Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/02/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]From: "Paul T. Collura" <pcollura@epix.net> > I was thinking about the recent thread on MTF curves etc., when I began > wondering which lens out the Leica M lenses that I own never ceases to > amaze me with its real world performance . I don't care about it's MTF > curve or who has said what about it. Which lens dazzles you? I would > have to say for me it is the 75mm f1.4 Summilux. Mind you all current > Leica M lenses are amazing but this one always puts a grin on my face. I > have just received a 90mm APO but have not used it as yet and maybe this > will knock the king off his throne. I would be interested in how other > LUGers feel. As far as I am concerned: ALL OF THEM!!! I have at one point or another owned 10 M lenses: first generation Summicron 35mm Summaron 1:3.5/35mm DR Summicron 50mm Current Summicron 50mm Noctilux 1:1/50mm Summilux 75mm First generation Elmarit 90mm Fat Tele-Elmarit 90mm Hektor 135mm Elmar 135mm The only one I was only lukewarm was the fat Tele-Elmarit which was quite compact but did not have quite the quality of the earlier Elmarit, though still excellent. Those which remain in my camera bag are DR Summicron, Noctilux, Summilux 75mm, and Elmarit 90mm. I was amazed by the quality of the 35mm lenses, but I always found myself not using this focal length well. I've always found it too short, or too long. The current 50mm was traded in for the Noct, and I got rid of 135mm because they were really a bit too long to be used, at least for my taste, on an RF body. After eliminating the redundancy in 90mm, I am left with the first-generation Elmarit which really is a remarkable lens. Yes, I know: the current 50mm has far better performance than DR, and APO-Summicron 90mm ASPH completely blows away the Elmarit. Still, I know that my equipment far outperforms me, and I am painfully aware that my own limitations far exceed that of these lenses. The reason for me to unload these lenses has little to at all with these lenses. I just unloaded a few non-Leica lenses to fund my next planned purchase: 24mm ASPH. I've used a Nikon 24mm/2.8 which was an excellent performer, as well as the latest 28mm/2.8 which focusses down to 20cm, which is also a very good performer. Still, I've found myself really liking photographing with M bodies, and frankly, I've felt wanting more from these lenses, however. With Erwin's prodding that while Nikkor 24mm is close in performance as the R 24mm, M 24mm is significantly better, I'm afraid I've been bitten by the bug again. Having said all this, if I were made to reduce my collection to one lens, it would be the Noctilust, er Noctilux. First and foremost, I really like the 50mm focal length. It can be used to take pictures which look like they were taken with either a wide angle, or a long lens, by careful aperture selection and composition. While the weight and size are an issue, an M body with a Noctilux is not at all bigger and/or heavier than my Nikon F3/T plus the ethereal Noct-Nikkor 58mm 1:1.2 which I do not own, and certainly more compact than the Canon 50mm 1:1L lens alone. Lastly, not only does Noctilux extremely well in normal picture taking situations, it boldly goes where no other lens has ever gone before.