are you a 35mm or a 50mm photographer ?

[Crem]

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32 minutes ago, pippy said:

...or, as mentioned by the previous two posters, the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4...😸...

The 40 seems to be a much underrated focal-length for those in the M-World At Large but, interestingly, there are many forumites here (including myself) who rate it amongst their most-used lenses. As well as the Voigt. there are few other options such as the Leitz / Minolta 40mm f2.0 Summicron / Rokkor (and the less commonly found Leitz 40mm f2.8 Elmarit-C) and the Rollei 40mm f2.8 HFT.

Philip.

I’ve never used a 40mm on a Leica M. I’m curious how well it plays with the 35 and 50 frame lines on both digital and film Leicas. That voigtlander 40 1.4 does look interesting from a quick internet search. I’ve heard good things about the 40 cron. 

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[jaapv]

57 minutes ago, pippy said:

...or, as mentioned by the previous two posters, the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4...😸...

The 40 seems to be a much underrated focal-length for those in the M-World At Large but, interestingly, there are many forumites here (including myself) who rate it amongst their most-used lenses. As well as the Voigt. there are few other options such as the Leitz / Minolta 40mm f2.0 Summicron / Rokkor (and the less commonly found Leitz 40mm f2.8 Elmarit-C) and the Rollei 40mm f2.8 HFT.

Philip.

The Elmarit -C was never officially brought to the market as Leica was unhappy with the image quality. Only few were made and sold. The lens for the Leica CL was the Summicron C which is at the same level as the Summicron M 50 of the time. The Rokkor 40 C for the Minolta CLE was essentially a Summicron 40 C with slighty different glass formulas and coatings. 

[costa43]

32 minutes ago, Crem said:

I’ve never used a 40mm on a Leica M. I’m curious how well it plays with the 35 and 50 frame lines on both digital and film Leicas. That voigtlander 40 1.4 does look interesting from a quick internet search. I’ve heard good things about the 40 cron. 

Out of the box you get the 50mm framelines coming up with the Nokton. You can file down the mount on the side responsible for triggering the framelines and then you will get 35mm. Either way, you do get used to it! I found on the M9 that the 35mm were very accurate so I shoved a bit of paper on the frameline selector to jam it in place!

Edited May 1 by costa43

[pippy]

1 hour ago, Crem said:

I’ve never used a 40mm on a Leica M. I’m curious how well it plays with the 35 and 50 frame lines on both digital and film Leicas...

On digital I have discovered that it varies according to which generation of Digi-M one is using. The older generations which had their framelines illuminated by available light (M8 and M9) are less accurate - and more generous - in comparison with those whose lines are electronically created.

 

To give you a general idea of how, exactly, these differences affect the image as captured I've just rattled-off some test shots (please excuse the mess!) by way of illustration.

First-up I will show pics taken on an M-D Typ-262 which is of the 'Newer' generation.

For the first image I lined up the left and right 50mm framelines with the sides of the wooden shelving unit. Focus point was the lettering of the Nikkor lens. As would be expected there is a fair bit more in the image as captured. Having checked (using tools in P'shop) the excess is in the region of approximately 10% at each edge;

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Next image was taken using the 35mm framelines in the same manner as earlier. For some reason I didn't focus on the same point ('Senior Moment' perhaps!) but, heigh-ho, it serves its purpose. Note that there is now a small - yet noticeable - amount which has been cropped-out of the image which was viewed in-camera;

 

For this reason I will always use 50mm framelines when shooting with the 40 Nokton. I can always crop IN to an image but I can never crop OUT...

 

With the M9 series things aren't quite so bad. Frameline inclusion is of a looser nature so when using 35mm framelines there is less 'missing' in comparison to the later cameras. This pic was taken on a Monochrom but it will, of course, be the same for a regular M9;

 

The picture area 'loss' is only around 5% at each edge. Not too much, perhaps, for general photography and from time to time I DO use the frame-line lever with the 40 on this body but still; I will always prefer to crop in knowing that all which was in the viewfinder frame will have been captured.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the 40mm f2.8 Rollei Sonnar HFT captures a slightly wider angle of view than the Nokton - which might mean that the Sonnar would work more accurately with the Monochrom but that would be a different story for a different time perhaps?

Philip.

EDIT : I haven't used either of my 40's with the M2 so couldn't comment on that score.

Edited May 1 by pippy

[lct]

42 minutes ago, costa43 said:

I found on the M9 that the 35mm were very accurate [...]

I had the same feeling with the Epson R-D1, at medium distance at least. Less so with M8.2, M240 and M11 though, i did know why but i forgot, so i don't use 40mm lenses in RF mode anymore. No problem in LV mode though obviously.

[pippy]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

The Elmarit -C was never officially brought to the market as Leica was unhappy with the image quality. Only few were made and sold...

Yes; I know.

There is at least one Forumite, however, who has one; uses it and likes the results it gives him very much. I'm sorry to say I cannot remember who he is though.

Philip.

[costa43]

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19 minutes ago, lct said:

I had the same feeling with the Epson R-D1, at medium distance at least. Less so with M8.2, M240 and M11 though, i did know why but i forgot, so i don't use 40mm lenses in RF mode anymore. No problem in LV mode though obviously.

I ended up buying the 35mm Summilux pre ASPH v2 so I sold the Nokton. In hindsight, I should of kept it. Even though I found the M9 35mm lines to be accurate enough for me for casual shooting, I much prefer having the correct framelines for my lenses nowadays, It's funny as the Nokton and the 28mm Rokkor were two of my early lenses and both do not bring up accurate framelines for their respective focal lengths, yet I enjoyed my time with them immensely.

Edited May 1 by costa43

[lct]

19 minutes ago, pippy said:

[...] There is at least one Forumite, however, who has one; uses it and likes the results it gives him very much [...]

We must be two or three here i guess. Great little lens on digital CL but on FF cameras it can hardly compete with the Elmar-M 50/2.8. Just a snap on digital CL below. FWIW.

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[lct]

1 hour ago, costa43 said:

I ended up buying the 35mm Summilux pre ASPH v2 so I sold the Nokton. In hindsight, I should of kept it. Even though I found the M9 35mm lines to be accurate enough for me for casual shooting, I much prefer having the correct framelines for my lenses nowadays, It's funny as the Nokton and the 28mm Rokkor were two of my early lenses and both do not bring up accurate framelines for their respective focal lengths, yet I enjoyed my time with them immensely.

Been fortunate enough to find a modded Rokkor 28/2.8 bringing up 28mm framelines but i had no luck with the Nokton 40/1.4 which suffered severely from focus shift the only time i tried it.

[AZach]

2 hours ago, pippy said:

For this reason I will always use 50mm framelines when shooting with the 40 Nokton. I can always crop IN to an image but I can never crop OUT.

Works well and 50 + 75 lines also guide quite well the 1,3x and 1,8x digital crops available with M11-P

[JRWhite]

#1 - 28mm

#2 - 50mm

#3 - 21mm (sometimes 24mm)

#4 - 90mm

 

[Jeff S]

4 hours ago, pippy said:

On digital I have discovered that it varies according to which generation of Digi-M one is using. The older generations which had their framelines illuminated by available light (M8 and M9) are less accurate - and more generous - in comparison with those whose lines are electronically created.

 

 

Moreover, the frame lines have been optimized for different shooting distances, based on the M model generation.  With digital, for instance, the M 8 lines were optimized for .7m; the M8.2 for 2m; the M9 for 1m; and the M240 through the M11, 2m.  Film M’s, I think, were typically optimized at .7m.  Then, for ease of viewing, finders have also varied by magnification, eye relief, etc. And when it comes to viewing comfort, personal experiences vary, regardless of camera specs, especially if one needs ‘specs’ (glasses) or other correction. 
 

Bottom line is that the only way to fully answer Crem’s question is to try it and see.

[Kiwimac]

My first film camera was a Canon AE1 Program in about 1984. 
 

In those days the cameras usually shipped with a 50mm as standard and buying body only was the exception. 
 

As I was 15 at the time, I couldn’t afford any other lenses so I shot that 50 for about 6 years exclusively until I was able to buy a 70-200. 
 

I thought that would make me more a 50 person but actually I probably prefer 35 on an M, especially now that we’ve reached 60MP and so cropping is quite possible without losing too much resolution if the framing needs to be corrected. 

Edited May 1 by Kiwimac

[Rick in CO]

On 4/29/2025 at 7:02 AM, mottykytu said:

Yes, again I will start this "Civil War"

but are you a 35mm guys or an 50mm guys and why ?

sometimes longer/bigger is not the best for men ? 😜 I'm 35mm myself

Back to the original post:  Try a Tri-Elmar 28/35/50 and you will discover yourself!

[Abram]

I would say I like 35 and 50 rather equally. At this present time I have just a 35 and a 40, but I'm likely going to be re-adding a 50 back into my kit. I don't like to have too many lenses generally speaking, and I find that I just adapt to whatever I have. 

Historically I have always (and will always) prefer 28/50 as a working pair. But there have been numerous occasions where I have had to simplify to a single lens solution and I almost always will choose a 35mm for that purpose, even if I technically prefer 28 or 50mm. It's just a very versatile lens and so perfectly suited to the M viewfinder. 

[Lee S]

Im a 35mm guy with a digital crop in post to 50mm.

[RexGig0]

Yes, I am normally “a 35mm or a 50mm photographer.” When I carry two lenses, and especially when I carry them on two cameras, then, I am sometimes “a 35mm AND a 50mm photographer.” 😉 I can enjoy using only a 35mm lens, or, only a 50mm lens, and not feel that I am handicapped, or under-equipped. Notably, when using cameras other than Leica, I have really liked using specific 35mm, 40mm, 45mm, and 60mm SLR lenses. Any of them could be my “lens of the day.” 

My favorite M-Mount lens remains the first M-mount lens that I bought, the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH. I have accumulated several other 50mm M-mount lenses, with different character, and differing amounts of optical correction. I have accumulated fewer 35mm M-mount lenses.

When shooting with a 35mm lens, while moving about, it is less necessary to use the rangefinder to focus, due to the relatively greater depth of acceptable focus, so, I will tend to successfully capture more images when using a 35mm lens. I tend to “see” landscapes at 35mm, so, if in an area conducive to landscape/cityscape/seascape images, will probably prefer the 35mm lens. (I also use 50mm lenses, and telephoto lenses, too, for such images, so, am not absolutist, about using wide-angle lenses for landscapes.)

At close range, such as indoors, with one or more people, a 50mm can often be “too close,” compelling me to step away, to frame an image. So, a 35mm lens can be more useful, in such environments. 

Edited May 3 by RexGig0

[swatch]

50mm.

The factor is type of photography I mostly take:

Wife, sitting opposite side of dining table. 35mm will be too wide or include too much distraction from background.  Cropping photo is possible but if I have a choice I prefer a 50mm lens.

People in the street.  Nowadays people are sensitive to camera (except in wet market or narrow street in which 28mm or 24mm will suit the environment better) for keeping a comfortable distance 50mm work out perfectly.

Tried 35mm for a few months but somehow never bonding with it.

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Edited May 3 by swatch
share photo taken with 50mm lens

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[raizans]

I’m a 1725mm photographer, and I’m not even tall.

[Kiwimac]

On 4/30/2025 at 5:25 AM, Topsy said:

35, no wait 50. No wait, 21or 75....................

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All depends on the subject really and my proximity to it.

That’s the most Lenny Kravitz editions I’ve ever seen in one place. 🤣🤣🤣