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Zeiss lenses for Leica M


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Please excuse the newbie question. I am a month or two out from getting my M10 and can't decide what lenses to get. I'm not near a local photo shop to try any lenses out (and obviously don't have a body yet either). I sold my M9 years ago and kept a Leica 90 macro Elmar. I have been using a little Oly m4/3 system for travel and the results are good enough but nothing like the Leica M shots I have or see online.

I'm thinking I will end up with a Leica 28 Summicron and 50 Summilux or APO but when I look back at the photos I've taken, most are 24mm and only some are 50mm.

 

So until I have time to re-experience the new M and decide what Leica lenses to get, I'm thinking of trying a couple Zeiss lenses but know very little about them.

 

Any thoughts on the Zeiss 25/2.8 Biogon and the Zeiss 50/2 Planar?

 

Thanks!

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I am quite contented with the Zeiss 50 mm planar on the Leica SL and T. And, wonderfully priced.

 

I had tried the Zeiss 35 f2 biogon as well. Not as sharp, but wonderful colors and again, at a terrific price.

 

 

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I have had both lenses and was very happy with results from both.  I upgraded to the 50 Summilux ASPH but remember the 50 Planars rendition fondly.  It had nice color, good sharpness and pleasing out of focus character.  Would have kept it if I could afford both.  The 25/2.8 is my go-to wide angle, bought it for the M8 and used it since.  

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Greetings.  It is my experiece that despite my admiration for the Zeiss lenses I aquired, I found that they did not provide me with a stable platform.  And with a stable plateform, I mean a group of lenses with which there is little urge, need, or desire to upgrade to something different.  In all cases, their Leica equivalents were, or will be, acquired.  While it was an enjoyable experience, it incurred additional cost, and have I known what I know now, I would not have taken the Zeiss route in the first instance.  

 

There is also another middle-of-the-road argument.  It starts with the premise that the Leica experience is defined in terms of its 35mm and 50mm prime Summicron and Summilux lenses.  Other would also add the 28 and the 90 to complete the Leica feel, look and touch.  With the acquisition of Leica primes (as per your preferences), maybe it is then attractive to branch out and expand the horizon with Zeiss lenses.  Examples of these lenses from the Zeiss line include above mentioned, and the almost legend, 25mm. 

 

I am sure other more experienced members in the forum will be of help here.  Hastily added, however, enjoy the trip, and enjoy it in good health.  Best.     

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The 50 1.4/ASPH is the last Leica lens I use regularly. Now use Zeiss for everything else. 25/2.8, 35/2.8 C-Biogon, 35/1.4ZM Distagon. I also have the 50/2.8 Planar. It has a bit of focus shift on my 262 at large apertures close in. It's a great on the Sony A7 where it's used most unless shooting on a film M.  I prefer the OOF look of the Leica 50 ASPH over the 50 Planar. Cannot find anything to criticize about the 25mm. Stellar lens at this focal length.

 

Considering renting the 50 Planar and 25 from Lensrentals if you have time.

 

You might find this interesting:

Comparing Rangefinder and SLR 50mm Lenses.
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I use the Biogon 21mm 2.8 ZM on an M9 - not much, but I'm mostly happy with the results. With a lens that wide, it really depends on your subject.

Here's a sample (No artistic merit - for work)

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.

Don't know if you shoot film also, but if you do, filter size comes into play, imo. Might be worth considering.

Good luck with your M10!

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Zeiss Biogon 21mm 2.8 ZM

Here's one at infinity w/out foreground:

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xxx

 

There is also another middle-of-the-road argument.  It starts with the premise that the Leica experience is defined in terms of its 35mm and 50mm prime Summicron and Summilux lenses.  Other would also add the 28 and the 90 to complete the Leica feel, look and touch.  With the acquisition of Leica primes (as per your preferences), maybe it is then attractive to branch out and expand the horizon with Zeiss lenses.  Examples of these lenses from the Zeiss line include above mentioned, and the almost legend, 25mm. 

 

xxx

 

 

Very well said. 

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What about the frames in the rangefinder. Do you use the 25mm lens with the 28mm frames or how does it work for you? Thanks, Tom

 

 

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I have an early version that brings up the 35 frame line pair.  It was originally intended for the M8.  I like it as it allows me to see into the corners better than if the 28 lines were there.  I use the entire viewfinder frame to compose, there is a little extra coverage but I've gotten use to it.  Especially when I have converging lines, I take care to keep the subject (ie. trees, tall buildings, etc) within the frame so that when I alter the convergence in photoshop I can lose some area on the sides of the picture when the subject is straightened.    

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I like much my ZM Biogon 35/2.8 and Sonnar 50/1.5. Both are compact to begin with, on par with their Leica counterparts. The Biogon is my favorite 35 in good light. It is very contrasty but for those who like that it is razor sharp with smooth bokeh at all apertures and distances including in macro shots. Only flaw is vignetting but it is not an issue for raw shooters. As for the Sonnar, it is my favorite 50 for portrait. It is not a perfect lens but i like much its relative softness at full aperture, more so than that of my Summilux 50/1.4 v2 & v3. I don't use it much on M bodies though as it suffers from focus shift. But it shines on my Sony A7s mod where its 0.9m minimum focus distance is not a problem thanks to the V-ME close focus adapter. FWIW.

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I owned some Leitz and Leica made lenses as well...

Due to this and just personally I'm not finding current Zeiss ZM lenses on pair with any Leica/Leitz I owned. While some ZMs are great, better or worse optically, I simply can't stand long and tooth shaking aperture rings and rudimentary focus tabs, which they have all in ZM. And focus ring smoothness and feel is not on pair with Leica lenses, either. It is great lenses if you are shooting landscapes on the tripod with taking all of the time you have and more. But for some of us the Leica lens with real focus tab and smooth and even focusing brings "fiddling"  like experience. Fast, pleasant and intuitive. No Zeiss can do, IMO.

 

In particular, NiB Zeiss Planar 50/2T* was as I described and has no pinch in the images comparing to old, beaten and focus shifting... the Rigid. 

 

I'm not Zeiss hater, only wish they skip this weird design. Zeiss Biogon C 35 2.8 is very nice lens optically, but here is no way I'll be able to fiddle it. Instead is is like operating the school bus. 

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I bought a used Zeiss 50mm Sonnar f1.5 to use on my M9, and in my opinion it is one of the best lenses I have ever used in 50++ years of photography. I would not hesitate in recommending Zeiss lenses based on the one I have.

 

Gerry

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[...] While some ZMs are great, better or worse optically, I simply can't stand long and tooth shaking aperture rings and rudimentary focus tabs, which they have all in ZM. And focus ring smoothness and feel is not on pair with Leica lenses, either. It is great lenses if you are shooting landscapes on the tripod with taking all of the time you have and more. But for some of us the Leica lens with real focus tab and smooth and even focusing brings "fiddling"  like experience. Fast, pleasant and intuitive. No Zeiss can do, IMO. [...]

 

My experience is limited to ZM 35/2.8 & 50/1.5 but it doesn't match yours i must say. Focus ring smoothness is perfect for me, on par with my pre-asph Leitz lenses and sometimes superior to my Leica asph ones i must say. Aperture rings are not shaking at all and focus tabs are indeed rudimentary but hardly more so than those of my Leitz and Leica 35/1.4 v2, 35/2 v4, 50/2 v4, 35/2.5 or 50/2.5 to be honest. YMMV.

Edited by lct
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