Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/09/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I think from your answers to the questionnaire that you have your answer, mostly. You probably will slip into the 35/90 easily and the current lenses are all "best in the world" The 90 gives you a choice of the Elmarit at 2.8 and the Summicron at F2. Both are amazingly capable of capturing extremely fine detail and the Elmarit at least is very flare resistant. I don't have long term use of the Summicron to state anything about it's resistance to flare. If you want speed and don't mind a limited information viewfinder the 75 is truly outstanding wide open, not so much for rendition of extremely fine detail which it doesn't do at 1.4 but the smooth transition from sharp to unsharp and its resistance to flare. At 35 you get the same results with either the 1.4 ASPH or the F2.0 ASPH. The 1.4 is just heavier, more expensive, and twice as fast. If you ultimately decide that you will be going wider the current 28 Summicron is again, "best in the "world". However, if you wear glasses, then you might look into the 58 finder version of the M. Don't need fast lenses? Typically shoot somewhere around 5.6 or smaller? Then the 35 Summicron just prior to the new ASPH version is extremely good and has the best transition from sharp to unsharp of just about any wide angle I've used in 35mm. Likewise, in the telephoto end, the tele-elmarit has many adherents and is currently fairly cheap. Check the archives and with the tele-elmarit get return privileges as it seems to have a variablity in its performance; a few are dogs. As to bodies, you know yourself better than anybody. If you will resort to the hand held meter than buy whatever is out of favor. Currently, M3's seem to be available in the $800 range although look through one to see if guessing the exact coverage of 35mm lenses is to your taste. M6 Classic's also seem to be coming down in price, I've seen some users below $1000 although users might be just a little better than Marshall's M4. If you think that you will use the automation then no question, pay the money and get the M7. It has the best finder since the early M4's and you get the benefit of new parts and a long warranty. Just my two cents. Don dorysrus@mindspring.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html