Best lens suggestions for a Leica newcomer?

[filmfan]

I have heard the M6's 35mm framelines were very close to being 40mm, so I would start with the Summicron 40mm. In between 35mm and 50mm, so it makes a great one lens for everything option. Price is an added bonus.

 

[pkreyenhop]

I love the new 50mm Summarit-M and prefer it over the Cron: It is very compact, light, easy to focus and the image quality is great (contrast, bokeh, etc all faultless). The 50mm Cron with tab is too long and slow to focus and the latest version does not have a tab.
I wonder why the whole Summarit line is so underrated by the Leica crowd.....

 

[shyoon]

I have heard the M6's 35mm framelines were very close to being 40mm, so I would start with the Summicron 40mm. In between 35mm and 50mm, so it makes a great one lens for everything option. Price is an added bonus.

I agree. The Summicron-C or equivalent M-Rokkor are arguably the best buys when it comes to lenses for an M-mount rangefinder. Essentially a smaller, slightly tighter view of the 35mm Summicron Version 3 for around 1/3 the price!

 

[DennisPT]

I agree. The Summicron-C or equivalent M-Rokkor are arguably the best buys when it comes to lenses for an M-mount rangefinder. Essentially a smaller, slightly tighter view of the 35mm Summicron Version 3 for around 1/3 the price!

Can't agree more, I'll keep my 40 Summicron if I am allowed to keep 1 lens.

 

[bobby_novatron]

Update: I've been researching the Summicron 40's, the 50's, the recent-model Elmars ... there's so many good lenses. They all have wonderful qualities. It's all a balance between esthetics and not breaking the bank.

The gear lust finally kicked in and I recently bought...

#1. A Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm F2 (used ... from a fellow RFF member, for a reasonable price)

#2. A Summicron DR (without goggles) from KEH, in "BGN" condition

Both lenses are yet to arrive but I'm looking forward to using them.

Thanks again to everyone for their recommendations!

 

[rover]

Us old dogs are getting way toooooo predictable. I just read through this thread, and for each of us seasoned RFF members I have to say I had a 90% or better accuracy rate guessing what your recommendations were. 😀😀😀

We have to start mixing things up. Get crazy... William, throw out the rec for a 50 Summilux Asph every once in a while.... Kro, enough with the Hexanons already.

OK, here is my suggestion Rob... Jump into the classifieds, but the first thing you see. There are so many different and excellent lenses for the M system. Does it really matter where you start?

OK, I just had a little laugh at this one.

Carry on.

🙂

 

[bobby_novatron]

Thanks for the perspective, Rover! 🙂

You're absolutely right -- there are so many good M-mount lenses out there. A person would be hard-pressed to make a serious mistake in buying any of them.

FedEx is bringing my SummDR from KEH today ... but unfortunately it looks like USPS lost the Zeiss. Unbelievable!

 

[ampguy]

If you plan to do any indoor flashless shooting, or less than bright sun outdoor photography, consider the summiluxes (35, 50, 75).

This could save you about 3+ years of buying and selling a bunch of sub-optimal slower lenses.

 

[wlewisiii]

Get crazy... William, throw out the rec for a 50 Summilux Asph every once in a while....

🙂

Nah, I'd recommend the 50/.95 instead. Much more "interesting" bokeh :angel:

But Rover's right, it really doesn't matter what you choose - old, new or anything else. If that Planar is really gone, take the insurance and buy something else. Maybe a Heliar 50/3.5 or a Skopar 50/2.5 or even that ZM Sonnar 50/1.5 I mentioned earlier. Any of them will do wonderfully for you.

Good luck & good light,

William

 

[jke]

What I'm asking for is input on "reasonably" priced Leica lenses (a 35mm or 50mm) that would suit my shooting style but not break the bank.

You know, I'd just figure out a budget and go get what matches that budget. If what matches your budget is the "worst" 35mm Summicron Leica ever made, it will still be a good lens, as long as it is in good condition. I think often it is more important to get a lens that is clean and clear with no problems, than to get some mythical model in its best iteration. The outside (i.e. non-glass parts) can look bad, but the glass should be in great condition with no issues.

In terms of focal length, 35mm sounds good, especially since you already have a 50mm lens. So get one of those. A low light 35mm from Leica is expensive - definitely not a budget lens. So you have the choice of Summaron or Summicron. I've shot both. They work well. The former is f2.8 and the latter is f2.0. Take your pick. If you can't find either in your price range in the quality you need to take good photos, then look at Zeiss, Voigtlander, Canon, etc. in that order.