Small lens question

Depends on your budget/needs. There aren't any collapsible 35 mm lenses as far as I know. As to 50's you have the various Leica LTM's each with it's own characteristics. I have a late Summitar which I find excellent. Then in the older 50/2.8 Elmar (LTM & M) and the newer version (M). The latter is supposed to be excellent. Plus there are a couple from CV.
Would help us if you gave more details
 
Looking for a 35mm and a 50mm that I can attach to an M2 or 3 and be able to carry in a coat pocket.I prefer a new design and speed is not a real issue.
 
I think you can't beat Elmar 35/3.5 (not collapsible) and Elmar 50/3.5 combination for size.

But the final choice with depend on what you need. for 50mm Leica lens, if

you need F2.8: Elmar 50/2.8

you need F2: Summicron 50/2 collapsible

you need 0.7m min. distance: Elmar-M 50/2.8

(in order short to long when collapsed)
 
clicker said:
Looking for a 35mm and a 50mm that I can attach to an M2 or 3 and be able to carry in a coat pocket.I prefer a new design and speed is not a real issue.
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I'm taking my M3 out tonight to take photos of a friend's birthday meal and have fitted the vintage Elmar f3.5 50mm lens on it as I'll be using flash all evening. When collapsed it barely protrudes from the body so meets the pocket fitting criteria. I have HP5+ loaded and at 400asa I can stop the lens down to f8 or more.

I've not used this combination before with flash but the old lens still produces some really good results.
 
I concur w/ the recommendation on the Elmar 50s (either 3.5 or 2.8) for a compact 50. I've got both and they make my M2 pocketable. The CV Skopar 35/2.5 (either the original compact or the pancake version) is a superb and small 35. If you want a lower contrast 35 that is still quite sharp while being tiny, I recommend the Canon 35/2.8 (the older chrome version).
 
Summaron 35 / 3.5 is tiny, relatively inexpensive, and (IMO) undervalued. A great lens, sharp as anything, with a great tonality in black and white.
 
It's neither collapsible, 35mm, or 50mm but is superb. Try a Summicron c 40mm f2 (Rokkor 40mm f2). A very compact M mount lens with truly beautiful signature.
 
I recommend Elmar 50/2.8 (not Elmar-M) if you don't need 0.7m focusing. It's smaller than Elmar-M when collapsed, much cheaper, superb image with very 3D look. And most of all, it looks so awesome on M2/M3. :D
 
coelacanth said:
I recommend Elmar 50/2.8 (not Elmar-M) if you don't need 0.7m focusing. It's smaller than Elmar-M when collapsed, much cheaper, superb image with very 3D look. And most of all, it looks so awesome on M2/M3. :D
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I recommend the modern and now discontinued Elmar-M instead. Practically flare proof, so you can leave the hood off which makes it tiny, collapsed. Very characteristic, sharp and 3D look.

The smallest (for that speed that is), best performing 35 I know is the Nikkor 35/2.5 LTM.
 
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Another vote for the 50mm f/3.5 collapsible Elmar. Compact and absolutely tack sharp.

Most of the modest-sized aperture 35mm lenses I've seen are quite compact in size, not protruding much more than the above Elmar when collapsed. So, I don't really think you would need a collapsible 35mm -- and like others have stated, I don't even know of any anyway.
 
retnull said:
Summaron 35 / 3.5 is tiny, relatively inexpensive, and (IMO) undervalued. A great lens, sharp as anything, with a great tonality in black and white.
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That would be my suggestion also. The early LTM version with the appropriate M adapter is hardly larger than a collapsed 5cm Elmar.
 
I'd put a word in for the Summaron, particularly 2.8...really think it is a big step on from the 35mm Elmar and still small enough.

For 50mm the Elmar M is still my favourite and travels everywhere. Hard to beat. Tend to leave the hood on to make it easier to extend the lens quickly.

Michael
 
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