Pablo Sanchez Posted January 24, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted January 24, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been looking round the forum for a while now and getting lots of great information for someone new to Leica rangefinders. A couple of weeks ago I purchased a used M6 but now I face the trouble of getting a lens to get me going and at a reasonable price. I have about 700GBP to spend on a lens and a few I've been looking at are the Zeiss 35/2.8, Voigtlander 35/1.4 (although the reviews don't sell me on this) and more recently I've seen the Leica 50/2.8 Elmar-m at reasonable prices. Â A 35 or 50 lens would be ideal for me as a first lens and I just wanted some opinions or other alternatives people have used or what they see as a good lens to get someone started as an 'all rounder' as there seems to be quite a few options out there even on a budget like mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 Hi Pablo Sanchez, Take a look here What to get as a first lens on a budget?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted January 24, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted January 24, 2012 A recent 50mm Elmar would be on my list. It may not be super fast but it is a fantastic lens. I _will_ buy one one day. Â Other than that I'd consider Voigtlander, though not perhaps the 35mm f1.4 which has focus shift issues - disclaimer, I've never used this or any other Voigtlander 35/50mm lens, but have been impressed with the other lenses that I've owned over the years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonasy Posted January 24, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted January 24, 2012 You can squeeze in a Minolta (same as Summicron-C) 40/2 and a Voigtlander 75/2.5 with that budget. Should save you in most situations! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted January 24, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted January 24, 2012 Another vote for the 50/2.8 Elmar-M. Excellent, compact, good value. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pablo Sanchez Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share #5 Â Posted January 24, 2012 Thanks for the replies so far. Â I did indeed look into the 40/2 and it seems like its very good optically but the frameline issue is something that would annoy me I think. Thanks anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted January 24, 2012 Share #6 Â Posted January 24, 2012 If your lucky you might find a Summicron 50mm for that money, just, if it's unboxed not perfect cosmetically (but obvisouly mechanically perfect) and the Mk4 version, same optics as the current. Â I'd personally stick with Leica as they are the best built and if you buy at the right money you will never lose over time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadside Posted January 24, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted January 24, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I had limited funds for a lens and ended up buying a Summaron 35mm f3.5 with which, although pretty old, I am well satisfied. These can be found within your price range. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jneilt Posted January 24, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted January 24, 2012 hmmm...I want a 50/2.8...but it depends what you mean by limited funds...looking at the older 35s or 50s is not a bad idea... Â IMO...some of the older 35s are better than the new ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulrik Posted January 24, 2012 Share #9  Posted January 24, 2012 The new type 2,8/50 mm Elmar-M is a great lens. If you need more speed, go for the Voigtländer Nokton 1,5/50.  Ulrik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted January 24, 2012 Share #10  Posted January 24, 2012 I think the Elmar 50/f2.8 would be a great buy on your budget. You should be able to buy a recent specimen in good condition for that money.  Later: Just checked Red Dot Cameras London who have five 50/f2.8 lenses, black and chrome, one a late version, between £649-699. Worth looking at I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 24, 2012 Share #11 Â Posted January 24, 2012 Agree a 50 2.8 Elmar is a great lens, even the older one is no slouch (note there is the original version in screw and M mount, and the much later but now discontinued M version). Â I'm also a fan of the older 50 3.5, a tad slower but actually a better lens than the older 2.8 based on my experience. You can even go for the very compact 5cm 3.5, but get the Red Scale version if you do (use can use any Leica screw lens on your M with the appropriate adaptor). Â I also use a couple of the Voigtlander lenses and I think they're excellent, much much better than the price might lead you to assume. I struggled to tell the difference between the same shot with a 35mm Skopar, Summicron and Summaron looking at a 5X7 print. You could buy a couple of s/h Skopar lenses for your budget, and the 25, 28, 35 and 50 are all highly rated. Â Do that, and you'd have enough change left over for a nice 9cm f4 Elmar too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted January 24, 2012 Share #12 Â Posted January 24, 2012 I think the VC Nokton 40mm f1.4 is about the best for the money. The framelines don't quite match up, but think of it as a "safe area' like you get with video. I picked up a used one for $350 on eBay. Then I sold it when I decided to "upgrade" to the VC 50mm f1.1. Wish I'd kept it. Â For around $800 you can score either the VC 50mm f1.1 or the 50mm Summicron DR. Â I've been enjoying the DR, but it won't work on the M8 or M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jneilt Posted January 24, 2012 Share #13 Â Posted January 24, 2012 fyi...popflash has a couple new 35s in stock Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted January 24, 2012 Share #14 Â Posted January 24, 2012 If at all economically feasible, I would stick with Leica glass - otherwise you miss out on a very large chunk of the Leica magic (JMHO). Â As others have noted, the 50/2.8 Elmar is a great lens and can be found on the used market for reasonable prices. Other lenses to consider are the 28/2.8 Elmarit which should be available used for at or near your budget of 700 GBP and the 35 or 50mm Summicrons. Â If you want to do documentary or street photography, look hard at the 28 and 35 focal lengths. In my experience, 50s are really too long for street photography - people are forever wandering between you and your subject, unless you are going for portrait type shots. Â The 50s are good all around lenses but then so are the 28s and 35s, if you lean toward the wide angle end of the lens spectrum. There's not alot of difference in the angle of view of the 28 and 35 - 76 degrees (diagonal) for the 28 vs. 64 degrees (diagonal) for the 35 so they are more or less interchangeable in use. Â If you have a 28 and take a step forward, you have essentially the framing you would have with a 35, although you are now closer to your subject, making it more predominant in your image. This is an advantage for the 28 in street photography, IMHO. Â Give some thought to what type of photography you intend to do with your one lens before buying - this is a very important consideration if you will have just the one lens for awhile. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pablo Sanchez Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share #15  Posted January 24, 2012 Thanks for the responses but now I feel I have more options to look at  I'm thinking if I go down the 50mm route then the newer elmar-m would be best. If I go down the 35mm route then I think the Summaron/2.8 (un-goggled) which I've just seen second hand for £699 (any info on this lens would be nice:D) And now perhaps the VC 40/1.4 which my only main issue is frame lines - I've seen some posts saying the M6's 35mm frame lines are suited best for this lens rather than the 50???  Ahhhh choices, choices, choices... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smb Posted January 24, 2012 Share #16 Â Posted January 24, 2012 With your budget you should be able to afford a 50mm Summicron or the 50mm elmar-m or a Zeiss 50mm f1.5. All three lenses are of high quality with different signatures. Do some research on what you prefer and where you prefer to shoot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted January 28, 2012 Share #17 Â Posted January 28, 2012 Hello Pablo, Â Welcome to the Forum. Â If you think your photography might develop in the direction of abstracting something from a scene as opposed to capturing everything in it then there might be another alternative: Â A 90mm lens is long enough to provide a different perspective: It reaches thru the foreground & @ the same time limits things on either side & above. It requires, & therefore teaches, composition, perspective, etc to a degree not necessary w/ lenses of shorter focal lengths. Â Not a difficult lens to use. Definitely a different learning curve. Â My first Leitz/Leica lens on a budget. Â Best Regards, Â Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 28, 2012 Share #18 Â Posted January 28, 2012 ...A 35 or 50 lens would be ideal for me as a first lens and I just wanted some opinions or other alternatives people have used or what they see as a good lens to get someone started as an 'all rounder'... Before choosing such or such brand, it would be wise to decide if you "see" in 35mm or 50mm. If you're not sure about this, 40mm will be an excellent compromise. My favorite is the tiny Summicron-C 40/2 but the M-Rokkor 40/2 (for Minolta CLE) is very close and flares a bit less than the latter. You might wish to file the flange of the lens in order to bring up 35mm framelines. It is an easy DIY. The CV 40/1.4 is another option but i have no experience with it. It is said to suffer from focus shift but it is less a problem with film than digital. Beware than sample variation is a problem with CV lenses though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted January 28, 2012 Share #19 Â Posted January 28, 2012 Your original choice of the 35 2.8 Zeiss Biogon is good -- if you can find one. There seems to be a glass supply problem, but it is probably the best technical performer of any 35. Magic is not a Leica monopoly. I use the version 4 35 summicron and love it, but you can't find them cheap any more. Personally I think the 50 is hard to make interesting pictures with. I know, HCB and all that, but there has been a consistent move to wider lenses by serious photographers. A 35 IS A VERY VERSATILE LENS. I am not sure why anyone would put a 40 on a Leica. The frame lines are approximate enough as it is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted January 30, 2012 Share #20 Â Posted January 30, 2012 A 50 Summicron Rigid in good condition would be an excellent choice. A warning: You might want to buy more lenses later on! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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