What lens for a Monochrom?

[scatolina]

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Hello,

 

I have a Monochrom and I use it with Voigtlander lenses which are:

Ultron 28 f 1:9 Aspherical

Nokton 35 f 1:2 Aspherical

Nokton 50 f 1:5 Aspherical

 

Now I want to buy a Leica 50 mm and 35 mm.

Please what are your opinions?

 

Thanks, ciao,

 

Claudio

[Guest Marc G.]

Hello,

 

I have a Monochrom and I use it with Voigtlander lenses which are:

Ultron 28 f 1:9 Aspherical

Nokton 35 f 1:2 Aspherical

Nokton 50 f 1:5 Aspherical

 

Now I want to buy a Leica 50 mm and 35 mm.

Please what are your opinions?

 

Thanks, ciao,

 

Claudio

 

Do you want/need smaller lenses? If so: Summarits. If you want fast Leica glass then look at the Summiluxes

[Ecar]

There are several excellent options - new and used.

What budget do you have in mind?

[Vu Bui]

I have really been loving the 50mm Summicron rigid from ~1957 I bought at the same time as the MM. I feel like the slight softness compared to the new ultra-sharp Summicron complemements the sensor nicely.

[mmx_2]

The elmar 50 2.8 is great! Small, light Weight, cheap and renders beautifully on the MM

[jaapv]

But get the later Elmar-M. It is a substantially better lens and renders beautifully on the Monochrom by putting a minimum of glass between your subject and the sensor.

[algrove]

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The Summicron 35/2 V4 renders beautifully on the Monochrom as does the APO50. Do not rule out the Summicron 40/2.0 C lens which performs very admirably on the MM. For the price you might want to start with this lens which still probably sells for around $600.

[tomasis7]

Buy summarits and 25mm elmar and sell off Vgt

[Ulev]

I like my Zeiss Sonnar 50 1.5

 

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[jaapv]

Actually just about anyens performs beautifully on the Monochrom, especially older lenses. Reason: the absence of chromatic aberration when using a colour filter.

[sm23221]

Actually just about anyens performs beautifully on the Monochrom, especially older lenses. Reason: the absence of chromatic aberration when using a colour filter.

 

In my experience if the lens is not apochromatic, orange and red filtration makes it very difficult to achieve focus.

[scatolina]

thanks for replies!!!!

You are very kind!

Other people suggested me older lenses...like summilux 50 mm of '60...and 36 mm summicron 8 elements...

This last one is not easy to find and high in price too...

New Summarit M probably are better on a colour camera and not in MM...

do you agree?

 

Ciao

 

Claudio

[algrove]

Yes, that would be a good plan. Why notbryntomfind a store that has lots of older lenses and just try them on your Monochrom.

 

Did you take a look at a Summicron 40?

[scatolina]

Thanks

For summicron 40 do you mean 11542?

Why is it so good in your opinion?

Thanks

Claudio

[swamiji]

I think this question is asked the wrong way around. I would not ask "What lens for a Monochrom?". I would ask, "What look do I want from my pictures with a Monochrom, and what lens is best to achieve it?". As Jaap mentioned all lenses render well on a Monochrom, often better than it's color counter parts, but also as mentioned by sm23221 not all lenses are suitable to obtain the look you wish (ie: red filter shift).

 

I think to get the true answer you wish for, you need to decide what is your goal. Sharpness? Softness? That Leica Glow? Are you using this for Landscape, portraits, Architecture? Once this is decided, then you can reduce the lens playing field to something that is comprehensible. Asking such a vague question, people will give their favorite lenses for their purpose, not yours.

[scatolina]

Thank you Very much ad excuse me for my question no so good.

I generally like portraits to my little child and street reportage...

Sometimes landscape but no so often...

Thanks

Claudio

[swamiji]

Thank you Very much ad excuse me for my question no so good.

I generally like portraits to my little child and street reportage...

Sometimes landscape but no so often...

Thanks

Claudio

 

Well, I would go a little wider, 35mm or maybe 28mm. Both are classic street reportage lenses. For my Child, who like to run around, the 28mm would allow me to capture the action. If you want extreme sharpness, in this range the 28mm Elmarit-M ASPH, is quite excellent, if you want something softer, the older 35mm Summilux is also quite nice, and small.

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[250swb]

I think this question is asked the wrong way around. I would not ask "What lens for a Monochrom?". I would ask, "What look do I want from my pictures with a Monochrom, and what lens is best to achieve it?".

 

He's already got three CV lenses that are each noted for the look the lens imparts. I'm not sure yet more 'look' is what he needs, especially as so far he hasn't got a lens to show what the MM sensor can do without things becoming overtly 'characterful' at wider apertures.

 

So for children portraits and 'street' I'd say the lens should be a 50mm Summicron, the more modern the better. It will be fast enough for shallow DOF, sharp at all apertures, won't impart some weird bokeh wide open, will cleanly show the resolution possible with the MM, be a datum point against which other lenses are judged, and it won't steal the show by forcing a look on the image.

 

Steve

[swamiji]

I don't subscribe to the notion that portraits need be done with a 50. I prefer environmental portraits, that include what the child is doing. Especially when it's your child, and extremely close to the action.

 

As far as the 50 Cron is concerned its old, not as sharp as the more recent Summilux . In fact I have seen debate on which is better the 50 Cron and it's Summarit brother. Now. If you are speaking about the 50 APO Cron, that is entirely different, but at 7k, I would be reluctant to recommend it.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[250swb]

 

As far as the 50 Cron is concerned its old, not as sharp as the more recent Summilux .

 

I wouldn't suggest a Summilux because it seems budget is a consideration. But regarding the 50mm Summicron, you seem down on it because it is old. But why is it 'old'? The fact that it hasn't been replaced for a long, long time suggests to me that there is a logical answer that defies ageism.

 

Steve