If you only had one R lense...and a budget

[geoff_r1]

I'll be buying an R9 soon, and as this will consume most of my budget for the

time being, I was wondering which lenses are a relative bargain? I'll start

with one, and purchase more when I can. Focal length 50 - 100mm, preferring the

longer end.

 

I tried a 90mm Summicron which I liked very much and would be ideal but the one

in question was too pricey for now. How can I tell the different versions, and

which are worth getting?

 

Ideally I'd like to spend around US $500, but could probboly stretch to US $800

if this is not realistic.

 

I could of course get an R8 instead for less, but I think in the long term I'd

probobly wish I'd got the R9.

 

Thanks!

[dougfromtumwater]

I would recommend the 35-70mm F/4.0 (ROM), a little slow but sharp and flexible. If you prefer more speed then the 50 mm f/2.0 Summicron (3-Cam or ROM) is the best choice.

[robert meier]

I would get the 35-70/4 zoom. It is an incredibly good lens. And $500 should be enough.

[geoff_r1]

Thanks for the responses so far, I should add that I'd like a prime lense. I did also try the 35-70 f/4.0, but ended up deciding I would prefer to uses either the 90mm summicron or the 50mm (I think it was a summilux) i had a look at on the same day.

[dan_kreithen]

Why an R9 as opposed to an R8? The only difference is the weight - functionally they are identical. And the R8 is much cheaper on the used market. For a lens: 90mm / f2.8 Elmarit (late model, E55 filter threads).

[sid_chatterjee]

Geoff --

I would forget about the ROM lens. 90mm Summi 3 cam with 55mm filter can be had for about $500. I love that lens. --

Sid

[stuart_richardson]

If you are only going to have one lens, you should seriously consider a zoom. The R zooms

(at least the new ones) are as good as the prime lenses, just slower. The 35-70mm f/4 is an

excellent lens, and it will probably be more useful to you than just a 90mm or similar. I used

to be a prime lens only sort of fellow, but when I got the 28-90mm f/2.8-4.5 lens, I realized

that I did 80% of my photography with it, and it was truly exceptional.

[kens]

The newer Leica zooms are really very good. If you insist on a prime you might think about a

60mm f/2.8 macro. Super sharp and even corner to corner. Balances nicely on the R8/R9.

Very versatile. Can be found in your price range. You want either a 3-cam, R-cam, or ROM

lens for the R8/R9.

[brian_baum]

I had an R8 until I sold it last year. I still use my R3 and of all the R lenses I have, I always reach for the 80mm 1.4!

 

It is by far my favorite R lens. I even have the adapter for my Canon 1D Mark II so I can use it digitally. While it is not cheap, it produces the most interesting looking results.

[geoff_r1]

"Why an R9 as opposed to an R8?"

 

The main reason is that for what I've been reading, a lot of R8's appear to have reliability problems, I havn't heard so many complaints about the R9. The R9 felt better balanced in my hands, but the main reason is I don't want to have to do expensive repairs.

 

"Geoff -- I would forget about the ROM lens. 90mm Summi 3 cam with 55mm filter can be had for about $500. I love that lens. -- Sid"

 

What info does the ROM convey to the body which you otherwise lose?

 

"If you are only going to have one lens, you should seriously consider a zoom."

 

I will have one lense for now, but will buy more in around six months. I'm thinking of the first lense as the start of a system, but it's only short term, hense the prime rather than zoom. The zoom I tried was very nice, but I prefer the primes.

[ronald_moravec1]

I think all ROM provides is info to zoom flash heads and some very minor exposure corrections based on sample to sample correction of particular lenses.

 

Pick what primes you want to end up owning and buy either what you can find now at a good price or the most used one to get the most utility right away.

 

There are no really bad lenses in the R line except the 24mm Minolta design. That lens has issues with off axis image not being sharp when it should be within the debth of field. The 90 APO wil go a touch soft under 6 feet. So will the second version of the 90 2.8.

 

My favorites are the 35/70 zoom, 60 100 APO. If I did low light work, 50 1.4 current only, 90 APO. The 60 and 100 are fabulous lenses.

 

I would not restrict myself to ROM lenses.

[yr_chan]

If I had the choice of only one lens for the R9. I would like a 35mm summicron-R. Since your preferred focal length is from 50-100. I would choose either the 60mm Macro-elmarit-R or

the 100mm APO-Elmarit-R.

[paul_neuthaler]

I recently overpaid for a mint 90 Summicron -- $700. You certainly can get a nice one for $400 - $500. I wish I had.<div></div>

[john_layton]

For a truly versatile single prime between 50 and 100mm, the 60 would be my choice. When

I had an R system I found this lens to have some very wonderful qualities...and I also found

that I could go out photographing with just this lens attached and it would just lead me on

further and further - I am actually considering getting back into a Leica R - mostly so I can

once again use the 60.

 

As for cost - very good examples of the 60 are available in your price range.

[chris_birchenhall]

I agree with John. The 60 is a good choice. It was my first R lens (in my case on a SL2).

[doug herr]

Within your budget and preferred focal length range I can heartily recommend either the 60

macro or the pre-APO 90mm Summicron-R from many years of personal experience. My

brief use of the E55 50mm Summilux-R suggests it's another you should consider. Using

film and w/o flash the ROM will make little if any difference.

<P>

With the DMR and I expect with the R9's successor(s) the ROM tells the camera a few

additional parameters such as vignetting properties so that the camera can correct for these.

[SCL]

I think if you purchased any of the later lenses in the range you indicated, you would be quite happy. Extending out a little, the 135 seems to be a real bargain...for some reason few people use it anymore.

[frank uhlig]

Isn't there a discount when only buying a lens, rather than the more expensive ones with the

"e" at their end?

 

Just a thought on economizing with lenses by buying one lens at a time and leaving the

expensively labelled lense variety at the store.

[randy_lewis1]

I'd get a Late Serial # R8, a 50mm Summicron and a 90mm Elmarit. Both of those lenses are about the sharpest you can get and it won't break the bank. I had that set-up, along with a 35mm f2.8 and it was a great kit. Decided to stick with M cameras or would still have it.

[steven_moseley1]

Hi,

 

Why does everyone mention the 90mm summicron? The 90/2.8 Elmarit version 2 is better, indeed almost as good as the current 90/2 APO and yet it hardly ever gets praise. It is a stunning lens and a real steal..

 

cheers Steve.M.

[Robin Smith]

I agree with the others: a 50mm Summicron (latest) and 90mm Summicron or Elmarit (latest) should be achievable on your budget and they are great lenses and easy to get hold of; although the 90mm Elmarit (II) is not nearly so common as a Summicron.

[robert meier]

What serial number does the Version 2 start with?

[dan_kreithen]

You're correct in that the earlier serial number R8's were problematic, but I think that changed by the end of the production run. I haven't recently checked prices, but a late number R8 has got to be cheaper than an R9!

[aplumpton]

Interesting that nobody mentions the 35mm lens. One of these, with the 90mm

Elmarit, provides a versatile kit. If i had the means, I would opt for the R6.2 manual

metering body.

[doug herr]

According to Erwin's list <A HREF="http://www.imx.nl/photo/lenstest/list_of_r_lenses.html" target="_blank">here</A> the current optical version of the 50mm Summicron-R starts at s/n 2777651. I find it easier to remember the first version uses Series VI filters and a detachable hood, while the current version uses E55 filters and has a built-in hood.