Geoff Marshall Posted December 12, 2018 Share #1 Posted December 12, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just looking for some recommendations for modern lenses for use on screw bodies as I’m thinking about taking my IIIf with me on my next holiday and was thinking about shooting transparency films with it. ( I don’t think my Summitar would give me the results I want ). I was thinking along the lines of a 50 or 35 but will consider other ideas if the lenses are easy to get hold of and not going to cripple my bank account 🙂. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 Hi Geoff Marshall, Take a look here Anyone using modern glass on their screw cameras. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Pyrogallol Posted December 12, 2018 Share #2 Posted December 12, 2018 I have used 25mm and 35mm Voigtlander lenses which are very good and relatively cheap. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 12, 2018 Share #3 Posted December 12, 2018 53 minutes ago, Pyrogallol said: I have used 25mm and 35mm Voigtlander lenses which are very good and relatively cheap. Same here, excellent lenses and they did a 50 Skopar as well (although I'd prefer a Red Scale 5cm Elmar). The 25mm in 'Snapshot' form is a great street lens. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted December 12, 2018 Share #4 Posted December 12, 2018 I’ve tried a Voigtlander 50 2.5, which is quite small, but my sample isn’t especially sharp. I do like the f2.0 Heliar in nickel, that looks like a rigid Summar. The 50 1.5 ltm Nokton gives excellent results, but is too big and blocks too much of the finder. I usually go back to an Elmar or collapsible Summicron. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted December 12, 2018 Share #5 Posted December 12, 2018 1 hour ago, Pyrogallol said: I have used 25mm and 35mm Voigtlander lenses which are very good and relatively cheap. LTM versions or with adapters? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 13, 2018 Share #6 Posted December 13, 2018 AFAIK an M to LTM adapter is not possible. So these can only be LTM versions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted December 13, 2018 Share #7 Posted December 13, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) 12 minutes ago, frame-it said: LTM versions or with adapters? It is not possible to use an M lens on an LTM camera. I have used a Voigtlander 50 Skopar on a IIf with good results, but I would still prefer to use period lenses. Two of the best from the 1950s were the 35mm f2.8 Summaron in LTM mount and its Canon equivalent, which are both equally good and produce a 'modern look'. My idea of a 'modern lens' is the LTM version of the 50mm f 2.8 Elmar made between 50 and 60 years ago. I have one on its way to me and the M version which I have already is pretty good. One other point for the OP is that screw versions of lenses such as the 50mm Summilux were produced in small numbers and fetch very high prices as a result. William 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted December 13, 2018 Share #8 Posted December 13, 2018 (edited) The first Voigtlander 15mm f4 is a modern lens and came as ltm mount. No rangefinder focusing, ... but just zone focusing. It's very quick to use as a snapshot camera. Can use a Voiglander 15mm finder...or as i do just aim along the hotshoe to get your picture but be careful not to include your feet...😲 Great lens and tiny. Edited December 13, 2018 by david strachan 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 13, 2018 Share #9 Posted December 13, 2018 45 minutes ago, willeica said: It is not possible to use an M lens on an LTM camera. I have used a Voigtlander 50 Skopar on a IIf with good results, but I would still prefer to use period lenses. Two of the best from the 1950s were the 35mm f2.8 Summaron in LTM mount and its Canon equivalent, which are both equally good and produce a 'modern look'. My idea of a 'modern lens' is the LTM version of the 50mm f 2.8 Elmar made between 50 and 60 years ago. I have one on its way to me and the M version which I have already is pretty good. One other point for the OP is that screw versions of lenses such as the 50mm Summilux were produced in small numbers and fetch very high prices as a result. William And the Canon 1.8/50 as well. However, these Canons are rather period-Japanese in their colour rendering, producing pastel-like colours. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 13, 2018 Share #10 Posted December 13, 2018 1 hour ago, david strachan said: The first Voigtlander 15mm f4 is a modern lens and came as ltm mount. No rangefinder focusing Mine. version-1 was so bad I put it away forever. Maybe the later versions are better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 13, 2018 Share #11 Posted December 13, 2018 1 hour ago, jaapv said: And the Canon 1.8/50 as well. However, these Canons are rather period-Japanese in their colour rendering, producing pastel-like colours. Dinna ferget the Canon 50mm ƒ0.95. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambro51 Posted December 13, 2018 Share #12 Posted December 13, 2018 There are Nikon F mount to LTM adaptors, this gives you big Nikon glass Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted December 13, 2018 Share #13 Posted December 13, 2018 20 minutes ago, pico said: Mine. version-1 was so bad I put it away forever. Maybe the later versions are better. Mmm...don't know why. I'm a pixel peeper and found mine v good. There seems to be a huge range of opinions on Voigtlander lenses...i agree not all are good. Lots of back-focus generally...and like Leica quality control varies. ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted December 13, 2018 Share #14 Posted December 13, 2018 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Ambro51 said: There are Nikon F mount to LTM adaptors, this gives you big Nikon glass I love the Nikkor zooms on my M-P...but live view is required, for all Nikkors...won't work on ltm cameras. ... Edited December 13, 2018 by david strachan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romualdo Posted December 13, 2018 Share #15 Posted December 13, 2018 My favourite "modern but not so modern " Leica LTM lens would have to be the 35 f2.8 Summaron followed by the cron 50 LTM (original version). The Summaron is compact & ergonomically ideal for me - a classic IMHO. With regards to "modern modern" LTM lenses, I like & have the CV 15 f4.5 & 21 f4, both small lenses & complement the screwmount bodies 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted December 13, 2018 Share #16 Posted December 13, 2018 I have used the Voigtlander: 15mm, 25mm, 50mm f/1.5, and 75 f/2.5 in LTM mount (either on the early C/V Bessa L, or via adapter on Ms) - I found them all to be quite competent. I have briefly tried the 21 f/4, 35 f/1.7 and 90 APO-Lanthar, also very competent. There was a time in the 70s-80s when, if C/V had been producing their LTM line then, I would very happily have used them on a Canon P rangefinder (same mount as Leica LTM, much more functional than the Leicas). Probably 15, 21, 35, 90. But - times and requirements changed.... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted December 13, 2018 Share #17 Posted December 13, 2018 I use the Voigtlander 28mm, 35mm, and 75mm and while it isn't a modern lens the Canon 50mm f1.8. All are very good lenses and they also have the advantage of being the perfect size for an LTM body, if necessary you can carry all of them in a small bag. In terms of buying any they are all pretty common on that well known auction site so there's no need to buy the first you see. Except that is for the superb and rare 28mm f/3.5 Skopar, for which you should grab the first you see. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted December 13, 2018 Share #18 Posted December 13, 2018 I began using some of the CV glass about 3 years ago on my LTM bodies. Generally I'm quite pleased having used the 35/2.5 Color Skopar, 50/1.5 Nokton Asph, and 75/2.4 Color Heliar. I thought I'd really like the 15 but found I didn't use it very much so sold it. I'm presently experimenting with the 21/4 Color Skopar and find that I really like it but it is taking a little getting used to. Overall, I'd have to say that these modern lenses more than meet my needs at a price point well below their Leica counterparts. I have several older Canon, Nikon, and Tanaka lenses in the LTM mounts and find them pretty close in results to their Leica equivalents, although the fit, finish and feel are quite different from those produced by Leica. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted December 13, 2018 Share #19 Posted December 13, 2018 I have Voigtlander 15/4.5 21/4 28/1.9 35/2.5 and 75/2.5. Used on M3 as well as the III. I also had the original 25/4 but swopped it for the 21 and 28. All are good and an interesting comparison to the 'traditional ' LTM lenses I have for the III, 35/3.5 Summaron, 50/3.5 Elmar (overhauled but left uncoated for interest) 50/2.8 Elmar, 90 Elmar and 135/4 Elmar. Gerry 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Marshall Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share #20 Posted December 13, 2018 Thanks for all the helpful replies everyone, I will have a look at some of the recommendations I’ve received and I have also seen a nice Elmar 50 f3.5 I may just buy as well. Looking at some of the test shots taken with this particular example it seems to have excellent sharpness and contrast. Geoff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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