When Matt tells us he loves us I can't help but smile! Matt, your work is really inspiring and has helped me see my own life and hometown in a much different light. Learning a lot from "Friend of Mine," and enjoying documenting my life in the way that you do!
Went for almost the same transition about a month ago. Sold my beloved 35 summicron ASPH and 28 Summicron and picked up the 35 Lux FLE. No regrets at all. The 35 Lux has done everything I've asked of it and more. I was nervous that the FLE would be "too clinical" or too sharp as a lot of users like to claim, but I find it entirely transparent. It's got its own character but just subtly. Worth every penny. Excited to see what you do with yours
I also bought this same lens for my M11 from Tim Lei but in silver to match my camera. I had an issue with the aperture blades and the inability of the lens to go to f1.4. I happened to be in Tokyo at the time and brought it into the Leica store and got it back fixed perfectly in a couple of months. Now it works flawlessly and is always on my M11. Great video, Matt. Thanks for sharing.
I did something similar. Sold several older, slightly damaged Leica lenses to fund the purchase of the 35 Lux Asph. Kept my 75mm Summarit, but 95% of my shots are done on the 35mm. I wish I had done this sooner as the 35 Lux is the most interesting rendering lens I have ever owned.
Great video, Matt! I purchased a 35mm summarit from you a long time ago and it's been my daily driver ever since. It was actually my first 35mm lens I had tried on my M4-P and M10! I'm getting to a point where I'd really love a 35mm summicron ASPH as a next evolution, maybe even this lens some day in the even more distant future. I love the way you give your "first impressions" and reviews of lenses because your approach translates better to me for how I actually make photos. Thanks Matt!
Before pandemic I sold all My canon equipment and my Fujifilm cameras , I got a m10-p with a sunnily 35 , guys I don’t need more I’m happy with this setup
Nice! I ended up the same setup - M11 Monochrom + 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE II - and really enjoy the option to focus down to 0.4m. For the times I'd like to get in below 0.7m I have the function button on the top of the camera set to turn on live view and the FN button on the back of the camera set to toggle on/off the 100% zoom. I find the 100% zoom a lot easier to focus with than the focus peaking and this setup makes it super fast to jump in and out of "close focus mode". Enjoy the new lens Matt, thanks for the video!
The honeymoon phase never ended for me with my 35 Summilux. The new model is coming in and I’ll be interested to enjoy close focusing too. Enjoyed your video as always Matt. Thanks!
That's them! They've gone through sort of a revival and refresh in recent years. Check 'em out! simpleshoes.com Also check out Tony Wodarck on RU-vid, great photographer, great dude, and plays a big role at Simple. ❤
I’ve always been a single camera, single lens type of person ever since I started shooting in the film era. My logic was that if I can’t master one body or one lens, adding more to the mix isn’t going to help me any more. I currently have two cameras, one I collected because I liked the styling (xpro 3) but due to my one camera, one lens style for ages it tends to just sit and doesn’t get used. Although the xpro 3 is better on paper than my leica TL2 pretty much all the way around, i reach for my leica TL2 with 23mm Summicron 90% of the time. It just had the look and feel for me that relates to simplicity and an authentic look to the photos. They don’t look AI processed and I’ve sharpened, etc. I’ve really been considering the m11 but the issues I see with them terrify me especially at the price range. I’d love to go with the m11 and f2 50mm Summicron v5. I used that lens and an m10 for a week, absolutely loved it! How’s your m11 been treating you, overall?
Thanks for the video. Over the decades, I have tried 21, 24, 28, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55mm focal length lenses as my one-lens/one-body solution on 35mm SLR and rangefinder cameras. The 35mm focal length was my personal favorite. Therefore, first lens I purchased for my Leica M6 was a 35mm f/1.4.
great video! i got a Leica CL so the standard frame lines are 40mm so i got a voigtlander 40mm 1.4 and its my everyday carry. i do keep a 90mm f4 in my bag in case i would want to get a tighter portrait ;P
First lens I got for m mount was a ‘cron 50. I tried to love a Voigt 21, a zeiss 28, and a zeiss 35. I always always go back to the 50 cron. It’s permanently on my m10 and I struggle to see the world in any other focal length
My 35 Summicron IV stays on my M11 Monochrom 90% of the time. I have a 75 APO-Summicron and Visoflex 2 in my bag for shooting the longer stuff. It’s a great combination for sure.
I've since traded the 35 Summilux for the 35 Summicron Version 4. Wish I could afford to keep both, but the V4 has always been one of my favorites. So compact and I love the character.
I love my FLE but I sometimes leave it behind because I’m in rougher areas. Sometimes I actually prefer the BW rendering of my old pre asph lux. Hard to explain but the greys just seem different. One note…for me I prefer the longer min distance of thr V1 FLE. Getting close for a portrait or something with a 35 = big noses which is something I don’t particularly like.
To ccoppola82 : I certainly agree with you that a 35 mm lens up close, or in a portrait, or random shot does often make a big nose that can spoil the photo. Thank you for pointing that out ! RS. Canada
My guess - given how attuned you are to the rangefinder approach, is that you'll click past 0.7m less than 1% of the time. But I'll be curious to know once you've had more time with it. (And 1% might be enough to justify it, for those special close ups you get with it). I used the previous 35LX "FLE" quite a bit and I'm currently getting used to the 35APO, including its close focus capability.
I've had a similar experience, being a 50mm guy since forever but some years ago an m6 an 35 changed that! Now i'm using the 35 on the m10r 90% of the time for work and leisure. The 50 just gets used sometimes for portraits if I want a more '"pretty" and less documentary look to them! I much prefer the fixed lenshood though on the fle1, it seems so sturdy and i trust it more to protect the lens in case of an impact, compared to the retractable from the 50 summilux. The 35 summilux is amazing, i'm curious to see what you're doing with it in your next videos :)
Thanks for watching! I used the 50mm in a similar way. Portraits and isolating subjects, removing any excess clutter in the frame, but the 35mm is definitely the preferred for me.
The first 6 minutes were a little bit repetitive and could have also been sayed in 15 seconds, but I really liked the look back at the first week. What would be really interesting how you feel the difference between summicron and the summilux regarding size and shooting experience. I tend to believe that on the street smaller lenses are less intrusive and people pay more attention at your gear with growing front lenses
always wanted a newer 35lux but because of the price i never pulled the trigger on it cause in the back of my mind it's always "is this worth it." definitely looking forward to your long-term overview of this once you get more time with it
Very nice Matt. Well done- and congrats on your "less is more" decision. I just purchased M11 w. V1 of 35mm Lux. No visoflex. Coming from Fuji, I have really struggled and missed close-focus capability, but your description of how to do it (LV) helps. I am very much enjoying the Leica/RF experience. Thanks for your video. CM
I'm curious to see if you end up using the close focus in a "Ope! That's too close -- let's just pull the focus on closer than the rangefinder and hope it's in focus enough" kind of way. 🙂
They should put a monochrome sensor in the center of a cut out bayer filter sensor. That way the monochrome camera can still tell which colors are which.
Great video. I am actually talking with Tim right now about a v1FLE, and wanted to do some research before pulling the trigger. I've had the 35 lux ASPH twice and it's always been my favorite lens. As for questions coming up, do you find yourself using the hood extended? How's flare control? I imagine it's pretty nonexistent. Modern lenses with modern coatings seem to have solved the flare problem unless shooting directly into the sun Whenever I mount a hood to my M it's usually more for bump protection than anything else. Also, how are ergonomics of the lens vs the Summicron? Anyway, congrats on the lens and hope to see more content about your experience with the lens sometime soon
Love my 35FLE v1 from LieicaSF but do wish i had the close focus of the v2 since i have the visoflex 2 any way for my m11. I look forward to your images. btw, out of the box, my aperture ring was a little loose for my taste and sending it to DAG for a quick adjustment solved that as was relatively cheap.
For a 35mm on my M cameras, I truly don't know why I would ever part with this one. Unless an unexpected bill pops up... I've sold gear to fund engine repairs, kitchen remodels, and other more important things. Haha. But this is one that would be a "last resort" piece of gear to sell, for sure.
Matt, great video. I have this lens and shoot with the M-11P. However, focus to infinity is not quite sharp even between F4-F11. I am not sure if it is chromatic aberration, focus beyond infinity, or a faulty lens that needs recalibration. Do you have this problem? I have to find tune it to get sharp focus via RF or the Visoflex 2. It can be a bit annoying, but I still enjoy this one camera one lens setup a lot.
I have the latest version of the 35 Lux and the same version of the 50 Lux you have, used on my M11. I do find myself using the 35 more than I expected to and I am considering trading both for the 35 Apo.
I was intrigued by this lens after your enthusiasm but then I saw it sticks a lot into the viewfinder ( even the 35mm frame line ) of the M11. I wonder why you are not irritated by that annoying presence of the lens in the viewfinder?
Somehow I knew you would one day pick this lens up, this is really the one lens to go with if you can only choose one!? I am curious why you didn't go with the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.5, it's a lot cheaper and performs just the same, in someway, it even beats the Summilux FLE, like the control of purple fringing, I remember when you compare your 35mm Summicron with a Voigtlander 35mm f1.4, you said there is really difficult to tell the difference with the more expensive ones, and you are not willing to spend that amount of money for the Summilux, so, what has changed?
Nope, not selling. I'm a horder. In fact, I did a shoot last Sunday for family on my trusty old Canon A-1 I bought in '85. Their photographer called off sick and in despiration, they called the Luddite. LOL
Hello.. I have a leica m11 Monochrome.. but I can't find the ideal lens for this camera, thanks for advising me which would be the best lens for this camera that gives me real black and white images..
Hi Matt, love your photography! I try to document my family life as well, currently with both M10-R BP and M10Mono mainly with 35mm. 😊 But I’ve considered shooting Mono exclusively. So, just wanted to hear your thoughts, do you ever miss color photography? Any fear looking back years from now, and not having photographs of your kids in color? That’s kind of my back and forth, will I miss having color images of my son (5months now), showing how his hair color, eyes, etc develop over the years. Best, Mads
Thanks for the kind words! I personally don't have any regrets of shooting black and white almost exclusively. Years of black and white film and now working with the Monochrom, I've always been happy with it. Totally get what you're saying though, the specific details that only color can capture. However, I'm also shooting quick photos with my phone on a daily basis of my kids and family life. So just simply looking back over the years, I feel as if I'm not missing really any of those details. The Leica always comes into play when I want to focus more on the moment and less on the specifics of details, if that makes sense. I hope that helps!
@@mattdayphoto , thanks a lot for your thoughtful answer, really appreciate it. I rarely shoot with my iPhone, so will probably hold on to a color camera too. The M10R Black Paint and M10Mono being pretty much the grail combo for me. So, will probably stick with both, and then just do periods of mainly shooting B/W.
I haven't checked on your channel for a while but having my very first Leica being sent to me right now, I had to come back to my favorite leica-youtuber ;) But I have one question... bro, do you even age? :D
I'm not sure if you're much of a zone focuser. I don't think you are. Is there any sort of indent or indication that tells you you're at .7ft focus distance (the camera limit)? When focusing it's nice to know you're at the close focus distance of .7ft without looking. When zone focusing I have the lens usually in 3 locations (.7ft lens racked all the way to the left, middle distance with the thumb tab in the middle, and then the lens racked all the way to infinity). Thanks Matt.
Hey Matt! I have been following your work for years now and I really love your « outdoor drama » photo. I check on your site but the print section seems to be empty. I would really love to buy a print of this image if ever yiu decide to make it available :) cheers !
Hey Matt, Not sure if you will see this but I am an M3 user and am considering the purchase of a 35mm and am back and forth on whether to drop the extra money on a summilux vs the summicron 35mm 2.0. Having the extra stop for lower light is appealing but also saving the money purchasing the summicron is also appealing. I am looking at preowned and the summicron can easily be found less than 3000 in A+ shape and the summilux is well above 3 grand(also preowned) For shooting Film I guess I am unsure dropping the extra cash for the summilux is worth it? What do you think?
Also - I am using right now a Zeiss 50mm 2.0, so that is another reason the summilux 1.4 is appealing because it would offer something truly different from what I currently own both wider angle and almost an extra stop for lower light situations.
Hi Matt, currently I am thinking to buy my first Leica, the M6. Would you also recommend this lense for the M6? With the M11 Monochrome you can have use of the close focus but does it make sense to have this lense also for the M6?
Hi. I have the same problem as you. I have Leica lenses that I would like to sell in order to buy a new lens. But I do not know of a site that can buy it from me at a good price and without undervaluing the item. My lenses are all like new because I use them sparingly and carefully. Can you direct me to a site that buys lenses and camera accessories at fair prices?
Selling the 50 is a big mistake. It’s fine to not use it so much over a few years. You’ll regret selling it. Try and get out of the buying/selling loop, it never ends and is a destructive loop that hinders creativity.
Hi Matt, I’m considering trading out of a full frame Sony kit and similar to your approach, going with one camera & one lens, possibly to the Q2 or Q3 with that fixed 28mm lens. Aside from the obvious differences in focal length, how would you compare image quality and user experience of the M11 or M11 Monochrome & 35mm Summilux to the Q2 or Q2 Monochrome?? Thanks…
Thanks for watching! The biggest difference in user experience is going to be autofocus vs no autofocus, along with optical rangefinder viewfinder vs an electronic viewfinder. If you have a chance to check them out in person and get a little hands on with them, that would be helpful because they're very different experiences and we all have our own preferences. As far as image quality goes, the sensors of all cameras mentioned are incredible. With the Q series, you know you're getting an amazing lens that's been optimized for that sensor specifically. With the M series, it's up to you and what lens you decide to go with. That's going to be the main variable in your image quality there. I hope that helps!
It will be interesting to see how much you use the close-focus and I know you'll give your honest opinion on it. I think it's an interesting move from Leica to modernize and even prepare if/when they do an EVF only M camera. I still love my 35mm Summarit, just because of the size and the balance of how it renders, but my good buddy Chris Weeks (35 Lux) still swears by his old Lux and I can't fault him (he thinks I'm crazy for wanting THAT small of a lens). But more importantly, have you gotten any Polaroid Reclaimed Blue 600 film yet? I am loving pairing it with BW600 for my work and would love to see what you did with it. (yes, yes, come here to a Leica video and I focus on your Polaroid mention) :P
It will be very interesting to see where they go in the future, given these updates to some of their staple lenses. And I would expect nothing else from you, Patrick! Haha. I haven't gotten a chance to try any of the Reclaimed Blue yet. The second I saw it, I started thinking about doing some lifts with that unique look. Might try to grab some soon!
Whoever sends me the money first! Haha. In all seriousness though, I usually post on social media if I have gear to sell or I ask around to friends that I think might be interested in it. If neither of those routes lead to a sale, I'll check with KEH for a quote.
@@divyakannan2946 Severe chromatic abberation, both purple and green fringing, at F1.4 & F2.0. Contrast is also sub-par. These issues are less severe on my M10-R but with the M11 you can tell that the lens is ready for a refresh in design and coatings...
Hey Matt, have you dabbled with vintage lenses? Since you’re a black and white 35mm lens shooter, I would love to hear your opinion on the 35mm summilux pre-Asph one day, maybe in a review. I’ve gone through a few 35mm lenses and eventually settled on a late German 35 lux pre asph v2, and I think it’s probably the best lens for black and white out there. Would love to see you try one!
I've owned a couple of more "vintage" lenses in the past. Like the old 50mm f/1.5 Summarit. I had that lens about 9 years ago and really loved shooting portraits with it on Tri-X. Very unique look to it. Tim Lei, who I bought the Summilux from, has actually loaned me a lens for a short time that's relatively new, but it's a reproduction of a very old design. Should make for an interesting video soon! 😉
@@mattdayphoto I’ve heard and seen great things about the 50 summarit! The bokeh is beautiful and very unique, I’d love to get my hands on one to try out. Small community by the way, I actually bought my M10 Monochrom from Tim Lei. He’s a great guy. And ooo. My gut is telling me Light Lens Lab 35mm 8 element or 50mm speed panchro. Excited to see this upcoming video!
The only flash I have is the Leica SF20, which is a bit outdated. No TTL features and no articulation in the flash head itself. I know the M11s can do high speed sync with flashes from Profoto, but with the limited amount of flash that I use these days, I haven't been able to justify spending that kind of money. Profoto ain't cheap! I've heard Godox makes a Leica compatible flash and trigger to use HSS, but I haven't tried it myself.
