Tomgc61 Posted August 11, 2013 Share #1 Â Posted August 11, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello - I am new to this forum and new to Leica but have just bought a new M 240 body. I don't have much budget remaining and so would appreciate any guidance from this forum as to what would be a good lens to get going with. I can't be over specific about what I will be shooting but it will be mostly natural light, potrait and landscape. Â Apologies in advance if this seems a stupid question! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 Hi Tomgc61, Take a look here Leica M - which lens. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted August 11, 2013 Share #2 Â Posted August 11, 2013 No money? One lens? Summarit 35. And welcome to the forum Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted August 11, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted August 11, 2013 What lens did you favour before buying the Leica? I think in most cases it boils down to either a 35 mm or 50 mm lens. My personal preference is for a 50 mm lens as a starter. All my lenses are second hand from Leica dealers and you can save money by doing this and be not too out of pocket if you end up changing them. Think 35 mm Summarit is a good suggestion. Would also suggest 50 mm Summarit or 50 mm Summicron M. The latter has just received an excellent review in Photozone (see recent thread on this). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted August 11, 2013 Share #4 Â Posted August 11, 2013 If your budget can take a Summicron-go for it used through a reputable dealer. Summarits must cost less and can be your second alternative IMHO. Take a look at what Overgaard can do with a 50 Cron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomgc61 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share #5 Â Posted August 11, 2013 What lens did you favour before buying the Leica? I think in most cases it boils down to either a 35 mm or 50 mm lens. My personal preference is for a 50 mm lens as a starter. All my lenses are second hand from Leica dealers and you can save money by doing this and be not too out of pocket if you end up changing them. Think 35 mm Summarit is a good suggestion. Would also suggest 50 mm Summarit or 50 mm Summicron M. The latter has just received an excellent review in Photozone (see recent thread on this). Â I have an Olympus OM2 with the standard 50 mm and a Nikon DSLR which usually has an 18-55 or a telephoto. Is there any particular secondhand lens worth searching out and now much less are they bought seconhand generally? Â Many thanks for all the helpful comments by the way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted August 11, 2013 Share #6 Â Posted August 11, 2013 I'd start with a 35mm, or 50mm is you want to take pictures of people with a little personal space and distance between you. I wouldn't worry which you start with, the other will probably be next. Â I'd look at the 50 Summicron as well, I am not a huge fan of the 35 summicron ASPH, can't fault it but don't love it I'd rather have the pre asph MkIV 35 Summicron as a good all round 35 at sensible money Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted August 11, 2013 Share #7  Posted August 11, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have an Olympus OM2 with the standard 50 mm and a Nikon DSLR which usually has an 18-55 or a telephoto. Is there any particular secondhand lens worth searching out and now much less are they bought seconhand generally? Many thanks for all the helpful comments by the way.  From viewing your profile, I suggest you use Google and explore the websites of UK Leica dealers and get a feel for new and used Leica M prices. For used 35/50 Summarit and the latest Summicron lenses in mint/mint- condition, you might get them at around 70-80% of the new price. Suggest you try out these lenses if possible at a Leica dealership with your new Leica M camera before buying them. Also investigate Zeiss ZM equivalent lenses which are very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted August 11, 2013 Share #8  Posted August 11, 2013 Yes welcome to the forum.  What's your remaining budget?  Cheers  Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted August 12, 2013 Share #9 Â Posted August 12, 2013 In the Leica stable i would choose a Summarit 35 or 50 but they are significantly more expensive that their Zeiss counterparts so i would say Planar 50/2 or Biogon 35/2.8. Best lenses for the price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted August 12, 2013 Share #10 Â Posted August 12, 2013 +1 for the Zeiss 35/2.8 Biogon. Â An excellent lens, about half the price (new and used) of the 35 Summarit which will hold it's value extremely well if you decide to sell it in the future. Â Welcome to the forum!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomgc61 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share #11  Posted August 12, 2013 Yes welcome to the forum.  What's your remaining budget?  Cheers  Philip  Again, thanks for all the replies and welcomes! I would hope to get something for about £1000 sterling. I'm certainly going to have a good look at the Zeiss lenses before buying a Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted August 12, 2013 Share #12  Posted August 12, 2013 Again, thanks for all the replies and welcomes! I would hope to get something for about £1000 sterling. I'm certainly going to have a good look at the Zeiss lenses before buying a Leica.  The Zeiss are excellent lenses and good value for the money, and for £1000 you could get a couple of them. Also don't rule out Voigtlander as there are many exceptional lenses (and a few not so great ones). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted August 12, 2013 Share #13  Posted August 12, 2013 I would start with a secondhand 50mm Summicron in that case, if you buy Zeiss you will hanker after Leica glass anyway, however good Zeiss are if you are anything like myself.  Check the dealers like  Stephens Premier RG Lewis Richard Caplan Red Dot (good reputation, but always seems grumpy to me !) Aperture (Really nice guy, not an official dealer as Im understand, but great if you want to chat and try) Don't forget the classifieds here, you can check the members name and see their threads to see if they are 'real'.  There are a few more as well, I have bought from all of the above. RG Lewis is my first go to.  Leica Mayfair are great too for trying out a few lenses and help Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted August 12, 2013 Share #14  Posted August 12, 2013 Again, thanks for all the replies and welcomes! I would hope to get something for about £1000 sterling. I'm certainly going to have a good look at the Zeiss lenses before buying a Leica.  Tom, I sent you a PM. Cheers Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MirekE Posted August 13, 2013 Share #15  Posted August 13, 2013 Hello - I am new to this forum and new to Leica but have just bought a new M 240 body. I don't have much budget remaining and so would appreciate any guidance from this forum as to what would be a good lens to get going with. I can't be over specific about what I will be shooting but it will be mostly natural light, potrait and landscape. Apologies in advance if this seems a stupid question!  Unless you eventually want to buy every focal length available, it may be a good time to decide what focal lengths you would like to eventually own and base your current purchasing decision on that. For example, if I wanted to have a 2-lens system, I would look for 35 and 75. If I wanted to have a 3-lens system, I would be looking for something like ~25, 50 and 90. So making one lens suggestion is difficult without knowing the bigger picture.  Having that said, with the budget you indicated, Zeiss lenses may be a great option. There are also at least two lenses from Voigtlander that are worth looking at - 35/1.2 and 21/1.8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 13, 2013 Share #16 Â Posted August 13, 2013 +1 for the Zeiss 35/2.8 Biogon. Â An excellent lens, about half the price (new and used) of the 35 Summarit which will hold it's value extremely well if you decide to sell it in the future. Â Welcome to the forum!!! Â My example produces a red edge on the M at all lens settings. It is indeed an excellent lens - on the Monochrom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted August 13, 2013 Share #17 Â Posted August 13, 2013 My example produces a red edge on the M at all lens settings. It is indeed an excellent lens - on the Monochrom. Â Thanks Jaap, when I owned this lens I used it with my M8 and film M bodies, so your input is appreciated. Hopefully the red edge can be improved in future firmware updates, although I realize that Zeiss lenses will not be the driving factor but nevertheless might benefit from other codes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeinzX Posted August 13, 2013 Share #18 Â Posted August 13, 2013 It really depends on that what are your favorite subjects of photography and if you will buy in future a further lens(es). A good advice for beginning and a good lens too is a 35 mm Summarit. For some a Elmarit 28 2,8 ASPH (i.e. for me) might even be a better choice. Very small, affordable price, high performance even with open aperture. Keep in mind, crops can always be made - but sometimes you simply need a wider angle - there is no way out (except stitching in some situations, but this is not always possible). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted August 13, 2013 Share #19 Â Posted August 13, 2013 All good advice, but I don't think you will go wrong with either a 35 or a 50. I agree a new Summarit may be a good choice. You also may be able to pick up a used Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomgc61 Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share #20 Â Posted August 13, 2013 Thanks everyone for the posts which have been so helpful. I have just acquired a used 50mm Summicron and hopefully will add a 35mm Voightlander or Zeiss to this. Â Again thanks to everyone who offered advice. Great to know that this forum is here to help! Â Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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