Non-Leica Lenses

HSI

The Fourth
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Joined
May 4, 2007
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I'm looking now to buy a M2, lever rewind I suppose, but I can't afford a summicron at the moment.
Can anyone offer me a good 35mm or 50mm alternative that won't break my wallet.
 
Agreed. Although I'm only using CV lenses on digital RFs they are terrific and the best bang for a buck out there IMO.

Check out Sean Reid's and Erwin Putts' reviews of the new Cosina-Voigtlander RF lenses.
 
Split the difference and get yourself a Voigtlander Nokton 40/1.4.

It's a fine lens at a great price.

You just won't have the luxury of a frameline that closely approximates the FoV.

John
 
All the CV 35s are good, an older lens to go with an M2 for a reasonable price, >$250 (maybe less but they have been selling "high" recently), would be a chrome Canon 35/2.8.
 
HSI said:
Well I shoot alot of the time wide open, so would the 40 get the job done on the 35 end of work? Focus wise?

is the question will an M2 focus a 40/1.4? Yes, it most certainly will without a problem.
 
Ah.
Well I've been looking around and from what I can tell.
Summicron 35's go for round 450 up.
Summicrom 50's go for 300 up.
I'm looking for around 250 to 325 area.
 
Think about the Hexanon- they've been coming down in price- modern glass & coatings, stunningly sharp- I got one and was extremely pleasantly surprised with the quality.
 
Well those are all some good options.
I guess I'm just going to have the browse the used market for a while, see if any oppurtunites place themselves in front of me.
Let me know if any summicron 35's are going for cheap in the next couple months. 🙂
 
Our man in Florida, Raid, has spent a great deal of effort putting together a side by side comparison of 35mm lenses recently, as well as 50mm ones a while back.
Look at the images for a first hand impression of their characteristics.
 
They're getting quite scarce but you might want to look for an LTM non-Leitz glass and use an M adaptor on it. I had very good success using Steinheil and Schacht LTM lenses with my M2. Other optical companies made lenses in LTM during the late 40's>50's that still hold up well even by today's standards.

Generally these lenses (as I recall) were not as mechanically robust as Leitz counterparts but optically they did a good job.

dc
 
Ehh, I'm just looking for something that fits the M bayonet.
And can take a beating, so not to intrested in that option.
 
VC lenses are very good, especially considering the alternative. Look for a whole line of VC M-mount lenses to replace the recently discontinued line of screw-mount lenses.

I also have to recommend the VC 40mm f/1.4 Nokton. I was amazed at how sharp the example I had was - on par will all of my Leica lenses.
 
I'm being told the 40mm, what abou the 35mm Ultron?
Is it work a look, at least due to it holding a regular frame line?
 
Your opening post includes a 50 mm. Why not a Canon 50/1.8? Great lens, and can be had for under $300. Check out Dante Stella's website piece on "Canon Lenses for Leica": he gives this lens a great review, IMO.
 
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