Poll: choose 2 Leica M lenses for travel

[Vivek]

Thanks, Jono. That is a pity. I will keep my eyes open for any opportunities to grab one.

Even if I am half blind, it is easy to say that this lens sets a new standard for definition and bokeh.

 

[Knorp]

Although it doesn't really matter anymore: I'd vote for 28'cron and 75'cron.

 

[Godfrey]

On my trip to England and the Isle of Man with the M9 in 2013, I carried 35/50/90. I made 817 exposures, split 251/508/58 respectively. Funny, I thought I had used the 90 a bit more than that.

But given that, I'd take the 35 and 50 mm lenses, and only carry the wider or longer focal lengths if the additional weight didn't bother me. Or, switch to the 28 and 50, for a wider-wide coupled with the favorite 50.

I recently ordered an Elmar-M 24/3.8 so I suspect my next kit for travel will be 24/3.8, 35/1.4, 50/1.5, and 90/4 ... all small, light, and handy except for the fast 50 (Nokton 50/1.5 ASPH (LTM)). Although I might leave the 90 home if I know I'm going to use it so little. (That's hard. An ideal travel kit in the past was the Leica CL with 40, 90, and 21mm lenses.)

The Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 arrived. A superb performing lens! Pairs well with fast 35 or 50.

G

 

[GMB]

MATE + 75 cron or 75 lux

 

[Ario Arioldi]

Summicron 28 + Summicron 75 (Summilux 28 will be even better, when available)

 

[Ario Arioldi]

Hi Vivek
Sorry - missed that one - yes - the chicken shots were taken with a prototype lens - it still isn't available for sale as a series version, but it comes in a stainless steel version with the 100 Jahre kits. (I now have a lens based on that one, but of coursee I don't have the kit)

Hi Jono, is the same ss finish as the M "Edition 60" ?

 

[KeithL]

21 SEM for tripod mounted interiors, 35 Lux for carry-round.

 

[rayyen]

21+50

 

[airfrogusmc]

When I travel I only take one lens. I only shoot one lens for my personal work even when I don't travel. 35mm.

 

[erick.boileau]

24 summilux and 50 Noctilux

 

[jonoslack]

Hi Jono, is the same ss finish as the M "Edition 60" ?

Hi Ario
Plebs like me don't get stainless steel lenses! (would love one though).

all the best

 

[doctorfab]

Quick update:
35-75 combo still leads, but 28-50 is now in 3rd place!

35-75 xxxxxxxxx
21-50 xxxxxxx
28-50 xxxxxx
35-50 xxxx
24-75 xxx
28-35 xx
28-75 xx
24-50 xx
21-35 xx
25-50 x
28-75 x
18-50 x
28-40 x
35-90 x
MATE-75 x

 

[Godfrey]

Quick update:
35-75 combo still leads, but 28-50 is now in 3rd place!

35-75 xxxxxxxxx
21-50 xxxxxxx
28-50 xxxxxx
35-50 xxxx
24-75 xxx
28-35 xx
28-75 xx
24-50 xx
21-35 xx
25-50 x
28-75 x
18-50 x
28-40 x
35-90 x
MATE-75 x

Must be a race... ;-)

I think I've worked with almost all of those combinations at one point or another. I think this is why my Leica X type 113 has become my most used camera—use the 35mm lens it has, regardless.

G

 

[ashwinrao1]

For 2 lenses, I'd probably got 28/50 or 35/75.

I'd try to balance size and volume against speed, given that travel these days requires us to factor this in, even with Leica gear. All should fit in a smallish bag.


If I were to go 35/75, I'd go with a 35 lux asph and a 75 cron, though I no longer have 75's

If I were to go 28/50, I'd go with the 28 'cron and 50 lux asph

These combos give you speed and isolation, in a compact package.


In general, I travel with 35/50/90, and it all fits in a Billingham Pola, along with my wallet, cellphone, passport, keys, and an M9P with Luigicase....

 

[Vivek]

Hi Ario
Plebs like me don't get stainless steel lenses! (would love one though).

all the best

Would that (SS) not be heavier though? I can see the merits of a Titanium lens.

 

[iiiNelson]

For 2 lenses, I'd probably got 28/50 or 35/75.

I'd try to balance size and volume against speed, given that travel these days requires us to factor this in, even with Leica gear. All should fit in a smallish bag.


If I were to go 35/75, I'd go with a 35 lux asph and a 75 cron, though I no longer have 75's

If I were to go 28/50, I'd go with the 28 'cron and 50 lux asph

These combos give you speed and isolation, in a compact package.


In general, I travel with 35/50/90, and it all fits in a Billingham Pola, along with my wallet, cellphone, passport, keys, and an M9P with Luigicase....

Add either a 21 or 24 to the fold and replace your Billingham with an Ona and that was my travel kit as well.

 

[D&A]

Add either a 21 or 24 to the fold and replace your Billingham with an Ona and that was my travel kit as well.

Quite agree. Add an additional wide angle (21mm in my case) to the 35/50/90 kit and one has a well balanced assortment of focal lengths for travel. Of course this is a far cry from a 2 lens kit. In that case I agree with Ashwin, a 35/75 generally covers a lot of ground.

Dave (D&A)

 

[aDam007]

Quick update, since I did post above about 21/50.. I'm in Japan for Cherry Blossoms, and I've still not touched my 21 (half way done my trip). The 50APO has been on the M the whole time. In all fairness I did bring the S-system out with the 70 on one day and 120macro on another.

Much prefer the lightweight M-system though. Reflecting on the 50APO, I think it would be nice to have a faster lens in some cases, but the last time I came to Tokyo I brought my Noctilux, and hated toting it around. That and, the two extra stops didn't really help indoors. I suspect the T-value of the 0.95 isn't actually very good. I get the feeling my 50 Summilux-asph T-value is better then the 0.95 Noctilux.
With that said, I might have considered bringing my 35FLE, but really I probably wouldn't have mounted it. Maybe just the 50Lux next time, but I do love the results I get from the 50APO... So who knows.

I suppose if the 50APO didn't exist, I'd probably have packed two M bodies and the 35FLE / 75APO lens combo. Or maybe even the 50LUX on it's own..

 

[bowlachili]

21/35 with M8 and M9. Lots of flexibility--21/50 or 28/35.

 

[JWW]

For travel, I always have a 35mm and a 50mm, either Summicron or Summilux depending on size and weight desired. If I can take a third, it's the 21mm SEM.