Quick survey here. No explanations needed. Any brand names. Any focal lens..zoom or non-zoom.

Which is THE lens you would keep if you could only have one?

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 25, 2002

Answers

Noctilux

-- Gregory Goh (GregoryGoh@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

Elmar 50/2.8

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 25, 2002.

35 mm summilux, of course!

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

noctilux

-- Eric Kragtwijk (e.kragtwijk@hccnet.nl), May 25, 2002.

No hesitation: 35mm - Summilux ASPH.

-- Bill Carson (KE7GMx@cs.com), May 25, 2002.

Can I also keep a camera ? Seriously , ( and one lens WOULD BE serious depravation): Practical ME says a mid-range, fast zoom (28-70/2.8 AFS Nikkor?). But the practical me never wins an argument with my 3 or 4 other compulsive personalities. Most of whom hate zooms, so they sit in the bag unused. This warrants heavy debate, can WE get back to you on this?

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net), May 25, 2002.

Marc, you can include the camera if you quote us a point and shoot.;)

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 25, 2002.

No doubt: Summicron - R 1,4/50 (E 60) pit

-- Peter Lueck (elp.lueck@t-online.de), May 25, 2002.

no doubt? Summilux!

-- Peter Lueck (elp.lueck@t-online.de), May 25, 2002.

Peter, I detect some DEEP hesitation there ;)

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 25, 2002.

Lux:

Here comes the heresey: Nikon FM3 with a 28-105 zoom and an SB 28 flash.

Honestly. The Leica is a luxury for me, not a working tool.

Keep smiling

-- RICHARDXX (richardjx@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

OOOOPPS

Can't even get my own name right: too late at night. Yawwnnn.

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

400mm f/6.8 Telyt

-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002.

Probably the 50 Summilux.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), May 25, 2002.

Easy: 35 f/1.4 for the Lecia. 17-35 f/2.8 for the Nikon. Ok, I cheated: that's two lenses!

-- Fergus Hammond (fhammond@adobe.com), May 25, 2002.

Certainly the 50mm Summilux. Combines the best of all worlds: nearly as fast as the huge Noctilux; virtually as sharp as the 'cron; little larger than the Elmar when the Elmar is extended. Marvellous.

-- Paul Hart (paulhart@blueyonder.co.uk), May 25, 2002.

35MM F1.4. No question( along with the M-6 .58 of course)!!

-- Ned Learned (ned@kajabbi.com), May 25, 2002.

Tally so far:

Leicas Nikon 35/1.4 **** 28-105 * 50/1.4 ** 17-35 * 50/2.8 * 400/6.8*

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 25, 2002.

35 asph 'Lux.

..... and the 90 asph 'Cron, and the Canon 70-200 IS, and...

;-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), May 25, 2002.

Tally so far:

Leicas 35/1.4 ----6 50/1 ----2 50/1.4 ----2 50/2.8 ----1 400/6.8 ---1

Nikons 2 zooms

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 25, 2002.

Do not have one (so far) but for travel it could be the TRI-ELMAR together with a LEICA of course.

And: at least one film for every day on the road.

Good shooting

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), May 25, 2002.

Indoors: 35mm Summilux ASPH

Outdoors: Nikon 35mm P.C.

-- Jim Lennon (jim@jmlennon.com), May 25, 2002.

Tally so far: Leicas 35/1.4 (7) * Tri-E (1) * 50/1 (2) * 50/1.4 (2) * 50/2.8 (1) * 400/6.8 (1)

Nikons 28-105 (1) * 17-35 (1) * 35/2.5 (1)

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 25, 2002.

pre-ASPH Summicron 35

-- Bert Keuken (treb@operamail.com), May 25, 2002.

50mm Summicron.

-- Doug Landrum (dflandrum@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002.

I'm a unreconstructed fud: 50mm f/2 Summicron

-- George C. Berger (gberger@his.com), May 25, 2002.

50/2 Summicron.

You can see that all the "fast" guys got here first, and now the f/2 crowd is finally showing up. :-)

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

Vario-Elmarit R 35-70mm f:2.8 Aspherical--with an R6.2 or R8.

-- Jack Matlock (jfmatlo@attglobal.net), May 25, 2002.

On the Leica M, 35/2; on the Nikon, 105/1.8.

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@metrocast.net), May 25, 2002.

That,s easy the Blad 60f3.5 Distagon, errrr, no the 'M' 35f2 Asph.

-- Gary Yeowell (gary@yeowell.fsnet.co.uk), May 25, 2002.

pre-asph 35 Summicron

-- Marke Gilbert (bohdi137@aol.com), May 25, 2002.

50/2 rigid Summicron!

-- Badris (badris@mac.com), May 25, 2002.

nokton

-- Michael Bohn (michael.bohn@skynet.be), May 25, 2002.

Though my favorite lens is my 35 F2 Asph (rangefinder), if I could only keep one it would be the 35-70 F3.5 Vario-Elmar.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), May 25, 2002.

The redoubtable 75mm Summilux (coupled to my M6 TTL 0.85). For theater and indoor events without flash or disturbing noise this combo dominates all.

-- Doug from Tumwater (dbaker9128@aol.com), May 25, 2002.

Let me see, what to do, what to do? I think I'll go with the Elmar-M 50mm 1:2.8 AND Leitz M6. That is my lens on the world. Leitz M6, Elmar-M 50mm 1:2.8, Leica UVa, Kodak T-Max 400 in Xtol 1:1, Polaroid SprintScan 4000:

-- Glenn Travis (leciaddict@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

Okay, all the little voices in my head have come to a consensus. It came down to Nikon 28/1.4 ASPH on a D1x Verses Leica 50/1.4 Black Paint on a LHSA M TTL. One to feed my family, the other to feed my soul. Winner? The Leica. My family can skip a meal or two.

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.com), May 25, 2002.

Did it again. Sorry. My E-mail ends in .net, not .com

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net), May 25, 2002.

240mm f9 Fujinon-AS.

Oops, sorry, wrong forum. New version 50mm Summicron.

-- Kent Phelan (kent@phelan.org), May 25, 2002.

35mm Summicron - 8 element.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

50mm Summicron for M6. Next to last version with external hood and focusing tab. I pick this lens because it is Saturday, and the 50mm 'cron is my favorite lens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The other days my most loved lens would be my 35mm Summicron.

See what a difference a day makes?

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), May 25, 2002.

Hi Al. / Touche.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

of course it would be a leitz_not_leica: another vote for the 8 element 1967 35 summicron, great year btw.

-- steve (leitz_not_leica@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

24/2.8 Elmarit-M. It's practically the only lens I use anyway.

-- Mark S. (mas499@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

Easy. 35 'lux asph., with an M6 .72. And of course, a lifetime supply of Tri-X.

-- Noah (naddis@mindsring.com), May 25, 2002.

The 50mm Summicron-M lens.

-- David (pagedt@chartertn.net), May 25, 2002.

35 lux ASPH

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), May 25, 2002.

Summicron-DR on a M2 or M4. Not too wide or long. Sharp as a tac with a touch of "Leica Glow"(tm).

That and a lifetime supply of Tri-X and Plus-X.

feli

-- feli (feli2@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002.

Summicron 50/2. 11819

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 25, 2002.

NOCTILUX or my 40mmCFI

-- Robbie (none@none.com), May 25, 2002.

Rokkor / Summicron 40 f2

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

My Nikon 135 F2 DC. Without hesitation.

-- Brian Harvey (bharvey423@yahoo.com), May 26, 2002.

Well,

Another craze on line: streamlining the equipment...

If I had to keep only one lens, I would get rid of all my rangefinder stuff including the body...

I see no interest having an interchangeable lens body if I had to keep only one lens. I will defoinitely resort on my son's Rolleiflex F...

Something is getting rather strange here these days...

Friendly.

François P. WEILL

-- François P. WEILL (frpawe@wanadoo.fr), May 26, 2002.

Nikon 28-70 f2.8 AF-S. This range covers a good percentage of what I like to shoot.

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), May 26, 2002.

Rollei Prego 30, P&S.

-- Travis (teckyy@hotmail.com), May 26, 2002.

pre-ASPH Summicron 35.

-- pierre cantin (cantinp@videotron.ca), May 26, 2002.

50 Cron on M3

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), May 26, 2002.

Someone asked the same question a couple of weeks ago. The answer was a 50 DR then, a 50 DR today, and a 50 DR whenever someone asks the question again.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerry Pfile (Jerry Pfile@MSN.com), May 26, 2002.

...and still mounted on a M3 if that's the next question.

Jerry

-- Jerry Pfile (Jerry Pfile@MSN.com), May 26, 2002.

You go Travis, maybe soon, everyone will discover that on photo is worth a thousand words, and we can all begin to communicate on a much high level. I think it's called a "Leica Level."

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), May 26, 2002.

50mm 'cron f2.0

-- David Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), May 26, 2002.

If I had to make do with one lens for the rest of my life it would be a 80mm f/2.8 Planar attached to a Rolleiflex of any vintage but preferably the latest GX.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), May 26, 2002.

Thought I'd posted this, but it seems to have disappeared...

21 f/3.4 Super-Angulon

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 26, 2002.

Tally so far: Leicas ONLY

21/3.4 (1) * 24/2.8 (1) * 35/2 (8) * 35/1.4 (9) * Tri-E (1) * 50/1 (3) * 50/1.4 (3) * 50/DR (1) * 50/2 (8) * 50/2.8 (2) * 75/1.4 (1) * 400/6.8 (1) * 35-70 Vario-elmar (2) *

I declare tentatively the favourite lens to be the 35/1.4 by users here.

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 26, 2002.

Tri-Elmar (current version)

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), May 27, 2002.

Elmarit-M 21/2.8 ASPH.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), May 27, 2002.

50/2 Summicron-M (latest version) by a hair over the 35/2 ASPH.

-- Rich Fowler (richfowler@mindspring.com), May 27, 2002.

Summicron 50 mm, latest.

-- Lars Kristensen (krislars@algonet.se), May 27, 2002.

2/35A. If I had a 1.4/35A too, maybe that one instead.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), May 27, 2002.

Tally so far:

Leicas ONLY

21/3.4 (1) * 21/2.8(1)* 24/2.8 (1) * 35/2 (10) * 35/1.4 (9) * Tri- E (2) * 50/1 (3) * 50/1.4 (3) * 50/DR (2) * 50/2 (10) * 50/2.8 (2) * 75/1.4 (1) * 400/6.8 (1) * 35-70 Vario-elmar (2) *

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 27, 2002.

Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100/2.8

-- Mick Turner (mnturner@bigpond.com), May 27, 2002.

Tri-Elmar.

-- Dick Baznik (reb10@po.cwru.edu), May 28, 2002.

35 Summicron-M v4

-- adam g. lang (aglang@hotmail.com), May 28, 2002.

50 Summicron, third version (second rigid version) (11817)

-- Marco Grande (hektor73@yahoo.com), May 28, 2002.

I will keep 50 'cron latest but I will be bored without the Canon ET 200/2.8L USM lens.

-- kenny chiu (gokudo31@hotmail.com), May 28, 2002.

35/2 Summicron ASPH - my one and only, already.

-- Michael Cockerham (cockerham@ukonline.co.uk), May 29, 2002.

Lux - notch another one up to the 24/2.8 asph.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), May 29, 2002.

The Tri-Elmar.

Thank goodness I don't have to make this decision in real life.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul@chefurka.com), May 29, 2002.

Tally so far: Leicas ONLY

21/3.4 (1) * 21/2.8(1)* 24/2.8 (2) * 35/2 (12) * 35/1.4 (9) * Tri- E (4) * 50/1 (3) * 50/1.4 (3) * 50/DR (2) * 50/2 (12) * 50/2.8 (2) * 75/1.4 (1) * 400/6.8 (1) * 35-70 Vario-elmar (2) * 100/2.8 (1) *

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 30, 2002.

Summilux 35-M ASPH!

-- Cing-Dao Kan (cdkan@yahoo.com), May 30, 2002.

50mm Summicron-M.

-- Vikram (VSingh493@aol.com), May 30, 2002.

Leicas only: votes in brackets. Latest..

21/3.4 (1) * 21/2.8(1)* 24/2.8 (2) * 35/2 (14) * 35/1.4 (10) * Tri- E (4) * 50/1 (3) * 50/1.4 (3) * 50/DR (3) * 50/2 (15) * 50/2.8 (2) * 75/1.4 (1) * 400/6.8 (1) * 35-70 Vario-elmar (2) * 100/2.8 (1) *

50/2 leading..

-- Lux (leica@sumicron.com), May 31, 2002.