Classic Leica lens recommendation

[gransden]

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I am working my way back to the past. What follows here may be treated with some skepticism, but there is some method, I believe to this tale, so far. I now have a, new to me, M4 built in 1969 and four new non Leitz lenses - Zeiss ZM 25, 35, 50 and CV 90. Purchased these because I still have 2 Contax G2 systems and really liked that glass; the Zeiss ZM 90 is the same cost as Leitz and not part of the original budget - hence the CV. Other systems owned are OM (still have) and Mamiya 6x6 and Leica SM (alas, both gone). So much for history and justification. Future plans call for Leica glass from the time period of the M , possibly another M, and a SM body (IIIf?) and contemporary glass for it. Suggestions would be welcome. Have joined LHSA, so I am fairly serious about next steps. These peices are for use, not the shelf.

[espahbodb]

from my experience:

 

LTM

Super Angulon 21mm 3.4 Black Paint (Black has some coating, performs better else chrome does fine)

Summaron 35mm 2.8 / Summicron 35mm 2 (8element design)

Summicron 50mm 2 Rigid

 

LSM

Summaron 28mm 5.6, distortion free, great resolution and even great for slides AND digital

OR Hektor 28mm 6.3 (mine is glued to IIIf-rdst)

Summaron 35 3.5

Elmar 50 3.4 (if there is a King of Flare this is it, and its not poetic its almost a serenade)

Hektor 135 4.5 (another glowy one)

[earleygallery]

LTM and LSM are the same (thread or screw).....

 

For an LTM camera I'd go for a lllc or lllf, more practical than the earlier cameras and not silly lllg prices (although they have come down a bit). Pair it with the classic 5cm 3.5 Elmar and you have a match made in heaven. I'd also look for a nice Summar f2 or Summitar.

 

As for the M, the classic lenses are the 50 2.8 Elmar (older or newer versions), and Summicron 35 or 50. I also like my 9cm f4 Elmar (although the later lenses are no doubt better).

 

I have just bought a Summaron 2.8 which I've heard is nearly as good as the Summicron. I'm interested to see how it compares with my VC 35 f2.5 which I have to say is a super little lens (I'm almost hoping that I find I prefer the VC and decide to sell on the Summaron).

[brianv]

Well, all good advice here that I've been following. Especially for 50's...

 

The Summar is hard to find with clean glass, but a few scratches will not hurt things. Reasonably priced.

 

The Collapsible 5cm f2 Summicron in thread mount should be considered. It is the sharpest of the fast/reasonably priced LTM lenses. The earliest ones are "collectible", so the later ones are more reasonably priced. The Summitar is close in center sharpness, has much more "swirly Bokeh". The Summar has an "old world look", like Kodachrome 10 color. The coated Elmar is sharp, a bit slower at F3.5 and F2.8.

 

The Rigid Summicron is common in M-Mount, but rare in LTM.

[Theodor Heinrichsohn]

I am working my way back to the past. What follows here may be treated with some skepticism, but there is some method, I believe to this tale, so far. I now have a, new to me, M4 built in 1969 and four new non Leitz lenses - Zeiss ZM 25, 35, 50 and CV 90. Purchased these because I still have 2 Contax G2 systems and really liked that glass; the Zeiss ZM 90 is the same cost as Leitz and not part of the original budget - hence the CV. Other systems owned are OM (still have) and Mamiya 6x6 and Leica SM (alas, both gone). So much for history and justification. Future plans call for Leica glass from the time period of the M , possibly another M, and a SM body (IIIf?) and contemporary glass for it. Suggestions would be welcome. Have joined LHSA, so I am fairly serious about next steps. These peices are for use, not the shelf.

 

I suggest a Leica IIIg with rigid 50/2 Summicron (hard to find and expensive), 28mm 5.6 Summaron, 35mm 2.8 Summaron (at f 5.6 equal or superior to 35/2 of the same vintage),

90mm 3 element Elmar f4 (superior to the other Elmar f4 versions) expensive and somewhat rare. 135 Elmar is also very usable and close to the later bayonet model. I use these lenses and a IIIg.

Teddy

[johnastovall]

I have to say for me the classic Leica glass is the pre-war uncoated 1:3,5 Elmar but it could be any of the 50/3.5 Elmars since until 2000 they represented 12% of all Leica lenses made.

[Bender]

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I'm a new member here, and also a new Leica owner/collector. Just ordered a post-war IIIc body only, so I will need a lens once I receive the camera. So this thread is of interest to me.

Based on what I've read elsewhere, some lenses I'm interested in for my IIIc would be: 35mm 3.5 summaron, 50mm 3.5 elmar, 50mm 1.5 (or the f2) summarit, 50mm 2 summicron, 50mm f2 summitar.

It's good to see that these lenses are also recommended here.

[Guest DuquesneG]

I now have a, new to me, M4 built in 1969 and four new non Leitz lenses - Zeiss ZM 25, 35, 50 and CV 90. Future plans call for Leica glass from the time period of the M , possibly another M, and a SM body (IIIf?) and contemporary glass for it. These peices are for use, not the shelf.

 

Based on your last statement, I have to wonder why you are looking to replace or duplicate focal lengths you already have covered by some excellent lenses, any and all of which are far better overall performers than any Leica lens contemporary with your M4, and certainly a screw mount. Your CV 90 will also fit a screw mount body. If you hadn't made the last statement, and instead had said you want a collection of contemporary lenses for the bodies, then I would recommend:

 

for screw:

 

35/3.5 Elmar

50/2 collapsing Summicron

90/4 Elmar

 

All should be silver-chrome finish, which would put them in the later production and coated.

 

For the M4:

 

35/2 Summicron version II

50/1.4 Summilux version II (black finish)

90/2 Summicron version II (black finish), or, if too large, then 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit version I

[brianv]

> I am working my way back to the past.

 

I think it is the lead statement from the OP that shows the reasoning behind replacing the new lenses with old. It is also a sentiment that I can identify with- something gets lost in computer-designed, CNC-manufactured modern lenses.

 

Picked up a 1933 Summar with MINT glass last week, and modified a pre-war "mint-glass" 5cm F1.5 Sonnar for LTM mount this weekend!

[luigi bertolotti]

I like the approach of the OP, becaus, by myself, for 25 years about used film Leicas (M and screw) with their glasses: given that you want to use them, I'd start my advice with these three basic considerations :

 

- Avoid too old glasses (Hektor 7,3 cm is nice to have, but using...)

- Avoid too expensive collector grade items (a IIIg with Summicron or Summilx 50 is a fine set, but lens prices are really high)

- M4 has a 4 frame viewfinder... pity not to enjoy all of them.

 

So, I'd say :

 

- 5 lens set for M4 : Summicron 35, Summilux 50, Tele Elmarit 90, Tele Elmar 135 for the native VF, PLUS... Super Angulon 21 f 3,4 - fantastic lens to use

 

- 3 lens set for IIIf (or IIIg, depending on taste... I prefer IIIf, personally) : Elmar 50 f 3,5 (simply, one CANNOT not to have it), Summaron 28 f 5,6 (hypercompact, fine lens, a bit costly), Elmar 90 f4 (possibly, 3 elements version)

 

90 is duplicated... with IIIg, pity not to have it for the framed VF... if so, one can renounce to the 90 for M (there is always the M adapter, in case).

Next step : Viso II or III for M with 200 and/or 280...

[gransden]

Thanks to all for their comments. There appears to be good commonality in the recommendations and it is good to see the advice will be helping others. My intent is, as several of you have discerned, is to be able to take photographs with modern lenses and contemporary lenses (M only), depending on the circumstances and mood. For the SM, contemporary lenses will be the choice for now. I realize the CV 90 can be used and there are other modern CV lenses one can purchase for the SM. For now ,the emphasis will be on glass from the past. Court Smith