The New Leica lenses on old M2 and M6

[Lacapino]

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Hi to all

 

We hear, and know that good results can be had with the old glass on the newest M cameras

My question goes in the other direction.

Is it beneficial to use the newest, or rather would it not be better to use the pre coded lenses on the film bodies?

Just a thought. I am inclined to think that the coded lenses should work very well on the MP, M7, and the older M bodies too.

 

Maybe some would find this a stupid question, however, I would still appreciate feedback from anyone who have experience here. As said the coded lenses(newer ones etc)

 

I know they fit, and will focus, but is the newer not designed for digital, and therefore the older ones perhaps better on the film bodies

 

Kind regards

L

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[enboe]

Absolutely the newer optical designs will work with your (and my) older film bodies. The optical design yields certain properties which carry forward regardless of what is in the imaging plane. What you will find is every lens has its own "fingerprint" of how it renders both sharp and out of focus. The newer lenses tend to stay sharper in the corners, and sharper over wider range of f/stops, but that's not to say the older generations are poor performers, just different.

 

Recommendation - go for it, and never sell a lens.

 

Eric

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello L,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

Forward, as well as backward, compatability is one of the most important aspects of modular interchangability.

 

It is one of the most important stepping stones of the Indusrial Revolution. It is one of the reasons the World has come so far forward in such a short time.

 

A better lens (newer or older) on a better camera body (newer or older) can often give a person a better result. This interchangability also increases versatility.

 

These same advantages of increased performance & increased versatility are regularily available in many other field of manufacture that uses modular components that are engineered with both forward & backward compatability.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[gberger]

I have a friend who uses the 35 Summicron ASPH and the 24 Elmarit on an M6. I use a 50mm Summilux ASPH, a 35mm Summilux ASPH and a 28 Elmarit ASPH on M7 and Zeiss Ikon bodies.

 

No sweat.

[gyoung]

I regularly use 21/2.8 and 35/2 aspheric lenses on my M3, and my 1968 bought 35 and 50 f/2, and 90/2.8 on my M6ttl, not to mention my 1938 uncoated 3.5/50

 

Its all part of the fun of Leica ownership

 

I would love to use the 35 aspheric on my III, but Leica made the lens with a fixed M bayonet unfortunately, IMHO they should turn them all out with an L39 mount, that would be great!

 

 

Gerry

[Orient XI]

I regularly use 21/2.8 and 35/2 aspheric lenses on my M3, and my 1968 bought 35 and 50 f/2, and 90/2.8 on my M6ttl, not to mention my 1938 uncoated 3.5/50

 

Its all part of the fun of Leica ownership

 

I would love to use the 35 aspheric on my III, but Leica made the lens with a fixed M bayonet unfortunately, IMHO they should turn them all out with an L39 mount, that would be great!

 

 

Gerry

Around 1999 a small batch of chrome, 35mm Summicron ASPH lenses were made primarily for the Japanese market. These were available elsewhere and I bought one in London for use on my Ig and IIf. It now does duty as a "standard" lens on my M8. A few other modern screw mount lenses were also made about that time but Leica seem reluctant to repeat the experiment.

[philipus]

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but Leica seem reluctant to repeat the experiment.

 

I think this is sad (we've discussed it in other threads). Given the lengths to which Leica will go to allow (in part to pander to customers' vanity) custom configuration of camera bodies, and what they charge extra for this, it is strange that they don't offer at least some lenses in screwmount.

[earleygallery]

Leica don't make 'digital' lenses. The camera body is just a light tight box and shutter (ok and rangefinder) to hold the film or sensor.

 

I agree with the comment above, Leica are missing a trick in not offering some lenses in LTM. I bought a few Voigtlander lenses for my lllf.

[gyoung]

Around 1999 a small batch of chrome, 35mm Summicron ASPH lenses were made primarily for the Japanese market. These were available elsewhere and I bought one in London for use on my Ig and IIf. It now does duty as a "standard" lens on my M8. A few other modern screw mount lenses were also made about that time but Leica seem reluctant to repeat the experiment.

 

Yes, unfortunately they go for silly money now, to sit in glass cases.

 

I do use a Voigtlander 35/2.5 on the III, thats very good indeed, and very different to the 35/3.5 Sunmaron I also have.

 

Gerry

[furcafe]

It wasn't an experiment. The 1999 screw mount lenses were commissioned by Lemon Camera, a dealer/store in Japan. My understanding is that Leica still does custom orders if they're large enough (e.g., IIRC Lemon ordered 2000 each of the 50/1.4, 50/2, & 35/2 ASPH.).

 

Around 1999 a small batch of chrome, 35mm Summicron ASPH lenses were made primarily for the Japanese market. These were available elsewhere and I bought one in London for use on my Ig and IIf. It now does duty as a "standard" lens on my M8. A few other modern screw mount lenses were also made about that time but Leica seem reluctant to repeat the experiment.

[furcafe]

On eBay & in Japan, they can actually be found for less than the regular M-mount version. I think the reason why is that they're slightly "crippled"-- they don't focus as closely as their M-mount equivalents (I think only 0.8 or 0.9m). This was probably intentional on Leica's part to mitigate any cannibalization of their regular inventory.

 

Yes, unfortunately they go for silly money now, to sit in glass cases.

[gyoung]

Thanks, I might keep am eye open!

 

Gerry

[philipus]

Newoldcamera not too long ago (and might still; I haven't checked recently) had a 35 and 50 in stock for reasonable money, as compared with the ridiculous prices one sometimes sees at Asian dealers.