Anyone have a 50mm "carry everywhere" solution?

[Rafael]

I have, for some time now, had it in my head that I want a "carry everywhere" camera. A while back I bought an Olympus XA. I liked the camera but often wished for a 50mm field of view as that is by far my favourite. So I sold the XA and made a point of carrying an M body more often. Of course, with a ZM Planar attached - that is the lens that I would like to carry most often - it is just a bit too big to fit easily into a pocket (with a 35mm Summicron attached, I find an M body to be just pocketable, but smaller would be nice). So, I am again looking for a "carry everywhere" solution.

Most of the really pocketable cameras seem to have 35 or 40mm lenses. So, if I want 50mm, I think that I will probably have to look for a small m-mount lens (or LTM with adapter). To give you a sense of my taste in lenses, the ZM Planar is probably my favourite lens of all time. In 50mm, I also really like the signature of the new Elmar-M. And I would think seriously about buying one except for the fact that used copies of this lens seem to be advertised for similar prices to used Summicrons which, when new, cost roughly 60% more than the Elmar-M. Ah, such are the vagaries of the market. If I could find one that I could afford, I would probably snatch up a used Elmar-M.

But in the meantime, I am looking for other suggestions. I know about the CV 50/2.5. Any other ideas?

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

How about a collapsible summicron?


Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema

 

[J J Kapsberger]

The earlier version Elmar 50/2.8 (M mount) is even a bit more compact than the current version when collapsed. It has a beautiful signature and sells for a bit less than the current version.

 

[nobbylon]

I have a 1967 Elmar collapsable and it's great, only downside is the infinity lock which personally I dont like. A 1959 version just went on the bay for 68 pounds sterling about 2 days ago! must be xmas!
I think that a normal price for these is around 150-170 sterling

 

[rogue_designer]

what about the CV collapsible Heliar?

Or naturally, the collapsible Summicron.

 

[BillBingham2]

Let me second Rogue_Designer, if that were my quest, a CV collapsible Heliar would be my target. Good price and a fine lens from what I've heard.

B2 (;->

 

[sepiareverb]

It's the Elmar-M for you. Without hood (and you don't really need it) VERY compact. Bonus is all controls which you don't get with most compact cameras.

 

[kshapero]

I hear you but HCB just always had his Leica around his neck.

 

[jtm]

Not a Nokton.

 

[sepiareverb]

Nor a Tri-Elmar.

Seriously consider the Elmar, it really is a wonderful lens. A bargain even new for what you'll get through it.

 

[Rafael]

What's so special about the Elmar-M?

To my eye, the photographs that it produces are more understated than those produced by the current Summicron. There is a smoothness to the OOF areas that I really like. But the images still have the punch that you get from modern lens designs. I don't know if that makes sense: smooth punchiness? I often have trouble articulating comparisons between different lenses. But that's about the best I can do right now.


Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. You guys have got me thinking...

 

[oscroft]

I've got a modern Elmar-M and I really like it (though I haven't compared it with any other Leica lenses as I don't have any). I got mine on eBay for £165 ($330) in near-mint condition which I think was unusually cheap, but I have seen them go for around £200.

 

[Rafael]

I've got a modern Elmar-M and I really like it (though I haven't compared it with any other Leica lenses as I don't have any). I got mine on eBay for £165 ($330) in near-mint condition which I think was unusually cheap, but I have seen them go for around £200.

Wow! At that price, I would buy one in an instant. You got an amazing deal.

 

[back alley]

i'm gonna go radical here and suggest a grd.
i know...digital & 28mm fov but it's a great pocket camera that actually fits in a pocket.
my everyday camera lately is the r4a with cv 25...so what do i know?
😉

 

[Tuolumne]

This is what digital cameras were made for. Try the Ricoh GR-100. It fills the bill and then some. I know...I know...it's digital. So what. It's small and really light. You hardly know its there. After carrying one of these babies around I have a hard time using anything else as as a walk-about-shoot-every-day camera.

/T

 

[FPjohn]

Elmar

Elmar

Coll. Summicron, original M mount Elmar f3.5 or 2.8, Russian Elmar clones. None will put you greatly out of pocket.

yours
Frank

 

[FPjohn]

Elmar

Elmar

Coll. Summicron, original M mount Elmar f3.5 or 2.8, Russian Elmar clones. None will put you greatly out of pocket.

yours
Frank

*Now a Barnack Leica + Elmar would fit in the pocket!

 

[ErnestoJL]

If you want something really small and pocketable, look for any Leica IIIc (can be also IIIg or IIIf) with a collapsible Elmar 50/3.5 The III is about 25% less in volume than any M series. The collapsible lens does the rest.
Add Tri X or HP5 and you´re done.

OTOH, if you don´t want to spend too much money, look for a humble Zorki 1 with collapsible Industar 22. It´s not an Elmar (even if it looks similar) just a russian made collapsible Tessar.

Another option is to get a good user Zorki 4 and a collapsible Elmar (or other Leitz coll. lens).

Ernesto

 

[gregg]

I second Ernesto's bid - I've begun carrying my IIIc with a collapsible Summitar with me everywhere. The M6 is great but the IIIc is really compact - especially with that lens.

 

[MartinP]

OTOH, if you don´t want to spend too much money, look for a humble Zorki 1 with collapsible Industar 22. It´s not an Elmar (even if it looks similar) just a russian made collapsible Tessar.

Another option is to get a good user Zorki 4 and a collapsible Elmar (or other Leitz coll. lens).

Ernesto

I wouldn't say the Zorki-4 as it is more bulky + heavier than the 1, and (in my opinion) has a really irritating wind-knob. On the other hand, the Zorki-5 has the same basic body as the 1 but with a slightly higher top section - and a useful film wind-lever, and a combined vf/rf, and a long-base rf . . . 😎