about to be new M2 user here Need Lens advise

M

Mark W

dazed and confused
Local time
3:15 PM
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
82
Location
Silverton, Oregon
View My Gallery
OK long story short I'm about to inherit the following

1961 Black M2

15mm f4.5 Voigtlander w/finder
25mm f3.5 Canon Hopefully w/finder
35mm f1.5 Canon Black and Silver
50mm f1.2 Canon Black and Silver
100mm f2.0 Canon most likely Black and Silver

I currently have:

1955 If RD in perfect working condition

1951 Canon model III w/rapid winder (this camera has been all tuned up

Canon 35mm f1.8 Black and Silver w/finder Black finder
Canon 50mm f1.8 Black and Silver (with the fine lines on the barrel) X2
Canon 100mm f4.0 Chrome w/small tube finder
Canon 135mm f3.5 Chrome w/small tube finder
28mm black finder

Now for the Question. What Optic's would you keep and what would you buy with the proceeds from anything you would sell? The Bodies all STAY.

I also have an 11 body 38 lens (from 17mm to 600mm) Canon FD system so I also have the wide angles that can be used on the LTM and M mount bodies using zone focus and my Adapter B.

Some how I keep thinking I should have at least one M era Leica lens but for the life of me I have no idea which.

I'm not nor will I become a street shooter (I live in a small town)
I'm not into taking photo's of people I don't know
I love to travel and love to travel with my cameras
I have two beautiful Grand daughter age 2 and 3 I burn an amazing amount of pixels on them now. I need to start burning more film.

Oh and I'm the Canon FD moderator on Photo . net so I know a bit.
 
There can be many different answers to this question. The simple answer depends on your preference of focal lengths. Once you decide, you hold on to those chosen focal lengths and sell the rest. Rangefinders are about simplicity and it sounds as if, based on your stated Canon FD collection, you are not into simplicity...
 
Mark W said:
OK long story short I'm about to inherit the following

1961 Black M2

15mm f4.5 Voigtlander w/finder
25mm f3.5 Canon Hopefully w/finder
35mm f1.5 Canon Black and Silver
50mm f1.2 Canon Black and Silver
100mm f2.0 Canon most likely Black and Silver

I currently have:

1955 If RD in perfect working condition

1951 Canon model III w/rapid winder (this camera has been all tuned up

Canon 35mm f1.8 Black and Silver w/finder Black finder
Canon 50mm f1.8 Black and Silver (with the fine lines on the barrel) X2
Canon 100mm f4.0 Chrome w/small tube finder
Canon 135mm f3.5 Chrome w/small tube finder
28mm black finder

Now for the Question. What Optic's would you keep and what would you buy with the proceeds from anything you would sell? The Bodies all STAY.
Click to expand...
Dear Mark,

With a black M2, I'd have thought the obvious choice was a 35/1.4 Summilux, though no doubt others will advocate a 50 Summicron.

Personally I'd keep the faster lenses and get rid of the slower ones, with the exception perhaps of one of the 50/1.8, but that's just me.

Cheers,

R.
 
Wow, there are some nice keepers in that list. I have always loved the black paint M4's and M2's. I have no experience with Canon optics so I couldn't comment on that.

From my own experience, I work best when travelling with a light setup. But perhaps probably more due to financial constraints I am down to one Leica M6TTL and two lens - a rokkor and an modern elmar 2.8. I have always yearned for a pre-asph summilux 35mm but it has always been out of my budget. So I have learned to love the ones I'm with.

Maybe it would be good to match that M2 with some Leica optics. Sell some of the Canon lens and invest in one or two quality Leica lens. I used to have a Summarit 1.5 that wasn't overly expensive. Also, the Summitars represent good value and have coatings.

Decisions, decisions^^
 
I use Canon LTM lenses on my M2, all you need are the appropriate Leitz screw-mount adapters. They were made for 21-35, 50, and 90 focal lengths.

You've got some great lenses there. Keep 'em.
 
Well Morning guys (it is here at least LOL) I know the lenses I have are desirable I've shot with a number of Leitz LTM lenses in the past including 5cm f2.8 Elmar 5cm f1.5 Summarit 3.5cm f3.5 Summicron and a 90mm f4.0 Elmar and 135mm f4.5 Hektar.

I with a rangefinder tend to shoot now from 35mm to 100mm partly because that is what I have and mostly because that is what suits what I can up with to do with this type of camera.

Shooters comment about me not being into simplicity is kind of interesting. I have a sizable camera collection and the way I would put it is this.

Some people would own a pair of pliers an adjustable end wrench a couple screwdrivers and a hammer. They would manage to fix what ever they work on with those tools and the task would be taken care of.

A professional carpenter might own a whole van full of tools, Plumber the same, a auto mechanic might have a couple 5 foot tall roll away tool chests with 40 drawers of tools.
Yet when they walk into a house or lift a hood. In there hands might only be 2-3 tools. those tools suited to the task at hand and chosen by experiance are all that is needed to handle the task at hand.

When I head up in the woods to photograph nature and waterfalls I tend to carry a Body like my Canon T-90 with it's awesome averaging spot meter and a couple of wide angle lense a macro and maybe a short telephoto.

When I head to the ponds at the Oregon Gardens to shoot waterfowl I might take a New F-1 with a SK screen and a 500mm f4.5L and 2X-A extender the only other lens I might drag along is my 80-200mm f4.0L in case I see something closer then 50 yards away to shoot.

When I walk into a church to shoot a wedding I'll carry a 24mm f2.0 35mm f2.0 50mm f1.2L 85mm f1.8 100mm f.20 and a Pair of T-90's I might depending on the church carry that 80-200mm f4.0L as well. So I can shoot anything from large groups to a mothers tear from where ever I might be.

If I head out on some adventure some weekend outting I might slip a Canonet G-III QL-17 in my pocket.

So I am all about simplicity I just have a large tool box from which to select my wrench from.


Keep the suggestions coming guys I'm open to anything. Being the M2 and it's kit are a complete surprise (though tempered due to the loss of a good friend) I am a bit on the excited side. So I seam to want to talk about this a LOT.
 
I'll be the one to suggest a 50mm F2 Summicron, Type I Rigid is the lens of that era. The downside- it only focusses to 3.5ft. The later Type II Rigid (6 elements in 5 groups) is the first in the series to focus to 0.7m. It is black, and would look nice on the Black M2. I keep one on my M2, and the Type 1 Rigid on the M3. The latter lens is higher contrast than the 1950s lens.
 
Wow! You've got some nice glass coming, not to mention the black M2. I use Canon glass on my M2 a lot. From what you've got, if it were me, I'd definitely keep (or shoot a lot w/ and then decide whether to keep):

15 mm CV w/ finder
35 mm f1.8 Canon (highly regarded)
35 mm f1.5 Canon (there is a thread devoted to this lens over on the Canon forum)
50mm f1.8 Canon (great all-rounder, comparable to a summicron of the same era)
50mm f1.2 Canon (if it's a good sample, this can be a wonderful night & portrait lens)

I don't know about the 25mm Canon; the CV version is probably much much better. As for the two 100mm Canon lenses, the f4.0 is regarded I believe as not as good as the f3.5 (which is superb, tiny, and sharp). I don't know about the f2.0 version. I don't use a 135 (never got on w/ that focal length) so I won't comment.
 
Sell all the lenses and buy a 50 Summicron (DR is the one I'd go w, or a Rigid) and an 90 Elmar C or Rokkor 90 (same lens). Shouldn't cost over $700 if you're patient & careful. Your Leica camera deserves the best. Yes, I know. You like Canons. But still.....there IS a difference. To put it mildly.

I like Canon FD glass too. One of my best photos on the wall came from an AE-1 w/ 50 1.4. But years ago I bought my first Leica kit, an M3 w/ a 50 Summicron DR and a Leica Elmar C 90 4.0. I ended up selling it all because it was just too pretty. I prefer user cameras. But it never ceases to amaze me when I go back and look at the prints that came from that setup. Talk about sharp and 3D. I shoot the R system now and love it. My point is that of all the lenses I've used from all the manufacturers (and that's been a lot), the two lenses I recommended are unique and have image quality that is at the top of the heap. And for a 90, the Elmar is light, small & cheap.
 
Last edited:
Hi. If I were in your shoes and wanted appropriate vintage Leitz lenses for your new M2, I'd get a Summaron 35f2.8 lens, and the first black Summicron 50f2 lens that Brian previously mentioned. I have both of these lenses, but the Summicron that my chrome M2 usually wears is the collapsible version.
 
Keep the 15 and/or 25 for the If.

Keep the 35/1.5, the 50/1.8 and 100/2 for the M2. While the Leica fan club above might not agree, IMO, those lenses are as good or better than contemporary Leica lenses.

Sell everything else, buy a scanner maybe, or a ticket to Hawaii. 🙂
 
Last edited:
ferider said:
Keep the 15 and/or 25 for the If.

Keep the 35/1.5, the 50/1.8 and 100/2 for the M2. While the Leica fan club above might not agree, IMO, those lenses are as good or better than contemporary Leica lenses.

Sell everything else, buy a scanner maybe, or a ticket to Hawaii. 🙂
Click to expand...

Well as luck would have it I have a very nice Canon FS4000US film scanner and Well Hawaii would be interesting. But I would rather put extra money in my 48 Willys Jeep that when I get it done will be part of many photo adventures in the wolly outback of Oregon and the SW USA.
 
Mark W said:
Well as luck would have it I have a very nice Canon FS4000US film scanner and Well Hawaii would be interesting. But I would rather put extra money in my 48 Willys Jeep that when I get it done will be part of many photo adventures in the wolly outback of Oregon and the SW USA.
Click to expand...

The Jeep sounds like one of those projects that is ongoing. You have a fantastic kit coming, I wouldn't mind being in your dilemma. My new to me 1966 M2 is a joy to use. I know you will have a great time with your new camera. 😛
 
Mark W said:
Well as luck would have it I have a very nice Canon FS4000US film scanner and Well Hawaii would be interesting. But I would rather put extra money in my 48 Willys Jeep that when I get it done will be part of many photo adventures in the wolly outback of Oregon and the SW USA.
Click to expand...

There you go, I can follow that thought process. 🙂

Lot's of pros in that era used Leica bodies with non-Leica lenses. The Canon triplet 35/1.5, 50/1.8 and 100/2 is really excellent. Nikkor LTM lenses were popular, too, including 35/1.8, 50/1.4 and 85/2. Lot's of Life magazine pics were shot with those.

If you want one single Leica lens, for 35 I follow Franks advice, the Summaron is excellent. For 50, the DR Summicron is great (from the late 50s), or the v2 Summilux in my avatar (designed in 62). Both DR and Summilux are Mandler designs.

Cheers,

Roland.
 
Bingley said:
15 mm CV w/ finder
35 mm f1.8 Canon (highly regarded)
35 mm f1.5 Canon (there is a thread devoted to this lens over on the Canon forum)
50mm f1.8 Canon (great all-rounder, comparable to a summicron of the same era)
50mm f1.2 Canon (if it's a good sample, this can be a wonderful night & portrait lens)
Click to expand...
wow i wanted to write a list and just before i sent it i saw that Bingley has the same one 🙂
only difference was that i didnt put 35/1.8 because i didnt want to double 35mm focal length.
i thought it is best to have 15mm for some exotic shots, 35/1.5 for travel, 50/1.2 for low light and 50/1.8 for every day because it is pretty compact and fast enough for normal conditions...
 
From direct experience the one Leitz lens that should be on M2 is the 35mm F2.8 Summaron. That is as good as it gets IMO. Buy a few adapters for your LTM Canons and you are set. Enjoy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom