lens outfit for a m6

[peri24]

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i was reading you for quite long time but as my first post want to say hi to all. Hello!!

now the questions:

i'm looking for some advices to put together a nice 3 lenses for my m6. Right now i just have a body and i'm planning to buy another as backup soon. So it's gonna be 2 bodies and 3 lenses outfit. My favorite focals are 28, 35, 50.

I'll be shooting 80% bw film and 20% color.

So, my budget for lenses is the same as 28, 35 and 50 zeiss cost, almost 2000€. That's one option, the other one is buying second hand leica, but i'm quite lost about all versions, my plan is to have a trio lenses that perform quite the same and have the same look. Knowing my budget which versions of 28s, 35, and 50s should i look for?

I should say that i quite like zeiss style, but in the other hand i love also Leica 80s look.

I have experience with zeiss glass, but as my first Leica i'm quite lost, or maybe someone has another idea, don´t know...

Another worrying is how much finder blockage will i get with zeiss lenses or Leicas.

cheers!

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello peri24,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

I think if you begin w/ a Version 4, 35mm Summicron & work w/ it for a while you may find you do not need the others quite as much as you think you do.

 

Whichever lens/s you choose please don't forget an appropriate rigid metal lens shade. More important for preventing damage than flare suppression.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[Xmas]

Hi

 

Cosina Voighlander

 

5cm f/2.5 LTM

3.5mm f/2.5 LTM classic or M

28mm f/3.5 LTM

 

LTM adapters + optional larger hoods, 39mm filters

 

With left over Euros get the

 

25mm LTM or M note the LTM comes with a finder.

 

Buy three get one free.

 

Noel

[tobey bilek]

28 2.8 Elmarit with 49 mm filter size. Mandler 1980 design.

 

Version IV 35 Summicron. Overpriced because it is known as Bokeh King today. I like mine, but i have had it 25 years.

Version 3 is close enough and much cheaper.

 

50 2.0 Summicron from 1969 to 1982. Previous DR/Rigids had less contrast, later models have a lot of micro contrast and show fine details a little better. Will not match the others in look. This is what I use and have for decades.

 

Old Leica stuff is hard to find in good condition, specially a 35.

 

I would not buy CV.

 

Zeiss lenses are a bit more balanced compared to leica, not the extreme micro contrast, but sharp with nice colors.

 

I would pick the 25 2.8, 35 2.0 50 2.0. Substitute the 35 2.8 , supposedly better lens but not so fast. 35 and 28 are too close.

35 and 25 make a better pair.

[earleygallery]

I would not buy CV.

 

But I would (and did).

[budrichard]

For myself, the reason to use M rangefinders is to use Leitz/Leica glass.

Yes you can mount the lenses on other manufactures bodies but the M rangefinders are the best choice.

One M6 with a good 35mm Leica lens of your choice/budget is going to be better than two M's with other manufacturers glass.

Personally If I had to put only one lens on my M6 it would be the 35mm Lux ASPH and second choice would be the 35mm Summicron ASPH.-Dick

[earleygallery]

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For myself, the reason to use M rangefinders is to use Leitz/Leica glass.

 

One M6 with a good 35mm Leica lens of your choice/budget is going to be better than two M's with other manufacturers glass.

 

Personally I think that is a ridiculous statement, there are many reasons to choose lenses other than Leica's own, but as you say it's your own preference and you're entitled to it.

[LondonR]

Personally I think that is a ridiculous statement, there are many reasons to choose lenses other than Leica's own, but as you say it's your own preference and you're entitled to it.

 

You could buy an 'off-brand' £350 lens, but I think you'll find the £3500 Leica lens is better. Repeat ad infinitum.

[Xmas]

Personally I think that is a ridiculous statement, there are many reasons to choose lenses other than Leica's own, but as you say it's your own preference and you're entitled to it.

 

James

 

It has come to my attention that you dont believe in Christmas, I will tell Rudulph to alter his way point route map, for Dec '11.

 

Noel

[peri24]

I've been looking around for those leica and prices seem to me that are quite high right now, my best bet should be zeiss glass having my budget in mind, cosina doesn't give me total confidence and seems also that distorsion and contrast is not up to zeiss or leica.

 

Any Zeiss users here?

 

any insight info will be appreciated, mainly regarded on viewfinder blockage (are those zeiss much bigger than Leica?) and reliability.

About 25 or 28mm, knowing i will not have any external finders, should 28 be my best lens for almost perfect framing with a m6? I have does lenses for my slrs and use them both, i don't feel they overlap in anyway 28-35.

thanks

[Xmas]

Hi

 

I have the 25mm and the 5cm f/2.

 

The 5cm is no worse then the cron for viewfinder blockage, but the 25mm is big, I dont have a frame for 25mm so it does not annoy, and I use both eyes so it would not be critical for me.

.

The 28mm f/2.8 is ok though, tired that.

 

Both lenses I have have good performance but both have slack focus rings which annoys some people, the lens optics has no movement though.

 

The CV lenses seem perfect in this 'slack' department, and I have a few of them. Most of the ZM and CV lenses are built in the same factory. I'd worry that Zeiss are marking them up and there is no difference in build quality.... But that is just cynical old me.

 

Noel

P.S. optically the ZM and CV lenses are good, no problems at all.

[chmilar]

I use the MATE (original Tri-Elmar) to cover 28-35-50 range.

 

Downsides: f 4.0 is the fastest aperture. Intrudes into the viewfinder.

 

Upside: no need to swap lenses.

 

It is out of production, but should be available used.

[MX5Bob]

I regularly curse the day I sold my 35 lux (V.2), not only because I didn't get that much for it 1981, but because I can't afford one today. [Needed Nikon F2s as a newspaper shooter.} There's been more inflation in Leitz lens prices than normal everyday stuff.

 

This was shot, probably wide open or nearly so in flat light, HP-5. I like my CV 35mm/2.5, but I don't love it like the 'lux. I was pretty set on getting the CV 15mm and find my drawn to the other lens I wish I hadn't sold, a 21mm/.34 SA LTM. Finding one of isn't hard, finding the viewfinder is something else again.

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[freusen]

I've been looking around for those leica and prices seem to me that are quite high right now.

 

Have you looked at the Summarit's? They are the best lenses you can buy for your money. You can get the latest 50mm Summarit for less then Euro 1.000 in near mint condition and together with a M6 for less then Euro 1.800. If you are on a tight budget, go for the Summarit range. There's nothing wrong with these lenses, their only disadvantage is their low price. If you are not convinced look at this Summarit range

____________

FrankR

[budrichard]

"Personally I think that is a ridiculous statement, there are many reasons to choose lenses other than Leica's own, but as you say it's your own preference and you're entitled to it."

 

And what do your think is ridiculous? You can certainly Post your own opinion but don't categorize my opinions unless you want your Posts categorized. Present your opinion in a civil manner and you will get civil answers. Categorizes my preferences as ridiculous and you may not get a civil answer in the future.

 

I see and read of legions of camera buffs who want to have a big name camera but when it comes to putting a lens on the camera purchase a lower cost and not as well built lens. The assessment and comparison of the optical characteristics can be argued until the cows come home but on the whole you can't do better than Leica lenses. So if you feel better with a Leica body and a number of non-Leica lenses, go for it. But if you want the best in optical and mechanical quality, purchase one Leica lens and go take some photographs knowing that your photography will not suffer because of the camera/lens system.

If I had a budget, my solution would be an M6 and 35mm Leica Summicron lens. You can't do any better and really haven't been able to do any better since the M3 and 35mm Summicron RF were introduced. -Dick

[freusen]

............for myself, the reason to use M rangefinders is to use Leitz/Leica glass.............

 

+1

____________

FrankR

[honcho]

.....comparison of the optical characteristics can be argued until the cows come home but on the whole you can't do better than Leica lenses.

 

Can't really argue with that statement in the context of 35mm rf photography. It brings to mind the time several years ago when I bought a CV 21mm LTM lens on the strength of a certain UK monochrome magazine 'review' that eulogised over the image quality that this lens produces.

 

I found the lens to be an absolute dog with the worst propensity to flare that I have ever experienced in any lens and quickly sold it.

 

To invest in the Leica brand means it's probably sensible to invest in Leica lenses. I would rather have just one favourite Leica lens than a range of CV or "Zeiss" lenses, but we're all different in our opinions.

[peri24]

well, i completely agree about that the final goal to use a leica boy is to put leica glass on it is in some way obvious to me. Same as using nikon lens on nikon bodies or canon on… on and on.

About which system is best, i do think that almost every brand have their own strenghts, so it's up to the people go with one or with another. To me as, a newcomer to the Leica world, it means super reliable tools, with good rangefinders and awesome optics in the range of 28 to 50. After looking all rangefinders options right now on the market that suited my needs i didn't need more than 4 seconds to realize that Leica is the best tool for me.

Being said that and knowing i'm in the low-budget side, i knew that some compromises should have been made, so i've decided that to complete my lens-orphan leica m6 a summicron 35mm is the best option right now, in fact its usually my most used lens with slrs and medium format too, but knowing that i'll need a 28mm and a 50mm lens aswell i've been doing some shoping on ebay and i purchased a 28mm konica and a 50mm konica too. The second body it's gonna be soon but first need to sell couple of things.

The zeiss option just felt apart and i know that going with one lens option it could be even a 35mm summilux but at the end i prefer a 3 good lenses than one astonishing lens, and i always can use these lenses to be the backups in a future.