Ajay C wrote:
Now officially in the market for an M9 and 35 Summilux or 50 Nocti (f/0.95).
Regarding the lens choices, 35mm is the sweet spot of the M9, so you can't go wrong with a 35 Lux ASPH. The only potential thing there is that you can choose between two versions - the most recent one (version 2) that has a floating element or the first version. The first version exhibits focus shift and whether you get a copy where the shift is within DOF is a question of luck. The newer FLE version fixes that but it does come at the price of more harsh bokeh. I personally had difficulties making up my mind on that one, but in the end I chose the V1. I got lucky and got a copy where the focus shift is well within DOF, but others have had worse luck.
Now as for the Nocti... The Noctilux is an excellent reason to get an M9 but that only goes one way. If your interest is primarily in the M9 the the Noctilux is not a good choice as it to some extent ruins the primary benefit of the M9 - the compactness of the system. It's not a good idea to have it as the only 50mm. For that the 50 Lux ASPH is a much better choice. It's smaller, lighter and blows the Nocti away in the f/1.4-f/2.8 region. Stopped down the Lux also has an advantage albeit a very slight one. There is of course no substitute for the look the lens gives at f/0.95, but that look will cost you - and I'm not talking money. So if you're going to get one 50 for the M9, my advice would be to get the 50 Lux ASPH - which by the way in my opinion is the finest prime lens I've ever used.
Finally, I've posted this before, but if you are interested in evaluating the rendering style of various lenses, I've got a huge pile of photos grouped by lens (basically every photo I've posted here on FM).
The images are in more or less chronological order - starting with the first ones I took when I got the lens.
Ajay C wrote:
I also was hoping to hear from folks, who moved from a dSLR, what they missed the most in the rangefinder as compared to SLR experience.
Thanks again. Cheers.
- minimum focusing distance for shorter focal lengths
- shot to shot speed is not quick - I tend to be a rapid shooter and this aspect has been somewhat irritating and ties in with:
- buffer clear time is too slow on the M9 compared to a UDMA compatible DSLR and fast memory cards
- high ISO flexibility - i.e. being able to use ISO 3200 or 6400 when needed
- image stabilization - while the rangefinder doesn't have the mirror system to induce vibration, technique is still very important and for focal lengths of 50mm and longer I find I need to stay at 2x higher than the 1/focal length rule to ensure consistent sharpness in hand held (99%) of my M9 images
- live view for absolute focus precision (though it's not a major point for me)
What I don't miss is the size, especially the large lenses and the frustratingly inconsistent AF, especially with wide angle lenses. I think for most day to day photography the M9 and a few lenses is an excellent kit.
Gary, nice shots!
Najibs, very interesting array of shots! Neat car and bike with accessories
Ajay, as for the 50 Nocti, it would not be my first choice, as it is a larger and more cumbersome lens first off. As Luka, suggested the 50 Lux Asph, is a legend of a lens. Contrary to popular belief, they are available if you look around. Last week there were 2 new 50 Lux Asph's in Perth, one black and one chrome version. If you wish to keeping a light and ergonomic setup, the black version of the 50 Lux is preferable as it weighs about 150 gms lighter than the chrome version. It does not seem much, but if you are in the streets after a couple hours shooting it is noticeable! Mind you if you get hold a 50 Nocti, with your contacts and you don't like it let me know
The 50 Lux ASPHs should be pretty easy to find now - apparently Leica has released a large batch. A few days ago several stores here in Sweden had them in stock (all chrome oddly enough). Gone now, but I'm pretty sure more of them will come. There's also plenty of them on ebay and prices are approaching retail i.e no longer the crazy $6,000-$7,000 that they were sold for a while ago.
Thanks Luka, Charles and Ron for you informative posts. Certainly helped me decide (and the beginning of an era of couch camping ). Just got an M9 from the B&S forum. Now on to the elusive 50 Lux ASPH. I think I'll wait for a little while on the Nocti (thanks Charles!).
Any advice - 35 Cron (I'll definitely get a 35 Lux in the future) or 28 Cron. I love shooting 35mm focal length, but I think if I acquire a 28mm, if need be I should be able to crop to 35mm view (not the most ideal, but I would like to start off with two lenses).
From Luka's images, 28 Cron, 35 Lux, 50 Lux definitely stood out (in ascending order)
Ohh btw, there will a huge Zeiss sale in the next few days. If any of you, in a very unlikely way, are interested, let me know
Ajay, congratulations!!! If you love the 35mm FL, go with it! My favourite is 50mm, and the 50 Lux resides on my M9 90% of the time, as it is how I see images. Yet for landscapes/seascapes the 28 Cron is glued on.
There are great 35's available and cost effective as a first pass. The 35 Cron's are excellent lenses, new and old versions with a great variety of renderings. But so are the CV's and ZM's offerings too. Ideally the 35 Lux is a great lens to have.
Congrats Ajay! I see that there is a clear trend of a Zeiss ZE/ZF->Leica transitions.
Ajay C wrote:
Any advice - 35 Cron (I'll definitely get a 35 Lux in the future) or 28 Cron. I love shooting 35mm focal length, but I think if I acquire a 28mm, if need be I should be able to crop to 35mm view (not the most ideal, but I would like to start off with two lenses).
35mm is really the sweet spot on the M9. If I had to pick one single lens it would have to be a 35 Lux. With two lenses, if one of them is a 50, then I'd go for 28mm. I would perhaps still recommend a 35 as the first lens to get until you get used to the camera and using frame lines. Have you considered a Zeiss 35/2.8 ZM? It's very compact, not expensive and supposed to be very good.
For landscape photography (stopped down, near infinity) there's only one really good 35mm lens that I've encountered - the ZM 35/2. The 35 Lux is a better all-round lens, but the Zeiss is really unbeatable at small apertures (related to the 21 Distagon ZE/ZF in rendering style).
Anyway, if I had to pick kits it would go something like this:
charles.K wrote:
Street scape shots from the week end at Broadbeach with the 50 Lux and M9-P
great shots and B&W PP, Charles, especially the first one !
here is one with the new 35 Lux ASPH and ND 0.9 filter
f/11 and 45 sec. exposure ! (the f-stop in the EXIF from the M9 is often wrong)
here is a 1:1 crop
no wind at all and it shows the great performance of the lens
Lukas, thanks again for the infos about your framing!
After some research I found the solution with the LR plugin Morgify, that can include EXIF data into the framing, great tool!
Thanks for the comments Charles, Gregory, Luka, Joakim, Joe, Ajay
Charles - great beach shots a couple pages back. Really like your use of the 75 Lux there...the fisherman is a great shot! Also, the Broadbeach shot #1 in B/W is excellent! Great tones.
Gregory - great job with the UWA with the art shots
Wozza - nice beach shots on the last page, love the high contrast silhouette shots of the pier
Joe - nice street shots with the 28 Cron and 75 Lux . I like #3 with the sun next to the lady walking by
Luka - another great set with some fantastic lighting you had. I like #4 best
Gary - nice shots with the M8...getting much use with it yet? I really like the rendering of the 35 Biogon-C. Seems like that lens is about impossible to find
Dierk - nice shot with the 35 Lux...amazing how you had zero wind for 45 seconds!
Ajay - congrats on the M9. Sounds like a perfect system for you. Without a doubt I would highly recommend the 50 Lux ASPH. I think you would also really enjoy the 90 Cron AA as your long lens. Luka and Charles have excellent examples from that lens. Those two are no brainers (and I don't have the 90 Cron ...yet ). On the wide end I think its a tougher call. There are many lenses that are just excellent. You have the ZE 35 f/1.4 so the 35 f/1.4 ASPH would be an obvious choice there but then the 28 Cron is so good too. Focal length wise, yes, they are very close and you can crop, etc. However, rendering wise - the 28 Cron / 35 Lux / 50 Lux are nowhere near eachother.
The 50 Lux ASPH is about as perfect as a lens gets. Sharpness, color, contrast, etc....the lens is unreal. Since I received it I haven't used anything else . I am amazed at the detail in shots at infinity even zoomed in 1:1, really an unreal lens. That being said, I have taken many portraits with the 50 Lux over the past few weeks and glancing over a second time I wish I would have used the 35 Lux ASPH. The 35 Lux is much smoother in my opinion and definitely not as sharp. As Luka said, not the best landscape lens but for people I don't know if I've had a lens I like better. The bokeh is about as good as it gets and there is definitely something special in the rendering to me. My copy is just as good as Luka's, focus shift is there but it is well within the DOF for each aperture. I have heard many people say this and then many others have the exact opposite experience. The difference between the old version and new is the floating element which will improve sharpness at closer distance. The MTFs at longer distances show basically no change. As Luka also mentioned, that comes at the expense of slightly harsher bokeh...which I agree with based on what I have seen. I wouldn't even consider trading my ASPH I in for an ASPH II.
Oh, then you have the 28 Cron . This also looks NOTHING like the 35 Lux. The 28 Cron is probably the lens that I have used on M mount that reminds me most of ZE/ZF glass. It is extremely sharp and has excellent micro contrast....providing for a similar 3D look that you can get with ZE/ZF glass. The colors are very lively and the vignetting is about as extreme as a lens gets. However, that makes this lens one of if not the best option for daytime landscapes. 28mm is also the widest you can comfortably go on the M9 utilizing the viewfinder without having to use an external viewfinder. Another lens to throw in the mix though in my opinion is the ZM 25 f/2.8. It is Zeiss's most perfect lens they have ever made. It outresolves the M9 at f/4. It is sharper than any Leica glass in the same range. Even at f/2.8 it is about as sharp as you are going to need for any application. If you want a lens slightly wider than 28 and are thinking 21/25...this may be the lens to get on the wide end. You can use the entire viewfinder to get a pretty accurate representation of the final image. I think 25 is iffy as to whether you MUST use an external viewfinder or not. I have never used one with it. I hate the external viewfinders. I think the new Leica 21 SEM would also be a fantastic choice but the thought of using the viewfinder turns me away.
As far as which lenses....I agree with Luka's choices for 1-5 if 28 is as wide as you want. I think I would personally rather have a ZM 25 and 35 Lux than a 28 Cron and 35 Lux due to the ZM 25 being a little wider and sharper than the 28 Cron. That length would be 90+% relegated to landscape use and the sharpness and length would sway ME to the ZM 25 over the 28 Cron. I also think a 35 Lux is a must simply because of the times you want to go extremely light with 1 lens....there is no better choice on the M9 than 35mm. Regardless, many options available and I'm sure you won't regret your choice. I moved from D700 plus ZF 21, 35, 50 MP, 100 MP and Nikon 24 f/1.4, 85 f/1.4 and 70-200 VRII....I honestly have not missed it one bit.
Charles, more excellent beach shots! Like both of them especially the spacing of people on #2.
LL, membership renewed Nice shot.
Najibs, nice cars and models The 25 Biogon shots look really sharp!
Excellent pictures Charles, Ryan, Joe and d.topp !
Ryan, thanks for the detailed write up. Was able to find a brand new 50 lux (hopefully have it by the weekend). I think I'll enjoy this setup. Planning on a two lens set up, for now. I know it will not be the case. Still getting over the sticker shock of the camera
I like the 28 Cron rendition, but 35mm is a focal length I really enjoy. Choices, choices! I also plan to do some landscape work, for which I think 28mm FL is better suited. Just take it easy for now, and enjoy the one lens set up, till I get a better feel for the 50 lux.
Btw, if anyone is interested, 28 Cron is in stock at a few places (Dale and Adorama).
Thanks Ajay. I'm sure you will enjoy the M9 and 50Lux ASPH. Just make sure you test for focus alignment as soon as it arrives. Hopefully its all good to go.
Hard to pick between the 28Cron and 35Lux ASPH, they are close in FL but very different lenses. 35Lux ASPH are hard to get by, so if you find one, probably a good idea to take it as you can resell easily. Else the 35Cron ASPH is also excellent if you don't need f/1.4. If you are using a 35Lux ASPH v1 for landscapes, make sure you test for focus shift, else get the newer FLE version.
Personally I would pair a Leica 35mm lens rather than a Zeiss 35mm with your 50Lux for slightly better consistency in lens rendering (although I know others will disagree).
Dierk - nice closeup with the 90M Elmar! Super sharp!
but congratulations on your decision.
). Just got an M9 from the B&S forum. Now on to the elusive 50 Lux ASPH. I think I'll wait for a little while on the Nocti (thanks Charles!). 
...yet 
