A question on which 35mm Lens to buy for my Leica M6?

[angiange]

Hi,

I'm in the market to buy a 35mm lens for my Leica M6 that I have just bought.. my budget is around $900 Australian dollars which is roughly 704 euros(hopefully a bit less than that if possible). Im interest in using its for street/documentary based photo projects, so any guidance would be much appreciated. I was told that Zuiss have a decent one?. Also if possible looking to buy second hand, to save some funds.


Thanks very much!

 

[Richard G]

Zeiss Biogon C f2.8 would fit in your price range second hand if rhere's one for sale. Compact and sharp.

 

[FrankS]

Vintage Canon 35 f2. The Japanese Summicron killer.

 

[huntjump]

Both suggestions above are great. The nokton 35 1.2 is also a stellar lens, but a beast in terms of size.

 

[semilog]

Zeiss Biogon C f2.8 would fit in your price range second hand if rhere's one for sale. Compact and sharp.

It's the best lens I've ever used.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92889
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91799

 

[magicianhisoka]

I think all the replies above make financial sense. A brand new CV 35 2.5 can be had in your budget too 🙂

 

[canetsbe]

my nokton 35 1.2 is for sale in the classifieds for $800 (sorry for the shameless plug)

 

[ChrisN]

Vintage Canon 35 f2. The Japanese Summicron killer.

Is the Canon 35/2 a slow-focusing lens, like the Canon 50/1.2? (The 50/1.2 focusing ring rotates a long way to travel from from near to infinity - accurate but slow to focus.) I did own a Canon 35/2.8 once but can't remember what the focus travel was like. For street/documentary a faster-focusing lens would be preferred.

 

[Araakii]

It's the best lens I've ever used.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92889
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91799

yep
for that budget 35mm biogon 2.8 is a no brainer

 

[Particular]

Is the Canon 35/2 a slow-focusing lens, like the Canon 50/1.2? (The 50/1.2 focusing ring rotates a long way to travel from from near to infinity - accurate but slow to focus.) I did own a Canon 35/2.8 once but can't remember what the focus travel was like. For street/documentary a faster-focusing lens would be preferred.

No, it is one of the most compact and ergonomic lenses made for M/LTM cameras. Even though it doesn't have a tab, the scalloped focus ring and light action (at least my copy) make it really quick to use.

To the OP:
There are really few bad choices in the 35mm range. I think you should decide if you are foremost looking for a image quality, handling, portability or speed. The right answer will present itself.

 

[sparrow6224]

The Cosina Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton is outstanding. So is its 35mm f/1.7. The CV 35/2.5 is slower but very sharp and contrasty. Don't get the pancake version it's a pain to distinguish the focus ring from the aperture by touch. Ie, I never could. The 35/2.5 can be found for around $225 US and the others are now $500 or so. I got my 35/1.4 for $350 but I'm not seeing them at that price anymore. The Canon f 2 is great. Cost you about $500 these days also. The Zeiss I've never used.

 

[FrankS]

If you can live with 40mm, (which is probably a better match to the M6 35mm framelines) there is the CV 40f1.4 Nokton, and the 40f2 Summicron C and 40f2 Rokkor M lenses. All excellent.

 

[d_c]

Get the newest M-mount Leica 35mm you can find for the money at whatever aperture. The performance will be comparable to offerings by other manufacturers, the fit and feel of the lens will be up there with the best of them, and it will hold it's value. If you later decide you need a faster or newer version of the same focal length then the lens you have will provide a good basis for any part-exchange deal.

For example reddotcameras in the UK are showing a nice looking 35mm f2.8 Summaron with M3 goggles for GBP 449. Sure it's not the perfect lens for an M6 because of the goggles but the Summaron is a good performer - see http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/35mm-f28.htm, the lens is affordable, and who cares what it looks like as long as it takes the pictures.

 

[amyukie]

I will never buy ZM lenses anymore. Had planar, sharp but build quality was bad, mine had play in the focusing ring, sold it for a bargain price.

Get a leica lens! I got the 35 cron asph now. For that budget, I will find a clean summaron f2.8

 

[Jubb Jubb]

Angi, you may be lucky enough to find a Leica Summarit 35mm for a little over that price. Leica glass is definitely worth the money.

 

[Godfrey]

Hi,

I'm in the market to buy a 35mm lens for my Leica M6 that I have just bought.. my budget is around $900 Australian dollars which is roughly 704 euros(hopefully a bit less than that if possible). Im interest in using its for street/documentary based photo projects, so any guidance would be much appreciated. I was told that Zuiss have a decent one?. Also if possible looking to buy second hand, to save some funds.

If you want to save some money, the Cosina/Voigtländer Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5 is a delightful lens at a bargain price. It's tiny, handy, and makes superb photos. Available new for prices in the range of $410, and another $60 for the bayonet mount lens hood. Well worth it!

 

[Jubb Jubb]

There is a zeiss biogeny 35mm f2 on ebay right now. I do not know what this lens is like. I have never used it, but it is in your budget and maybe other members here can tell you about it...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Zeiss-Bi...t=AU_Lenses&hash=item27c57c9dc7#ht_500wt_1315

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

If you want to save some money, the Cosina/Voigtländer Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5 is a delightful lens at a bargain price. It's tiny, handy, and makes superb photos. Available new for prices in the range of $410, and another $60 for the bayonet mount lens hood. Well worth it!

I had one of these for a while, and I sold it because it was very contrasty, so I didn't like the results I got in black and white with it. In color, it rendered beautifully! I shoot more BW with film, though. The lens is VERY, very sharp and has great bokeh, and is CHEAP. I have the 35mm f2.8 C-Biogon now and it is also pretty contrasty, but not as harsh as the Color Skopar. It costs a lot more, and build quality is, in my opinion, not as good as the cheaper Voigtlander lens.

 

[MichaelW]

There is a zeiss biogeny 35mm f2 on ebay right now. I do not know what this lens is like. I have never used it, but it is in your budget and maybe other members here can tell you about it...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Zeiss-Bi...t=AU_Lenses&hash=item27c57c9dc7#ht_500wt_1315

They are good lenses. Only thing that worries me in this description is where the seller writes "Note that I have had the chrome ring sprayed satin black. I found that the chrome stood out too much for street shooting so the black makes for a perfect match for a black camera." I wonder who did the painting and if it's clean and professional, or something amateurish that would be annoying and have a negative bearing on future sale value. There is only one photo that can be enlarged on that listing so it's hard to even get an idea.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

Both of the ZM Biogons are great lenses to start with. I would prefer the f/2.0, just for that extra stop of light.

My first ever lens in the M-Mount was the CV Nokton 35/1.2. It's a beast, for sure, but I have a fondness for the way it draws that still makes me take it's [heavy] @$$ around every so often. Now using it as a portrait lens on on Olympus OM-D via an adapter and it really shines.

In any case, you can't go wrong with any of the suggestions above - you really just have to figure out if you want a modern lens or something that will give you more vintage-looking photographs. Good luck! It's a great "problem" to have!