Leica R 35mm advice

[Lucio L.]

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Hi there!
I'm new to the Leica universe and I'm currently in the market for a 35mm with R mount.
Being a filmmaker,  top notch build quality and long focus throw are crucial to me, that's why I'd like to test some Leica lenses.
I work with Super35 sensors (similar to APS-C in size) so rendition at the edges of the 35mm frame is irrelevant to me.
Field curvature, CA, contrast and sharpness, on the other hand, are very important factors.
I'm looking for a lens that's fully usable at f/2 or at least 2.8, so even an Elmarit could be okay.
I hope that's enough information to receive some advice from the experienced Leica users.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Lucio

[a.noctilux]

Welcome Lucio,

If Elmarit-R 35mm (this one "III" ) , consensus from many people this is the best 35mm R lens.

Even with very demanding Kodachrome (my film days), I've found that my Summicron-R II ( like this one from wiki ... ) is good enough so never want another 35mm R, like

Summilux-R 35mm scarse and very expensive/weighthy .

I had never seen "bad 35mm R lens", if in good shape of course.

Tough of Leica R lens history :

When changing lens, I dropped my then 35mm Summicron-R from the height of my motobike on the road.

The focus ring was locked to infinity, but the rest was ok for the rest of my month long trip.

When I came back home I've replaced with another one that I always use.

The old Cron sold "cheap" (price of a filter ! ) to a happy tinkerer who was able to unlock the focus ring.

[earleygallery]

Your options are Summilux f1.4, Summicron f2 or Elmarit f2.8. 

If you're not using it on an R camera then you can benefit by looking for one of the earlier 1 or 2 cam lenses which usually sell for less than the 3 cam or 'R' lens. Look for a version 1 Summicron, I think you'd be very happy with that. 

[Lucio L.]

Thank you very much for the answers!
The Summicron is definitely the most attractive, due the speed/price balance, but I just found an Elmarit III version for a good price, so I'm leaning toward it, considering what a.noctilux wrote. I'm just not sure if the lens I found it's actually a third version. It has a built-in hood and a SN over 296XXXX, but the scale of distances ends with 3-5-10m instead of 2-4-10m like in the picture I see in the leica-wiki link. Are there 2 different versions of the III version?

[timo832000]

Build in hood is definetly series III, only the inscriptions have been changed around 1988. By the way, series II (with the square shaped hood) shares the same optics.

 

 

[Lucio L.]

Thank you all, I just ordered the Elmarit... can't wait to test my first Leica lens!

[Lucio L.]

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Just received the lens. Unfortunately, there's definitely something wrong with it, despite it looks and feels like new.
It doesn't focus beyond 50cm and everithing is a blurred mess. Gonna return it and try again...

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[timo832000]

That looks really bad. I hope you will find a decent one.

 

Are you located in Europe?

[Lucio L.]

I hope that too, I'm still looking around...

Yes, Italy.

[wizard]

Am 8.4.2019 um 12:48 schrieb Lucio L.:

It doesn't focus beyond 50cm and everithing is a blurred mess.

Wow, that looks like the lens was disassembled and then put together incorrectly. Normally, an Elmarit-R 35 should be tack sharp.

[wlaidlaw]

I can recommend buying R lenses from Dr. Thomas Merkt in Germany. His prices are very competitive and I have never had a bad used lens from him either M or R. He sells on eBay under the name of http://www.ebay.de/usr/toms-camera-laden The other folk I would recommend are Ffordes in Scotland. I have been using them since they were in Essex, more years ago than I care to remember. You get a no-quibble service from them and they will immediately refund if there is a problem with anything. 

Wilson

[bags27]

Why is the R35 Summicron (version 2) so much less expensive than pre-ASPH versions of the M? is that because it's around 9 ounces heavier? or is just the cult quality of the "glowing" early M Summis?

[wlaidlaw]

16 hours ago, bags27 said:

Why is the R35 Summicron (version 2) so much less expensive than pre-ASPH versions of the M? is that because it's around 9 ounces heavier? or is just the cult quality of the "glowing" early M Summis?

Supply and demand would  be the answer I would think. The same with the 50 Summicron-R lenses. I got a mint final ROM version of this lens in near mint condition for just over £300. I would have had to pay at least three times this for the M version in similar condition. The only lenses where this does not apply are the Summilux R lenses, where if anything, they are more than the equivalent M version. For example I picked up the rarest of all RF Summiluxes the 1999 year special edition LTM 50/1.4 Series 3 for £1800 in new/unused condition. I would have to pay slightly more than this an ordinary 50 Summilux R and about 50% more for a 35 Summilux R in similar condition. I understand this is due to demand from movie makers. 

Wilson

Edited May 10, 2019 by wlaidlaw

[bags27]

Thanks so much, Wilson. Very helpful. I recall reading somewhere that the R 50 Lux is also a favorite among videographers, adding to demand.

Ken

[wlaidlaw]

Ken, 

I cannot believe the demand for R Summiluxes is coming from the ever diminishing pool of R users. It is really only latecomers to the R system like me (albeit Leica RF user for over 60 years) that would like to get a 35 Summilux-R. Pre-Digital, when I used film SLR's, I was always a Contax user. I only bought a motor drive R9, as my motor drive M7 broke in November and is still being repaired. A motor drive R9 and 50 Summicron-R ROM cost me about half what a late M7 body alone would have cost. I have also now acquired a free R4-MOT, with Motor-Winder R4, which was all thought to be broken and came attached to a 500mm MR-Telyt-R I bought. It took me just over an hour to repair the R4 (corroded and dirty contacts on the mode and EV switches). 

Wilson

[AZN]

On 4/17/2019 at 1:31 AM, wizard said:

Wow, that looks like the lens was disassembled and then put together incorrectly

Unfortunately this happens a fair bit.  The R-35-lux ROM I bought a few years ago had a really strange L/R focus plane problem for distances > 10m.  Sent it off to DAG and he confirmed that the lens must have been reassembled incorrectly.  Apparently (hacks) take it apart to give the glass a clean and then slap the thing back together.  Looks nice, but the optics are shot.

For some lenses just send it back to the seller. For others it might actually be worth sending off to a technician to be properly realigned.  Chose the latter for my lens.  YMMV.

[cpclee]

1 hour ago, AZN said:

Unfortunately this happens a fair bit.  The R-35-lux ROM I bought a few years ago had a really strange L/R focus plane problem for distances > 10m.  Sent it off to DAG and he confirmed that the lens must have been reassembled incorrectly.  Apparently (hacks) take it apart to give the glass a clean and then slap the thing back together.  Looks nice, but the optics are shot.

For some lenses just send it back to the seller. For others it might actually be worth sending off to a technician to be properly realigned.  Chose the latter for my lens.  YMMV.

I had exactly the same issue with an 80/1.4 I purchased from Adorama.  This was years ago when that lens could still be bought for less than $1.5k.  I discovered the issue much too late and it was past the return period.  I then sent the lens to Leica US except even they couldn’t fix it and the lens had to go to Solms.  It came back good as new but costed me something close to $500. 

[AZN]

1 hour ago, cpclee said:

I had exactly the same issue

In 2017 I went on a Leica R lens shopping spree and bought a lot of lenses.  All of them ROM mount and in very good (superficial) condition. Luckily I only struck out with the 35-Lux, which DAG fixed.  Would have sent it to Solms, but I don't think they work on R lenses anymore.

Shame - these R optics are amazing, especially the "famous" ones (19mm v2, 28mm v2, 50mm E60 etc.).  Quite sobering to realise that optics designed over 20 years ago still hold up so well on modern and unforgiving 40+ MP digital cameras!

Edited May 25, 2019 by AZN

[integrale]

The Elmarit R 35/2.8 is an outstanding lens. I have one Leitax converted to Nikon F and I use it on my Nikon Df with great results.

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[AZN]

A few months ago I tried to buy the APO-35mm SL lens.  It was announced in early March and here we are in late June and, maybe, only fifty people world-wide have been able to buy one.

Rather than wait, bought the Elmarit-R 35mm to have a compact alternative to the the Summilux-R 35mm.

Finally had a chance yesterday to give the Elmarit a decent try-out (on a Leica SL Typ-601).  Amazing results.  Razor sharp with nice bokeh and colour.  Field curvature was minimal and works well for both landscape and up close (min distance is @ 30cm).  Despite what you read online, the Summilux is NOT a landscape lens, while the Summicron-35 is reported to have pretty severe curvature, especially when shooting middle distances.  Not a problem with the Elmarit.

So… if you are thinking of getting the Elmarit-35mm, go for it!

FWIW mine is a ROM (didn't know they made them with ROM contacts).  My R-to-L adapter recognises the lens automatically and records the focal length as 36mm, wth a min aperture of f2.97, so don't have to muck around with the EXIF to ID the lens.

Edited June 30, 2019 by AZN
Typos, add more info.