CV re-releasing LTM lenses as M lenses

cmdrzed

cmdrzed

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It appears that Cosina is in the process of creating M-mount counterparts to their LTM line of lenses. In the past month, the 12mm M-mount was announced while the M-mount version of the 15mm Heliar was announced last March. That is two mount conversions within a year. If they continue with this, eventually all of the LTM only lenses will be available in M-mount. When do you think the 75mm and 90mm lenses will be announced in M-mount? Just perusing through the listing on cameraquest, the following lenses are only available as LTM (I ignored all of the discontinued lenses)

28/3.5 Color-Skopar
28/1.9 Aspherical Ultron
75/2.5 Color Heliar
90/3.5 APO Lanthar
 
What's the point when you can get an adapter? I mean, I don't wait for 50/1.5 because I'm using it for a long time with adapter and haven't thought about it since I got it.
I just never remove adapters, so all my lenses are M, whether they are real M or LTM.

I don't understand.
 
kmerenkov said:
What's the point when you can get an adapter? I mean, I don't wait for 50/1.5 because I'm using it for a long time with adapter and haven't thought about it since I got it.
I just never remove adapters, so all my lenses are M, whether they are real M or LTM.

I don't understand.
Click to expand...


I agree, especially when the M-version costs a lot more. The glass is the same and the versatility is diminished.
 
Well, I do have 50/1.5 in LTM, using with adapter on MP and M2, and I can now use it on IIIf that I just received 10 minutes ago as well.

So I don't think M version is necessary and I won't be getting the M version of the lens I already have, but nice to see discontinued lenses coming back to life. Also you don't have to spend extra cash for good quality adapter if you only plan to use the lens with M body. For some lenes CV brought back, later M version were shorter/smaller. That's also a welcome.
 
Be thankful if you got a now discontinued LTM lens. They were cheaper than the new M lenses, as part of CV lens introduction, IMO. CV also discontinued the two LTM bodies, that started their RF line-up.

Why, when demand is there, should Cosina not adjust the prices ? Also, all of the re-releases (12, 15, 21, 25, 35) and the native M lenses (28/2, 35/1.2, 35/1.4, 40/1.4, 50/2, 50/1.1) are better built than most of the LTM line. With the exception of the 28/3.5 (and the 50/2.5 ? Never used this one).

I for one am looking forward to a 28/3.5 in M mount. And a more robust 75/2.5. Easily worth US 500 each when compared to what else is out there.

My two cents.

Roland.
 
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The wide angles (starting with the 21/4 and 25/4) probably got updated first to cater towards the crop-sensor shooters. Hard to say if or when Mr. K is going to remake the longer FLs.

The 50/1.5 Nokton would be awesome in a smaller M-mount body (like the 28/2 Ultron was smaller) with a 46mm filter, straight hood, and 0.7m close focus. I wouldn't mind a 90/2.8 APO either!
 
yup

yup

agreed. Plus they're generally 30-50% smaller, have closer focusing distances, cost hundreds less, and often come with finders.

Adorama and Photo Village and Intl. dealers have been selling the LTM with finder versions of the 12/15/21/25s for years after some Calif. dealers have just stopped.

kmerenkov said:
What's the point when you can get an adapter? I mean, I don't wait for 50/1.5 because I'm using it for a long time with adapter and haven't thought about it since I got it.
I just never remove adapters, so all my lenses are M, whether they are real M or LTM.

I don't understand.
Click to expand...
 
Plus, if you have an M8, with it's 24/35 frameline pair, and wanting at some point to test coding, you need specific framelines to come up. You can do this easily with LTM lens and adapters, major hassle or impossible with non Leica M mounts.

Also, to use the 24 frameline (tight on M8 classic) you'd want a 25 to bring up this line, rather than the 28 which many 25's bring up.
 
39mm x 26 tpi (Leica thread) is a lot easier and cheaper to manufacture than a 4-claw bayonet with lens selector.

Maybe this is why M-mount lenses cost more.

Cheers,

R.
 
ampguy said:
Adorama and Photo Village and Intl. dealers have been selling the LTM with finder versions of the 12/15/21/25s for years after some Calif. dealers have just stopped.
Click to expand...

not true. screw mount 12, 15, 21's available and in stock.
25's long sold out.

Stephen
 
I can see the benefit of the screw mount versions and why people would want them for versatility. I also understand that many people would rather not deal with an adapter (for whatever reason).

In starting this thread, I was merely making an interesting observation. I own and use both types of these lenses. :)
 
Thanks for the correction

Thanks for the correction

Thanks Stephen,

Glad to see you're still carrying what you described as:

"The performance and prices of the new Leica screw mount Voigtlander lenses are quite simply incredible. There are no better buys in terms of performance per dollar in Leica Screw Mount lenses than these. If you are new to rangefinderdom, let me assure you that all of these lenses will work beautifully on any classic Leica screw mount camera (including the knob wind Leicas, all but the earliest Canon Rangefinders, various "Leica Copies" such as Nicca and Leotax, and the fabulous Leica M's if you add a screw mount to M bayonet adapter."

I agree, the 15, and 21 ltm's are incredible compact lenses, and terrific values with the bundled VF's. They also retain the flexibility to use and code with digital M's, as well as use on ltm camera bodies.

Thanks.

CameraQuest said:
not true. screw mount 12, 15, 21's available and in stock.
25's long sold out.

Stephen
Click to expand...
 
The 28/3.5 and 50/2.5 are wonderful and extremely well-constructed lenses.
I think if CV re-issued them in either LTM or M mount they'd still be able to sell quite a few.
::Ari
 
kermaier said:
The 28/3.5 and 50/2.5 are wonderful and extremely well-constructed lenses.
I think if CV re-issued them in either LTM or M mount they'd still be able to sell quite a few.
::Ari
Click to expand...

The 28/3.5 and 50/2.5 are both great lenses, but unlikely to see M mount as they were perceived as too slow while in production and so did not sell as well as expected.

Stephen
 
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