About collapsible and 35mm lenses

[Marsopa]

Hi:

Being very happy with my M6 I would like to ask some questions related mainly to lenses.


I'm planning to buy a collapsible lens (50mm) and a 35mm lensfor my newly aquired M6 ( 😀 ), my first idea is try to get a summar (nice soft old-looking pics) but it seems it's difficult to find (at least for me)... so I'm thinking about FSU lenses. Are they in some way comparable to summar? Looking into Fedka web I see three collapsible lenses: Industar-22, 50/3.5, FED, 50/3.5 and Industar-50, 50/3.5. Is there any better/adviseable than others?

And about 35mm: will jupiter 12 be a good lens for the Leica?. Is it a good performer?.

Thanks in advance

 

[pvdhaar]

You need to be aware that a lot of FSU lenses from before the mid 1950's do have a 39mm screw mount, but are collimated to the Contax standard. That means that the RF cam will travel at a wrong rate for Leica bodies.

 

[like2fiddle]

Have you considered a Summitar as your 50? Some are coated, some are not. Wonderfully versatile lens.

35's can be expensive, but a relatively inexpensive, good performing alternative that is really no larger than most collapsibles would be a 40 - Leica C, Minolta, CV.

I don't know much about the FSU lenses, but comments I've seen over the years range from superb to unacceptable results.

 

[Rob-F]

A Summar shouldn't be hard to find, on eBay or in our classifieds here. It's a bigger challenge to find one that is not so fogged, hazed, fungussed and/or scratched that it has more "Leica glow" than you wanted. There are some other Leica lenses that also have that pleasant roundedness. The Summarit, used wide open or at least at a fairly wide setting, or the collapsibe Summicron used at f/2, both have a pleasant roundedness--a sharp/soft quality. The f/2.8 Elmar (the old one, not the current version) is also like that, used wide open.

 

[payasam]

The Jupiter 12 is a good performer -- at least my example is -- but its protruding rear element may well interfere with the M6's metering.

 

[ferider]

Get a CV 50/2 Heliar and 35/2.5 Color Skopar and don't look back.

They will nicely complement your Nokton and you can use the 35 on the Bessa, too.

Nice photos in the gallery, BTW !

Roland.

 

[Marsopa]

Thanks everybody...

Roland: I've got a 35 color skopar and I'm happy with it... I would like to test (unexpensive) old lenses, from time to time I see pics taken with one of those "vintages" and I like them a lot.

Thanks again

 

[ferider]

I see ....

The Biogon / J-12 will work on the M6, but the rear element will
hide the meter and light measurement will not be reliable.
But you can use a hand-held meter, maybe. It will not work
on your Bessa.

Another vintage lens that is interesting on the M6 is the Orion 15.
Very contrasty.

I have never used it but many users comment on the nice
vintage look of the Canon 35/2.8, as well.

Best,

Roland.

 

[nobbylon]

I got hold of a 1967 elmar collapsable. I have a 35 asph but wanted to try a 50 and for the price I think this is the best 50 to start out with, nice and crisp at 5.6 and above and very happy with the results wide open, rgds j

 

[philhirn]

I love my collapsible summicron. They are not uncommon too.

 

[Vics]

I love my collapsible summicron. They are not uncommon too.

Ditto! Vic