fulshawpark Posted March 19, 2009 Share #1 Posted March 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I respectfully seek your recommendations to form a consensus on a good Leica 35mm lens for less than $500. Many thanks in advance. 1/ I searched the archives and I can definitely find 'best' recommendations but not a clear consensus on best under $500. BTW I guess I cant really define good 2/ I don't have much knowledge of Leica equipment even though I have been using my M2 for many years. 3/ Why Leica? I'd like to try Leica glass again. I had a 50mm Elmar for many years but I found I preferred the 35mm focal length. I currently have a 35mm Voigtlander color skopar and its good (better than the old Elmar) but I'd like to experience a 35mm Leica lens on my M2 'IF' the consensus is that it would be better than the Voigt. BTW better to me would be sharper edges, less distortion, smoother tonal range. 4/ I shoot mixed environmental, urban landscape, street scenes with an M2 using Ilford Delta 400 that I process. 5/ Why $500? Thats all I have, total. I wont have any more any time soon 6/ Why not a 40mm or a 50mm? I'd try a 40 but I'm a little bothered by no frame lines on my M2, I like to shoot quite precisely (or at least as precise as Leica frame lines permit). As I said a 50 is a little too long for my shooting style but I will consider it. 7/ f-Stop. I shoot mainly daylight outdoors so anything f3.5 or wider is acceptable. 8/ I saw some posts suggesting either a 35mm f/2.8 Summaron or 35mm f/2 Summicron 2nd or 3rd series but I cant find either in good condition for less than $500. A few quite old Summaron's with eyes but I have an M2 and not sure how that works on one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 19, 2009 Posted March 19, 2009 Hi fulshawpark, Take a look here Consensus on a good Leica 35mm lens for less than $500?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted March 19, 2009 Share #2 Posted March 19, 2009 I know you'd prefer not to have a 40mm but the 40/F2 for the CL camera should be within your budget and is pretty much as good as a Leica lens can get. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted March 19, 2009 Share #3 Posted March 19, 2009 Join the above advice, but if you really are concerned of 35 vs. 40, think seriously to Summarons (3,5 or 2,8) : they surely can be found, I think, around or under 500 $ even in VG conditions, and are typical good old Leitz lenses: don't worry if you find a goggled one : with M2 you see the 50 frame "enlarged" and that's OK... but of course better that is ungoggled... btw, I used for years a Summaron 3,5 A36 filter in SM, with M adapter, on my M2: this is probably the cheapest Summaron one can find and is a very compact, pleasant lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted March 19, 2009 Share #4 Posted March 19, 2009 A few quite old Summaron's with eyes but I have an M2 and not sure how that works on one. It works but isn't convenient because as well as adding bulk the eyes reduce the finder magnfication and contrast. I once had a screw-mount f/3.5 Summaron. It wasn't much good and I was glad to replace it with a 35/2 Canon screw-mount lens. But I have a feeling that you won't find a better cheaper all-rounder than the Voigtlander. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted March 19, 2009 Share #5 Posted March 19, 2009 I have a first version 35mm Summicron which, whilst it is cosmetically poor, has pristine optics and is mechanically ok (may get it CLA'd eventually but it WORKs fine and focus is spot on on my M8). I picked this up for £300 from a reputable UK dealer only a few months ago, so I'd personally suggest looking for a lens which might be cosmetically poor, but which is for sale from a reputable dealer who will describe it accurately and almost certainly also class it as a 'user'. Actually, even slight optical flaws such as minor dust or small cleaning marks or a tiny scratch won't usually detrimentally affect performance so if you are on a budget such devaluing points may be in your favour if you can stomach them. I've had several such damaged lenses over the years and have never found them to cause problems in use (providing the damage is slight - heavy coating loss I have found to exacerbate flare signficantly. My 35mm Summicron produces excellent image and I really like it regardless of its cosmetics! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted March 19, 2009 Share #6 Posted March 19, 2009 35 Summaron in M or screwmount with adapter (which you already have for your Voigtländer) would be the most cost-effective solution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 19, 2009 Share #7 Posted March 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) For the budget a Summaron is the obvious choice. Nice lens in the old Leica tradition. I also use a VC Skopar - no complaints with it (I don't see any distortion or fall off etc). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted March 19, 2009 Share #8 Posted March 19, 2009 +++++ for a 35/2.8 summaron M = great lens & work of art example on an M2 Harlingen On the M8 you get this check the sparrows in flight on the left edge on the full size image (click on pictures above for larger size) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 20, 2009 Share #9 Posted March 20, 2009 Another vote for the Summicron-C 40/2. Plenty sharp without harshness. Smooth bokeh. Easy to file its bayonet to bring up the 35mm frame. See How to modify a 40mm Summicron-C. Allows better framing than with 35mm lenses IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted March 20, 2009 Share #10 Posted March 20, 2009 Another vote for the Summicron-C 40/2. Plenty sharp without harshness. Smooth bokeh. Easy to file its bayonet to bring up the 35mm frame. See How to modify a 40mm Summicron-C. Allows better framing than with 35mm lenses IMHO. here a pic withabove lens from a forum member @ dongil: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/menschen/80784-hafenf-hre.html just search his b/w pics! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted March 20, 2009 Share #11 Posted March 20, 2009 I agree with many of the recommendations given above, but if you want a good user lens for a Leica M body, perhaps the best choice is not a Leica lens. For example, the Zeiss ZM 2/35 is superb and I have seen used ones for a price not much above $500. As much as I also like the Summaron 2.8/35 (which can be had for around $400 in good condition) the modern lenses are better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibogost Posted March 20, 2009 Share #12 Posted March 20, 2009 Why not consider the CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII? Insanely excellent for any price but amazing for its low cost. Small and light too. I use it more than my 35mm Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangur Ban Posted March 20, 2009 Share #13 Posted March 20, 2009 check the sparrows in flight on the left edge on the full size image (click on pictures above for larger size) Wow! Seriously impressed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 20, 2009 Share #14 Posted March 20, 2009 Why not consider the CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII? Insanely excellent for any price but amazing for its low cost. Small and light too. I use it more than my 35mm Summicron. That's what he's already using as per the first post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibogost Posted March 21, 2009 Share #15 Posted March 21, 2009 That's what he's already using as per the first post. Doh, I should read more carefully! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulshawpark Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share #16 Posted March 24, 2009 Thanks to all who provided advice. I'm going to look for both a 2.8 and a 3.5 summaron to try, do a few test shots etc. However I'm starting to think my little VC Skopar may be hard to surpass without spending a lot more. Thanks so much. Your feed back helped immensely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.