Sunday musings: if you only had two lenses, what would they be?

[Troll]

<p>40mm Summicron and 90mm Tele-Elmar.<br>

The AF-C1 offers an excellent combnation of f:2.8/40mm and a built-in 2X tele extender giving f:5.6/80mm.</p>

[apostolos_tournas]

<p>For traveling, I suggest Elmarit 21/2.8 ASPH and Elmar 50/2.8 collapsible. <br>

Due to RF's long baseline, focusing with a super wide angle is much more accurate that with a SLR lens of the same focal length. The Elmarit 21mm is extremely sharp, sharp enough to allow blow-ups of landscape scenes, but what makes it extraordinary is its tolerance in edge distortion, even at close range shots.<br>

As for the Elmar, apart from its versatility being 50mm, light and unobtrusive, it is practically distortion-free. No other 50mm is of that low in dostortion.</p>

[ray_dicecca]

<p>5cm Summitar f/2 on my IIIf and 35 Summicron (v4) on my M6.</p>

<p>Bill, I still have my AF-C1 also. Cute little shooter. I need to take it out more often.</p>

<p> </p>

[jason_inskeep]

<p>24 2.8 and 50 1.4.</p>

[luis_g]

<p>Elmarit 21/2.8 ASPH and a current 35 Summicron.</p>

[astral]

<p>Summicron 28mm f2 Asph and 75mm f2 Asph. . . . Now who's paying?</p>

[fate_faith_change_chains]

<p> Why not the 28/35/50 mm tri-elmar with the 16/18/21 mm tri-elmar, or either one of those with a fast 50.</p>

[aplumpton]

<p>A 35mm f2 ASPH, probably Leica's finest lens to date, and after that it is not too important, a toss up betwen the 12mm VC or the 90mm Elmarit-M, depending upon the type of photography that day. With the M8, the superb 75 mm Summicron would be great as a second lens, with my 21mm F2.8 ASPH as the other, however the budget won't allow a third aspherical lens.</p>

[g-man1]

28mm summicron asph.

90mm summicron asph.

[paul_neuthaler]

<p>28mm ElmaritM 1:2.8; 21mm Super Angulon M 1:4</p>

[paul_neuthaler]

<p>28mm ElmaritM 1:2.8; 21mm Super Angulon M 1:4</p>

[david finch]

<p>A 50 and a 35. A have a couple of LTM Leicas and use the 50/3.5 Elmar and 35 Summaron. For Contax IIIa I use the 50/1.5 Sonnar and the 35 Biogon. The Biogon is a particularly good lens.</p>

[patrick_stack]

<p>Only two? Pretty easy, have to agree with 28 and 50. To add a wrinkle, if ONLY one lens for all time, really easy. 40mm, my favorite and most suitable lens, for most situations that I'm interested in photographing.</p>

[bennett_callow]

<p>35mm Elmar and 50mm f3,5 Elmar, both uncoated. Don't forget to bring the hoods!</p>

[Karim Ghantous]

<p>John R.: 28mm & 50mm? Interesting. Sounds about right for a RF camera. I'm almost tempted...<br>

<br />I see that some go 28 & 90. I worry about the gap in the middle - but then again, going a bit more extreme eliminates any notion of vagueness!<br>

<br />Stuart, I'd like the 75/1.4 but it's a big lens. I chose the 75/2.5 for its relative compactness. But, oh boy, I want the 75 'lux!<br>

<br />I note that Guido chose 35 & 50. Too close together? And for those who chose 50 & 75 or 90 - you obviously don't shoot in crowded rooms! :-P<br>

<br />Brett: very interesting camera, that Fuji. Must look into it.</p>

<p>Patrick: only one lens? That's tough. Very tough. For tradition I'd go 50mm. But no matter what I chose I'd <em>always</em> be wondering if I made the right decision!</p>

[gadge]

<p>Hey Paul....you are only allowed one go ;-)</p>

<p>My fantasy take is 35mm F2 Summicron Asph and 75mm F2 Summicron<br>

In real life though it's a VC Ultron 35 f1.7 and an F4 Elmar-C</p>

<p>Is that two goes?</p>

<p>Gadge</p>

[james mitchell dc]

<p>If it's limited to lenses I own: 28 'cron and 50 'lux ASPH.</p>

[michael_dimarzio]

<p>David Finch is correct on the 28mm Biogon for Contax RF mount. An great lens!</p>

[ken_ford1]

<p>My current 35 Cron ASPH plus a 75 Cron ASPH. It'll never happen - I have to be happy with my C-V 75 and 90 Elmar-C.</p>

[joe_quiogue]

<p>1. a 35mm canon f1.5 (m39) for wide and low light, and<br>

2. 90mm thin tele-elmarit<br>

Both are great for travel!</p>

[doctorbabaguy]

<p>Hasselblad X-PAN with 45mm and 90mm</p>

[gadge]

<p>Reply on behalf of Leica.....<br>

40mm F2 Summicron and 90mm Elmar-C<br>

That is the choice that they actually made when faced with the same dilemma and the Leica CL.<br>

My guess is that they would have selected a 35mm Summicron if making the same decision for a film M camera at that time. Today I suspect that a F2 28mm and 75mm lens combo may well be their choice for a film M two lens combo.</p>

 

[blakley]

I was going to say 28/2 ASPH and 50/1.4 ASPH until I realized that John gave the right answer:

<p>

<i>My progressive lenses that I'm wearing</i>

[nzdavid]

<p>2.8/24 Elmarit ASPH -- it's a beauty. Plus 50 Summicron, any kind, or the 35 'cron ASPH. So hard to keep it to two!</p>