So the 35mm 'lux is a GREAT everyday lense, I assume. Puts thinks so, what do you think? What is your experience vis a vis other Leica lenses?

-- Anam Alpenia (aalpenia@dasar.com), February 11, 2002

Answers

It is a great all-around lens, wide enough, and yet not too wide. And fast.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

Yes it is, although it's a bit bigger & heavier than the 'cron.

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), February 11, 2002.

I think it is. I just swapped 35 lux asph onto my M2 which is loaded with 200 slide film. It is 8:00 West Coast and we are headed out the door for some night action. Usually the lux stays on the M6 which has Velvia but tonight M6 stays in the drawer with the 35 cron and M2 + handheld meter go for it. Cheers.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), February 11, 2002.

If you like 35mm, use it a lot and do not mind extra weight (and cost) -- certainly go for it. I would never own such a lens though. I use 50/1.5 as an "everyday" lens.

-- Alexander Grekhov (grekhov@wgukraine.com), February 11, 2002.

Anam,

I can tell you've become increasingly interested in the 35 Lux since your original post. I can't overstate the magic of this lens...once you ave used it and seen it's results wide open, you will never regret having bought it.

Another thing: While I have never owned a Summicron 35, I have shot a few rolls with one on an M6 Classic. Many here seem to prefer the compactness of the Cron, but I found it a little too small for total ease of use. I prefer the added "real estate" of the slightly larger Lux. (My hands aren't that large, either...glove size M.) Just easier to hold, focus, and stop IMHO.

I will admit, however, that the shade is a bit clumsy and blocks a good portion of the finder. This I can live with, using the shade only when it's absolutely necessary.

Yes, a great everyday (and everynight) lens. Like you, I wanted a 35 and a 50, but I decided to just get one premium lens--the 35 Lux ASPH--and use it exclusively for one year. It's been three months, and I've not been tempted to break down and buy the 50 yet. I have not regretted this decision, and I doubt that I ever will.

Good luck with whatever you decide, and welcome to the wonderful world of Leica.

Luke

-- Luke Dunlap (luked@mail.utexas.edu), February 11, 2002.

If you do most of your shooting during the day buy the cron. As a all around lens it/1.4 is cool esp in low light.It's not going to make you a better photographer...but it balances well on the M and since it is my first 1.4 lens I wouldnt want to go back to f2. F1.4 is addicting...its nice to know it is there. I miss my cron though that I traded it in for.Esp the bokeh on the pre asph 4th. Having said that I have been using my DR 50mm of late. It looks better in B+W to me...WAY BETTER than the 35mm 1.4.Its almost a relief to use it again! It focuses way closer...resolves better...Is better to me!Mainly because the 35mm takes so much in, but not like a 24mm or wider.But I like the 35 1.4..it is a challenge to compose the pic and not have it look like a avg point and shoot snapshot.Sometimes I'm successful with it.

-- Emile de Leon (knightpeople@msn.com), February 12, 2002.

If I could only keep one, this would be IT!

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 12, 2002.

in leica terms it is a big lens, but if you compare it to the actual 35cron there is not such a big difference.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), February 12, 2002.

Yes, it is a great all-around everyday lens (paired with the 75) but for maximum weight benefits and versatility NOTHING beats the standard 50 cron as the greatest all-around everyday lens.

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), February 12, 2002.

Pretty categorical, John. Depends on what you want to do. I wouldn't really have much use for a noctilux even it weighed 200 gms, for instance, the field of view is just too narrow. I find myself constricted by the 35 even. The 28/2 might be a great compromise lens.

But for me the one lens I would never leave home without is the 35/1.4 asph.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), February 12, 2002.

Thanks everyone. I have been trying to justify the expense and needed some cheerleading. Well done.

-- Anam (aalpenia@dasar.com), February 12, 2002.

Expensive, true, but hey it's high performance will last you a lifetime. Have fun!

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 12, 2002.