135mm Canon LTM sort-of Review

[dsedov]

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I spend some more time today with my new 135mm Canon LTM lens that I bought for $75. Frankly, I'm very pleasantly surprised. Here is a very short review with many example pictures. Are there any other gems that sell for nothing but produce interesting images?

 

Review of 135mm Canon LTM Lens

[Dan Bachmann]

My opinion is the same on this lens, though there are several versions. Mine is the f3.5 which I think was from the 1960s. For other finds, see the view through older glass threads.

I'm very lucky to have a good copy of a Zorki Industar 22 5cm f3.5 (LTM collapsible version from the early 1950s) which is surpassed by my technically Summilux in every way, but it is surprises me how good this is. Many report it is a matter of luck if you get a lemon or a good one with Russian lenses like this. As you can see from the above example, there is a different look/softness to the older lens which I find equally appealing and now we go down a slope of different renderings.

 

Industar 22 vs 50mm Summilux Pre Asph

 

 

The other great finds are also LTM, but the prices creep up. The Voigtlander 35mm Ultron f1.7 asph and 75mm Color Heliar f2.5 are wonderful giving a look that is half way between old LTM glass and modern Leica ASPH lenses. Others will disagree on the glory of the 35mm Ultron due to flare, but I've not had an issue with it. Also note, I am excluding the Voigtander 35mm f2.0 M due to focus shift.

The Voigtlander 28mm f1.9 LTM is also outstanding. The only reason I sold it was I didn't like the large size blocking the M finder.

Because of all this great LTM glass, I ended up getting a Leica IIIb, but that's another story.

[DMJ]

I agree about the VM 35mm f1.7 Ultron from Voightlanders 'Vintage line'.  I also find the VM 50mm f1.5 Vintage Line lens to be simular in rendition, almost pre-aspherical in its look.

[spydrxx]

A lot of Leica LTM newbies ignore the hidden treasures of other LTM manufacturers until somebody gives them a nudge to try some of them. Like you, I've found a few which I use quite a bit and won't part with. I love the rendering of some of the old Leica LTM lenses, but the introduction of M4/3 and other modern digital bodies which can use these lenses has driven many of them out of the bargain range causing some of us to open our minds to alternatives. I'm just  glad there are a number of really good alternatives out there.