Advice needed on LTM mount lenses

[giellaleafapmu]

Dear folks,

this is my first post here, so I might be asking a question which was already
asked a zirillion times.

I am looking for a good 50mm lens to put on a Leica IIIg camera and I have considered
the following possible candidates:

(a) Cosina Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm;
(b) CV Nokton;
(c) A modern Summicron in LTM mount.

I have then the following questions to ask to you. How do the first two lenses I mentioned perform. In particular the first one. I read a lot of nice comments about the Nokton but I would rather prefer a
small lens. However, the comment I read about the Skopar were not always so nice.
Where could I "hunt" for the Leitz lens. I think they were only for the Japanese market, I saw one in ebay right now but I don't want to buy it straight away before collecting more informations on all the options.

Thank in advance for your advices.

Giella lea fapmu

 

[kiev4a]

You would pay a lot less without losing much in quality by picking up the f2 Russian Jupiter 8 -- a Summicron copy that goes for less than 50 bucks.

 

[rover]

The first place that came to mind was Ritz Collectible Cameras

http://www.ritzcam.com/catalog/

The first two lenses that came to mind were the Collapsible Summicron in LTM and a its predecessor the Summitar, also collapsible. I don't know for sure, but the Summitar would be contemporary to your camera and is said to display that Leica "glow" very well. It can be had for less than $300. I hope to own one at some point in time.

Canon and Nikon also have offered a number of very good LTM 50mm lenses. The Canon 50/1.8 is small and a good bargain.

 

[rover]

I always forget the J8. I just won one too, $41 including shipping from the Russia.

 

[doubs43]

IMO - and I have no experience with the Cosina lenses - I'd opt for the Summacron. It's quality is world-famous and it, like the camera, is a Leica product.

You may also want to consider the Canon and Nikon 50mm lenses in LTM.

While the Jupiter-8 is inexpensive and can give excellent results, there's a possible mis-match between the lens and the Leica rangefinder. It won't hurt to give one a try and if it doesn't match you can sell it to someone with an FSU camera and get your money back. It is, I believe, a copy of the Zeiss Sonnar and not the Leitz Summacron. The Sonnar is an excellent design in it's own right.

Walker

 

[Roman]

I'd also consider the Canon 50/1.8 (rumoured to be better than it's contemporary 'cron).

Roman

 

[Sonnar Brian]

There is a Canon 50mm F1.8 for sale in the 35mm Classified now, at a very good price! From a well known and respected RFF member...(Not Me)

They are very sharp and this is a great price for one.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5474

 

[ray_g]

Of the three, the only one I have tried is the Nokton. Very nice lens, but I sold it because I found it too big. I had a black version, and it irritated me how the paint tended to flake off. With the Leica III, it obscures a significant portion of the VF. Also throws the balance off.

In addition to the lenses mentioned, You may also want to consider the I-22 or I-50 collapsible Elmar clones (or an Elmar, of course). Would sure look pretty on your Barnack.

 

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum Giella! 🙂 I too have tried a CV Nokton and it is very big and lets face it, a Leica system is supposed to be compact... If your style of shooting can accomodate a slower lens, consider a post-war coated 5cm/f3.5 Elmar collapsible at around $160 on eBay. I have both this lens and the current f2.8 Elmar-M and by the time you get to f5.6 or f8 you can hardly tell the difference between the two lenses.

 

[o0dano0o]

I bought a canon 50/1.8 and I've been very happy with it. I would stay away from the Jupiter though. I know a lot of people around here like them, but mine I couldn't really shoot wide open. If I can't take a pic indoors at night with 800 film and no flash, I'm not interested 🙂

 

[giellaleafapmu]

> In addition to the lenses mentioned, You may also want to consider the I-22 or I-50 collapsible Elmar
> clones (or an Elmar, of course). Would sure look pretty on your Barnack.

First of all thank you to all of you for the replies.

What is a I-22 or a I-50? I already have the collapsible Elmar 2.8 which (I assume) was the original lens which come with the camera. It is very nice, it does indeed look beautiful on the camera and I like it for many kind of photographs but I find it a bit soft for many others. (It also has a few microscopic cleaning marks on the front element which make it very prone to flare.)

That's why what I am looking for is something contrasty, flare resistent and (this is the most important factor) with a nice bokeh and this is the reason which let me focus to modern lenses. Could anyone comment on these three particular characteristic of the lens which have been mentioned in the thread?

Fastest aperture is not the main issue for me as I don't usually shot at full aperture. Also size is relatively unsessencial (I am used to large format gear and compared to that any RF camera is featherlight). However, I would prefer a lens which does not cover too much of the viewfinder and this is what makes me doubt about the Nokton and many of the fast Canon lenses.

Once again thank you!

Giella lea fapmu!

 

[phototone]

an I-22 or an I-50 are specific Ukrainian/Russian LTM 50mm lenses that are highly regarded, and give similar results to the 50mm Elmar, although in general, they are contrastier. They can be purchased very cheap from online merchants and popular auction sites. However since you already have an Elmar, you may not realize much improvement, other than the aforementioned increase in contrast.

The big improvement you can make to your Elmar is to get an effective lens shade that will shield the front element of your lens from bright lights and reflections. This will solve most, if not all of your flare problem. Those Elmars, as well as the collapsable LTM Soviet lenses all have their front element right out there at the very tip of the lens, where there is zero shielding from reflections.

All lenses you acquire can be improved considerably with the addition of a suitable lens shade.

Phototone