I currently shoot two cameras and lens collections.
A Leica M11 with the following lenses
Leica 21mm Super-Elmar
Leica 35mm Summilux Close focus
Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH Close Focus
VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton
VM 90mm APO-Skopar
The only lens I may acquire is the new VM 28mm f/2 APO.
This is a very flexible system that I can shoot pretty much any scenario where MF is appropriate and get very high quality IQ. It is small, efficient, and easy to maintain and travel with. Depending on intended subjects I usually go out shooting with either one lens on the camera, or three lenses and a very small messenger style bag.
A Leica SL3 camera
28mm Summicron APO-SL
50mm Summicron APO-SL
90mm Summicron APO-SL
35mm Sigma DG DN Contemporary
100-400mm Zoom with a 1.4 TC
The only lens I am considering adding is the new Leica 28-70mm zoom so I have a highly weather resistant, high IQ, 2 lens zoom kit for landscapes, and a single lens event/outdoor portrait setup.
This camera is my primary system for shooting in studio and with strobes. For this I use exclusively the APO-SL lenses. Top level IQ, with great ergonomics and workflow in thuis usage.
This system is also what I take to shoot outdoor portraits, events, architecture, city scapes, and landscapes. Most outdoor uses where I will be shooting from a tripod, and not hiking far. Superb IQ, top level weather sealing for bad weather days.
When I want to shoot AF in a more convenient size weight with a Leica Q like workflow I mount the small Sigma 35mm. It is a tough, optically nice lens with fantastic ergonomics including an aperture ring. It is my Q substitute and serves nicely when I want that kind of shooting experience.
All the lenses except the Sigma 35mm have 67mm filter threads. They can share hoods and filters making for a smaller, more convenient day kit for landscape type work.
The SL3 can also shoot my entire M lens collection for those times when I want manual focus with an excellent EVF based workflow, and a smaller kit. I love shooting that way as well. It is actually a better M experience than the M11 when shooting very wide, or very long M lenses. The very powerful SL3 User Profiles system allows flexible and instant camera configuration for the different shooting workflow for all my lens collections and use cases.
Between these two systems I can shoot pretty much anything, in any conditions. My lens kit covers from 21mm to 900mm (with TC and APS-C crop thanks to 61mpx) except super fast action like BIF, or super long wildlife in very low light. Since I hadn't shot either of those use cases in a few years I decided to sell my kit for that, I will rent what I need if I ever need to do that again. My entire two camera/lenses setup can fit in one average size backpack for travel. But usually when I go out I just choose to take one kit or the other, and not even the full set of gear for either. Much of the time just a single body, and single lens. Most often the M.
Also with the triple resolution Leica sensor system I can optimize for small file size up to the current highest resolution full frame sensor available. This can be done without a crop of the full frame sensor and with an increase in dynamic range and lower noise.
I recently downsized and optimized my camera/lens setup by selling things to streamline it for my Move to Europe. It was rationally (not so much emotionally FOMO and all) easy to do since I know very well what I am using frequently these days. Life changes as we know. Anyway this is where I have ended up for now, and I am very happy with it. As you can see, generally I most value form factor, workflow, and Image quality in both cameras and lenses. The photography hobby being what it is stay tuned for changes that can come at any time. .
I currently shoot two cameras and lens collections.
A Leica M11 with the following lenses
Leica 21mm Super-Elmar
Leica 35mm Summilux Close focus
Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH Close Focus
VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton
VM 90mm APO-Skopar
The only lens I may acquire is the new VM 28mm f/2 APO.
This is a very flexible system that I can shoot pretty much any scenario where MF is appropriate and get very high quality IQ. It is small, efficient, and easy to maintain and travel with. Depending on intended subjects I usually go out shooting with either one lens on the camera, or three lenses and a very small messenger style bag.
A Leica SL3 camera
28mm Summicron APO-SL
50mm Summicron APO-SL
90mm Summicron APO-SL
35mm Sigma DG DN Contemporary
100-400mm Zoom with a 1.4 TC
The only lens I am considering adding is the new Leica 28-70mm zoom so I have a highly weather resistant, high IQ, 2 lens zoom kit for landscapes, and a single lens event/outdoor portrait setup.
This camera is my primary system for shooting in studio and with strobes. For this I use exclusively the APO-SL lenses. Top level IQ, with great ergonomics and workflow in thuis usage.
This system is also what I take to shoot outdoor portraits, events, architecture, city scapes, and landscapes. Most outdoor uses where I will be shooting from a tripod, and not hiking far. Superb IQ, top level weather sealing for bad weather days.
When I want to shoot AF in a more convenient size weight with a Leica Q like workflow I mount the small Sigma 35mm. It is a tough, optically nice lens with fantastic ergonomics including an aperture ring. It is my Q substitute and serves nicely when I want that kind of shooting experience.
All the lenses except the Sigma 35mm have 67mm filter threads. They can share hoods and filters making for a smaller, more convenient day kit for landscape type work.
The SL3 can also shoot my entire M lens collection for those times when I want manual focus with an excellent EVF based workflow, and a smaller kit. I love shooting that way as well. It is actually a better M experience than the M11 when shooting very wide, or very long M lenses. The very powerful SL3 User Profiles system allows flexible and instant camera configuration for the different shooting workflow for all my lens collections and use cases.
Between these two systems I can shoot pretty much anything, in any conditions. My lens kit covers from 21mm to 900mm (with TC and APS-C crop thanks to 61mpx) except super fast action like BIF, or super long wildlife in very low light. Since I hadn't shot either of those use cases in a few years I decided to sell my kit for that, I will rent what I need if I ever need to do that again. My entire two camera/lenses setup can fit in one average size backpack for travel. But usually when I go out I just choose to take one kit or the other, and not even the full set of gear for either. Much of the time just a single body, and single lens. Most often the M.
Also with the triple resolution Leica sensor system I can optimize for small file size up to the current highest resolution full frame sensor available. This can be done without a crop of the full frame sensor and with an increase in dynamic range and lower noise.
Anyway this is where I have ended up for now, and I am very happy with it. AS you can see, generally I most value form factor, workflow, and Image quality in both cameras and lenses. The photography hobby being what it is stay tuned for changes that can come at any time. .
Jul 30, 2025 at 01:49 AM
Previous versions of 1bwana1's message #16861015 « Your lens collection--How many, etc.? »
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