I need help with Leica lenses

J

jr_senator

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I'm in the process of selling my DSLR outfit due to health conditions, just too much and too heavy. I'm looking at getting a M9 and two or maybe three lenses and a flash. I don't understand what the different names given the lenses, what is meant. Summilux, Elmarit, Elmar, Summicrom, ASPH, etc. are all Greek to me. How can I come to a better understanding of Leica lenses? Also, I notice a line of f/2.5 lenses that are less expensive than than the others, are they a good line? Thanks
 
The names (Summilux / Elmar / Summicron etc) relate to the aperature:
http://kenrockwell.com/leica/lens-names.htm

ASPH means Aspherical, and means that the lens in question has at least one aspherical lens element designed to correct for some image distortion or another.

The 2.5 lenses (Summarit, I believe) are cheaper because they are cheaper. In other words, the construction is supposed to be less "nice". That being said, they are still too expensive for me and I shoot 30+ year old lens. Which are fantastic. Sorry, I just checked the prices: way too expensive. Leica tax.
 
Hi,
the different names are mainly given for lens speed: Summilux = 1.4, summicron = 2.0, elmarit = 2.8, summarit = 2.5 etc. There are exceptions, but in general this is the naming scheme.

Are they any good ? It depends usually on individual models go and use the google to find more information, or dig deeper in the forum history in Leica M section.

There are more versions (generations) of each lens, the latest being Aspherical...

Really too complicated to sum up in on post.
 
jr_senator said:
I'm in the process of selling my DSLR outfit due to health conditions, just too much and too heavy. I'm looking at getting a M9 and two or maybe three lenses and a flash. I don't understand what the different names given the lenses, what is meant. Summilux, Elmarit, Elmar, Summicrom, ASPH, etc. are all Greek to me. How can I come to a better understanding of Leica lenses? Also, I notice a line of f/2.5 lenses that are less expensive than than the others, are they a good line? Thanks
Click to expand...

You might start by doing some research then ask specific questions here.
 
jr_senator said:
I'm in the process of selling my DSLR outfit due to health conditions, just too much and too heavy. I'm looking at getting a M9 and two or maybe three lenses and a flash. I don't understand what the different names given the lenses, what is meant. Summilux, Elmarit, Elmar, Summicrom, ASPH, etc. are all Greek to me. How can I come to a better understanding of Leica lenses? Also, I notice a line of f/2.5 lenses that are less expensive than than the others, are they a good line? Thanks
Click to expand...


Here is a typical do it all lens setup that somebody would have (OK I know somebody is going to say thats not what they have, but its just an example).

35mm Summicron f2
50mm Summicron f2
90mm Elmarit f2.8

If you wanted to go for a faster lens in each focal length you would look for a Summilux which will be f1.4. If you don't want a lens as fast as f2 you'd look for a Summarit, ideal say for the 28mm length. Outside of my example, and apart from the Summarit line, the lenses start to get heavier. So a Summilux is generally heavier than a Summicron, and a 90mm Summicron f2 is heavier than the Elmarit f2.8. Weight may be one of your considerations.

There are also the CV (Cosina Voigtlander) lenses. Often they produce excellent images, are cheaper than the Leica equivalent's, and often lighter and smaller than Leica equivalents. Generally I think its better to get the Leica lenses first, then choose CV for more niche products, and obviously somebody could find a reason to disagree.

Steve
 
A basic dslr with a kit lens will probably weigh less than a Leica with 3 lenses. Consider this if you are really making this move due to health reasons. Also, the kit lens will give you the same coverage as, say, a 28/50/90 set of lenses

Making the move you propose would be very UNhealthy for me. My family would disown me if they found out I sunk $10K or more into something like a Leica M9 and a bunch of lenses.

Now if you have the cash and want the M9 for other reasons, hard to argue with that!
 
Start with cameraquest.com and read through the articles. It's a tremendous resource. I found it helped me when I first started using rf's and had lots of questions.

Best regards,

Bob
 
Assuming you want to buy new lenses, they are all great, no exceptions, and I think you can safely decide based on the lens speed and focal length you need and budget that you have.

You will find lots and lots of info on other manufacturer, and older lenses on RFF, but under the bottom line, for new Leica lenses the choice is easy.

Best,

Roland.
 
Deciding on a Leica lenses is no different than others; tell us what type of photography you want to do and we can make all sorts of suggestions about Leicas, KMs, CVs, Zeiss, Nikkor or Canon RF lenses. But, regarding new Leicas, they are all "good"; it comes down to the 3 Ps: price, preference for a lens signature and purpose or function.
 
Buy a lens, probably 35 or 50. Buy a fast one if you want speed: a slow one if you don't need it, or want a smaller lens. Personally I'd go with a 35 Summilux (f/1.4). My wife prefers a 50 Summarit (f/2.5).

After a while, buy another lens, according to what you've found you need...

Cheers,

R.
 
I don't need fast lenses. The only reasons I have them is to get a brighter viewfinder and to use the Canon 1D3's best AF mode that requires f/2.8 or faster lenses. I like the pricing of the CV lenses but I read a review by Ken Rockwell (who is 90% BS) really criticizing the CV lenses. f/2.5 is fast enough for me if they are decent lenses.
 
Pablito said:
A basic dslr with a kit lens will probably weigh less than a Leica with 3 lenses. Consider this if you are really making this move due to health reasons. Also, the kit lens will give you the same coverage as, say, a 28/50/90 set of lenses

Making the move you propose would be very UNhealthy for me. My family would disown me if they found out I sunk $10K or more into something like a Leica M9 and a bunch of lenses.

Now if you have the cash and want the M9 for other reasons, hard to argue with that!
Click to expand...

What DSLR kit weighs less than a M8 w/3 lenses? I am going to weigh my Nikon DSLR(D/2/h/x ) kits vs. my M8 3 lens kit. Back to you tomorrow with the weights.
 
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You'll get plenty of agreement here about Ken Rockwell's credentials for RF lens reviews!! :bang:

If you don't mind paying a very modest fee you might want to go take a look at Reid Reviews or Steve Huff's Free site. As mentioned, it's also well worth looking at the CameraQuest M Lenses site for a very realistic discussion of the CV lenses.

A good plan would be to start with the M9 and maybe just a single 35 or 50mm lens. From there you'll find your way ...
 
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I so love the low weight of the M8. Used to lug around the 5D and 25-105 (plus a few primes in a bag).
Now I have the M8 and 2 to 3 lenses in a bum bag. I carry 21/28/35 normally, sometimes the 50
So much less weight!
 
my suggestion is to start out with a nice 2/50mm summicron. a version iv or v should set you back about $750. then see if it hits the spot, or whether you need expand from there. leica lenses can be swapped around willy nilly, and you shouldn't lose money on them.
 
Leica cameras and lenses are pretty robust in construction. The ones I own are made with a lot of brass. I am not sure that there will actually be much of a weight savings over a DSLR and two zooms. The Leica kit is much more compact, however and easier to carry in a small bag. Others above in this thread have cracked the door open on some of the archania of Leica lenses. Simple story: Leica groups lenses in their line-up for marketing/naming purposes by the lenses' maximum aperture. More complex: the actual lens formulas have changed/been updated many times in the past 50 years. In my opinion, there are really no bad choices among these lenses and in my own kit there are lenses I bought used from reputable dealers (e.g. Tamarkin.com, Don Chatterton (now gone), KEH camera brokers) and ones I purchased new (B&H, Adorama). For a normal and longer lenses (like a 50mm Summicron, 90 Apo Asph), I don't see much advantage in image quality for the extra cost of purchasing new. For the newer wide-angle lenses (28/2 Summicron, 24/1.4 Summilux) it's more of a "get it if you can afford it" kind of thing. In my view, the advantages in image quality for these new wides are real and the lenses can, for the most part, only be purchased new (I have seen a few used 28's around recently, so this may be changing for that particular lens).

The newest generation of lenses have been called "clinically sharp" by some. These include the excellent 50/1.4 Asph, the 75/2, the 90 Apo Asph and the 35/2 Asph. "Asph" means aspherical -- now a computer-ground lens element that is not shaped like a classic "spherical" lens ("spherical" think: like a magnifying glass -- same curvature on each half of the lens). This innovation lets a lens designer use one piece of glass where two separate glass elements used to be required, but until relatively recently, aspheres had to be ground by hand, had a large number of rejects per batch, and were consequently very expensive compared to traditional lens designs. "Apo" is short for apochromatic and means, more or less, that the lens nominally focuses all wavelengths of visible light at the same plane. In terms of image sharpness this is generally a good thing, although a lens need not be apochromatic to perform well.

One final word of advice: If you are coming from DSLR world, the M9 will be a very different way of working, Senator, and it isn't for everyone. My free advice would be to get the camera and one lens to see how you like working with a rangefinder rather than a DSLR and then get other lenses as you get a sense of whether it is for you.

Best regards,

Ben Marks
 
The thing to keep in mind with a rangefinder is that the framelines may bother you at long focal legnths. Also, do you wear glasses? If so, the wider frame lines are harder to see. Why not go to a store and check some stuff out in person?
 
jr_senator said:
I like the pricing of the CV lenses but I read a review by Ken Rockwell (who is 90% BS) really criticizing the CV lenses. f/2.5 is fast enough for me if they are decent lenses.
Click to expand...

Ken Rockwell's site is 'entertaining' but you may need grain of salt before reading. He openly admits to 'reviewing' things he has not actually seen or used!

Re CV lenses... you will find many people here, taking many fine photos, with CV lenses.

As with most things, it's not what you buy, buy what you do with it. In this case, if you have a good eye then then lens will not get in the way, and if you don't (yet) have a good eye then a "good" lens will not be a magic bullet.

Cheers...
Fergus.
 
Wow! What a load of great info and suggestions. Thanks everyone. Addressing a couple of points made in some posts, I currently have a Contex G2 outfit and have had other rangefinders through several decades. Point being, I kinda know what I am getting into. As far as system weight between rangefinder and SLRs go, I have no problem carrying a bit of weight as the system is really carried by my wheelchair and I have a service dog to assist in pulling it. What I am really looking at is the weight I would be handling, ie, the weight of a camera and one lens. The M9 weighs a bit less than half of what my DSLR weighs. The RF lenses are also lighter than thr DSLR lenses. I currently use a Canon 1D Mark III and Canon's 'L' lenses, so I am used to a certain amount of IQ. I don't mind having to buy Leica lenses, but, if something in the CV or Ziess lines are pretty good then the difference in cost may make the difference between my getting a M9 or a used M8.2. Thanks again, everyone.
 
You need not worry about CV and Zeiss lenses. Obviously there are differences and various levels of image quality, but offhand I cannot think of any lens in M mount that is not a joy to use, irrespective of brand.
 
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