Inexpensive LTM lenses

campy51 · Nov 15, 2025

chuckroast said:
How do we feel about the 135mm Canon LTM lenses? I am thinking I might not be able to live without one...

I have the Canon 135 and a Nikon 135 and find the Nikon to be much sharper.

eli griggs · Nov 15, 2025

I may have given the same answer in this thread before but a quick review says "no", so I'll go again and recommend the Japanese 90 mm Sun Sola, which i rather fancy on my ltms, most often on the Leica CL (analog), + LTM adapter.

Some hold it as good as the Leica 90mm offerings in the LTM but I've no personal experience, so I'm passing on gossip.

blee1996 · Nov 15, 2025

Recently I got a Komura 35/2.8 from a member here: it is small and sharp, and quite inexpensive.

John Wiegerink · Nov 16, 2025

eli griggs said:
I may have given the same answer in this thread before but a quick review says "no", so I'll go again and recommend the Japanese 90 mm Sun Sola, which i rather fancy on my ltms, most often on the Leica CL (analog), + LTM adapter.

Some hold it as good as the Leica 90mm offerings in the LTM but I've no personal experience, so I'm passing on gossip.

Funny you should bring up this lens. About a week ago I was digging through some of my "junk" camera boxes looking for a long lost (STILL LOST) double cable release and stumbled on this very same lens in M39 mount. I don't have a 90mm for my old Leica IIIa so I hauled it out and cleaned it up with the intention of trying it out. After reading what you say about it I feel rather excited rather than reluctant to put it on the old IIIa and give it a whirl.

M. Axel Wikstrom · Nov 16, 2025

darinwc said:
I think its disingenuous to recommend a $300+ lens as "inexpensive" because you were lucky and bought it for peanuts.

How much time did you spend scanning craiglist or wandering local markets? Put that time into money. One could easily work some extra temp jobs for a weekend and just buy whatever they want,

Well, $300 isn’t very much money these days.

eli griggs · Nov 18, 2025

M. Axel Wikstrom said:
Well, $300 isn’t very much money these days.

It depends on whose wallet it's coming out of!

outwest · Nov 29, 2025

Maybe 10 years ago I walked into a camera store in a tourist town and spotted a 35 Elmar in a case. I looked at it and asked how much would this be. The shop owner looked at the IIIC around my neck and said "you'll use it won't you?". I said of course and he said $10. So it is still in my IIIC kit! It's a good lens. I have other lenses in my IIIF kit but the 35 there is no better than the Elmar. That said, for my Canon I use all Nikon lenses. Never warmed up to the Canon lenses.

GregY · Nov 29, 2025

outwest said:
Maybe 10 years ago I walked into a camera store in a tourist town and spotted a 35 Elmar in a case. I looked at it and asked how much would this be. The shop owner looked at the IIIC around my neck and said "you'll use it won't you?". I said of course and he said $10. So it is still in my IIIC kit! It's a good lens. I have other lenses in my IIIF kit but the 35 there is no better than the Elmar. That said, for my Canon I use all Nikon lenses. Never warmed up to the Canon lenses.

The 35 Elmar is a gem. I paid $75 for mine on Ebay.....but the word is out & they're going for $500-700 USD...

campy51 · Nov 30, 2025

outwest said:
Maybe 10 years ago I walked into a camera store in a tourist town and spotted a 35 Elmar in a case. I looked at it and asked how much would this be. The shop owner looked at the IIIC around my neck and said "you'll use it won't you?". I said of course and he said $10. So it is still in my IIIC kit! It's a good lens. I have other lenses in my IIIF kit but the 35 there is no better than the Elmar. That said, for my Canon I use all Nikon lenses. Never warmed up to the Canon lenses.

I bet that store is out of business.

Inexpensive LTM lenses

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