I recently returned from Paris and grew tired of my EOS-1v and 28-70mm behemoth thumping me in the chest. after noticing the preponderance of Leica's in the streets and alley ways, with smiling photographers attached, I decided to reevaluate my 35mm requirements. I am off to Niger, Africa at the end of year with a few days in Morocco. my main assignment will be available light photography of school children at the America embassy schools and outlying areas near Niamey. Glazer's in Seattle is having their Leica days this weekend which has pulled me towards taking advantage of the rebates and extra 10% discounting. a M6-TTL and 35mm f1.4 Summilux ASPH and 90mm f2 Summicron are my initial purchases. I am leaving the 50mm lens open-ended at this point, as the Noctilux is appealing for the low-light work I do, especially the jazz scene in Portland. I use my Nikon F2 and 55mm f1.2 currently, but the noise is unacceptable.

I primarily use my Hasselblad and Linhof 4x5, but I must say that shedding the weight and bulk in favour of a Leica makes sense and is very appealing. the Hasselblad Xpan was a consideration, but the lenses are too slow for my requirements.

I am assuming the rebates and discounts are cumulative, and that my plan is sound. any suggestions for an alternative course of action or is my compass swinging true?

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), July 18, 2001

Answers

The 35/1.4 ASPH is definitely just the right lens for what you want it for. The 90/2 APO-ASPH sounds like just the right complement also. I once owned the 75/1.4, thinking it would serve the place of both a fast 50 and a fast 90, but in reality it does neither.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), July 18, 2001.

I agree completely. If your 90mm requirement is low light, then the Summicron is right. If 2.8 would do, consider the 90mm Elmarit - a little more compact for travel. Both are very strong lenses.

The Noctilux can wait. That requires more careful thought and experience with the rangefinder outfit. You might, instead, put that money into something much wider - e.g. 21/2.8 ASPH. Many on this site do enjoy the Noctilux though.

Good hunting!

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), July 18, 2001.

daniel, it is good to see you taking the Leica plunge. No doubt in my mind that you will excel in the Leica arena. I know you made the jump to Hasselblad and are pleased with that.

I am a recent convertee and I am very (make that extremely) pleased with my 35mm and 50mm 'crons, as well as with the M6TTL 0.58. I suspect your financial resources are greater, and your ideas for the 35 'lux and 90 'cron are excellent. I'll bet the 50mm 'lux will be tempting you shortly, however. Others will tell you that the need for a noct' may be obviated by the 35 'lux.

I humbly offer two suggestions. Get an 0.58 body for the 35mm and a 0.85 body for the 90mm. Order about 100 rolls of Sensia with mailers and shoot them all before you leave, as that will give you the needed proficiancy with the Leica for such an important mission as going to Africa. Oh, and get a Domke F-5XB, its a great M-bag for sure (that was 3 suggestions, wasn't it?).

If you are yearning for more gear, consider a Tri-Elmar as a pocket lens, and maybe even the new Winder M (good grip, motor advance, and better balance if you decide to use a flash. For flash, I suggest the Metz 34CS-2 (I think that's the number) instead of the Leica SF-20. It is much brighter and the darn thing can nail slide exposure?!?!? Who'd of thought? I know, as I've been using one a lot recently.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), July 18, 2001.

Daniel:

Welcome to the wonderful world of Leica! I sold my Canon EOS-1N RS camera and a bunch of Canon lenses to get into the Leica M system. I started with a new M6 TTL 0.72 and a new 35/f2 ASPH lens. Since then I have added a used 90/f2, used 134/f4 Tele-Elmar, used 50 Noctilux, new 50/f2 and just recently a used 21/f2.8 ASPH lens. The image quality of the Leica lenses is significantly better than that of the Canon lenses I owned. You can carry the entire system in one medium sized camera bag and not even notice the weight! I also bought a new Leica SF20 flash because it is small and light, and will provide TTL flash exposures at all f stops with the M6 TTL. Your choice of the 35/1.4 ASPH and 90/f2 APO lenses seems appropriate considering your photographic needs. You can get the Noctilux later. It has a unique look if used at f1. The Leica rebates plus the 10% discount on Leica Days made many of my purchases possible. I also bought from Tamarkin in NY, so I didn't have to pay sales taxes (7.75% in IL!) on any of the purchases. Be aware that using a rangefinder camera like the M6 requires a considerable change in attitude and habits for SLR users!......................

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), July 18, 2001.

Your initial selection seems like very good choices. You might consider buying a second body instead of the Noctilux for your trip. That way you'd have both lenses ready for action at all times and the added assurance of traveling with a second body.

I'm very happy with my M6TTL .72 with 35 & 50 'crons for my present requirements. If I add anything in the foreseeable future it will be another body and a possibly a longer lens. However, my present needs allow me the luxury of keeping things simple and my gear to a minimum.

-- KL Prager (www.pragerproperties@att.net), July 19, 2001.

My opinion only, but if I had my 35asph and my 90asph, the next lens I would get for travel would be either a 24 or 21. As for the Noctilux, I sold mine for the simple reason it was just too bulky, and never seemed to make it into the camera bag for that reason. I opted for the 50 Summilux instead, which almost always makes it into the bag... But then again, the Noctilux has that special quality -- perfect for jazz club photography!!!

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), July 19, 2001.

Daniel,

Be sure to get the 50 Summicron as well, initially. It is very small, and the least expensive lens in the lineup, and in some ways, the strongest performer. Suggest you get the last but one generation, with the tab, or get a tab retrofitted.

Why? Because ergonomically, the Leica bodies are optimized for the 35 and the 50, especially the Summicrons and Summiluxes and you should practice extensively with these to 'get the feel'. You say you are an engineer who appreciates such things, so you owe it to yourself.

There is nothing wrong, if you can afford it, in owning both the Noctilux and the Summicron.

If I were you, I'd get a .72 and a .85, but you should be the judge in the store, with your glasses on...

You may also look for Workshops that specialize in street photography. I know David Alan Harvey and Sam Abell do them occasionally down in Santa Fe or at Maine Photographic.

Remember, all Leica stuff can be sold with little financial loss, but with great emotional loss :-)

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), July 21, 2001.

Daniel, I think you'll be very happy with the switch to Leica, especially after working with 35mm slrs and medium format equipment. I also had a Hasselblad and currently still own a Nikon F100 with a variety of lenses, however, when I travel or wneed to do discrete candid photographs, the Leica M6 is my camera of choice. I currently have a 35mm F2 Summicron, early (second generation) 50mm Summicron and 50mm Noctilux. Of the three, the Noctilux is my favorite lens. I do a lot of shooting in available light with 100 and 400 asa films, in low light situations which is made possible because of the speed of the Noctilux. But the characteristic I like most about the lens, is the out-of-focus backgrounds produced at the wider apertures. The bokeh is very fluid and gives images a very special quality that you will not get from the other, newer generation 50mm's in the Leica stable. However, in terms of pure sharpness and contrast the 50mm Summicron will edge out the Noctilux, but the Summicron's bokeh, I believe, is also more harsh and not as pleasent. I agree with some of the other suggestions above that recommend may be waiting a bit before embarking upon the purchase of the Noctilux. Ideally, if you can afford it, get both, you won't be disappointed with either one, especially the Noctilux since you do a lot of low light shooting, you be able to appreciate its very special qualities.

-- Allan Curson (acurson@bellsouth.net), July 22, 2001.