Those Special Lenses

[frederick_muller]

<p>Which lenses do you really consider special? Lenses that almost always go in your bag because they consistently bring back the "keepers" with a special look to them?</p>

[SCL]

<p>With the Leica R (or my Sigma body converted to a Leica R mount) I would say it is my 90/2.8 Elmarit, or if wide is needed, a newly acquired Tamron 17/3.5. On my M camera it is nearly always the 35/2.0 Summicron ASPH.</p>

[paul_wheatland]

<p>Pre 1933 nickel Elmar 50 f3.5 with infinity stop at 11 o'clock and bell push lock, surprisingly no haze inside, ca 1966 DR Summicron M mount with CU goggles, ca 1960's black LTM 35 f2 Canon, ca. mid 1950's Hexanon 50mm f1.9 LTM (originally offered as option on Honor Leica copy).</p>

[john_boyle3]

<p>The 65mm Elmar (Wetzlar version) on the Bellows II and Visoflex III. Great combination for flower photography with my M2. While this combination may not be for everyone it is capable of producing excellent results.</p>

[ray_dicecca]

<p>Without hesitation, my post-war coated Summitar. To be honest, I didn't know much about LTM lenses. It came with the IIIf I bought from Ritz Camera. I was pleasantly surprised by the results I was getting. Beautiful signature but prone to flaring (and reduced contrast) at wider apertures.<br>

<br /> Leica IIIf RD | 5cm f:2 Summitar | XP2<br>

<br /> <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4466780670_7b66662965_o.jpg" alt="" width="647" height="950" /></p>

[fjords]

<p>the Mandler gems...Leitz summilux 35mm , Leitz Canada Noctilux, Leitz summilux 75mm...</p>

[aplumpton]

<p>Summicron 35mm, Midland, purchased in 1982, used for about 15 years and sold (a mistake, it was a wonderful lens, although not as even acros the field as my more modern Summicron aspherical). I also sold a Tele-Elmarit 90mm then, but should not have. A great little lens. Both were highly compact lenses and great for carrying everywhere with minimum bulk. I still have and use my M4-P, which was equipped with the baseplate lens carrier, ideal with these two lenses.</p>

[frederick_muller]

<p>Interesting that no one's mentioned one of the most modern asph's so far.</p>

<p>The single lens that always brings me the goods is the old Canon 35mm f2 Black. Next in line are the 12mm and 15mm VC Heliars. The 15mm vignettes, but it deepens the blue in the sky and gives me an effect I like. There are other extremely capable lenses I use, but these are the most special. </p>

[christoph_hammann]

<p>A bit of a contradiction in the original question isn't it? The special lenses "with a character" I don't always take along, they tend to be for special occasions. E.g. Voigtländer's f/1.2 35 mm for airy photos in low light or f/5.6 12mm for the deep image space. <br>

Lenses with less of a character are, of course, more versatile. Make them sharp enough, small enough and ergonomically correct and they tend to stay a long time on my camera. The pancake Voigtländer f/2.5 35 mm is a good example for that.</p>

[frederick_muller]

<p>I don't think it's a contradiction, but I know what I mean. Two of my most heavily used lenses are the Leica 50mm Lux Asph and the 28mm f1.9 VC Ultron. I usually carry and use those two along with the VC 15mm Heliar. But although they are very strong and reliable performers, I don't consider them particularly "special". On the other hand, I am frequently surprised by a certain "look" I get from the Canon 35mm f2 Black - a look that I just love. Hence the little Canon 35mm sees a lot of use as a multi-purpose lens in my pack.</p>

[richard_bud]

<p>I have no special Leitz/Leica lenses. I take the equipment that will do the job and don't leave without a specifc plan as to what and where I will be shooting. I have a set of M3 RF lenses as well as a complete set of ASPH lens minus the new Nauctilux and 21 mm Summilux. They are each suited to specifc tasks and I never use the RF lenses anymore.-Dick</p>

[koray_p]

<p>Summicron 35 pre-asph. Awesome.</p>

[bjscharp]

Always carry my 5cm 'cron collapsible. Sometimes a wider or longer lens goes along if I think it might come in handy.

[paul_neuthaler]

<p>My 28 ElmaritR and 21 Super AngulonR</p>

[Uhooru]

<p>Concur w/ Koray, my favorite for film based urban photography</p>

[wentbackward]

<p>Hmm, I kind of agree the lenses with all the character may not go out that often, for example the CV 35/1.4 MC. It's swirly lens but the little bugger will bite you and takes a lot of work. The lens that is almost always in my bag is a 35mm summarit-m. It's just so versatile for most things, My M8/M6 feel like they're flying with that little lens on them.</p>

<p>My favourite lens is a 50 lux (E46 0.7m focus) - that lens is really, really, really wonderful to me. Mine is particularly sweet as I found a new, old stock, unopened one from an official dealer at less money than they are second hand (the dealer must sell at list price or get a wrist slapping from the local distributor). Did I mention how wonderful this lens is? And before I forget, it really is my most favourit-est lens of all. Really, truly, honestly, I like it, a lot.</p>

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[carsten_ranke]

<p>The Noctilux 1.0 is my only non-Asph. - not really versatile but I love this lens</p>