Affordable Screw-Mount L39 Options?

[Martin B]

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An update from my side about the challenge exploring options for affordable 35 mm screw-mount lenses on the Leica IIIc. I purchased a nice looking Jupiter-12 lens recently, but I was not too thrilled by its performance. I had no issues with focusing wide open at f/2.8 on the Leica camera either which supposedly could be an issue as others stated here in this forum. But I did not like that the lens has very mushy corners which only start getting better at f/8 and f/11 - so it turned out being a very slow lens in practical terms to achieve decent performance. The center of the image on the other hand remains sharp even at f/2.8 - the background blur is nice and has a special character with this lens. Flaring is just horrible - I even encountered it when the sun was not even fully on the side and more backwards. After shooting a roll of film with it, I decided to let this lens go and put it up for sale. 

With patience and luck I have found now a great deal online for a chrome Canon Serenar 35/2.8 LTM lens (got it for $157). The lens arrived in very good condition, aperture and focus ring work very smooth. I will report back after I took photos with it. 

[Pyrogallol]

2 hours ago, Martin B said:

An update from my side about the challenge exploring options for affordable 35 mm screw-mount lenses on the Leica IIIc. I purchased a nice looking Jupiter-12 lens recently, but I was not too thrilled by its performance. I had no issues with focusing wide open at f/2.8 on the Leica camera either which supposedly could be an issue as others stated here in this forum. But I did not like that the lens has very mushy corners which only start getting better at f/8 and f/11 - so it turned out being a very slow lens in practical terms to achieve decent performance. The center of the image on the other hand remains sharp even at f/2.8 - the background blur is nice and has a special character with this lens. Flaring is just horrible - I even encountered it when the sun was not even fully on the side and more backwards. After shooting a roll of film with it, I decided to let this lens go and put it up for sale. 

With patience and luck I have found now a great deal online for a chrome Canon Serenar 35/2.8 LTM lens (got it for $157). The lens arrived in very good condition, aperture and focus ring work very smooth. I will report back after I took photos with it. 

I have a 35mm f2.8 Canon, amongst others, and it is very good. My Leica repair man said it was as good as a contemporary Summicron when he serviced it.

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[Martin B]

17 minutes ago, Pyrogallol said:

I have a 35mm f2.8 Canon, amongst others, and it is very good. My Leica repair man said it was as good as a contemporary Summicron when he serviced it.

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Thanks - I read similar good sounding reports but recommendations to better avoid the older Canon 35/3.5 version due to much lower sharpness. But online even the f/3.5 versions go above $150 easily. The Canon one in the middle of your photo is the version I got. 

Edited October 10, 2019 by Martin B

[peterkinchington]

On 8/20/2019 at 12:44 AM, Martin B said:

Getting a SLR lens - L39/LTM adapter. This could work well for wider lenses where accurate focus is not so critical. I have a good Minolta 35/2.8 MD lens which I bought years ago for $30 in a store. No problem to find for example a MD-E-mount adapter, but best of luck finding a MD-L39 adapter. Oh yes, there is one made by Novoflex - for a crazy price tag of $100! Ridiculous like always with Novoflex gear. Unfortunately - and bit of a surprise to me - none of the known Chinese adapter brands offer this kind of adapter (at least I didn't find any alternative to the Novoflex one). 

Does anybody have an alternative I didn't think of? I am sure others must have had similar thoughts in the past. 

Hi Martin, I recently made a Minolta lens to L39 screw mount adapter using minimal tools and low cost parts. I am able to focus on infinity with all my manual minolta lenses. You can see how to make it here on my website.

https://peterkinchington.com/diy-leica-l39-adapter.html

Cheers Kanga

 

Edited April 11, 2024 by peterkinchington
inserting link url

[Alberti]

I even think the Canon 35/2.8 is as good as my older 35mm Summicrons. I coded it as 35mm Summilux FLE and that is a great match. The results do not reflect the fact that the lens housing is rusted.

As 28mm LTM I can recommend the Orion-15, I bought one from a Ukranian seller who had adjusted it to Leitz flange thickness. It is perfect and mucho better than the Summaron in the corners. It is equal at F8 to the Summilux 28 just to explain. Skyllaney Opto does the job too of adjusting this Rusky. 

And 50 - I really love the Jupiter lenses. But look at again Skyllaney for them. . . . they adjust them, but not for the continentals. THey got sick after the Brexit it seems..

Much better is the Canon 50mm F/1.4 LTM.  I often prefer it to Leica glass. But mine has a loose focus ring. Build quality is less.s.s. 

Some also like the 50mm f1.8 but I never tried it. 

The 50 Canolux in action:

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Edited April 11, 2024 by Alberti

[peterkinchington]

 

On 4/11/2024 at 11:21 PM, Alberti said:

Much better is the Canon 50mm F/1.4 LTM.  I often prefer it to Leica glass.

The Canon f1.4 ltm gives a lovely rendition!  What aperture did you use in this portrait?

[UliWer]

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Am 11.4.2024 um 08:37 schrieb peterkinchington:

Hi Martin, I recently made a Minolta lens to L39 screw mount adapter using minimal tools and low cost parts. I am able to focus on infinity with all my manual minolta lenses. You can see how to make it here on my website.

https://peterkinchington.com/diy-leica-l39-adapter.html

Unfortunately both links don't work. Can you please check them?