40mm or 35mm that is the question, for me at least.

Sportera · Jun 19, 2006

I have been wanting a 35mm for my M6 for the longest time. I don't have a lot of cash to spend so price is an object and keeps Leica lenses far from my reach.

I had made up my mind on the 35mm f2.5 skopar until I ran accross a thread in the range finder forum about the 40mm Nokton.

I can't seem to make up my mind, do I give up 5mm of focal length to get 1.5 stop more light? or vice versa. What of their optical qualities? Or the ergonomics on an M body?

Any information would help.

Sportera · Jun 19, 2006

BTW my current kit consists of a 21 F4.0, 50 Summicron, 90mm F3.5

Petzi · Jun 19, 2006

I would go for the 35mm lens then. 40 is too close to 50, and the 35mm fills the huge gap between 21 and 50 nicely.

Jim Jones · Jun 19, 2006

Petzi said:
I would go for the 35mm lens then. 40 is too close to 50, and the 35mm fills the huge gap between 21 and 50 nicely.

I agree. 21, 35, 50, and up Leitz M mount lenses have worked well for me for several decades. Only if your style of photography requires very fast lenses is the 40mm better.

Earl Dunbar · Jun 20, 2006

40mm is not necessarily "too close to 50". It's not just how much field of view you have, it's also perspective and how a lens draws. Three of my fixed lens RFs have 42mm lenses (Oly 35SPs and Oly 35RC), and I find the way they render images significantly different than 50mm.

35mm is a big change from 50mm, so if a big change is what you're looking for, then it is a good choice. For many years I used a 35mm as my "standard" lens, and I still love how it works for me, even though a 28mm is my current love for semi-wide angle.

I think it's almost impossible to make a decision without trying them, so I don't know how you'll come to a conclusion. It also depends on the type of photography you do. I guess the question would be why you want a wider lens so badly.

Uncle Bill · Jun 20, 2006

I would go for the 40mm lens, I use a Canonet and I love that focal length and would love to get a lens for my Leica. It really depends what you are shooting.

Bill

narsuitus · Jun 20, 2006

It really depends on your personal preference and your shooting style.

For me the choice would be 35mm because of the 28mm, 35mm, 40mm, 45mm, 50mm, and 55mm primes lenses that I use on 35mm cameras, I find myself using the 35mm more than all the others.

tony lockerbie · Jun 21, 2006

Yes Sam, I find that a35mm on your rangefinder would be the way to go. If you were going to stump up the money for a nokton I would suggest you get the 35mm Ultron.
This is the lens that I use most on my Bessa R, the quality is excellent. Of course if you crack that lottery - a 35mm Summilux.....

gnashings · Jun 21, 2006

This is in the "I thought I read somewhere" category - but, isn't the Nokton optimized for low light, high contrast scenes and at near or wide open? This is a very specific mission statement for a lens and may actually detract from its performance in more general applications. I do agree as a QL17 user that the 40mm is a very nice focal length, all other things aside.

Peter.

willie_901 · Jun 21, 2006

I also have a Canonet with a 40mm lens.
Recently I started to use Zeiss ZM Biogon 35/2.
For me the 40 mm lens always felt a bit tight. I now know I prefer the 35 mm field of view.

willie

Lee Shively · Jun 21, 2006

I think you would be happier with the 35mm.

I'm being presumptuous here. Forgive me.

It's really not a matter of the 50 and 40 being too close in focal length, it's a matter of getting a focal length to fit within your current system. The 21mm to the 50mm is a big stretch.

Besides, the 35/2.5 Color Skopar is a really nice little lens.

MattKing · Jun 21, 2006

Unfortunately, I don't have a Leica rangefinder, but if I did, I would probably look to match my favorite (Olympus OM) lens kit - 24mm, 35mm, 85mm.

A 35mm and 85mm (or 90mm) pair seems to fit (if you know what I mean).

Matt

DBP · Jun 21, 2006

I use 15, 35, 50, 85, and 135 on my screw mount rangefinders. I never miss having one between 35 and 50, but keep lusting after a 25 and a 21 ( and a 12 for that matter, but that's irrelevant to the question at hand. The 40 and the 50 are both basically normal lenses for 35mm, one slightly wide and one slightly long. I'd add a lens that really makes a difference. To me, increasing your field of view by 17 degrees is worth changing lenses, for a ten degree shift, I would just take a few steps. Besides, do you even have a 40mm frameline?

ampguy · Jun 22, 2006

If you have a 50, all other things being equal, you might want a 35. I use 18, 35, and 50, but will soon be trying a 40, but the 40 will always be on a body seperate from the 18 and 35. 35 and 50 are a big gap for primes, so I can certainly see where eventually you'd want a 35 and a 40, even if the 35 is just hanging on a fixed lens body.

Chuck A · Jun 24, 2006

Don't make it so hard on yourself. If you want to try a 40, then get a Summicron-c or M-Rokkor. They are f/2 so you will lose a stop but they are pretty plentiful used. They run about $250.00 and if you don't like it you can always get your money back out and get a 35. I haven't done any verification of this but they are supposed to have better bokeh than the Nokton 40mm.

Markok765 · Jun 24, 2006

I hate wide angles. when i use my 35 i find that i have to move in closer, and i hate it! i can never get close enough. i almost always my 55 or mt 105

Sportera · Jun 29, 2006

Thanks everyone for the help.

i just ordered a 35mm Skopar from Camera Quest.

Curt · Jun 29, 2006

I hate wide angles. when i use my 35 i find that i have to move in closer, and i hate it! i can never get close enough. i almost always my 55 or mt 105
__________________
Marko Kovacevic

What does this have to do with the decision to buy a 40mm or 35mm? Some more bullshit from Marko who just interjects anything at anyone at anytime.

Sam, what are the price ranges of the two lenses?

Regards,
Curt

mcgrattan · Jun 29, 2006

I'm generally with Marko, I think.

I find most of the time I prefer the 50mm field of view to almost any other length (on a 35mm camera). The rest of the time I am usually using an 85mm lens.

I have a couple of fixed lens rangefinders with a 38mm or 40mm lens, which I don't mind.

However, after using my Fuji GS645S a lot on holiday I have a hankering for a 35mm lens for 35mm RF. In my case that probably means a cheap Jupiter-12 though.

40mm or 35mm that is the question, for me at least.

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