Budget lens for Leica CL

[VF101]

Here are some shots from my first roll with the Summicron-C. All images without PP (besides resizing and borders via ImageMagick) out of the scanner (Epson V330). Though I've been used to the Oly colors, I find these colors quite pleasing.

my flickr stream

 

[Shane Guthrie]

Summicron-C 40mm
used, 450€
fast and sharp, perfect fit for the CL

Exactly - perfect fit for the CL.
I wonder if you'd have problems focusing a faster aperture on the CL anyway.

 

[VF101]

I wouldn't have used the 1.4 aperture on my CL. I intended to use it as my night setup on my Oly E-PL1.

 

[Bill58]

I understand economy, but don't try to save money on a lens. Get the best quality lens you can get, even if you have to wait til you have enough money.

 

[santino]

good choice! I voted for the 'Cron off course 😀

 

[Rob-F]

A 40mm is best to match the CL framelines. And f/1.4 has too shallow DOF for the CL rangefinder. You need either the 40mm Summicron or the 40mm Rokkor. You didn't list the Rokkor but it belongs on a list of budget lenses for the CL.

 

[filmtwit]

Don't forget that you can run many of the 50mm ltm w/converter.
the Canon 50mm f1.8 is your best bet here (and generally below $200)

 

[Steve M.]

I'd look for a good Summar. Had one on a CL and it was just wonderful. Make sure it's clean, or budget for a CLA ($100 here in the US), and use a hood. Classic Leica imaging, and very sharp.

 

[VF101]

So, several months later I'd like to update you about my experience with the Summicron-C. It's a phantastic setup with my Leica CL and I took them on a couple of city trips. Shooting was a real pleasure and the results were good as well.

Scanned with Epson V330 and converted to B&W with iPhoto.

Scanned with Epson V330.

I enjoy using this combination very much; I'm just behind with scanning all my images. If you want to see more, I've started a small blog (english and german content) for this lens, you'll find the URL in my signature.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I understand economy, but don't try to save money on a lens. Get the best quality lens you can get, even if you have to wait til you have enough money.

Or alternatively: get ANYTHING and shoot, because you can't shoot with what you ain't got. Generally, I've worked on the principle of buying whatever came along, at the right price and the right time, that would do the job I wanted. As the OP has done here. To very good effect, though I like the colour shot more than the B+W, which looks rather soft to me. A scanning problem?

Cheers,

R.

 

[VF101]

Yes, it indeed is rather soft, but I'm not sure where the problem lies. Guess I have to check the negative, perhaps it's just out of focus, because it's from my first roll with the CL-Summicron-combination.

But nonetheless I think I'll have to get a better scanner. The Epson V330 is great, because it gives me good colors right out of the scanner, but its resolution could be better.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

hi,

i bought a cl with a collapsible canon 50/1.9, i carried it on several trips with good success.