Strongly agree, especially regarding the 75mm. For years I used to own the 75/1.4, and while I loved its output, I was hardly using it opting instead to use the 90mm (and I have a preference for the non-APO version). Another lens that I hardly ever see is the 24mm, even though it shined on cropped sensor cameras (as an equivalent of a 50mm), and I still use it on SL-bodies. I use the 21mm occasionally - but I’m not a fan of anything wider. The 135mm is a hidden gem in the Leica system (both the M and SL systems), and I can’t wait for Leica to introduce a dedicated SL equivalent! The 28/35/50mm trio is my go-to work trio, and that’s why for travel and landscapes I use the TriElmar MATE, which unfortunately Leica no longer makes?
Love it, always cool to hear people's perspective on lenses. I've similarly been a 35 person forever, but the 28/50 combo has really disrupted that for the last few years and I feel myself grabbing 35 a lot less, which is weird but fun. I've been "28 is as wide as I go" for a long time as well, but I'm definitely finding that 21 is very cool as a parent, given the proximity that I'm often at with my kids. In the car, airplane, theme park, etc, 28 often feels tight. So, basically all my self guidelines are blurring haha. Lenses are so fun
I tried 21 but it just felt so wide that everything was tiny in the frame. That said, I hear you about places like airplanes or cars, etc. I image 28 would be too tight in those scenarios. I mostly just use my phone at .5 then haha.
Another great video. Thanks for your insights. Recently went to Paris and only shot with a 28 2.8 on my M11Monochrom. However, when traveling to the Sierras I shoot the 21 3.4 and a 75 2.0. T/S.
Strongly agree on the 35mm. I use that with my 21mm for just about all my Leica shots. Consiering getting a 50mm, but it is so close to 35mm, that I'm not sure I'd gain much from it. Great explanations of your lens choices.
Loved the video and the particular lenses you chose to cover. My own particular favorite focal length for my M11 is 50mm,. For previous digital M bodies as well as my M5, I used a vintage Summicron -- also have a vintage 35mm Summicron. However, with the M11, I wanted an APO and since the Leica version is out of my price range, I went with the Voigtländer 50. I am looking to buy a 35mm Voigtländer to round out the common focal length lenses. For 28mm I use my Q3 (one of the selling points of the Q camera was having a 28mm f/1.7 Summilux for just the price of the camera). As for longer focal lengths, I have the 90mm Pre-Aspherical Summicron f/2 and the APO TelyT-M 135mm f/3.4. I left the 90 at home when I traveled to Italy last October, and together with the M1 with 50mm and 135mm (for reach and detail), Q3 and a new iPhone 15 Pro Max, I had a very successful trip.
I started out in the 70s with a Zenith E, Cosina 28mm f2.8, Helios 58mm f2 and a Hanimex 135mm f2.8 . It was the best start, and I used my 135mm the most.
Thank you Dave for this amazing and informative video. I really enjoyed it. My favorite focal lengths for my Leica M11P in order are the following: 1) 50mm 2) 28mm 3) 35mm I own 21mm, 75mm, and 90mm as well, but I use them less frequently. The two focal lengths that I can’t move without are the 28mm and 50mm. In my opinion, they can cover any genre of photography.
I know the 50/28 combo is preferred by so many photographers, especially in the wedding industry. And I agree, it can cover anything. Lately I’ve been using my 28 on my M11 and my 50 on my M6 and shooting them together. Figured I can crop in on the M11 if I wanted to. Really great combo!
My first camera was the Nikon FE2 and I purchased the 50mm f1.8 with it. I shot that for the better part of my 20's and 30's. When I'm making images with that lens, I know what my field of view will be before I lift it to my eye. My M6 has the Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 Nokton on it all the time. I'm loving the results. I'm also shooting the Q2 and enjoy the wider angle. It helps me tell more of a story with my images. I'm also guilty of using the crop modes for 50 and 35 on the Q2. Great video as always!
I shoot both a Q3 and an M11; the Q has instilled deep affection for the 28 mm focal length. But you are correct that the 35 is the best all around, just plum magical.
Super interesting Dave, I’m on a Fuji XT4 so I’ve always got to take that into consideration, but I picked up a Contax Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.4 and can’t seem to take it off my camera. I’ve had the Fuji 18,27 and 35 but this just seems to work in a lot of situations, and I’ve also been shooting 16x9 which has really helped! Thanks for the content man, awesome
My heart goes out to the 28mm, but I’m with you Dave, if I was forced to run out of the house with one camera and one lens for the rest of my days, it’s the 35 for sure.
Although not my favorite lens, a 21 mm can be very useful for certain applications. It may be the best lens for hyperfocal shooting; it can be set up so that everything from about 3 feet to infinity is in focus. Thus, you can shoot without focusing, very helpful for street or event photography.
21mm is also a group "selfie" focal length. It's for getting close and intimate to a group of people. Really close. You hold it out arms length pointed at yourself and you can get a huddle of people and yourself in the shot. A very social focal length.
Thanks Dave. An interesting discussion and of course good photos. 35 for me, and 'Lux for the same reason. Unfortunately, because I have GAS, I have plenty of others, but 35 is a go-to. It covers so much ground: landscape, urban, portrait.... Historically I have developed a fondness for 24mm in other systems, and managed to get a good used 24 Elmarit, which I am also starting to enjoy for landscapes. I don't understand why Leica stopped this focal length. Presumably it wasn't being bought. I am also starting to enjoying the 90 APO, after finding a good used copy. Keep up the good work !
Thanks! Yeah 24mm is pretty common outside of Leica, but not so much in the Leica ecosystem. Alternatively 28mm is common with Leica, but not so much outside of Leica. Agree 100% about 35mm!
Everything you said about the 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm matches the way I feel about these focal lengths, though I did spend the money for a pre-owned APO Summicron-M 75mm ASPH. The only Leica-brand M lens that I have bought new, rather than pre-owned, has been my “Re-Edition” Steel Rim Summilux-M 35mm. 28mm is much less important to me. I own the Walter Mandler-designed third version of the Elmarit-M, and a threaded-mount Summaron, more for the character/rendering than for the focal length. I may not ever be able to justify acquiring an M-mount 135mm lens, unless it is one of the vintage versions, that costs little. I’ll just have to lug a DSLR body, if I need to shoot at 135mm. 21mm is not something I use often, but there are occasions when it is perfect. I use Zeiss and Voigtlander 21mm lenses, each a gem it its own right, not “second best.” The Zeiss 21mm f/4,5 ZM may well be the lowest-distortion 21mm on the market, though it shows color shift on pre-M11 digital M cameras, so is best used on a Monochrom, or for color images converted to monochrome. The Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton is a quite nicely versatile evening/night lens. I do really love the Elmar-M 24mm ASPH. Like 21mm, I do not use 24mm often, but, there are those times when it is perfect. Keep doing the good work!
Thanks for sharing! I had the Zeiss Biogon 21mm and just couldn't find a real use for it for the things I do. Also, the color shifts were odd on that lens as well, especially in mid-day lighting.
Interesting..and I wanted to get a 15mm for architecture photography and street, but found out I would need the electronic viewfinder as well to use it properly. My favorite is the 35mm as well.
If I'd have to decide for just a single lens I'd always choose 40mm. When I'm out with 2 lenses/bodies I normally choose 28 & 50 mm. For 40mm upwards I use the 1,25x magnifier and in the case of 40mm I see in the 0,72 viewfinder +/- what I'll get. The 50mm framlines help composing the subject and everything outside the framelines is the this little surplus that makes it look more natural, or when needed, gives the possibility to correct and crop the image a little bit.
I like using 28 now and then it’s not my daily driver though. One of the reasons I never got a Q. I don’t care for crop modes to get to 35mm my go to focal length. 35mm is the best balance between 50 and 28. Not too wide nor too tight. Goldilocks focal length.
35mm is definitely the Goldilocks focal length. My daily go to! But I have been using 28mm more and more. Forced myself in the beginning, now I’m finding I like it.
I use a Q2 and a 35mm on my M11. I don’t notice a difference - it’s just that the 28mm gives me some wriggle room on street/travel photography if it’s not possible to move back quickly to get the shot I want. Either is fine for me.
My favorite has to be 24-50 mm focal lengths. I have a Nikon 16-50 mm which is perfectly fine for me and where I live there’s a lot of landscape that I could great shots with the zoom lens I have. I don’t think anything past 50mm is worth it IMO. But everyone is different and used different lengths for different reasons.
focusing a 75mm f2 wide open is so much easier than a 90mm f2 on Leica M, its an easier to use tele for portraits, that how I see it. Although I end up traveling the most with the 90mm F4, for its compact size and amazing image quality.
21 definitely isn't for everyone. It's funny, though, I see that as the cinematic lens. Due to the extreme FOV, anything in the foreground turns into a graphical element which leads the viewers eye. Combined with the elongated feeling of the picture plane, you can "move" the viewers eye with a lot of deliberate intention. Urgency via sharp swoops, for example. On the M though, I'm in the same boat as you. 35 all day, 28 and 50 when it matters. The M is just perfect for 35. You can feel it in your bones ha.
Nice presentation! While I have 5 M lenses, my favorite light weight combo is 35 and 75 Summicrons. This duo covers 90 % of my needs. If I use a 90 rather than a 75 then I will have to pack a 50 and then I’ll need a bag with all of the crap that goes in it. 35 on the camera and 75 in my pocket or fanny pack is easy.
Thanks for the video. When talking about the 75mm, 90mm or the 135mm lenses what apetures are you talking about? If I’m not mistaken the Leica 90mm 1.4/1.5 goes for $15k, a wee bit out of my range, lol I love the rendering of 1.4 lenses but gotta be budget friendly for us retired photographers, lol. Any 3rd party lens manufacturers you recommend? Voightlander, Zeiss, TT artisans?
@@davidherring $900 not bad! You really liking the 90mm summarit, huh? I think that focal length will pair up nicely with my 35mm 1.4 Voightlander. Thanks for your feedback. I always enjoy watching your videos.
@@davidherring I just had the voigtlander 40mm f1.4 it was an awesome lens, especially for the price. I’ve since switched to Fuji GFX and the 50mm which is a 40mm focal length 🙏🏾
Yeah man 35mm all the way. When I travel I only take my M and a 35. It never leaves the camera. I use it for just about everything. I use other lengths for wildlife.
Something you didn't mention is the impact on people who like to use the optical (rangefinder) viewfinder, including all film photographers. 28mm us the wides lens where you can see everything it captures through the viewfinder. Wider than that, you have to use a little accessory viewfinder that goes in the flash shoe, and has no rangefinder coupling. On the other end, I found the 75mm has the smallest image inside the viewfinder that I can hope to compose and especilly focus accurately. 90mm and up you're looking at an teeny tine little box in the middle of the viewfinder and rangfinder focusing accurately is next to impossible. Of course if you shoot a digital M you can use the rear screen of Visoflex accessory. But what's the point? For really wide and really long focal lengths, you're way better off using your Sony, etc. with an EVF and auto focus for the long end.
You can indeed see everything with a 28mm yet there is no space left around the framelines to anticipate action, which I find one of the key advantages of using a rangefinder. Meanwhile with the optical external viewfinder I use with my 24mm lens, you do get more space around the framelines.
28 is really not workable for those of us with glasses. I have a Q2 and I’m considering an M11 or M10 Mono with a 35 and 50 Summicron (vintage…from my M2)
compression is fiction! U r just changing the distance to the object. And resolution. But the objects in the background stay at the same distance and scale in every focal length. Just the resolution changes
No, it’s not. You can crop a 35mm to an 85mm equivalent and it will not look the same. Compression is real, and is a result of the physics of lenses. Thanks for the comment.
@@davidherring If u stay in the same position it will look 100% the same within the 85mm crop. Focal length is just changing the field of view not any sort of parallax.
