p.2 #2 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
Mitch Alland wrote:
The Summilux 35 FLE appears often in these lists. I have this lens, which I bought, used, at a surprisingly low US dollar price from a Paris Leica dealer when the exchange rate was favorable. However, I rarely use it because I haven't liked its performance at f/1.4 and f/2.0 in bright, tropical light (or night shots) — particularly when shooting contre-jour or even with sidelight, in terms of the highlight look in the bokeh areas. I much prefer my Summicron-35v4 (pre-ASPH) in this respect. Am I missing something?
p.2 #3 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
28 Summilux. Heavy but a amazing lens, even with the purple fringing. I'd love to try the Voigtlander equivalent to compare.
35 Steel Rim Reissue. Two lenses in one. Small, light.
50 Summilux ASPH v1. Probably my favorite, but a bit front-heavy. This edges out the APO for me.
p.2 #4 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
I will say in a very particular order:
1. 50mm summilux reissue: this is an incredible lens. Softer than the asph versions, with some glow and more CA, but with a very filmic signature and some amazing colors.
2. 75mm summilux: it takes some time to understand this lens, but once you do, it delivers non clinical, classic, singular images, specially in my genre (portrait). Btw, my copy nails focus wide open through the RF.
3. I would’ve added the 28mm elmarit, but my criteria is portraiture and then I clearly prefer the 28mm voigtlander nokton.
p.2 #9 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
RustyRus wrote:
Its the 24 Lux and 50 Lux ASPH
If I had to pick one other it would probably be the Leica 35 LUX pre-asph or the 28 Cron-
The 24/50 are about the perfect combo though
I second your top two - when I think of lenses I won't ever give up, its the 24 Lux and 50 Lux. They make me say wow every time I use them.
As far as the 3rd, have to go 35 Lux V2. I have the infinity lock version. So unique wide open and then stopping down to just f/2, so sharp in the center. I've seen it said a thousand times, but 100% it is 2 lenses in one. Size is great as well
Runner up - 35 Cron APO. When you want that sharp image, nothing better
p.2 #10 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
When I started in the M system my trinity 24 Elmar, 50 Lux and 90 APO
Met all my needs had the looks I liked. It was my go to kit for everything Monochrom.
Added a few other lenses for missing FL to complete my kit (135 APO, 16-18-21 35 lux v2) and an M8.
These days my trintiy on Monochrom is 16-18-21, 35 Lux v2, 50 Lux.
The 16-18-21 is more flexible when hiking in the mountains, I interchange using the 35 and 50 both give the sharpness and look I like.
On my M8 I mainly use 16-18-21 and 35 Lux v2. Their cropped FOV matches what I like on the M8. Though the Lux 50 is carried with them it is seldom used.
p.2 #11 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
35 FLE. Small, fast, high enough quality yet still looks like light through glass on close inspection. For example, moderate bokeh outlining on far borders creates a bit of tension/dynamism when lots of the field is blurred, but the central area is smooth and does not compete with in-focus subjects.
21 Elmarit Asph. High contrast but not harsh; if the Super Elmar is Mondrian, and the pre-asph is Manet, the Asph is Vermeer. A bit of focal-plane-induced softness at the corners, but this helps reduce distractions there, which yes is opposite the FLE, but 21mm is a beastly angle of view. The 24 is more mild ("better") in both respects, but I find 24-28mm to be in uncanny valley territory for stretching subjects while wider than 20 just makes me want a fisheye.
I deeply admire the marvels that are modern lenses, but I don't like my photos when they're Pixar-clean. I think I'm a 90's Leica guy; there's just something about that first push of aspherics into "mainstream" lenses that does it for me.
But, my final lens: 35/3.5 Skopar. Might just be newtoyitis, but it turns a small kit into an everyday, everywhere proposition. All those phone pics that leave me hungry for an enlargeable, malleable photo? Maybe phone sensors will get better, but I suspect there's no replacement for displacement, and this lens lets me carry my no-apologies camera with me almost everywhere. I'm loving how the bump before engaging the infinity lock serves as a mechanical detent for hyperfocal distance. Haven't spent enough time with it to comment on the drawing other than: better than good enough.
p.2 #12 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
qdbp wrote:
But, my final lens: 35/3.5 Skopar. Might just be newtoyitis, but it turns a small kit into an everyday, everywhere proposition. All those phone pics that leave me hungry for an enlargeable, malleable photo? Maybe phone sensors will get better, but I suspect there's no replacement for displacement, and this lens lets me carry my no-apologies camera with me almost everywhere. I'm loving how the bump before engaging the infinity lock serves as a mechanical detent for hyperfocal distance. Haven't spent enough time with it to comment on the drawing other than: better than good enough.
Since even the 2.5 Color-Skopar is pretty small, is the size of the lens the primary driver here or do you prefer how it operates and renders?
p.2 #14 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
Current 28 Cron, 50 Lux CF and 90 APO
Could also live with the 21 SEM, 35 Lux CF and 90 APO
Sep 11, 2025 at 03:54 PM
JohnSC 9 Offline • [X]
p.2 #15 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
On my M11 Monochrom (my first Leica ever), this is the trio I’m enjoying so far, though I’m still testing lenses.
For reference, in other systems my favorites are the Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, and the Sony FE 24–50mm f/2.8 G.
As for Leica M, I’ve fallen in love with:
• Voigtländer Color-Skopar 21mm f/3.5 Aspherical VM
• Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical VM II
• Voigtländer APO-Ultron 90mm f/2 VM
And today these three would make up my cold-hand kit. I’m starting to doubt that I’ll find better lenses for my usage, since these focal lengths are not really Leica’s specialty. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
p.2 #16 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
pingflood wrote:
Since even the 2.5 Color-Skopar is pretty small, is the size of the lens the primary driver here or do you prefer how it operates and renders?
I can't say the f/3.5 is a better choice than the f/2.5. I might have been just as happy either way. But Fred's review of the f/3.5 convinced me it wouldn't trigger any of my pet peeves; I didn't find any equivalent reviews of the f/2.5. That and a slightly smaller size won me over.
Knowing me, I'll end up with an f/2.5 out of sheer curiosity, and I'd be happy to share my thoughts if I end up going down that road. But the differences between the two will be esoteric at best compared to my jump from using a phone as an everyday carry camera to an M. Admittedly, that is what I love about this place: we can all nerd out together over those esoteric details.
For now, though, if my hands are cold and dead, there will probably be a f/3.5 nearby.
p.2 #19 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
Leica 21mm SEM - great travel lens
Leica 35mm APO - expensive but nearly perfect for the size. When I had both the Q3 43mm and 35mm APO, this lens always won for me for the better rendering in my opinion.
Third lens is tricky - most likely the Leica 75mm APO (re-bought this after trying out the 90mm APO and 50mm f1.4 ASPH 2023 and decided I prefer the 75mm APO for the rendering + focal length).
The Zeiss 35mm ZM f1.4 is a maybe for me too - I don't really need this lens but love the overall colors, sharpness and bokeh of this lens. A very close second for me than the 35mm APO and clearly a better value.
p.2 #20 · What's Your "Cold Dead Hands" Trio of M Lenses?
35mm Summicron for M3
50mm Summicron, first rigid type
90mm 2.8 Elmarit, original with detachable head
The 35 and 90 were bought new with a pair of M3s in 1968 after much saving, the 50mm was bought 20 years later as a treat after a small windfall of cash to 'replace' the 2.8 Elmar I bought originally. All were in use regularly, along with the 135 Elmar I bought originally and some more modern lenses until digital took over. I still have all the original 'set' of lenses and one of the M3s and the lenses get used on the Fujis, apart from the goggled 35mm which looks rather silly on an Xt3 and anyway does not perform well on a digital sensors
