CV 40mm 1.4 on M2

[ikiru]

Hello First post here! I have a M2 on its way to me in the mail and I was wondering what you think of using the cv 40mm 1.4 nokton on this camera? I like it over the 50mm due to size. It will bring up the 50mm lines right? Is it practical to shoot the lens like this or should I mod it to bring up the 35mm lines? Will I be able to see everything that is going to be in the frame with the 50mm frame?


Thanks!
Jay

 

[furcafe]

Yes, the Cosina Voigtlander 40/1.4 Nokton will bring up the 50mm framelines on your M2 (I didn't have the Nokton when I had an M2, but did have the 40/2 M-Rokkor). Whether it's "practical" to shoot a 40mm lens using the 50mm framelines is up to you & your ability to previsualize. With the M2, I just mentally added space around the 50mm frames, approx. 3/4th's of the way to the 35mm frame & would occasionally manually toggle between the 50mm & 35mm frames to get an idea. If this type of thing doesn't work for you & you're more of stickler for framing, you might want to think about getting the CV 40mm finder, which is what I tend to use nowadays.

I personally wouldn't modify a 40mm lens to bring up the 35mm frames simply because it could reduce its resale value, but you may not care about that. Plenty of people do modify their 40s. I often wish the 40/2 M-Rokkor & 40/1.4 Nokton came in screw mount so we could choose which LTM-M adapter to use.

 

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum Jay! 🙂 The 40mm does bring up the 50 frameline but do you need really accurate framing? I think framing with a Leica is a bit dodgy at best so it wouldn't be a concern for me. You can certainly see everything that will be inside the 50 frame, and outside it too. I don't know if you are new to RF cams but one of the tremendous advantages of them is that you can see the context of the action inside the frame through the viewfinder and that helps you anticipate what mey happen next.

I'm with furcafe on modding the lens, and for the same reason - resale value. Congratulations on the new M2!! 😀

 

[former member]

If it is just the size of the lens that concerns you, and not the focal length, the Canon 50mm F1.5 is about the same size at the 40mm F1.4.

As far as resell value, I'll bet most people wish the 40 brought up the 35mm lines anyway. The 40mm lines of the CL are always up, so modding the lens does nothing bad for it. The 35mm lines would provide 100% coverage of the 40mm lens. Most RF' framelines are designed to show 85%~90%. I use a 10.5cm Nikkor with 90mm framelines, and it is very accurate.

 

[ywenz]

There is a mod you can do on the CV 40mm to let it bring up the 35mm lines. You have to file down a few mm from the mount on the Lens. Ask Stephen from CameraQuest on the details of this Mod.

 

[Doug]

Hi, Jay -- I could face the same sort of decision, but have chosen to avoid it... 🙂 I have an M2 with the 35/50/90 frames of course, and a Minolta CLE with its 28/40/90 framelines and lovely 40mm f/2 Rokkor. I could use the Rokkor on the M2 but it would bring up the 50mm framelines, same as the 40 Nokton.

I too resist the idea of grinding on the lens, that little bit of metal that lets the framelines relax to the 35mm position. It would then be awkward for a camera like the Minolta, where it would bring up the 28mm frames...

Well, here's a tip, a rube goldberg solution. Put a rubber band around the left strap lug and stretch the other end around the tip of the frame selector lever. Yep, it works, and fortunately the M2's lever is shaped better for this than later Leicas! The rubber band's tension will hold the lever to the left, causing it to display the 35mm framelines.

But the M2's 35mm framelines are way out there... a bit larger and with less "slop" than on later Leica models, and therefore rather generous for a 40mm lens. I think with the 40mm you're stuck pretty much between the 35 and 50mm angles of view. I think in this case I might prefer to look at the 50mm framelines and think generously!

Or get a nice compact 35mm lens, also as suggested. When I got my M2, I got a 35mm f/2 Summicron with it. So, that's been my rather pleasing solution to this issue. 😀

There's no doubt the 40mm f/1.4 Nokton is an attractive lens choice, reputedly with excellent performance combined with impressive speed for its compact dimensions. A slightly awkward focal length, though, for a camera without matching 40mm framelines. Except on the Voigtlander Bessa-T, which needs an external viewfinder for any lens!

 

[ikiru]

Thanks for the advice!

I would like to try out a canon 1.5 they seem a little hard to find though!

the 100% view with the 35mm frame sounds nice! tempting, I think there would be someone else out there looking for the same so the resale value may not drop.




jay

 

[richard_l]

I'm thinking more and more about getting an auxiliary 40mm viewfinder for when I'm using my Rokkor on the M2. A good external finder is much more pleasant to use than trying to estimate the field of view with the wrong framelines.

Richard

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Welcome 🙂

As for your question, I would not modify your lens, as it would most likely draw down your resale value.

I use a 40mm on my M6. The 35mm frameline is a better approximation than the 50mm. So, all I do is take a piece of gaffer's tape, and tape over the frameline selector to 35mm. No permanent modification needed. No mess since the gaffer's tape is does not leave residue.