Budget lens suggestions?

maybe you should go with that 35/2.5 skopar because it has very good price. but if you need more speed - you can find used ultron 35/1.7 for around 300$ i think - or nokton 50/1.5...
 
The chrome Canon Serenar 35mm f2.8 can be gotten cheaply, especially if you find it without the finder and leather case. The focus throw seems longer than most rangefinder lenses but works well hyper-focused. They seem frequently to have oily aperture blades (mine did but it worked fine.) Coated glass & recessed front element (no need for hood) keep flare to a minimum. Solid brass I think. Weighs a ton. I have mine mounted on a Canon L3, which makes a nice small package.
 
For 50mm, I'd choose the Canon 50 f1.8 ltm. I did extensive testing of this lens against my 50 pre-asph lux(2nd vers) and sold the 50lux. That's how good the canon 50 1.8 is in my opinion. As to 35mm lens of good quality and good price, the 2 lens above fit the bill:Canon 35mm f2.8 ltm and the 35mm skopar.
 
I've experience with Canon 50/1.4 and 35/2 as well as some Russian glass. I really enjoy my Industar 22 for its price, size, and clarity, but not for speed or bokeh.

Of the Canons, the 50/1.4 has it all at a nice price, but is a bit big. The 35/2 is rather small - a touch smaller than the 50/1.8 I think.

The Canon's will appreciate sooner if you should want to resell. That's something to consider. OTOH, these older lenses have their hidden costs: hoods and filters at odd sizes unless you use adapter rings (as I do), and greater chance of flare if you don't use a hood.
 
I think I'm just going to suffer with not having a lens at first instead of buying a lens that is a gamble that I'm going to buy knowing its just to hold me over til I get a 'real' lens. Considering the price difference between the appeasement lens and a real lens (ie the 2.5 skopar) I think I'd be a fool to not just wait for that.

and I guess until I get the lens I can look and wait for some accessories to pop up at a good price (light meter, rewind crank). I was almost tempted to buy the Bessa2 for sale here ($420 or so) as it has a meter, and is new, but eventually decided if I was going to go M Mount, I'd get a Leica, since I figure a meter isn't really that necessary. I think I already mentioned I usually shoot at 3200 in my canonet, which only meters to 800, so I've gotten pretty good at metering low light mentally.

Thanks for your help gents.
 
I have a meter and rarely ever use it. It's just one more thing to carry. :-D I like to think of my umetered cameras as a chance to get to basics and practice sunny 16. Just the barnack and collapsible lens.

I highly recommend you just pop the $40 to get an industar 22 (50/3.5) while you wait for 'the lens'. It fits a niche (elmar) that you will want to fill someday. It's cheap, sharp, and small. For the money, it's one of the best purchases I have made. And if you shoot 3200, you might not miss the speed so much.
 
flip said:
I have a meter and rarely ever use it. It's just one more thing to carry. :-D I like to think of my umetered cameras as a chance to get to basics and practice sunny 16. Just the barnack and collapsible lens.

I highly recommend you just pop the $40 to get an industar 22 (50/3.5) while you wait for 'the lens'. It fits a niche (elmar) that you will want to fill someday. It's cheap, sharp, and small. For the money, it's one of the best purchases I have made. And if you shoot 3200, you might not miss the speed so much.
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haha unfortunately I usually shoot 3200 wide open. I guess I should pick up a Industar 22 or 61ld. $40 shipped for a 61ld isn't so much of a risk as $100 something for a j12 shipped. I really dont like shooting at 50/55 but I guess I should learn :)

oh.. and here's what I was talking about.. taken with tri-x at 3200 f2.8 at I think 1/30 or 1/15
3290388928_2ae5fd97a2.jpg
 
Just to make sure, I'm alright with ordering a cheap chinese made LTM-> M ring right? I'll have to set the framelines manually anyways so I could just pick up a $20 ring and use it for all my ltm lenses right?
 
DON'T be tempted to try to set the frame-lines manually as this is a real pain in the bum with an M-series. Yes, some do it, and some even wedge the frame selector lever. but it's hellish inconvenient and pretty much negates the advantage of owning an M.

Reports vary widely about adapter rings. They're not inherently difficult to make but apparently some manufacturers are quite sloppy. Again, economisibg too far on these things is a bit like buying a modern racing motorcycle and putting 1960s East German tyres on it.

Cheers,

Roger
 
Industar 22 is $33 shipped.. Industar 61LD for a little less and Jupiter-8 for 35 shipped. I understand the Industar is sharper, and that a lot of people prefer that j8 but complain about the no click aperture. Basically a good copy of any of these and I'd be fine, correct? The 22 might be neat if only because it collapses..
 
Roger Hicks said:
DON'T be tempted to try to set the frame-lines manually as this is a real pain in the bum with an M-series. Yes, some do it, and some even wedge the frame selector lever. but it's hellish inconvenient and pretty much negates the advantage of owning an M.

Reports vary widely about adapter rings. They're not inherently difficult to make but apparently some manufacturers are quite sloppy. Again, economisibg too far on these things is a bit like buying a modern racing motorcycle and putting 1960s East German tyres on it.

Cheers,

Roger
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I guess I should just buy a 50mm ring to get the proper framelines for now as when I get a decent 35mm it might be M mount anyways.
 
I couldn't find a M-Rokkor and the c-40 looks out of my price range.

On the other end of the spectrum, is there anything terrible about the 90mm f4 elmar? I see they're pretty cheap in usable condition and the shots I've seen with them are really nice considering the lens can be had for as much as a Canon nifty fifty.
 
I got mine about 2 weeks ago, from the bay... reasonnable price, like new condition, and it is butter smooth just like my ex summicron 35IV...
So if you are ready to cope with the 40mm frameline issue, just take a bit of time as they pop up quite regularly here and there...
Otherwise, I don't see better options than the ones listed previously (CV)...
Good luck !
 
My coated 9cm F4 Elmar was $60 at a camera show. It is quite good. Gives lower-contrast, muted colors.
 
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the decision to go 35mm or 50mm, both have their devotees that can give you telling (or repelling) arguments for their choice :)

I'm on the 35mm camp, so in your place, my choice would've been either the Skopar or save a bit and get the Ultron. Both CV, both good.
 
shadowfox said:
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the decision to go 35mm or 50mm, both have their devotees that can give you telling (or repelling) arguments for their choice :)

I'm on the 35mm camp, so in your place, my choice would've been either the Skopar or save a bit and get the Ultron. Both CV, both good.
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I fall into the 35mm camp as well. The only time I find myself using a 50mm when when I need the speed, otherwise I keep a 35mm on my t90 (actually sold all my other FD lenses just this week) and a 17-50 zoom on my digital.

Looks like I'm going to get the skopar maybe next week, when I collect payment for past services rendered, which could be a bad thing. 1 Paycheck for almost 5 months worth of work, coinciding with the arrival of my first leica.
 
J8 f2/50mm, people say its a gamble, i have had excellent results, especially wide open. J3 F1.5/50mm is also a good bet. Important to buy from established place. Some good examples of what they can do on the Russian pages of this forum.
 
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