first Leica lens

seanE · Feb 9, 2016

Well my second seeing that i already have a 15mm 4.5, But I'm looking for a standard lens, for my Leica m4, I've been looking at colour skopar 35mm's, And CV 40mm 1.4's, I like the 40mm, But don't know if it will fit well with my m4's frame lines, or with any future lenses I might be acquiring, Dose any one have a recordation, I'm on a tight budget, id like to keep it under 300 euros, However i don't want to grow out of to quick, as i hate having to go Thur the whole sell and upgrade route, as I'm terrible at making my money back

Fixcinater · Feb 10, 2016

What kind of rendering do you like? Modern and high contrast, or more vintage/lower contrast? Is the f/1.4 important to you for your shooting style?

Ko.Fe. · Feb 10, 2016

I sold all of my RF lenses for Leica RF within one month, with loss and purchased old new stock Summarit 35 2.5 two weeks ago. It was loss in money, but I have no regrets for paying to try many lenses before I was sure which and only lens to get.

It is really very personal. Some are happy within your money budget at 35mm range with old Japanese or modern Skopar. I didn't even bother with first and spend about three years and many meters with two versions of the second.
If you are taking it in color, Skopar is great. It is called Color Skopar for it. And it is not bw lens, IMHO. It is most flat and over contrast lens I used. But I used it a lot, anyway because of the budget.
40mm is not 35mm, period. If you don't want good framing, get it. Even Summicrons might be within your limit, because it is less desirable focal length, I guess.

Here is no cheap solution and good RF lens for me under low budget as yours.
Except.... LTM Ultron 35 1.7 ASPH, where you might pay little extra to get correct M-mount adapter, which aren't cheap. Very good, free of old optics problems lens. If you are bw. The build is so-so, but the lens is fixable. The reason I sold it ... Tables lens is not for me.

aoresteen · Feb 10, 2016

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM is a terrific lens, well withing your budget, and easy to find. You will need a LTM to M adapter for your M4.

seanE · Feb 10, 2016

Is the colure skopar really bad for B/W?. And dose any one know how to tell them apart, There seem to be loads of different modes all with the same name.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/VOIGTLANDER-...644296?hash=item2ca8541748:g:zH0AAOSwuAVWudp9
This one is an ltm mount so I asume it will only focus to 1m am i right?.

Ko.Fe. · Feb 10, 2016

seanE said:
Is the colure skopar really bad for B/W?. And dose any one know how to tell them apart, There seem to be loads of different modes all with the same name.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/VOIGTLANDER-...644296?hash=item2ca8541748:g:zH0AAOSwuAVWudp9
This one is an ltm mount so I asume it will only focus to 1m am i right?.

This is C version of LTM mount (+70 or so USD for the LTM-M correct adapter). MFD is 0.7. Very cute and might be good for handling. I didn't try it.
Where is P version in LTM (tables) and PII in M mount (with tab). I used both. Both have aperture ring too close to focus ring and aperture ring is too loose - gets easily shifted accidentally. C and PII have 39mm filter size, P has 46mm.
PII might develop lens block wobble issue and loose focus tab, no pictures or info how to fix it. I did it by myself, lens wobble is straightforward and easy. Loos focus tab is more complicated (I would rate it near to the pain in the butt). PII seems to be more prone to the flare without hood.

seanE · Feb 10, 2016

Will the adopter ''I've already ordered for 20'' Not work? ltm to m mount 35-135mm
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/260885913724?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Ko.Fe. · Feb 10, 2016

Most of them works. Just not as good as Leica or adequately made. I've had one cheap and my lens focus mark wasn't at 12'clock sharp. And it was not as good as Leica made in terms of how sharp lens was wide open (f1.7). But with 2.5 it might be insignificant.

seanE · Feb 10, 2016

I think il buy the 35mm 2.5 compact, Any objections? I'm mostly going to be stand developing B/W film, and the contrast is the only thing putting me off.

John Koehrer · Feb 10, 2016

Suggesting that an Adapter doesn't work as good as a Leica Adapter is a bit of understatement isn't it?
If the lens doesn't focus at infinity, the adapter certainly doesn't work. Sure, stop down a couple of stops
that negates any advantage of a fast lens.
With the 35/2.5 it may as Ko.Fe said may be insignificant.

Xmas · Mar 1, 2016

John Koehrer said:
Suggesting that an Adapter doesn't work as good as a Leica Adapter is a bit of understatement isn't it?
If the lens doesn't focus at infinity, the adapter certainly doesn't work. Sure, stop down a couple of stops
that negates any advantage of a fast lens.
With the 35/2.5 it may as Ko.Fe said may be insignificant.

The Voighlander Cosina build standard and performance is as good as a Leica lens.
Their LTM to M adapters ditto.
Your M4 35mm frames are OK for a 40mm, an M6 or later not good for 40mm.
If you are getting a 35mm /2.5 Cosina you need to try each type cause your fingers may only fit one model!
The equivalent Leica lens might not fit, either.

blockend · Mar 1, 2016

I may be peculiar in this respect, but I don't want my film cameras to have modern renderings, or at least not all of them. Flat fields, sharp corners, good contrast and lack of optical distortion and chromatic aberrations can be had from a new Nikon or Canon for a fraction of the price of a Leica lens. I want my rangefinder lenses to have character, which is the reintroduction of those shortcomings to a degree that retains subjectivity but doesn't look unpleasant.

Most Leica fans look no further than the fact their lens says Leica on the front. Some Leica lenses are superb, others are mediocre, all are expensive unless they're beaten to hell and back. I would start with something cheap like a Jupiter 8 (pre-war Sonnar copy) or a J12 and sell it if you don't like the way it looks.

zanxion72 · Mar 1, 2016

You should also consider a late 60s early 70s Elmar M 5cm 2.8. A wonderful collapsible lens that performs really well.
Note that the Jupiter lenses might need shimming to get them to focus correctly.

Xmas · Mar 3, 2016

zanxion72 said:
You should also consider a late 60s early 70s Elmar M 5cm 2.8. A wonderful collapsible lens that performs really well.
Note that the Jupiter lenses might need shimming to get them to focus correctly.

The /3.5 53-58 Elmar or 50-53 /3.5 LTM were much better they stretched the /2.8 too much.
The J12s are super lenses in good condition.
Ditto the Canon LTM lenses.

zanxion72 · Mar 4, 2016

I have a J12 that has worked wonderfully on my Zorki-4 but not so on my M4-P. Unfortunately the rangefinder cam does not follow the focusing of the lens all the way from near to infinity. I have read that it has to be shimmed, but I have no idea how to. What a pity!

rpavich · Mar 4, 2016

seanE said:
I think il buy the 35mm 2.5 compact, Any objections? I'm mostly going to be stand developing B/W film, and the contrast is the only thing putting me off.

Do you mean a Summarit-M 35mm/2.5?
If that is what you mean...then that's a really nice lens. I'm very pleased with mine. I shoot almost 100% black and white film and I'm happy with that lens and my Summarit 50mm/2.5 also.

You can find deals on used ones and you'd keep this lens for a LOOONGGGG time.

CropDusterMan · Mar 4, 2016

Tell you what, it all comes down to personal choice, but I was pretty happy with the Voitlander 40mm Nokton
I just got recently. Pretty small and good price. Two versions are avail...classic and MC. I have the MC. If I could have only one though, it'd be a 35 Summicron. I gently filed my 40mm to bring up the 35mm frame lines.

ColColt · Mar 4, 2016

My standard on camera lens for the M4 is the Zeiss 35 f2.8 Biogon...wonderful lens that I'd put up against the Summicron.

rpavich · Mar 4, 2016

ColColt said:
My standard on camera lens for the M4 is the Zeiss 35 f2.8 Biogon...wonderful lens that I'd put up against the Summicron.

That's a really nice looking lens and there is one on Ebay right now for a reasonable price.

cliveh · Mar 4, 2016

If I am reading your OP correctly, a standard lens is a 50mm, not 40 or 35. How about a 1.4 50mm Summilux?

seanE · Mar 8, 2016

I bought the voigtlander 35mm F2.5 LTM ''compact?'' ''The one with the 25mm body with focus lever'' ''Quite a moth full'' And the fungus infected 15mm 4.5, which I'm perfectly happy with on film, but I've yet to see how it reforms on my A7,

Thanks for all your input

Saganich · Mar 8, 2016

Any Summicron 50 will do. No comparison to the CV's.

seanE · Mar 13, 2016

Is that any ''1000 pound Summicron'' or one of the collapsible 3.5´s?

Xmas · Mar 18, 2016

Saganich said:
Any Summicron 50 will do. No comparison to the CV's.

I sold my planar, type I & IV summicrons kept the /2.5 Cosina no detectable difference at /5.6 the smaller and lighter CV fitted my hands better.
I don't use wider than /5.6 the /3.5 Elmar and post 94 Elmar were sold to.
Madison Av hype does not show on test charts.

Saganich · Mar 18, 2016

Xmas said:
I sold my planar, type I & IV summicrons kept the /2.5 Cosina no detectable difference at /5.6 the smaller and lighter CV fitted my hands better.
I don't use wider than /5.6 the /3.5 Elmar and post 94 Elmar were sold to.
Madison Av hype does not show on test charts.

Yea, that the only direction to go. Start with what you think is the best and then move to what's right for you. Also, the old summicrons hold their value (as most classic lenses these days regardless of mfg) so buying and selling used has little monetary risk when your trying to find what's right for you. I wouldn't know about Madison Avenue hype or test charts regarding the CV or Summicrons, but human psyc and phenomenology regarding GAS I have some experience.

first Leica lens

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