Lens Choices

[ColColt]

Yep, kind of anxious to see this Zeiss lens. I'm looking for a companion to it and think I'll get a 90 f2 Summicron. I can do well with a 50 and 90mm lens.

 

[Xmas]

Cuthbert, thanks for the links on understanding the Leitz lens naming conventions.

Returning to the thread, to be honest when selecting a 50mm lens i wouldn't worry so much for sharpness or flare resistance; any half-decent 50mm lens is already good in those two aspects, at least at mid apertures. Rather, i would focus (pun intended) on the quality of the out-of-focus areas, contrast, and color saturation, for example.

Please confirm you tried a planar and a summicron type 4 both of mine with kit hoods and uv filters were flare queens in open sky shots... at /5.6 or smaller aperture

On a M8 with IR filter 12% were iris images... Note chimping my shooting companions on the day.

We will see what the OP thinks soon.

 

[Xmas]

12, 15, 25. 12 & 15 both required adjustment and I forget the details for sure, but I think the 12 developed a grinding in the focus. The 15 was not set properly rotationally so the shade was crooked. I repaired them myself.

Then I tried the 25 on digital M9 and then I noticed one side was out of focus, say 50 feet from a flat subject. I believe that was a centering problem. I can not repair myself and I would not feel right selling it. It is now a paper weight. Oh yes, and the shade locked on with the most minute pressure. Paste silicone cure.

Perhaps they upped their game, but I am not willing to try again with real money to find out.

Forgot about the 75 mm finder that had a crooked mask so all the pics had a slanted horizon. It was replaced and the world is now level. Took me months to get done.

4 out of 4 is poor QC to me.

Did you hear of the Zeiss wobble? Many have and and the repairs are expensive.

I saw a you tube on how the fix the 21 mm R zeiss where the internals have come loose. Lock tight.

Then you have to figure how to code the ZM so it works on digital Leica.

Forget them.

They supply a hood removal tool with each lens. The lens cap velvet will remove or replace the hoods easily. If you try and use brute force they jam on.

I had more than fifty without any detectable fault I've only got ten left all ok as my normal users.

I've had more problems with Leica lenses.

 

[miha]

Maybe but my Leica dealer only has an ex demo /2.4 at 1045.0
New 1160.0 black 1250.0 silver

Non Leica dealer
Planar 599.0
Nockton 766.0

The CV /2.5 you need to get used typically less than 250.0 all in GBP (mine was 200.0)

and the OP has a Planar in post ETA this Tuesday so past sell by post.

I've seen f2.5 (not the f2.4) demo units go for EUR 1080. The Skopar was around 400 when new, at least this is the price for the Nikon mount version still available new (480 €).
BTW, I have a mint Jupiter 50mm, now I need a Leica to go along

 

[miha]

Yep, kind of anxious to see this Zeiss lens. I'm looking for a companion to it and think I'll get a 90 f2 Summicron. I can do well with a 50 and 90mm lens.

The 90 cron is a marvelous portrait lens - I have the R version which is optically the same. Sometimes, when the light is right, magic happens when you shoot with it at f2.

 

[Xmas]

I've seen f2.5 (not the f2.4) demo units go for EUR 1080. The Skopar was around 400 when new, at least this is the price for the Nikon mount version still available new (480 €).
BTW, I have a mint Jupiter 50mm, now I need a Leica to go along

At 0.7 exchange that would be really cheap but I not buy a Leica lens by post and the local dealer only has /2.4 the /2.5s have gone here.

You can't get a Skopar in LTM other than second hand and not seen one for 250 GBP yet, note they are rare.
A Canon P has faster handling and better finder than a M2 assuming both finders in premium condition.

 

[flavio81]

Please confirm you tried a planar and a summicron type 4 both of mine with kit hoods and uv filters were flare queens in open sky shots... at /5.6 or smaller aperture

For 35mm I use Nikon and Canon SLR normal lenses and they certainly give no problems at all on open sky shots. In particular the 50/1.8 Canon FD and Nikon AI are very very crisp and contrasty at f5.6.

No experience with Leica RF lenses but from what you mention, i'll pass, then!! (sardonic laugh)

BTW also note that the smaller "chamber" of rangefinder cameras might create flare problems that are not fault of the lens.

 

[Ai Print]

Among a number of other systems, I use Leica for professional work, currently an M3, M6TTL and M240 with a 28mm 2.8 Elmarit Asph, 35mm 1.4 FLE and the ZM 50mm 2.0 Planar.

I have owned and used the 50 collapsible Summicron, 50 1.5 Sonnar, 50 Lux Asph and now the planar.


I have never had an issue with Zeiss wobble where as the 480 gram silver Leica 50mm 1.4 asph had to go in for service twice in a year for the whole front end loosening up, talk about wobble!


The ZM 50 Planar is the last M mount 50 I will ever want or need, it is stunning, not as sterile as made out to be and in silver is the lightest 50 F2 I could ever want. I also shoot it into the sun a lot because it is damn near flare proof in my direct experience.

You are going to love it!

 

[Xmas]

For 35mm I use Nikon and Canon SLR normal lenses and they certainly give no problems at all on open sky shots. In particular the 50/1.8 Canon FD and Nikon AI are very very crisp and contrasty at f5.6.

No experience with Leica RF lenses but from what you mention, i'll pass, then!! (sardonic laugh)

BTW also note that the smaller "chamber" of rangefinder cameras might create flare problems that are not fault of the lens.

The range finder chambers vary a lot.
Eg
- late Canon have a small mirror box style chamber serrated like a folder bellows. This stops some lenses being fitted!
- Leica did not bother with baffles but their chamber is a large void empty space.

The Planar and the type IV cron both flared worse than the post 94 Elmar on same M2... This was subjective cause I did not swap in sequence. I was using the pukka hoods.

Not had same effects with my series E Nikon lenses. In spring and fall we get a lot of low sun. From our high latitudes.

I sold the samples I had, they were as new.

Rumor has it the /2.5 and /2.4 Leicas are better.

 

[film_man]

12, 15, 25. 12 & 15 both required adjustment and I forget the details for sure, but I think the 12 developed a grinding in the focus. The 15 was not set properly rotationally so the shade was crooked. I repaired them myself.

Then I tried the 25 on digital M9 and then I noticed one side was out of focus, say 50 feet from a flat subject. I believe that was a centering problem. I can not repair myself and I would not feel right selling it. It is now a paper weight. Oh yes, and the shade locked on with the most minute pressure. Paste silicone cure.

Perhaps they upped their game, but I am not willing to try again with real money to find out.

Forgot about the 75 mm finder that had a crooked mask so all the pics had a slanted horizon. It was replaced and the world is now level. Took me months to get done.

4 out of 4 is poor QC to me.

Did you hear of the Zeiss wobble? Many have and and the repairs are expensive.

I saw a you tube on how the fix the 21 mm R zeiss where the internals have come loose. Lock tight.

Then you have to figure how to code the ZM so it works on digital Leica.

Forget them.

Wow...that's bad luck. I had a 25/4 and 40/1.4. They were all very solid and very sharp. My ZM 50/2 didn't wobble either.

 

[ColColt]

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet as it just got here yesterday afternoon but from the looks of it the Zeiss 50 f2 Planar *T ZM is a superbly quality lens. I bought the chrome version and it' a hefty little dude with positive f-stop clicks and the focus us smooth. I don't know if I can do it justice as after mounting it on the M2 I discovered I'm going to be needing a diopter to focus sharply with.

 

[cuthbert]

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet as it just got here yesterday afternoon but from the looks of it the Zeiss 50 f2 Planar *T ZM is a superbly quality lens. I bought the chrome version and it' a hefty little dude with positive f-stop clicks and the focus us smooth. I don't know if I can do it justice as after mounting it on the M2 I discovered I'm going to be needing a diopter to focus sharply with.

Glad you liked it, I wanted a Sonnar but they are too pricey and I got a good deal on this Nokton 1.5 SUPPOSEDLY in mint conditions:

I toyed with the idea of getting a Sonnetar but the customs worried me, I hope this wasp's waist version of the Nokton will prove to be satisfactory and I won't regret making another choice, just...the planar sounded a little too...plain.