I just bought a Leica R7 to complement my M6TTL with 32mm cron, 50mm cron and 90mm TE. I took another "plunge" in the Leica world so to speak because of its awesome lens. I would like to ask you for you with the same set-up I got, what will be your first lens with the R7. Thanks in advance.

-- edgaddi (edgaddi@msn.com), December 21, 2001

Answers

35-70mm f/4 or 80-200mm f/4

-- Toh Leong Teck (leongtoh@yahoo.com), December 21, 2001.

If you're going to be carrying both M6 and R7 (I wouldn't do this myself but it's a matter of personal preference)then it would seem logical to not to duplicate focal lengths. The 80-200/4 is a wonderful lens and a great value, but in dim light it's hard to focus. There's also the 180/2.8 (not the current APO version), which can be equipped with 1.4x and/or 2x converters.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 21, 2001.

I use the R7 with the prev. vers. 28 elmarit, 35 summicron, 50 summicron, 90 elmarit, 135 elmarit & 180 elmar. All outstanding lenses that I bought used. A pattern here, none of them the fastest in their length but they all perform adequately and maybe beautifully. I think if I added to them it would be the 19 elmarit, the 80-200 zoom and maybe the 280 4.0 apo. If I just got the R7 I would probably get a 90 cron and depending on how much money was available then a 50 lux or the 35-70 zoom and a 19 elmarit. Then next would be the 180 3.4 or 2.8 or the 80-200 zoom and maybe the 1.4x or 2x extender. Like people always say on this forum it depends a lot on what you want to photograph and just how you see. It never hurts to keep equipment to a minimum and not buy something until you reach for it and miss it a few times. good luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo..com), December 21, 2001.

What sort of photography do you do ? The latest "Leica Fotografie" has a great spread by a German photographer who does outdoor scenic and nature photography. He uses a 50mm Summicron, 100mm APO macro, and a 180mm f2.8 APO and a 2x extender. I was very impressed with his work...but then you need to tailor your equipment to what you do.

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), December 22, 2001.

What I love is street photography, just love to capture that fleeting moment of people going on with their lives, i love to shoot (sort of document) my kids growing up in black and white pictures. Sometimes my wife complaint why do i shoot b/w. I think my first standard lens with the R7 will be 50mm cron (my favorite lens with an M6)and move on from there.

-- edgaddi (edgaddi@msn.com), December 22, 2001.

The Summicron 35mm and 80 Summilux is a great combination and very very nice for street or portrait photography.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), December 28, 2001.