Choosing between several lenses for my M6

[x-ray]

You made a very good choice. The planar renders beautifully and has been the lens of choice for Hasselblad and Rollei for decades. The planar was also made for many Zeiss Contare cameras and even 4x5. The lens is so good that Schneider copied it, the Xenotar.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

The reason to buy a Leica body is to put Leica lenses on it.

 

[Huss]

Hi everyone,
Small update: I've gone through mountains of sample images and have settled on a used ZM 50mm Planar.

excellent lens but make sure it does not have the infamous wobble and play in the focus ring. I've had to return two like that. My current one is problem free.

 

[Pioneer]

The reason to buy a Leica body is to put Leica lenses on it.

??@#&??

Where is that rule written?

You buy and use whatever lens works for you and gives you the type of photograph you see in your mind's eye.

I have several Leica lenses I enjoy using but right now my favorite lenses are the Nokton 50/1.1, the ZM Sonnar 50/1.5 and my ZM Planar 50/2. Every single one of them shows the same view a little differently, but with very high quality.

Of course next month I may be enchanted with my Leica Summilux 50/1.4 and my Leica Elmar 90/4. All depends on what I am trying to photograph and what film I am using.

But I have never, never bought a lens just because of the name on the front ring.

 

[stompyq]

??@#&??

Where is that rule written?

You buy and use whatever lens works for you and gives you the type of photograph you see in your mind's eye.

I have several Leica lenses I enjoy using but right now my favorite lenses are the Nokton 50/1.1, the ZM Sonnar 50/1.5 and my ZM Planar 50/2. Every single one of them shows the same view a little differently, but with very high quality.

Of course next month I may be enchanted with my Leica Summilux 50/1.4 and my Leica Elmar 90/4. All depends on what I am trying to photograph and what film I am using.

But I have never, never bought a lens just because of the name on the front ring.

Amen Pioneer. I used to get a lot of snide comments when I was pairing my M6 with a Canon 50mm 1.8 and a Zeiss 50mm f2 Planar. Never understood why people thought this way

 

[madNbad]

Part of the joy of owning a Leica M (film or digital) is the multitude of lens for it. Old screw mount, new offerings from Zeiss and Voigtlander, plus the ones from Leica. Not everyone has the cash laying around for a Noctilux but can come up with enough for a Nokton just to see if they really like the paper thin depth of field. If it fits and it works, no reason not to use it and if you don't like it there's someone out there would be more than glad to have it.

 

[TRIago]

Try the 50mm rigid whenever you get the chance.

 

[Pioneer]

Try the 50mm rigid whenever you get the chance.

"Oh no"; he exclaims as he steps backwards, abruptly dropping into his recliner. "Another 50 I haven't tried."

He feels the beads of sweat begin to pop out on his brow and his hands shake as he reaches for the laptop sitting open and ready on the end table. As the heart palpitations begin he slowly begins to tap on the keyboard with hesitant fingers..."www.keh....."

😀

 

[Huss]

Try the 50mm rigid whenever you get the chance.

That's one of the lenses I use. Build quality is like nothing else I've seen, but the ergos are bit lacking with the lens hood on. Then, even with my medium sizefingers, it is awkward to turn the aperture ring.
Glass - flawless.

 

[aizan]

i'd go with the 50mm nokton. i might think twice if we were talking about a collapsible summicron in mint condition, but a well-used v3 'cron? don't even bother.

 

[TRIago]

"Oh no"; he exclaims as he steps backwards, abruptly dropping into his recliner. "Another 50 I haven't tried."

He feels the beads of sweat begin to pop out on his brow and his hands shake as he reaches for the laptop sitting open and ready on the end table. As the heart palpitations begin he slowly begins to tap on the keyboard with hesitant fingers..."www.keh....."

😀

😀 True Story. Worth it, tho.

 

[TRIago]

That's one of the lenses I use. Build quality is like nothing else I've seen, but the ergos are bit lacking with the lens hood on. Then, even with my medium sizefingers, it is awkward to turn the aperture ring.
Glass - flawless.

It is sharper than my 35mm Cron Asph.😱

 

[Brian Atherton]

There really aren’t any rules…

Use whatever works for you - but do try as many lenses as possible. There are enough out there of sufficient quality regardless of age or manufacturer, to find one you will be in tune with.

Oh, and have fun doing it. 😉

 

[colonel]

The build and picture quality of voigtlander lenses is excellent.
The 50mm f1.5 M and 35mm f1.2 II make a unexpectedly cheap kit with fabulous quality
Yes the 50mm Summilux ASPH and 35mm FLE and new Zeiss 35mm f1.4 are technically sharper in some of the range and the micro contrast is higher but it's a big leap in cost and might not be worth it for film.
If you have the money buy Leica 1.4s, if not I would you can't go far wrong with the CVs.
I used the 35mm Summicron and wasn't impressed, I think the 35mm Summarit is better in my eyes if you wanted to have Leica.
The 50mm Summicron is super sharp but with less contrast then the newer Leica's.
All these lenses are great so there is less in it then people make out ....

 

[stuart_115]

The reason to buy a Leica body is to put Leica lenses on it.

Indeed! That's why I need to buy a Contax for Zeiss lenses and a Bessa for the Voigtlander lenses! 😀 Or is it just GAS getting out of hand...

 

[nitevision]

Since I don't think this question warrants its own thread:

I'm looking at a used Canadian Summicron 35, v4 I think, less than mint for EUR1300. Recently serviced (Dec 2014) with box and all accessories (2 caps + hood) however. Is this a fair price?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Since I don't think this question warrants its own thread:

I'm looking at a used Canadian Summicron 35, v4 I think, less than mint for EUR1300. Recently serviced (Dec 2014) with box and all accessories (2 caps + hood) however. Is this a fair price?

If not already, try your luck in clasiffields "want to buy".
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showcat.php/cat/7

 

[nitevision]

If not already, try your luck in clasiffields "want to buy".
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showcat.php/cat/7

I must have worded my question very ambiguously- I meant that the lens was for sale and I was wondering if 1300EUR was a fair price to pay given its condition.