michaelbrenner Posted May 27, 2015 Share #1 Posted May 27, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been quite impressed with the 35/1.4 (Version IV) and the collapsable 50/2 (Version I). What are your favorite smallest and most versatile Leica M lenses? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 Hi michaelbrenner, Take a look here Smallest and Most Versatile Leica M Lenses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
algrove Posted May 27, 2015 Share #2 Posted May 27, 2015 Summaron 35/2.8, Elmarit 28/2.8, APO50 (couldn't resist including it here), 40/2.0, TE 90/2.8 (225g), 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted May 27, 2015 Share #3 Posted May 27, 2015 Summicron 40C, 50cron Collapsible and 90 Elmar Macro 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted May 27, 2015 Share #4 Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) Summilux 35mm f/1.4, any series before the ASPH. At f/1.4 has a soft glow in contrasty low light which I like very much. Good OOF. I prefer the one with infinity lock which only makes it a bit easier to remove the lens. Thank goodness now there are aftermarket shades for them. Edited May 27, 2015 by pico 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted May 27, 2015 Share #5 Posted May 27, 2015 The pre-aspheric 35mm Summilux is an exceptional lens. Small, light and for its time a breathtaking design which could not have been bettered (as well-known lens designers at Elcan have stated in a paper on the subject). If your two requirements are small size and versatility then IMO this is probably the top contender from Leica. Others may just be smaller but lack the Summilux's fast aperture and hence versatility (even if it is tricky, though sometimes rewarding, to use wide open). Unlike Pico I prefer the ones without the infinity lock myself. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted May 27, 2015 Share #6 Posted May 27, 2015 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M. I love this lens. Very small, very light and a sterling performer as a result of which it's my general purpose wide angle lens and, light permitting, my preferred alternative to the Summilux 35 FLE. 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted May 27, 2015 Share #7 Posted May 27, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) 4th version 35 Cron, 11819 50 Cron, and "thin" 90 T-E. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornnb Posted May 28, 2015 Share #8 Posted May 28, 2015 (edited) 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M. I love this lens. Very small, very light and a sterling performer as a result of which it's my general purpose wide angle lens and, light permitting, my preferred alternative to the Summilux 35 FLE. Fully agreed. It is the most compact lens in Leica's line up and is perfect for travel. Edited May 28, 2015 by Mornnb Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Printmaker Posted May 28, 2015 Share #9 Posted May 28, 2015 35 Summicron IV and 50 Summicron III. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted May 28, 2015 Share #10 Posted May 28, 2015 2.8/28 Elamrit-M ASPH, 2.8/50 Elamr-M, 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar-M. Great light travel set and not much they can't do, except in low light. ...and of course the 2.0/40 Sumicron-M 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinnfell Posted May 28, 2015 Share #11 Posted May 28, 2015 (edited) in search for a lens that is the best combination of small AND versatile I would nominate the canadian 35/1.4, In the current lineup it would be the 35 summarit. Add the additional (usual) requirements of optical and mechanical performance and we have another winner: Summicron-M 35 ASPH If you additionally dare to invest in the phenomenal 90/4 Macro, you have a remarkably small and versatile set while still creating images with corner-to-corner sharpness of the highest order. Extra/Alternative II: 28/2,8 elmarit Asph (Current) + 50/2,8 elmar collapsible (recently discontinued) I see little reason to own all four, but together they would create a set of unbelievable lightness, versatility AND quality. Edited May 28, 2015 by skinnfell 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted May 28, 2015 Share #12 Posted May 28, 2015 I shouldn't even disclose this secret because it is already hard enough to find, but the collapsible 50mm Elmarit is an incredible lens. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted May 28, 2015 Share #13 Posted May 28, 2015 35mm Summicron IV, 50 Elmarit-M, 35mm Summaron f2.8 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 28, 2015 Share #14 Posted May 28, 2015 5cm 3.5 Elmar LTM type with M adaptor. Smallest, versatile focal length. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 28, 2015 Share #15 Posted May 28, 2015 Agree on the Elmar : almost unbeatable compactness and a lens that, simply, is always good for any subject. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vungocminh1981 Posted May 29, 2015 Share #16 Posted May 29, 2015 Summicron 40mm Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
derleicaman Posted May 29, 2015 Share #17 Posted May 29, 2015 My vote for the smallest and most versatile M lens would be for the pre-ASPH 35 Summilux. I have had one since 1972 and it was always the lens I used the most. That and the 50 Lux. I went to the 35 Lux ASPH when it first came out and used it as my primary lens up until recently. I have gone back to the old 35 Lux which I never sold or traded. There is just something special and very Leica-like in the way it draws. Especially on the MM. The ASPH is very near perfection, but the old Lux has SOUL! I'm glad I have both. Another fave would be the 50/2.8 Elmarit. You can't get smaller or near perfect as that. I just acquired a CV 75/2.5 Color Heliar. I am falling in love with that one. Tack sharp and IMO, a better lens than the 90/2.8 TE Thin and the Elmar C. Plus it's even smaller than the other two 90's. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted May 29, 2015 Share #18 Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) Along with the 50 Elmar, a 35 3.5 Summaron LTM. A little gem that is surprisingly heavy for its' size. Edited May 29, 2015 by madNbad Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuck.kenney Posted May 29, 2015 Share #19 Posted May 29, 2015 What about Summicron 35mm Version I? It's considerably smaller than the ASPH version and it's faster than Summaron. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted May 29, 2015 Share #20 Posted May 29, 2015 Versatility is a subjective topic so I'll suggest on size only. The Leitz 2.8 cm f/6.3 Hektor with an LTM-M adaptor is as small as it gets. Unless you include the Perrar 28/4 Super Triplet. (Or a pinhole 'lens' of course. ) Pete. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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