If there was ever a time to sell M lenses, with the weakened dollar and imminent availability of the M9, everyone (relatively speaking) from all over the world is after M glass!
I only have one chrome lens though, the others are black, and that is the 50mm Summilux ASPH.... That lens looked really good on my chrome/silver (sold) M8 and yes, it takes nice images, too .
I have a hard time deciding which 50 to go for, the Leica 50/2 apparently is flare prone but other than that it seems to be a great lens. I have used it on the M7 on a few occasions but never in back lit situations.
Someone here suggested I get the Leica 50/1.4 instead of the APO 75/2 as they had similar characteristics. I am not sure it would work well for portraits though. I wonder how far I'd get with "just" the 50/1.4 and a 28mm.
A third contender would be the Zeiss ZM 50/2 but I haven't seen any samples. Is it any good?
I am sort of set on the 28/2.8 ASPH for size/price/performance but that 21/4.5 Biogon looks real nice as well.
I can probably stretch the budget to three lenses but I would like to start out with two, a proper wide angle and a 50/75mm lens. I don't feel like doing the same trial and error tryouts I have done over the years with SLR lenses, I'd like to get the "best" two/three lenses in that range and then bite the bullet.
If you like 35mm, the 75 cron ASPH is a great lens to combine it with. Since the M9 is a FF camera and you prefer a 50mm lens, then the 90 cron APO is the one to get.
kosmoskatten wrote:
I am sort of set on the 28/2.8 ASPH for size/price/performance but that 21/4.5 Biogon looks real nice as well.
I can probably stretch the budget to three lenses but I would like to start out with two, a proper wide angle and a 50/75mm lens. ...
The CZ CB21 looks superb but is ultrawide. I find the 28/50 combo to be ideal for general purposes. A modern Leica pairing would be the Elmarit 28 ASPH and Elmar 50: relatively cheap, compact, high image contrast. A lower-contrast pairing would be the Elmarit 28 v3 and classic Elmar 50: less compact, but cheaper still. Go back a few decades, and you can score Leitz lenses at a bargain rate: besides that 28 and 50, you have the 4-element Elmar 90, the Tele-Elmar 135, even the Visoflex Elmar 65/3.5. No need to bleed for fast ASPH offerings, especially where portraiture is concerned.
The 50 ASPH Summilux and the 75 Summicron do share a common design. If you look at their optical layout, you'll see the similarities. Also, read paragraph 7 in this blog post on David Farkas's page - he had a conversation with the designer of the lenses. Apparently the 50 ASPH is also an APO design.
The ZM 50/2 is a great lens. From what I've seen, it and the 50 Summicron go head to head.
I use the 28 Summicron and the 50 ASPH. It's a great pairing. I sold my 50 Summicron to get the ASPH and don't miss the Summicron at all. Several people think the 28 Summicron, the 50 ASPH, and the 75 Summicron are the tops of the Leica line, not counting the new batch of lenses (21/24 Summilux, etc.). Though I can't speak for the 75 Summicron, the other two are nice and sharp, but never harsh.
Re: 50mm as a portrait lens. I use it all the time as a portrait lens, but for head and shoulders type portraits. If you really want to do some tight portraits, pick up a cheap(er) 90mm to use in conjunction. Just my take. There are a bunch of great 90s for M mount, most on the affordable side. The CV 90 is supposed to good, the Konica Hexanon gets good reviews, a lot of the Leica Elmars are nice, etc. The Leica 90mm Summarit can be found used sometimes around $700. And, there's a ton of great LTM 90's that can be found for much less.
That being said, if you can stand the spread between 28 and 75, the 75 Summicron is supposed to be a great lens. Someday I wouldn't mind picking up a 50 Elmar M - it's 'affordable' and a great lens too.
I think I'm gonna get a 90 elmarit. I'll probably need the extra stop of DOF to focus accurately. Plus it's much less weighty, and much cheaper. Other than the stop it's a match for the apo in terms of colour/sharpness/everything.
It seems Leica have some big supply issues for the time being, 8 this week for the whole US?! I hope they're just gearing up for the big flood (but I doubt it). Hope I see mine before the end of October!
EDIT:
Just ordered an EX condition 90/2.8 Elmarit-M, latest E46 version in chrome... for $349
My lens kit is all paid for and complete now! So all I have to do is wait for Leica to make the darn camera!
(snip) I am sort of set on the 28/2.8 ASPH for size/price/performance but that 21/4.5 Biogon looks real nice as well.
I can probably stretch the budget to three lenses but I would like to start out with two, a proper wide angle and a 50/75mm lens. I don't feel like doing the same trial and error tryouts I have done over the years with SLR lenses, I'd like to get the "best" two/three lenses in that range and then bite the bullet.
Suggestions? I am no fan of 35mm lenses though.
Kosmoskatten,
I would suggest 28 and 50 for a starter. And if you need longer lens you can get a 90mm lens later. Therefore you'll have, more or less, the whole range covered.
My own kit (with M6) consist of 28 elmarit ASPH and 50 cron. These two lenses cover almost everything I need ... well except the need for faster lens for low light situation, I always wish I had a faster lens when bracing myself, try to keep my hands steady shooting at 1/8 or 1/15 second. That's when I'm sure a 35 f/1.2 nokton will be very useful
Many thanks, great input and just what I need to hear. It sure will help me to decide.
In my head I have been thinking of the 28/2 or 28/2.8 ASPH and 50/1.4 ASPH as a starting point. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a fast 50.
The 75/2 would be more or less for portraits only so I think I would have a hard time justifying that expense. Might as well get a 90 I guess. I would still keep the Sony A900 the Leica 28, the Zeiss 60 and the 135/1.8 so I guess I would not be short of options for tight portraits.
I used the Contax G2 w 21/28/45/90mm lenses extensively and for some weddings I borrowed a friends Leica M7 w 28 and 50 Summicron and was very pleased with them.
Not a portrait, just a snapshot of my daughter, window light (the piano is next to a window ) and 50 cron at f/2. Film was fuji superia 400 scanned by local lab.
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