Shetland wrote:
swamiji wrote:
You are the artist, you can't really rely on others to choose your brush. You can ask what lens they like, but their artistic vision is different.
True, but because unlike most old Nikkors that are pretty affordable and easy to sell, the outlay for even an old Leica lens is sizable and so guidance from others is essential. At times, I do like the "character" element but not for all subjects at all times.
Quote:
Go to a dealer, try a few... Rent one that you like or borrow from a friend. It's your eye, your artistic vision, you need to decide what works for you.
Old stuff isn't available for renting so one must rely on available images and the opinions of another (taken with a grain or two of salt, as it were).
Well, as they say, in for a penny in for a pound... It's true that Leica lenses are not cheap, but we all knew that when we put down that first penny... My comment is actually universal for anybody who wants to express their artistic vision with a camera.
A friend and I traded Noctilux for a day, and I decided I preferred my old F/1 over the new f/.095, even though I thought for color his was better, but on my Monochrom it's (for Me) the f/1. Camera clubs, or your local Leica dealer has older lenses. My dealer will let you take a walk with a lens.... at least that’s a taste... Just because you can't rent them does not mean you have to rely on somebodies else's images, there are other options, if you put your mind to it.
Handling is one thing you can't get from a online photo, and that is something that is a major component in deciding on a lens. For example the 50mm Elmar f/2.8 has such a short focusing base, I just can't get it right, but I can handle the longer focusing on the cron...