Stolen M8 and lenses. What now?

[MarkoM8]

Hello!

2 weeks ago someone broke into my apartment and stole a Leica M8, summilux m35/1.4 and summicron M75 / 2. I ordered the Leica M9, but right now I do not have enough money to buy a Leica lenses. Can anyone recommend other brands (Zeiss, voigtlander, etc..) Lenses?

Thanks,

Marko

 

[jasonhupe]

Zeiss or Voightlander

Zeiss or Voightlander

Tons of great lens out there from Zeiss and Voigtlander.
Tell me you had insurance on those three items, if not, I would get that for your M9 before any lens.

 

[sirius]

Sorry to hear that, Marko. It's every Leica owner's nightmare.

Zeiss lenses are all great. They masterfully created a range that takes similar-looking photos no matter the focal length. The exception might be the 50mm f1.5 sonnar. It has its own qualities unique from the others and I think it draws beautifully. I would consider that one.

You can look on Flickr to see examples of lenses and how they draw. Tom Abramson, who posts here, has helped me become familiar with many different lenses because of all the tests he does. His flickr site is like an encyclopedia of examples.

I think the VC 35mm f1.4 is an attractive lens for its price, speed, and size. It has a lot of the nice Leica qualities about it. It draws a little contrasty, but not in a negative way really. If you are going for quality and value, that would be my standard lens on the M9.

There is a good used market for Leica glass. I love my 35mm summicron. I don't know telephoto lenses very well to recommend anything.

Careful that you don't get a repeat break-in now that the thieves know you are a discerning camera lover!

best wishes,
Ian

 

[Merkin]

the 35/1.4 cv lens is fantastic. it does produce a bit of barrel distortion, but that would be easily fixed in photoshop. the old 90mm f4 elmar, if you are ok with a slow lens, is a handy portrait lens that can be had for around 100 bucks. the 50mm f2.5 cv lens is quite inexpensive, and quite small as well.

 

[raid]

I am sorry for the loss of equipment and hope that you were financially compnesated by your insurance company.

If you are short in money, I recommend to get either CV or Canon LTM lenses. Both can be excellent at affordable prices.

 

[johannielscom]

Hello,

sorry for your loss!

I would (as I always do) recommend either a Konica M-Hexanon 28mm f2.8 or 50mm f2.0 lens.

You might want to spend a little more and get an UC-Hexanon 35mm f2.0 lens, it performs similar to a pre-ASPH Summicron 35mm.

The Hexanons are the only lenses worthy of being put on a Leica body, they are built better than Zeiss or even Leica glass. And they match Leica pre-ASPH lenses in image quality (cannot say much about Zeiss, might be a tad sharper). Best of all, they are less expensive than Zeiss or Leica, prices are above Voigtländer though.

When in doubt, have a look around here to read about the M-Hex lenses, or check Flickr. I shoot them myself, see my website and Flickr.

 

[Photon42]

Sorry to hear. What now? Well, update your name ... 😀 The Biogon 2/35 is a very nice lens, but it would be wider on the M9.

For a 50 FOV, the Nokton 1.5/50 is reported to be a good lens. A Planar 2/50 isn't too costly either.

For telephoto lenses in the 90 range, used Leica lenses have quite good prices (short of the AA 90). Maybe pair your 35 or 50 lens with a 90 Elmarit-M used. If you must buy new, check out a Summarit 90.

Rgds
Ivo

 

[myM8yogi]

Canon 50mm f/1.4 ltm with an M-mount adapter.
Should be under $300. Bags of character from the shots I've seen. I have the f/1.2 version and love it. The /1.4 is far cheaper and more readily available. It's quite large for an RF lens, but that's not an issue if one can only afford to carry around one or two lenses is it? Price to performance is very good indeed.

As already mentioned, the Rokkor 90/4 would make a nice complement and is cheap. A good second lens. Otherwise consider the CV Lanthar 90/3.5 APO. Seems very nice, and is dead cheap brand new. Probably get one for very little second hand. Yes, that's an APO lens!

The voigtlander 20/4 looks great on film, but not sure how it would perform on the M9. Consider waiting a while before getting the third lens and saving for a used ZM wide? You would get better build quality, a stop more speed, and crucially on a wide angle much better flare control. The biogons do look nice.

 

[elshaneo]

Sorry for your loss, I hope that you had them insured.

I'd recommend the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton, since you're on tight budget, it will be a great replacement for your Leica M summilux 35mm for now...

 

[kully]

I can't agree with one of the previous posters about some lens or another being worthy of putting on a Leica.

You had a 35+75, so you're looking for 50+90 on your M9?

Get the CV 50/1.5 as your 50mm for now, the Canon 50/1.4 might be cheaper but you will need to worry about possible CLAs and what the decades of existence have done to it. I had one and only sold it because it was not for me when cropped by the M8 sensor.

For 90mm - a v3 90mm Summicron, a nice used one is as cheap as a CV90/3.5 here in the UK.

Of course, without know what you photograph, it is difficult to recommend anything.

 

[JohnTF]

Am guessing you do not need insurance advice. I hate things like this, hope you list everything with Leica and who ever to possibly regain some of your stuff, the cops should circulate the numbers to the local pawn shops, but I would post in several forums the stolen items.

I agree that vintage lenses can often need TLC, and hard to knock the CV 50mm, especially if you fall in to a good price. If you watch the classifieds here like a hawk, or post a WTB, you might have some luck, but often things go very fast.

I saw that Igor at www.igorcamera.com had a CV 25 LTM with finder on his table last camera show, he probably will price it low enough with the Bessa L attached as to make the extra body free, or available to sell on the side.

If you email him, he might be able to watch for some glass for you, I have not checked his website lately, but he is one of the good people to buy used from, anything he has will more than likely be very well documented as to condition, and he has several repairmen to cla his stuff.

I have seen the KEH buyer, John, at a show where he bought $70,000 worth of walk in equipment, and the first thing she does with lenes is put a flashlight on the back and check for haze, etc. They buy to maintain an inventory, and if you see something there, you can buy and send back if it is not right for you. Same really with Igor and all the big name places, B&H, Adorama.

So it is a bit of a hunt for you. If you do buy the CV 50mm, am pretty sure it is such a well liked lens you can easily get your money out of it at some future date if you want to trade up, OTOH, I have one, my friend Jorge has one, and I hear a lot of good all around, a modern design lens at a modest price.

Am not sure if Stephen (head bartender) has any left in stock.

I would also recommend the CV 35mm 1.2 if you find a price you like, M mount, very popular and respected lens. Newer ones all were modified slightly for the M8, a rear piece had to be replaced.

I think the 90mm 2.8 Leica glass is generally modestly priced.

Bottom line, for reasonable modern glass, hard to beat CV. Regards, John

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

Stolen

Stolen

Hello!

2 weeks ago someone broke into my apartment and stole a Leica M8, summilux m35/1.4 and summicron M75 / 2. I ordered the Leica M9, but right now I do not have enough money to buy a Leica lenses. Can anyone recommend other brands (Zeiss, voigtlander, etc..) Lenses?

Thanks,

Marko

Post the serial #, never know.

 

[noimmunity]

Cv 28-40-75

Cv 28-40-75

The CV 35/1.4 is a great lens, but you should be aware that it will exhibit focus shift at medium apertures (f/2.8 - 5.6) on the M8. I don't think anybody knows yet whether this would be the case for the M9, but I suppose it will be similar. Not a deal breaker if you can keep the shift in mind and adjust accordingly.

Since you need to save money, and these are likely to be interim lenses anyway, I think you should buy the less expensive but competent CV 40/1.4 instead (it doesn't shift) and perhaps look for a used CV wide in the 21-25-28 range.

To replace the 75 cron, please get the CV 75/2.5 Color Heliar. I had this lens before my cron. Not quite as sharp wide open, greater minimum focus distance, not quite as fast, it is still very very pleasing for portraits wide open and is very sharp stopped down with creamy OOF and luscious color. Some reports have even shown it has better corner performance.

If you can spring for a little more, go Zeiss. You might fall in love and never look back.

 

[Pablito]

The Hexanons are the only lenses worthy of being put on a Leica body,

Ha, ha, that's funny.
"worthy"
hysterical. Like the Leica body has feelings.

 

[ferider]

Sorry for your loss.

Sounds like you do like the 50mm FOV.

Start with a 50/2 Summicron v3 (the cheapest, and, IMO, one of the best) or Hex 50/2 and wait until you have more money. Will set you back 400-600 US.

It's a pretty safe bet. Nobody knows yet how other lenses will perform on the M9.

 

[35mmdelux]

Consider the 40mm/1.4 and the 75mm/2.5 Voigtlanders for now. Both exc until you can pony up for Leica glass.