Leica LTM "Best" screw mount lens for black and white photos

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
OP should keep on buying and trying. Here is no best lens, camera for folks like OP.
Personally, I lost my count on how many LTM 50 I have tried.
 
In 50mm a different rendering style can be had by Lomography's "new" Jupiter 3.

Unless your Summicron has technical issues from scratches or haze or damage its going to be hard to find "better". It should be easy, however, to find variety. Most lenses out there in proper mechanical condition exceed the skills of their operators.
 
If you are wet printing black and white, the lower contrast lenses are easier to work with. I have and use a pre-war uncoated Elmar 35 f3.5 and a pre-war uncoated Summar 50 f2.0. Used with a hood, both can produce sharp shots that do not blow out the highlights. To see what an excellent photographer could do with lenses of this vintage, check Erik's shots on this site or Google the work of James Ravilious who shot life in the English countryside. The condition of the lens - unscratched with no fungus or fog - is probably more important than which lens you choose.
 
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Canon 50f1.5

Perfect size for body, excellent fit and finish, medium contrast good for B&W, 1 stop faster, sonnar design has enough difference to distinguish it from 'cron at f1.5-4, a good one should hold its value.
 
Somehow on topic, Is there a difference between Later Summitar (coated) and Collapsible Summicron? I own both but Summicron focus ring is stuck so need a CLA. Really love the results I get from the Summitar.

Regards.
 
Daryl J. said:
In 50mm a different rendering style can be had by Lomography's "new" Jupiter 3.

Unless your Summicron has technical issues from scratches or haze or damage its going to be hard to find "better". It should be easy, however, to find variety. Most lenses out there in proper mechanical condition exceed the skills of their operators.
Click to expand...

Lomography own the Jupiter line now or something?
 
The Summicron is the technical progression from the Summitar: better corrected for image sharpness across the entire image wide open. Really only a jump in image quality at f2-f4. Both are excellent image makers when in good condition. Send that Cron to Sherry Krauter for a "full bath".
 
Would recommend the canon 135mm 3.5 as it has beautiful compression and fantastic sharpness along with lovely bokeh. It was largely neglected because of the odd focal length on my canon 7 but when I realized its potential its become one of my most used lenses!
med_U68928I1476643906.SEQ.0.jpg

Heres a shot from my grandfather with this lens from sometime around 1970
 
Best LTM lens simple:

V-Summilux LTM of 1999 (code 11621 Summilux II):
or
original 50mm Summilux I (code 11014 or SOWGE)

then, when the OP has a look, perhaps "value" will be added to best?
 
Jake Mongey said:
Would recommend the canon 135mm 3.5 as it has beautiful compression and fantastic sharpness along with lovely bokeh. It was largely neglected because of the odd focal length on my canon 7 but when I realized its potential its become one of my most used lenses!
med_U68928I1476643906.SEQ.0.jpg

Heres a shot from my grandfather with this lens from sometime around 1970
Click to expand...

You had a very good-looking grandfather back in the day, Jake! :D :D :p
 
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