Help me find a 50mm lens for the M3 here..

[Ko.Fe.]

It is III with SN visible to find out what it is. Looks like it was not in best place for storage,
Summar on it usually uncoated, but some were.
I had it on IIf and on M4-2. I have to clean mine and it was relatevly easy with instructions availible on-line.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The 5cm Summicron Collapsible is a wonderful lens (particularly on black and white film) and is often cheaper than the rigid.

I agree that the Collapsible is a wonderful lens, but apart from the last series - serail number starts with 13XX XXX - the front glass is very soft (like a Summar) so almost all are scratched to ruins nowadays.

As a user the Rigid is better, but yes, pricey.

We must be very happy with the Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5, it is cheaper and more universal than the Rigid as it can be used on both the LTM and the M Leicas.

Erik.

 

[colker]

It is III with SN visible to find out what it is. Looks like it was not in best place for storage,
Summar on it usually uncoated, but some were.
I had it on IIf and on M4-2. I have to clean mine and it was relatively easy with instructions available on-line.

number is 175800
I got it already in a terrible state.
I never leave cameras inside closets or cabinets. I rather leave them in a shelf with as much light as possible. It gets real dirty but no fungus.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Another vote for the collapsible. It's a nice, sharp lens. I used mine with my M3 (while I had one) until I sold the camera... but I couldn't bring myself to sell the lens. I'll probably mount it on my M4 and use it again.

 

[aizan]

every 50mm lens will be mentioned sooner or later, so i’ll recommend any lens that’s within budget.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

number is 175800
I got it already in a terrible state.
I never leave cameras inside closets or cabinets. I rather leave them in a shelf with as much light as possible. It gets real dirty but no fungus.

Why not to send it for CLA? Camera and lens looks intact.
With Leica film M you will need backup camera for the time M needs to be in service. This camera, lens once they are serviced will be as good as M.
And once Leica LTM is serviced it will works for years.

 

[colker]

Why not to send it for CLA? Camera and lens looks intact.
With Leica film M you will need backup camera for the time M needs to be in service. This camera, lens once they are serviced will be as good as M.
And once Leica LTM is serviced it will works for years.

Good call.

 

[leicapixie]

I have a pristine 50mm Collapsible Summicron., 2nd series..
I love the collapsible feature.(unlike Erik)
Finding one NOT scratched and hazed, extremely difficult!
Suggest the 50mm Elmar f2.8, sharp and contrasty.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have a pristine 50mm Collapsible Summicron., 2nd series..
I love the collapsible feature.(unlike Erik)
Finding one NOT scratched and hazed, extremely difficult!
Suggest the 50mm Elmar f2.8, sharp and contrasty.

Hi Leicapixie, is your pristine Collapsible with a serial number 13XXXXX? I want to see if my theory is correct. Thanks!

Erik.

 

[siracusa]

I don´t even know if the camera is working ok or if the film workflow will happen her... so i am opting for not investing too much right now on the lens. I could even find an adaptor for my pancake nikkor 50 f1.8... anyone tried that? It´s a great little lens.

If you're not looking to invest too much right on a lens right now, then how about a Jupiter 8 for the time being.

I currently have a number of 50s - in descending order according to the price I paid for them: ZM Planar; Summarit 50 f1.5; LTM Nokton 50 f1.5 (which I re-bought having always regretted selling my first); a collapsible Soviet 50 f3.5; and a Jupiter 8. I use the J8 just as much as any of my more expensive lenses and have never regretted using it.



The Jupiter 8 is a perfectly fine lens - I'd go as far as saying that it's a very good lens - and is capable of producing lovely images. There isn't a single image I've taken with it that has left me thinking that any shortfall in image quality was a result of the lens (as opposed to my photographic 'eye' or technique). No, the build quality patently isn't as good as that of my ZM Planar, Summarit, or Nokton. Then again, it cost me a fraction of the price and I don't plan on using the lens like a hammer, but simply to make pictures - which it does really well.

 

[Out to Lunch]

My two cents: the CV collapsible heliar 2/50.

 

[santino]

Industar 61Ld plus rear lens cap aka fed 5b 😀

 

[colker]

If you're not looking to invest too much right on a lens right now, then how about a Jupiter 8 for the time being.

I currently have a number of 50s - in descending order according to the price I paid for them: ZM Planar; Summarit 50 f1.5; LTM Nokton 50 f1.5 (which I re-bought having always regretted selling my first); a collapsible Soviet 50 f3.5; and a Jupiter 8. I use the J8 just as much as any of my more expensive lenses and have never regretted using it.



The Jupiter 8 is a perfectly fine lens - I'd go as far as saying that it's a very good lens - and is capable of producing lovely images. There isn't a single image I've taken with it that has left me thinking that any shortfall in image quality was a result of the lens (as opposed to my photographic 'eye' or technique). No, the build quality patently isn't as good as that of my ZM Planar, Summarit, or Nokton. Then again, it cost me a fraction of the price and I don't plan on using the lens like a hammer, but simply to make pictures - which it does really well.

Another great call.
I am trying to find a trade now where i throw my Rollei, Pentax 67 and Nikon for Leica and Fuji stuff.

What´s not being used must go. Photo equipment not being used tends to collapse in a bad way, not the summicron way.

 

[colker]

My two cents: the CV collapsible heliar 2/50.

Beautifull but heavy on the wallet. Unless i find a trade i will spend south of 300 bucks.

 

[Huss]

7ARTISANS 50 1.1. I like it so much I have two - silver and black. I also have lots of other Leica 50 glass, but this is by far the best deal out there. Something like $350 new, available used for under $300.

 

[colker]

7ARTISANS 50 1.1. I like it so much I have two - silver and black. I also have lots of other Leica 50 glass, but this is by far the best deal out there. Something like $350 new, available used for under $300.

Not trying to be picky but i would rather have a lighter and smallish lens. 1.1 on a rangefinder gives too many out of focus images. I rather have a little shake but perfect focus on a smallish aperture. f/2.0 is the gold standard on 35mm. A small camera is a thing of beauty. I won´t even place a lenshoood so i go as unnoticed as possible in the street.Cool porsche pic btw...

 

[Deleted member 65559]

The dual-range Summicron is a beauty....

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Industar 61Ld plus rear lens cap aka fed 5b 😀

I have it, it is the few FSU rf kits I purchased on Ebay and everything works,

 

[Huss]

A great, tiny, super light weight (made from aluminum) cheeeep 50 is the Jupiter 8 50 f2.

Used it to take this on Fuji C200 film:

 

[raid]

The J-8 is a clone of the amazingly good Zeiss 50/2. No surprise.