a prosaic answer?

 

If you can't decide on the 35 or 50 lux, I can give you three reasons to buy the 50

 

1. it's cheaper

2. it doesn't suffer from focus shift

3. there are rumours of a replacement for the 35 (without focus shift) which will affect the secondhand value.

 

Of course, you could add a few quid and get a 50 'lux, and a 35 summarit, which I think is a lovely lens.

[geesbert]

on any camera but the leica I love the 50mm or equivalent focal length. it is unbelievable versatile, the most intimate focal length, but somehow on the leica I prefer 35mm. I haven't found out yet why, maybe one reason is that with the leica I tend to compose much looser, probably also due to the inaccurate viewfinder, as with a SLR i hardly ever crop in post.

 

the shooting technique is different, when you use the leica you have to compose much more in your head than in the viewfinder, not seeing the in focus/out of focus areas is tough in the beginning, but you grow to it. and you learn to see a picture before you watch it through the viewfinder, something which a SLR doesn't teach you.

 

while the 50mm lux is fantastic, my first choice for the M9 would be the 35. that camera is made fot this lens.