sblutter Posted March 24, 2010 Share #1 Posted March 24, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just got the camera - lovely, feels like being 'back home'. I did tests from my table on about 12 lenses; wide open, midrange and smallest f: on subjects 6 and 12 feet away. I have never been able to afford the latest greatest glass and as you'll see, not that necessary unless you really need very short DOF from 1.4 or less. I'm offering this little overview for people looking to add glass on a budget - not you 'Lux everything guys! A few surprises - 1st the ugly: 2 collapsible 'crons and 1 collaps. Elmar - all 50mm - terrible - out of focus - don't recall problems from film days. Not worth investing in. 50mm dual range, as advertised, will not mount - but the lens capsule is handy (below). 50's: Rigid cron 2.0 #3571xxx (newish) - very nice, good rendering espec. at 2.0 Collaps Elmar 2.8 - new version 6 bit - better than expected - would love a 2.0 version SM Summitar 2.0 (late 30's?) - after 4.0, really nice - unreal boka SM Elmar 3.5 (20's, early 30's?) (old style with f: tab on face, no ser#) - much better than I ever would have expected - had never used it. Tiny - will now be used! CL lenses: Both the 40 & the 90 are tack sharp, good contrast. Grab a 40 if you can! f:2.0, small and Sweet! Wide: 28mm 2.8 M-Rokkor (from CL days) - just fine, virtually no distortion. 35mm 2.5 Skopar (pancake) - excellent size and handling, nice and sharp. Long: 135mm 4.0 Elmar (late 60's?) - from the 7th floor can read a license plate 200 yds away w/o a tripod (1.25 mag. eyepiece helped) - perfectly usable. Macro: I use macro for my artwork - this was a concern. No problem! Combo of a DR lens cell, 16508 UOORF Adapter on a Sooky-M produced amazingly sharp results down to 4.0, closest possible distance. Whew! (Took getting used to - bracket for focus - very touchy) Just purchased as 'presents' for the new 9: 90mm 2.0 cron 1980's? Ebay - $660 28mm 2.0 Ultron, new - Photo Village, NYC - $580 Maybe one day I'll have ASPH's etc. - but for now I've got what I need to do my work in the studio and choices for discreet & lightweight on the street. Again, I hope this helps those that can't afford Leitz glass get into some lengths they may not have tried. There are a lot of good options out there! (I did not keep any of the above tests - will not be posted) Now I'm going shooting - but which lens?! PS: I've been shooting Leica since 16 yrs old continuously - am 56 now. Was a 4 x 5 architectural shooting pro for years... Recent Show Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 24, 2010 Posted March 24, 2010 Hi sblutter, Take a look here M9 - quick older lenses report. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
likalar Posted March 24, 2010 Share #2 Posted March 24, 2010 Good post! A nice reminder that so much of what makes the Leica system so great is the long-lasting usability of older lenses; especially for creating a full set without first selling the car. Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 24, 2010 Share #3 Posted March 24, 2010 Don't forget that these results are only applicable to YOUR lenses and YOUR camera body. Other people's experiences will be completely different from yours... I know two pro wedding photographers who use collapsible 50mm Elmars on M9s with stunning results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted March 24, 2010 Share #4 Posted March 24, 2010 Prices will inevitably go up now... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted March 25, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted March 25, 2010 Were the wedding guy's Elmars old or new style? You make a good point regardless - thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tategoi Posted March 25, 2010 Share #6 Posted March 25, 2010 .... Just purchased as 'presents' for the new 9: 28mm 2.0 Ultron, new - Photo Village, NYC - $580 . . . Now I'm going shooting - but which lens?! Can you please post your first impression of the CV 28 2.0 Ultron on the M9. I am on the brink on getting this. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted March 25, 2010 Share #7 Posted March 25, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Were the wedding guy's Elmars old or new style? You make a good point regardless - thanks Elmar M last version, so maybe just a mis read/understanding here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted March 26, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted March 26, 2010 Can you please post your first impression of the CV 28 2.0 Ultron on the M9. I am on the brink on getting this. Thanks! I got the Ultron yesterday, shot about 100 frames with the M9. The lens will become part of my regular kit, its a keeper and a great value. I've never had a 2.0 28mm due to cost and am especially delighted with the DOF separation in closer up shots wide open. This creates shooting opportunities I wouldn't have thought of previously. I examined many shots on screen - enlarging to 300% in PShop. Lens is very sharp and in some torture tests, lens flare totally acceptable. No discernible barrel distortion. As for color, I'm still getting used to the M9 but PShop adjustments needed were minimal. Build is solid, focus (with tab) and f: stop rings rotate with authority. I also appreciate the screw-on shade that at 1st appeared built-in. Size (with lens shade) and weight is about identical to a rigid 'cron 2.0 50mm, so pretty good. Cosmetically, finish matches the black M9 perfectly. My only complaint is very minor - I don't like plastic lens caps but this one fits well and nestles within the shade thus wont get knocked off in the bag. For price and performance I give it an "A". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted March 26, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted March 26, 2010 Elmar M last version, so maybe just a mis read/understanding here. Thanks for the clarification - I've also had excellent results with the new version - and love the size! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted March 26, 2010 Share #10 Posted March 26, 2010 Can you please post your first impression of the CV 28 2.0 Ultron on the M9. I am on the brink on getting this. Thanks! Great little lens at this price point, as long as you get a good copy. It seems that sample variation - a frequently reported issue with CV lenses - is relatively high with this one. In particular, some users have experienced substantial focus shift. My suggestion, if at all possible, is that you test a few copies before buying - or at least that you make sure that the dealer you buy it from will accept returns if you are unhappy with your copy. Mine is an early one: used it with the M8 and have recently started enjoying it again with the M9, although I believe that 35mm glass is generally a better match to the M9. Sharp is not the first word that comes to my mind to describe the CV 28 Ultron, although it definitely is sharp. It's more the rendering that I like with this lens: I find that the transition to OOF areas is pleasing, the colors are somewhat muted and pictures have some kind of glow - a bit like old Leica lenses, but crispier and without flare or optical aberrations. Actually, the thought has occurred to me that I got a "weird" copy:eek: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted March 26, 2010 Share #11 Posted March 26, 2010 Again, I hope this helps those that can't afford Leitz glass get into some lengths they may not have tried. There are a lot of good options out there! Couldn't agree more. There was an inspiring thread on the M8 forum about old lenses. This made me dig out a few old Leitz lenses - and buy a couple of cheap russian ones - only to realise how little tolerance a FF digital sensor shows compared to film, particularly when it comes to focussing. As a result, I'm now looking at having those CLA'd. I'll post some pictures when I get them back. My impressions were sometimes different from yours - so I guess it's hard to make a general statement and it all comes down to each individual lens. Anyway, here goes: Collapsible Summar 5cm f2 (1933): flare and low resolution make it hopeless for general purpose photography, but produces atmospheric, fuzzy portraits - particularly when converted to BW Collapsible Summitar 5cm f2 (1951): the best surprise of the lot. Unbelievably sharp wide open, with a very nice bokeh - I was truly blown away Collapsible Summicron 5cm f2 (1955): not great, nor bad in terms of sharpness. Great bokeh though, with a nice transition to OOF areas Summarit 50mm f1.5 (1956): somewhat disappointing wide open, with an ugly focus shift. Improves a lot at f2.8 and is at its best at f4-f5.6 Summaron 35mm f2.8 (1960): if one likes sharpness, that's a lens to get - but OOF rendering is so-so IMO I wouldn't use these old lenses every day, but they definitely add fun to the whole rangefinder experience - and are still capable of delivering great images... even for those who can also afford the latest and greatest Leica glass;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alnitak Posted March 26, 2010 Share #12 Posted March 26, 2010 Can you please post your first impression of the CV 28 2.0 Ultron on the M9. I am on the brink on getting this. Thanks! I'll add my view to what others have said. It's a great value. I really liked the way this lens draws. It's hard to describe, but it has a really nice look. There is wide sample variation. The main thing to look for is sharpness across the frame. I had several that had decentered elements. It will show up as one side or corner of the image being soft when the opposite is quite sharp. It will go away when you stop down, but takes more stopping down to clear up than simple edge/corner softness. I found it to be very sharp in the central zone, even wide open. The corners are soft on the M9 until about f/5.6, but who is shooting landscapes wide open anyway? Overall I'd say it 80% of the 28 'cron for a fraction of the price. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share #13 Posted March 27, 2010 Another Summitar ressurection - love it! Great post, thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted March 27, 2010 thanks for the post - I'll take a closer look at my results Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted March 27, 2010 Share #15 Posted March 27, 2010 Old russian lenses may be interesting too: I got a Jupiter 3, a Jupiter 8 and an Industar 61D made in the 60's and 70's - these lenses are dirt cheap but all need to be CLA'd, else they are unusable. Will post some pictures when I get them back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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