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What is your favourite non-leica lens?


Dikaiosune01

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I assume you mean lenses usable on the M system, with or with out an adapter.

 

My only non-Leica lens is the 12mm vc, fun ultra wide. Great for cityscapes. I am thinking about getting a lens baby, though.

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My intention is m mount lenses made from any manufacture other than leica.

 

I'm wondering because there has to be some lenses that leica doesn't offer. Your 12mm lens is a great example of that. However, I'm hoping for more responses that goes beyond the focal length. I want to learn more about the different aesthetics and rendering that different lenses have.

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Well you have VC, Zeiss, and a few others like Canon. I could give you an in-depth comparing my 12 to the Leica version, but I can't since there isn't one. I does hold it's own when properly used.

 

However now that the M240 has LV, that opens the door to any manual lens from any manufacture. I have novoflex M to K adapter, and am planning to use the lens baby on my M. But the sky is the limit, so this is now a very large topic.

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Mine would be the original (not the current ZM) Carl Zeiss 5cm f/1.5 Sonnar or one of the Russian Jupiter 3 knock-offs. I own both an uncoated 1937 Sonnar and a coated 1963 Jupiter 3 and both are just outstanding on my M Monochrom and on film. Gorgeous rendering, outstanding bokeh, and actually quite cheap.

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  • Voigtlander Nokton 35/1.2 v2: Not only the fastest 35mm lens available, but it really has a character on its own with a wonderful blend of classical and modern rendering. Though substantial in size, but only with respect to RF lenses. As many attest to it, from among the Voigtlander line up, this is one of the best ones.
     
  • Zeiss Planar 50/2: : A very sharp lens from wide open, where Zeiss probably pushed the classical Planar formula as far as possible, without having to use exotic lens elements. An ingenious achievement I would say. It has a truly transparent rendering, versatile, bokeh is usually nice, and it's still quite compact (even if not as much as a Summicron). IMHO, a clear winner in price/performance ratio.
     
  • Nippon Kogaku Nikkor 8.5cm/2: An older, classical lens, with a Sonnar lens design. It has a beautiful character. Not as contrasty as modern lenses, but sharp enough already wide open, close up performance is great.

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Zeiss 35/2 It replaced a 35 Summilux non FLE that was still out of calibration after two trips to Soloms. Love the color and its rendition, plus the ease of focusing.

 

Zeiss 21/2.8 Superb for the $$$. (I use that excellent Zeiss 21 finder with it). I don't use the 21 often, and the price differential for the Leica wasn't worth it. IMO, it's an excellent lens.

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Voigtlander:

75mm - great for portraits. Price enabled this seldom used length.

35mm 2.5 - like the low profile (but has been superseded by Summi-C 40 2.0 - an amazing little performer)

 

Zeiss

24mm - Again, price enabled seldom used length, really great when you need it tho

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Zeiss Sonnar f1.5/50mm

Rollei RF Sonnar f2.8/40mm

Konica UC f2.0/35mm ltm

M-Hexanon limited f1.2/50mm

Konica Dual 21-35mm.

 

Konica f1.2/60 ltm limited was my favorite , had to sell it when the prices have reached insane level

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  •  
     
  • Nippon Kogaku Nikkor 8.5cm/2: An older, classical lens, with a Sonnar lens design. It has a beautiful character. Not as contrasty as modern lenses, but sharp enough already wide open, close up performance is great.

In my view, the 8.5cm / 2 Nikkor is one of the best portrait lens. I had it for a whole decade.

 

Another rare portrait lens is a fantastic f2.8/80 Zeiss Panar from the Rollei RF set. It is a very well acclaimed optics taken from the Rolleiflex 80/2.8. It is a classic.

I bought it even before I bought my first Leica. It came with the Nikon adapter for my Nikon FG20.

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