OLG - One Lens Guy

[KFo]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

7 hours ago, Quarterpounder said:

The 90mm/f4 Elmar-C is currently the cheapest Leica M lens available. I have 35 and 50mm equivalents on my other cameras. I find it extremely boring when people believe they have to have the "golden trinity" for each of their camera systems. 

The 90mm/f4 Elmar-C on a RF with optional live view will force me to work very differently than with my Q2 with autofocus and a 28mm lens.

It is the pre-and-post ASPH Underdogluxcron of Leica's lens family. I wanted one, now it is coming soon.

I've seen those very cheap here in town.  Like 150€.  The last time I noticed there were 4 on the self.  It's probably a real bargain!

[Borna]

29 minutes ago, KFo said:

I've seen those very cheap here in town.  Like 150€.  The last time I noticed there were 4 on the self.  It's probably a real bargain!

It really is, the 40mm summicron is also a bargain. I had the 90mm elmar-c but traded it to the elmarit later as it was sharper. There is a rumor/writing saying that the 90mm Elmar-C was used by the Israeli intelligence which is a cool fact! 

[JLV]

Hi Borna,

Absolute favourite (over my 8 Leica Lenses) is the 40 mm Summicron C.

Stuck on my M11.

Tiny, Sharp, Light, ultra fast to focus and like new.)

Found a Heliopan filter with the right thread.

I just love it.

[pippy]

3 hours ago, Borna said:

...the 40mm summicron is also a bargain...

Here in the UK it would be more accurate to say that, until fairly recently, the 40mm Summicron used to be a bargain. Nowadays, unfortunately, they tend to be not far short off the price of a 50mm Summicron v4.

Less than two years ago it was possible to pick up a 40mm with a CL Body(!) for £500; I know this because I was sorely tempted to buy the set myself. Last year, though, the lens alone would cost this much and, having had a quick look just now, today's asking prices for the Summicron (in good condtion) seem to start around the £750 / $975.

Not sure whether any of the lenses actually make that sum, of course, but the days of the 40 being a 'bargain buy' in Britain seem to have gone for good.

Philip.

[farnz]

If I were to be 'condemned' to use one lens for the rest of time then it would be the 50/1 Noctilux v4 for its succulent pastel colours, its subtle graduated vignette, its ability to focally isolate a subject, its ability to see things in low light that I can't, and its dual personalities at f/1 and f/8.

Pete.

(Sure, I might end up with one arm longer than the other but that could be useful for scratching things that I couldn't reach before and I'd accept that side-effect. )

[JLV]

2 hours ago, pippy said:

Here in the UK it would be more accurate to say that, until fairly recently, the 40mm Summicron used to be a bargain. Nowadays, unfortunately, they tend to be not far short off the price of a 50mm Summicron v4.

Less than two years ago it was possible to pick up a 40mm with a CL Body(!) for £500; I know this because I was sorely tempted to buy the set myself. Last year, though, the lens alone would cost this much and, having had a quick look just now, today's asking prices for the Summicron (in good condtion) seem to start around the £750 / $975.

Not sure whether any of the lenses actually make that sum, of course, but the days of the 40 being a 'bargain buy' in Britain seem to have gone for good.

Philip.

I paid around 800 euros and got it on the web from a store in Italy, (said to be near mint) with the original box (white an red) and when I got it, the lens looked like it hasn't  never been used!

Even for this price it is a crazy bargain.

The rendering is marvellous.

I prefer it over all that I own, like the , 35 lux FLE2, 35 lux pre ash titanium, 35 cron actual version, 50 cron V4 (amazing lens!), 50 Elmar collapsible, 50 Elcan (LLL)  and others.

If one's wants to get a look on my Flickr page, here is the link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194069872@N07/

Best,

 

[Olaf_ZG]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Monogamy is for marriage. Not for lenses.

[pippy]

31 minutes ago, JLV said:

I paid around 800 euros and got it on the web from a store in Italy, (said to be near mint) with the original box (white an red) and when I got it, the lens looked like it hasn't  never been used!......Even for this price it is a crazy bargain...

😸

I'm truly very happy to read that you are delighted with your 40 Summicron and that you consider it to be a bargain even at 800 Euros! But then again; if any lens here in in 'Leica World' is exactly what one would want to use for eternity then 800 would, absolutely, seem like a bargain when compared to the prices that some other 'vintage' Leitz lenses fetch so I do appreciate your viewpoint!

I am a big fan of the 40mm f/length (as has been written elsewhere many-a-time) but as I already have two (Voigtlander Nokton f1.4 and Rollei Sonnar f2.8; both superb IMO) the neccessity of my acquiring the Summicron is hardy acute. I would still like to have one but......

Philip.

[JLV]

5 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

800 is a high premium. They usually go for 500-600 euros, I got it for 350 or so.

Agree but the lens is in fact mint and this has a price.

I spent thousands on  35 lux asph FLE2, 35 cron asph, 75 lux pre asph, M6 titanium and 35 titanium pre asph and so on,  so 800 euros is a great value fro my mos beloved  lens!

[evikne]

If 50mm: 50mm Summicron v5

If 35mm: 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH v2

If price no object: 35mm APO-Summicron-M (but I've never tried it myself, and I might have gotten bored after a while and returned to my 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH).

[earleygallery]

Some people think Leica made the cameras with removable lenses so that one could use a variety of lenses on the same camera.

This is wrong! The purpose of the lens mount is to be able to quickly repair the camera in the event of damage to the lens.

Always buy two lenses (the same) so you can repair quickly!
 

[JLV]

2 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Always depends on what one convinces oneself to be a good buy. If it works for you and makes you happy nothing else matters. I am merely pointing out the average market price.

Hi Al,

I agree.

It is just a question of feeling.

This combo, M11 and 40 cron C makes me want to go out and take pictures.

The FLE2 is magnificent but heavy and bulky.

The focus range on others is too long for my taste in comparison.

(I do street and I like to bring the camera to my eye even if I shoot  from time to time from the hip) so the focus range is of the essence of the pleasure to shoot.

The balance between the body and the lens is perfect with the 40 cron and I love the rendering.

It is a global combination of factors that makes this lens special an perfect for me.

The more I use it the more I love it.

(I posted my Flickr page link on previous post. all the 35 cron mentions are in fact the 40 cron)

Best,

[pippy]

2 hours ago, Al Brown said:

800 is a high premium. They usually go for 500-600 euros, I got it for 350 or so.

OK, Al, but where do you live?

As I have just checked I assure you that here in the UK there were none which I could find from 'The Usual Suspects' and from the ubiquitous www auction site there are only three advertised from UK sellers:

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!

I'm sure you can do the currency-converter thing if you want to know the asking prices in Euros / Dollars or anything else.

It could well be that some off-the-beaten-track dealerships in the UK have examples available for lower prices - in fact I'm almost sure there will be - but these lenses are not that easy to find on sale for anywhere near the price you mention.

Believe me; if I was offered a 40mm Summicron in good condition for 350 Euros I wouldn't hesitate for a second.

Philip.

 

Edited October 22, 2024 by pippy

[pippy]

33 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

@pippyI live in the EU. Here are the good German pricings for the lens, I have gathered them in 5 minutes. I'm sure you can do the currency-converter thing if you want to know the asking prices in GBP.
Do NOT just blindly open eBay and hope for a bargain. Ebay and Leica shops are the most expensive. Shop around. Still plenty to be found in a jiffy for 500-600 euros....

Thanks, Al, for giving me some hope for the future!...😸...

I don't wish to derail this thread too much towards one lens but...

I wouldn't buy a 40  Summicron from anyone on eBay but always from a 'proper' dealership and preferably in the London area. The problem is be availability. "Still plenty to be found in a jiffy for 500-600 euros" doesn't seem to be the reality here in the UK; at least not in that price range.

Perhaps there were simply fewer examples of the lens sold in this country which has resulted in a seller's-market but they really do seem to be thin-on-the-ground. Import duties post-Brexit don't exactly help matters in terms of importation from another European country.

Until I do find one I will simply carry on enjoying my Nokton and Sonnar options; especially the latter.

Regards!

Philip.

[lct]

The M-Rokkor 40/2 for Minolta CLE can be found for 500/600 EUR on e**y from "proper dealeship" too. It has a similar size but is lighter than the Summicron-C 40/2 (105g vs 125g). It sports screw-in 40.5mm vs series 5.5 filters, has a level vs sloped focus cam, is multi coated vs single coated and has a bit less flare than the Summicron but otherwise their IQ is so close that it is difficult to tell which is which. They both bring up 50mm framelines but their flange can be filed out to bring up 35mm framelines instead. Both lenses have a screw head in the way of the 6-bit code area so pen coding is not their forte but both can use the lens profile of Summicron 35/2 pre-asph lenses through the lens detection menu of the camera. FWIW.

[costa43]

I’m in the EU but visit London fairly often (once every month or two) if you see anything you like I can pick one up for you if wish @pippy so you avoid the duty and customs hassle. I’ve seen the 40mm Summicron go for between £400 to £600 here from dealers in mint condition. Private sales are even lower and I’ve still seen people selling the sets with the CL and 90mm bundled in.  

Edited October 23, 2024 by costa43

[gammarART]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb lct:

The M-Rokkor 40/2 for Minolta CLE

For those wo want to read more about the Minolta, @BastianK wrote his review about it a while ago.

[BastianK]

vor 11 Minuten schrieb gammarART:

For those wo want to read more about the Minolta, @BastianK wrote his review about it a while ago.

Thanks for sharing!

In 2024 I wouldn't spend 500-600€ on the Minolta 40mm 2.0 let alone the Leica 40mm 2.0.
I bought the Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton MC for way less than that new from a dealer in Japan including the huge import duties on lenses in Germany.
It is a bit heavier, but the size is pretty much the same and I found the handling to be significantly better.
You are also less likely to run into a hazy copy or one with all kinds of other issues.

[JLV]

1 hour ago, gammarART said:

For those wo want to read more about the Minolta, @BastianK wrote his review about it a while ago.

I own both versions and I confirm that the Rokkor for CLE is a fantastic lens.

Its price is still quite low given the qualities of the lens  but it will not stay like that forever.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[lct]

2 hours ago, BastianK said:

In 2024 I wouldn't spend 500-600€ on the Minolta 40mm 2.0 let alone the Leica 40mm 2.0.
I bought the Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton MC for way less than that new from a dealer in Japan including the huge import duties on lenses in Germany [...]

Does the 40/1.4 still suffer from focus shift? The copy i tried in the past was one of the worse from this viewpoint.