I planned to buy a M6, but didn't make up my mind to choose summicorn 50 or 35. I can only afford one lens and I used Contax G1 with 35 lens at the moment. Pls adv

Does anyone can let me have some pics from both lens, so I can have key reference to make decision on it.

-- kl (klrltl@yahoo.com), August 30, 2001

Answers

What are you doing? Street photography? If so then maybe the 35 would be up your alley. You already have a handle on how to utilize this focal length and you get that extra handholdable stop over the 50... but I like the 50 too.

Now, approximately 50% of my shots are with the 35, 45% of my shots with the 50 and the last 5% either the 75 or the 24. If I did it all over again I would have started with the 50. I like the tigher compositions and to be able to have a more shallow DOF at maximum aperture.

Regards,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), August 30, 2001.

Like you I used a Contax-G 35 before moving to Leica. I still prefer the 35 but am experimenting with a 50 since one came with my Hexar body. Here's my picture contribution, taken with the last 35 f/2 before the ASPH. (There are a couple of other 35mm shots in the folder that contains this one.)

TO 35mm SHOT

The significance difference, IMHO, between my lens and the newest one is size/weight vs. corner sharpness wide-open - you can more or less flip a coin to choose between them otherwise.

I look forward to seeing what other people post for you, especially from the 50s.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), August 30, 2001.

It is a long and difficult process you have ahead of you in decision making. But a brief hint at your possible future....50 or 35?.....don't matter, as you'll end up with both...:-)

-- Simon Wong (drsimonwong@hotmail.com), August 30, 2001.

kl

For an impression of what kind of images 35, 50, 75 and 90 mm can produce feel free to visit my Gallery. Click on the "notes" to learn about the lenses I used. Enjoy.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), August 30, 2001.

Geeez... (Did I open that HTML playground thread or did I NOT...;o)

So, once again: My gallery.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), August 30, 2001.

You can't make a mistake here. When I only had M3 cameras and 50mm lenses, I couldn't wait until I could get a M camera that had 35mm frame lines so I could get a 35mm Summicron. Now after years with my M6, I use the 50mm lens as much as the 35mm, (something I never do with my SLRs). This might sound like a joke, but my favorite between these two lenses is the one that was on the camera for my last roll of film. Both of these optics are great, so you can't be "wrong" in your choice. With all due respect for people that embrace the long and super-wide lenses, I believe that the M works best with the 35mm and 50mm lenses. They require the least amount of operational compromise due to the finder and handling.

I believe that after some time you will have both of these lenses anyway, so just flip a coin to see which one you will have first.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), August 30, 2001.

If you like the coverage of the 35mm lens with your Contax, and you're replacing the Contax with the Leica, by all means obtain a 35mm lens to start with. It's not a big deal, you'll likely have both eventually. The Leica 35mm and 50mm lenses are all superb and both focal lengths are well within the "normal" range for general purpose use.

I purchased the 35/2 ASPH when I bought my M6TTL. I later bought the 24/2.8 and 50/2 after I acquired a second M body. I find I shoot with the 35mm and 24mm focal lengths more than 50mm, 50mm has become a short telephoto for me. But it's still a very natural, comfortable focal length when I want to restrict coverage a little bit or work with shallower DoF.

Here are two examples:

50mm: http://www.bayarea.net/~ramarren/ photostuff/PAW/32a.htm
35mm: http://www.bayarea.net/~ramarren/photostuff/ mpix2/0.htm

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), August 30, 2001.

KL:

I have both lenses, and they are equally good optically. You will eventually end up buying both! The 35mm lens is perfect for travel and street photography. I use the 50mm lens more for people photography.................................

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), August 30, 2001.

When I first started using M cameras a number of years ago, I could only afford one lens and chose the 50mm Summicron. I never was disappointed with my decision. Now I use both the 50mm and a 35mm and use them both equally. When I have the 50 mounted I wish I had mounted the 35. When I have the 35 mounted.....,well you get the idea!

-- John Alfred Tropiano (jat18@psu.edu), August 30, 2001.