[Leica] 4 best and worst M lenses

[henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)]

Best:
75/2 Summicron
28/2 Summicron
50/1.4 ASPH
and now, 21/1.4 Summilux
I could add more.

The one lens most likely to by on my M8: 28/2

The above all have outstanding performance in every way and the only 
thing that could really be improved on them is the price, weight and 
in the case of the 21/1.4, size. BTW, my 50/1.4 ASPH focusses 
perfectly smoothly.

Dogs: Overall, none really although certain lenses have issues that 
preclude their use in certain situations. Many are unlikely to be 
worth paying the money for for most people.

Uncoated lenses: obvious
Early 35 Summilux: try it wide open with lightsources away from the centre.
21 Elmarit (non-aspheric): one of the few Leica lenses that wasn't as 
good as it's predecessor, but still decent compared with other 
manufacturer's offerings at the time.
90 Tele-Elmarits. They don't test that well, and some have had 
cementing issues and flare issues, but mine is fine and I always 
enjoy the pictures I've taken with it more than those with the 
Summicrons.

Early high speed lenses like the Summar, Summarit and 73 Hektor. 
These all were cutting edge at the time, and for that they worked. 
Now they don't look so good, unless you are after 'glow'. Mostly more 
glow than I require.


For the most part, it doesn't matter that much; find a lens you like 
and can afford and gives you the angle of view/speed that suits your 
requirements, and that's the lens for you. I could go on a month long 
vacation with just a 28/2, but with very few regrets that could be a 
50/1.4 pre-asph or even the 21/2.8 that I rated poorly above. You use 
the tool you have. Just don't make me go on a month long vacation to 
New York with a 560/5.6 Telyt on a Visoflex.



At 12:03 PM -0400 5/10/09, Douglas Nygren wrote:
>What in your opinion are the best four M lenses and why? What are 
>the four worst?
>
>I thought it would be interesting to read how the luggers would 
>answer these questions.
>
>I realize that best and worst are subjective. Subjective answers are 
>welcome as are so-called objective replies. Un-welcome is the 
>rhetoric that all the M book writers employ.
>
>Which are the lenses to die for, which should check into the dog 
>pound, and why, of course?
>
>Have fun--Doug
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Leica Users Group.
>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information

-- 

    *            Henning J. Wulff
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