What cheap/affordable vintage Leica M mount lens to get?

[Ecar]

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10 hours ago, darkinners said:

It has to be native M mount, I am not interested in LTM lens at the moment.

Why, if I may ask? You are excluding from your search some of the most interesting lenses ever made - Leica or not. Good quality adapter rings are easy to find, less than 100$, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between native M and LTM cum adapter in actual use.

[darylgo]

To go further with the LTM, the original 35mm Elmar has character from the central 3mm outward, nothing is sharp.  When combined with modern digital cameras it's well worth the money invested.  The adapters can be difficult but a good file can loosen them up nicely.  

[luigi bertolotti]

If you want to stay  well into yur budget : Summaron 35 f 3,5  LTM A36.

[Erato]

16 hours ago, darkinners said:

Ideally I want the lens to compatible to the digital M(M10-R, M10-P ) as well, so collapsible should be my last consideration, I am not totally reject the idea to get the DR/Collapse lens if they are cheap enough, I might just buy them for the film camera only (MP and coming in M2) 

The 50cron you mention is that the Rigid? If so yes this is totally one of the top contender, it's cheap enough and very easy to find one locally. Though, do you know any optical difference between the early and late version? Earlier version if I remember correctly, it has the infinitely lock. 

First 35Lux as in Steel Rim? Those price are skyrocketed this year, I really want to get one but the used price even for Canada version is approaching 5,000 a pop now, Germany version is even more expensive, I remember it used to be roughly 3,000 2 years ago. 

I am using M10-P, M10-R, MP Film and have an M2 coming in. Ideally I want to use the lens on both film and digital but if the lens is really cheap, I can live with Film camera only. 

38mm Summaron seems a very good choice, easy to find and still able to find one for less than 1,300 if I look hard enough. Thanks man!

And the 5cm 1.5 is a really good call, I totally forgot this one exist, as well as the old Voigtlander 50 1.5 Nokton. I will put these into consideration as well.

It looks really nice! Thank you for the suggestion, yes I think I am very likely to get the 35mm Summaron. 

 

 

Since your M2 is on the way, then the Summaron 3.5cm F3.5 V1 plus LTM adapter would be a cost-effective option(price range from $400 to $800). It's a best-built quality, substantial and classic outlook. It might be fitting your taste perfectly if you're looking for old fashion combination.

V2 or else shall be alternative options if you hold negative thoughts against the LTM. But trust me, it won't be an issue if you choose the right adapter(LTM to Leica M) accordingly.

If you're looking for outstanding sharpness, step down to F8, the old-school optical quality might surprise you a bit. Again, it's a matter of taste.

The thing is that you're willing to explore the sweet spot of the low contrast and high dynamic range lens by using the old-school lenses, which is a different approach, but every penny is experience-worthy.

BTW, this lens shall provide a well-balanced result that may make your M10-R images not too clinical.

 

FYR.

1949-1956 SOONC, LTM, A36 filter, focusing rage from 1M to infinity

1954-1960 SOONC-M, Leica M bayonet, A36 filter, focusing rage from 1M to infinity

1956-1960 SOONC-MW Google, Leica M bayonet, A39 filter, focusing rage 0.65M to infinity., remark: SOONC-MW is for M3 and the SOONC-MT is for M2.

1957-1960 SOONC, LTM, A39 filter, focusing rage from 1M to infinity

1957-1960 SOONC-M, Leica M bayonet, A39 filter, focusing rage from 1M to infinity

1958 Some variants are fitting M1/MD for 35mm frame line., Leica M bayonet, A39 filter, focusing rage from 0.65M to infinity.

Edited December 26, 2020 by Erato

[darkinners]

13 hours ago, Ecar said:

Why, if I may ask? You are excluding from your search some of the most interesting lenses ever made - Leica or not. Good quality adapter rings are easy to find, less than 100$, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between native M and LTM cum adapter in actual use.

The reason I don't want LTM lens I do not want to deal with the adapter. I have the adapter and I used have screw mount lens. 

It's very slow and inconvenient when I want to switch lens from LTM to Native M mount lens on the street and sometimes I put the LTM lens with the adapter and rear lens cap in the camera bag. When you undo the rear lens cap, the adapter stay on the cap and the lens unscrew from the adapter instead then it would be very hard to remove that thin adapter from the rear lens cap. 

So it's not about the optical quality of the LTM lens, it's more of the inconvenient I don't want to partake.

[darkinners]

17 hours ago, sinjun said:

My recommendation would be the 40mm summicron C - I love its gentle sharpness. Costs much less than the 35mm summaron, which I also have but don't rate as highly. Would also second Andy's recommendation of the 50mm summarit f1.5. Its 'character' can be too much for some wide open but it gives some unique shots and is perfectly respectable stopped down a little.

How is your experiencel about framing the 40mm lens in the M viewfinder? since there is no 40mm frameline. I never tried the 40mm on M camera. 

[Matlock]

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32 minutes ago, darkinners said:

How is your experience about framing the 40mm lens in the M viewfinder? since there is no 40mm frameline. I never tried the 40mm on M camera. 

The 40mm lens will throw up the 50mm frameline. As the 40 is about midway between 50 and 35 it is pretty easy to judge. I use my Elmarit-C on my M10 as it is the smallest lens that Leica produced and very nearly turns the M10 into a compact camera. 

[michali]

48 minutes ago, darkinners said:

How is your experiencel about framing the 40mm lens in the M viewfinder? since there is no 40mm frameline. I never tried the 40mm on M camera. 

I have a 40mm Summicron C which I've used for years on the M8, M9 & M10 & Monochrom1. Also one of my favourite M lenses. I love the rendering of the lens. In fact at one stage I had 2 of these lenses  & sold one to Jaap.  50mm frame lines  come up & I'm aware that there's more of the subject that will be captured in the frame.

Here's a picture taken with the 40mm of an old whaling station in Antarctica with the M9 (click through the image to gat a better idea of IQ).

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Edited December 26, 2020 by michali

[michali]

One more with the 40mm Summicron & Monochrom1

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Edited December 26, 2020 by michali

[a.noctilux]

11 hours ago, luigi bertolotti said:

If you want to stay  well into yur budget : Summaron 35 f 3,5  LTM A36.

Like my trio of 35/50/90 of light old LTM, here for Monochrom 😉

 

...

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Bonus for easy filter swappings

SOOGZ is welcome to use my colored E39 filters

 

as side note, out of curiosity, I've used lenses of many mounts with many adaptors

like here ...

and here

 

I admit that only for experimentations of course but fun to do, not only for "good" results 😇

Edited December 26, 2020 by a.noctilux

[Anbaric]

5 hours ago, darkinners said:

It's very slow and inconvenient when I want to switch lens from LTM to Native M mount lens on the street and sometimes I put the LTM lens with the adapter and rear lens cap in the camera bag. When you undo the rear lens cap, the adapter stay on the cap and the lens unscrew from the adapter instead then it would be very hard to remove that thin adapter from the rear lens cap.

With the adapter screwed on reasonably tightly, it ought to be fine to leave it on the lens all the time and use it with M rear lens caps - I think many people do this routinely. Some generic third party adapters might unscrew too easily, though - original Leitz adapters or high quality alternatives like Voigtländer are machined more precisely.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

I have one nonLeica lens that I really like, a 25mm f3.5 Canon. It makes the M pocketable, very small. Gary Winograd liked the 28 Canons, another small lens. My only problem with the Canon is that I bought a 25mm Voigtlander viewfinder and it covers the shutter speed dial. I generally use it on my M8 where I don't need the viewfinder. There is a Nikon 25mm but it is rare but also a good tiny lens.

I have 2 or 3 LTM lenses and they all have an LTM to M adapter on them. You are right trying to change the lens and an adapter while walk around is a pain. Best just to have an LTM to M on the lens. 

[jankap]

 

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Elmar 50mm f/3.5 @ f/5.6 LTM as 75mm eq, OOC

[jankap]

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Elmar 50mm f/3.5 @ f/4.0 LTM as 75mm eq with VC close focus adapter, OOC

[m410]

Hi darkinners,

Everything you have lens-wise seems to be wide angle to normal and that is your stated interest.  But why not try a bit of a challenge with 90mm or 135mm?  I have a 1970 vintage 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar and have enjoyed that focal length as it enables me to pull subjects closer but also to separate them.  Traveled all over the world with the combo of 21 or 28mm, 50mm and 135mm.  

Rangefinder users tend to shy away from 135mm but I have fun with mine.  I use this moderate telephoto on my M10 or M240.  Btw, my favorite Leica lens is the wide-angle 21mm SEM.    

Good luck with your choice.

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Central California Highway One.  M10+135mm f4 Tele-Elmar.  See 28mm shot from same exact location below.

 

SLO bike path.   M10+135mm f4 Tele-Elmar.

 

Central California Highway One.   M10+28mm f2.8 ASPH v2 for 135mm comparison.

 

Central California Highway 25.   M10+135mm f4 Tele-Elmar.

Edited December 26, 2020 by m410

[Ko.Fe.]

Goggled Summaron 35 3.5. It is not very special lens in rendering, but retro and Leica feel is in where. Plus it is focusing close.

Elmarit-M 28 2.8 III. Huge lens, but rendering is like no any other 28 lens. 

I didn't find Elmar-M 50 2.8 to be too modern. It was fantastic lens on bw darkroom prints. 

And so was Cron collapsible. No any other 50 Cron is close to it on darkroom prints.

Summarit 50 1.5 was fine and retro.

On digital these lenses also looked differently from current M mount lenses. Elmarit-M 28 2.8 III was totally awesome on M-E 220.

So was  Cron Rigid (chrome) with enough sharpness and different than modern lenses colors. But it was absolutely flat lens on bw darkroom prints, yet, nice on color film. 

[Musotographer]

Another vote for the Rigid Summicron 50 - especially one with the tiresome infinity lock disabled. If, heaven forbid, I were reduced to one lens I think that that would be it.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

vor 19 Minuten schrieb m410:

Hi darkinners,

Everything you have lens-wise seems to be wide angle to normal.  Why not try a bit of a challenge with 90mm or 135mm?  I have a 1970 vintage 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar and have enjoyed that focal length as it enables me to pull subjects closer but also to separate them.  I know rangefinder users tend to shy away from 135mm but I have fun with mine.  I use this moderate telephoto on my M10 or M240.  Btw, my favorite Leica lens is the wide-angle 21mm SEM.    

Good luck with your choice.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Central California Highway One.  M10+135mm f4 Tele-Elmar.  See 28mm shot from same exact location below.

 

SLO bike path.   M10+135mm f4 Tele-Elmar.

 

Central California Highway One.   M10+28mm f2.8 ASPH v2 for 135mm comparison.

 

Central California Highway 25.   M10+135mm f4 Tele-Elmar.

The OP was asking about 28, 35, and 50mm. The longer focal lengths also should be explored. I have a 90 Elmarit and just got back a 135 Tele-Elmar that I bought for $100 bid on fleabay, then sent it out for a CLA, just got it back. I have been using it my M3 since I got both back, I like the focal length on the M3 and it makes a nice 200 on my CL. I have also liked the Elmarit, same aesthetic as my 35 and 50, not contrasty but very nice images. 

[sinjun]

12 hours ago, darkinners said:

How is your experiencel about framing the 40mm lens in the M viewfinder? since there is no 40mm frameline. I never tried the 40mm on M camera. 

Mine has a little filed off the flange which causes it to bring up 35mm framelines on my M9. These seem very close to the actual field of view of the lens. I'd add that a number of suggestions here certainly don't match my definition of 'cheap' - e.g. rigid summicron and 35mm summilux pre-asph. Other pluses for the summicron-C are its form and handling - very small but with everything falling to hand. The focus action on mine is exceptionally light and precise - perhaps due to its simplified rangefinder coupling. All in all, a very satisfying lens which I feel might have a better reputation if it were twice the price.

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[84bravo]

5 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said:

 

Elmarit-M 28 2.8 III. Huge lens, but rendering is like no any other 28 lens.

On digital these lenses also looked differently from current M mount lenses. Elmarit-M 28 2.8 III was totally awesome on M-E 220.

 

I have the 28mm f2.8 version 2 and version 4. The version 4 is wonderfully sharp, although nothing special about it's rendering. The Version 2 is not as sharp as the V4 and I seldom use it.

What makes the look of the V3 lens different than the V4 or any of the other 28's in your opinion? I see the V3 for sale at relatively affordable prices.