Lens for M6TTL

[Willy Fog]

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Hello,

 

After all the info I got here

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/246888-finally-leica-time.html

 

I decided to buy the M6TTL silver if I can find it I've called my brother-in-law and he borrowed me his M6TTL and three lenses.

 

1- Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2

2. Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4

3. Voigtlander Nokton sc 35mm f/1.4

 

After shooting, looks like I prefer the 35mm.

 

Why the 35mm? Looks like for me will be better, for my style of photo.

 

So, here is the question, If I will buy a 35mm, should I buy a Leica or the Voigtlander Nokton MC 35mm f/1.4 will be good enough? My brother-I-law told me, buy Leica, maybe you don't understand now or you don't see any differences, but in the future you will appreciated. He is the kind of person who thinks, Leica for Leica.

 

Don't kill me now but... I've tried the three lens in my Sony Nex7 (I have de M adapter) and believe me, It's really hard to me to find a differences in quality between these three lenses.

 

So, yes! I'm a total beginner that wants to start to lear with a Leica M. After years shooting up and down, after thousands of photos I think that the momento to learn have arrived.

 

I will still have the the Nex7, but the M6TTL will be for the right moment, the right photo...something to remember and to be magical. Both will go with me to many places, but will show their bodies to the people in different occasions

 

Well, the main question of the thread, which 35mm lens should I buy? The camera already decided.

 

I've been thinking to shoot the 36-38 photos in Black&White with the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4. Let's see how will look...

 

 

 

 

 

Regards

[Fgcm]

Dear Willy,

I extensively use M6TTL.

All Voigtlaender and Leica lenses are very good, so the choice is a matter of taste and, in my opinion, also of weight and size.

Summicron 35 asph and Summarit 35 are perfectly tailored to an M6.

These lenses are a perfect choice if you take into consideration also the form factor.

Summilux 35 Asph and Nokton are to big and to heavy for me.

Many would suggest to choose an old lens (i.e. old Summilux 35 pre asph, which is also small).

Old lenses are good and show a classic signature.

New lenses (including Summarit family) have a strong contrast and an even better resistance to flare.

In a word, are easier to use and yield well exposed negatives that you can easily print on grade 2 papers.

My personal choice is Summarit 35 (along with Summarit 50 and sometimes Elmar-M 50)

I traded my summilux 35 when I realized it was napping in it's box most of the time.

Ciao

Franco

[eyedeebee]

Don't discount the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7. It can be bought For a reasonable price, and I've found it an excellent lens.

[Willy Fog]

Dear Willy,

I extensively use M6TTL.

All Voigtlaender and Leica lenses are very good, so the choice is a matter of taste and, in my opinion, also of weight and size.

Summicron 35 asph and Summarit 35 are perfectly tailored to an M6.

These lenses are a perfect choice if you take into consideration also the form factor.

Summilux 35 Asph and Nokton are to big and to heavy for me.

Many would suggest to choose an old lens (i.e. old Summilux 35 pre asph, which is also small).

Old lenses are good and show a classic signature.

New lenses (including Summarit family) have a strong contrast and an even better resistance to flare.

In a word, are easier to use and yield well exposed negatives that you can easily print on grade 2 papers.

My personal choice is Summarit 35 (along with Summarit 50 and sometimes Elmar-M 50)

I traded my summilux 35 when I realized it was napping in it's box most of the time.

Ciao

Franco

 

Ciao Franco,

 

Gracie mille for your message

 

I will try to find some info about the lens you told me, also about the prices. I'm thinking to buy the camera right now, not to wait till Christmas and borrow the lens from my brother-in-law. Like this I'll have time to think what I want to buy

 

Regards

[Willy Fog]

Don't discount the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7. It can be bought For a reasonable price, and I've found it an excellent lens.

 

Thank you!

 

I will search some information about this Voigtlander.

 

Thanks!

[TomB_tx]

I also find that 35mm better fits the way I see pictures. I have the Voigtlander Nokton 35 f1.4, 1969 Summicron 35, Zeiss Biogon 35 f2, and an early 1950s Leica Summaron 35 f3.5 (LTM).

I've had the Summicron since '69, and was always very pleased with it. I got the Nokton for my M9 for dim light, and really like the size, build and handling. My sample is quite sharp, and at 1.4 is better than my Summicron at f2, and when stopped to f2 has less vignetting than the Summicron at does. It does have some barrel distortion, but for most of my shots it is not a problem. Mine also seems very sharp when stopped down, but the design does have some focus shift as you stop down, so until you learn to compensate you may see objects behind the subject are sharper than the subject itself. Whether that is a problem for you depends on how much you enlarge and crop; but since you are using it on film I'd bet you wouldn't notice this issue. I like the lens.

The Zeiss Biogon isn't as sharp at f2.0, but from 3.5 on is a wonderful lens, but I prefer the size of the Nokton and Summicron. When I travel with just one lens it is often the Biogon.

The Summaron 3.5 is a very nice lens: tiny and sharp from wide open down. Lower contrast, but pleasing images - yet 3.5 can be limiting.

The Nokton is the bargain of the group, and I'd bet you would be happy with it.

[Willy Fog]

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I also find that 35mm better fits the way I see pictures. I have the Voigtlander Nokton 35 f1.4, 1969 Summicron 35, Zeiss Biogon 35 f2, and an early 1950s Leica Summaron 35 f3.5 (LTM).

I've had the Summicron since '69, and was always very pleased with it. I got the Nokton for my M9 for dim light, and really like the size, build and handling. My sample is quite sharp, and at 1.4 is better than my Summicron at f2, and when stopped to f2 has less vignetting than the Summicron at does. It does have some barrel distortion, but for most of my shots it is not a problem. Mine also seems very sharp when stopped down, but the design does have some focus shift as you stop down, so until you learn to compensate you may see objects behind the subject are sharper than the subject itself. Whether that is a problem for you depends on how much you enlarge and crop; but since you are using it on film I'd bet you wouldn't notice this issue. I like the lens.

The Zeiss Biogon isn't as sharp at f2.0, but from 3.5 on is a wonderful lens, but I prefer the size of the Nokton and Summicron. When I travel with just one lens it is often the Biogon.

The Summaron 3.5 is a very nice lens: tiny and sharp from wide open down. Lower contrast, but pleasing images - yet 3.5 can be limiting.

The Nokton is the bargain of the group, and I'd bet you would be happy with it.

 

Thank you very much for your message.

 

I think that I'll go finally for the M6TTL and after your message, looks like the Voigtlander Nokton MC 35mm f/1.4 will be my lens choice. And from now on, for my birthday or Christmas I will buy new lens

 

I've found a nice black Leica M6TTL, maybe I'll buy it now, I can't wait till Christmas! And I'll borrow the lens from my brother-in-law.

 

Regards

[gyoung]

Don't discount the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7. It can be bought For a reasonable price, and I've found it an excellent lens.

 

..... but not a Summicron, I had one for a while, and its a very good lens, but the Summicron, I had an M3 one at the time, is subtley different, and better IMHO.

 

To repeat what I have said before, I can't see any point in buying anything other than a Leica lens for ones first Leica, its a major part of the experience. Later on with experience under your belt, try other makes by all means and enjoy the interesting differences. There are very few real dogs out there in Leica L39 or M mount, plenty of very good lenses, but Leica ones are (generally) the best in a general sense.

 

Gerry

[jaapv]

The lens that is really matched to the M6 is of course the Elmar-M 2.8/50 (not the older Elmar 2.8/50. That is a real vintage lens) collapsible. Excellent optics, character somewhere between classic and modern, a joy to carry and shoot. Not expensive either.

[smb]

If you are going to spend the extra money to buy a Leica camera over a Bessa then buy the Leica lens. The lens determines the outcome of the photograph.

[Fgcm]

The lens that is really matched to the M6 is of course the Elmar-M 2.8/50 (not the older Elmar 2.8/50. That is a real vintage lens) collapsible. Excellent optics, character somewhere between classic and modern, a joy to carry and shoot. Not expensive either.

 

+ 1

 

A very good lens indeed.

[nelly]

I also have a M6ttl and really like my shots from my 28mm Summicron with this body

[akiralx]

I am not a fan of the 35mm Nokton f/1.4 owing to its swirly bokeh.

 

Of Leica lenses I have the 35 Summarit (f/2.5), 35 summicron v4 (f/2.0) and 35 Summilux-ASPH FLE (f/1.4).

 

For general shooting the Summarit is excellent, a modern look with high contrast, great colour rendition and very sharp.

[Willy Fog]

..... but not a Summicron, I had one for a while, and its a very good lens, but the Summicron, I had an M3 one at the time, is subtley different, and better IMHO.

 

To repeat what I have said before, I can't see any point in buying anything other than a Leica lens for ones first Leica, its a major part of the experience. Later on with experience under your belt, try other makes by all means and enjoy the interesting differences. There are very few real dogs out there in Leica L39 or M mount, plenty of very good lenses, but Leica ones are (generally) the best in a general sense.

 

Gerry

 

Dear Gerry,

 

I'll take your idea of Leica for Leica and ask my pillow Now I'll have the Voigltnader 35mm and maybe they also will borrow me some Leica 50mm. Till Christmas I will not buy any lens, maybe will be Leica.

 

Regards

[Willy Fog]

The lens that is really matched to the M6 is of course the Elmar-M 2.8/50 (not the older Elmar 2.8/50. That is a real vintage lens) collapsible. Excellent optics, character somewhere between classic and modern, a joy to carry and shoot. Not expensive either.

 

I think that I prefer a 35mm. But I check the lens you said, just in case

 

Thank you

[Willy Fog]

I also have a M6ttl and really like my shots from my 28mm Summicron with this body

 

There is a huge difference between 28mm and 35mm?

 

Regards

[Willy Fog]

I am not a fan of the 35mm Nokton f/1.4 owing to its swirly bokeh.

 

Of Leica lenses I have the 35 Summarit (f/2.5), 35 summicron v4 (f/2.0) and 35 Summilux-ASPH FLE (f/1.4).

 

For general shooting the Summarit is excellent, a modern look with high contrast, great colour rendition and very sharp.

 

Which one will be the ''ONE'', I mean, if you only can have one at this moment, ,which one you will choose?

 

Regards

[akiralx]

Which one will be the ''ONE'', I mean, if you only can have one at this moment, ,which one you will choose?

 

Regards

 

The Summilux because of the speed, but it is a more expensive and larger lens. I regularly take the Summarit instead, in decent light.

[Fgcm]

There is a huge difference between 28mm and 35mm?

 

Regards

 

The answer is yes.

The 28 is a narrow wide.

I use my 28 mainly indoor or in crowded places

But as a wide, it's not wide enought.

 

The 35 is a wide normal.

its a very versatile lenght

 

As a first lens, 35 is a much better choice

 

Franco

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Fgcm]

I regularly take the Summarit instead, in decent light.

 

I eventually sold my summilux 35 asph.

Too large, too heavy.

 

Get a summicron or a Summarit

You think you need F1,4 untill you realize that f2 and f2,5 are enought

 

In low light, use a digital camera or push the film.

Modern films are easy to push

 

Franco