Looking for right (affordable) M Lens

[earleygallery]

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The problem is there is doubt over whether the OP has an M3 or a lllg.

 

The answer will depend on which camera although if he buys a LTM 3.5 5cm Elmar like one of these http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/index.php?cPath=47_51&sort=5a&page=2 he can't go wrong - if he has got an M3 he'll just need the M adaptor.

[silentmovies]

I've been offered a Leica lens for considerable small money. Though it's said to have noticeable element seperation. I've read a bit into element seperation and found tips about heating the lens up to a 150 degrees and cooling it, which is said to repair the seperation.

 

Anyway this would be a quality lens with a price tag I could afford. I am not able to test the lens, which is said to be in good cosmetic condition besides the element seperation.

[luigi bertolotti]

Avoid it : lens separation in itself could be fixed (not do-it-yourself, anyway), but remains to be verified if this is the ONLY issue... and this means to send the lens to a specialized lab... for a "normal lens" it simply doesn't worth: find a pair of good Russians and you have a cheaper and more comfortable way.

[farnz]

... I've read a bit into element seperation and found tips about heating the lens up to a 150 degrees and cooling it, which is said to repair the seperation. ...

I urge you not to attempt this for two reasons:

1. Metal and glass have quite different linear coefficients of thermal expansion, ie they expand at different rates at the same temperature, and there's no telling what will happen to the relative parts as they heat up and cool down. Even a small movement of a lens element relative to the other elements could throw the collimation off, which would be much more expensive to rectify.

2. The lubricants are likely to run at that temperature, which could result in lubricant on the aperture and/or lens element surfaces, which would mean that relative parts wouldn't move sweetly together and could jam, and a CLA (clean lubricate and adjust) treatment from a qualified repairer.

 

Pete.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Again silentmovies,

 

If we are talking about which lens to buy as a first lens to learn photography & we have an M3 I would suggest a 90.

Look thru the viewfinder and use use the preview.

That is the little lever where your left thumb is when you are looking thru the camera while holding the lens w/ your left hand. Push the lever toward the lens gently please.

You don't have to have a lens in the camera to do this.

BTW, if you push the lever the other way it will show you the veiw of a 135.

50 in the middle straight up.

Looking thru the 90mm frame you will see there is certainly a large enough image to properly see what is going on & figure out what to do.

The ammount of free space outside the 90mm frame produced by pushing the lever inward gives you the ability to see & more easily modify position as well as be aware of potential moving or stationary objects/people/etc outside of the immediate coverage of the lens.

This can be quite advantageous especially given the the large total image you are beginning w/.

A 90 teaches a lot about composition & framing.

It helps you remove unwanted aspects.

Particularily good @ removing unwanted foreground.

It makes portrait taking easier as perspective is pleasant. The 27 degree angle of coverage requiring you to be @ an advantageous position.

It is a short enough focal legnth to alow a significant degree of hand holding & will tempt you to learn the advantages of a sturdy tripod w/ a large ball head.

Best Regards,

Michael

[luigi bertolotti]

Michael has said many right things about 90mm, I add that a nice 90 is one of the Leitz lenses one can buy for really few money: there are plenty of Elmar 90 f 4 around, is a fine lens and prices are low even for good items.