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

Aside from some of the great lenses suggested
There is also the Voigtlander 35 1.7.... Which has been Sold Out for quite sometime

Mine is up for sale in the Classifieds :angel:...Beautiful rendering
Sharp but not so sharp for Asph Glass , more Classic in rendering
 
The best cheap option could be the 40mm Summicron f2. It is a cheaper lens and underestimated. Although it isn't your ideal focal length...
 
MichaelW said:
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.
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Thanks again everyone, so many great options, i don't even know where to start. I contacted the ebay seller listed above, asking if the lens was professionally sprayed and he said:

"No it wasn't but it was sprayed and not brushed on so it is quite even. I also had it sanded down before painting so the paint actually sticks quite well. However, as you can see from the photos the paint is not in the best condition because it has worn down a little when installing and removing the hood. However subjectively it doesnt look bad at all and with my leica M8.2 it matches the brass quite well.

Just so you know that the optics are unaffected by the paint and is as clean as new. I have only used this lens a few times in the few months that I had it (bought it new) and decided to take a more compact lens with me on my overseas trip and thus it has not seen any real use."
 
I think when it comes down to it ideally I'm looking for the most compact, fast, 35m lens i can get my hands on that's black (for discretion) and not over $900 (aus).. ideally. Is there an option to get the ziess biogeny lens in the ad repainted .. and would that be extremely costly?
 
angiange said:
I think when it comes down to it ideally I'm looking for the most compact, fast, 35m lens i can get my hands on that's black (for discretion) and not over $900 (aus).. ideally. Is there an option to get the ziess biogeny lens in the ad repainted .. and would that be extremely costly?
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It's not a case of repainting it, but stripping off the paint he's put on the chrome. And he said he sanded the chrome as well to get the paint to stick better. It might be tempting to buy the first lens you see that matches your general specifications, but I would avoid something like that unless it was much cheaper. You have to be patient at times like this.
 
Contact Foto Riesel and ask what they have second hand
You could also buy a copy of the Photographic Trader magazine from a newsagent. That has ads from private sellers and retailers. That will give you an idea what is around.
 
angiange said:
I think when it comes down to it ideally I'm looking for the most compact, fast, 35m lens i can get my hands on that's black (for discretion) and not over $900 (aus).. ideally. Is there an option to get the ziess biogeny lens in the ad repainted .. and would that be extremely costly?
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compact, fast, cheap, 35mm...

These are the words you would describe a Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4. It's very compact, and fits ur budget very nicely. The speed is there if you need it, stop it down to 2.8 and you have a very sharp lens.

I know some people don't like the lens, and it isn't the best 35mm out there, but you can't beat the price! Wide open it can be a bit soft, but on film I don't think it matters. The distortion is noticeable when u put straight lines on the edges of ur frame, and the bokeh can be busy in some circumstances.

I had two of that lens, and they never failed me. Now... if on the other hand, u r looking for top quality, and could do with a stop slower, then I'd highly recommend the Zeiss Biogon 35/2, you may find a used one in good shape for the budget. It's got zero distortion, more sharpness than you'll need, and pleasant bokeh. It's contrasty, which can be a hit or miss for u. For me, it's my favorite and most used lens.
 
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