dacookieman
Cookie Monster
For me, it has to be the Rigid Summicron, i love it for bw work, and it never fails to deliver. Very sharp lens, and i love how it render an image.
Just for fun: Favorite M lenses and why
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maddoc
... likes film again.
From the Mandler designs, 35mm Summilux and 50/1.0 Noctilux. 🙂
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
35 Summilux pre-asph -- keeps the rig compact
50 Summilux ASPH -- astonishing capability.
50 Summilux ASPH -- astonishing capability.
robklurfield
eclipse
canon 35/2... summicron qualities and a fraction of the price and really compact, too.
canon 50/1.4 ... I'd love a 'Lux, but this lens is too cheap not have in the meantime
summaron 35/3.5 ltm ... love its compact pocketability and it was a bargain
28 elmarit asph... the only leica lens I ever bought brand new. a real gem and the perfect focal length for an M8, IMHO. the $300 rebate helped make the price a little easier to swallow.
jupiter 8, for around 40 bucks what could be a better bargain.
canon 50/1.4 ... I'd love a 'Lux, but this lens is too cheap not have in the meantime
summaron 35/3.5 ltm ... love its compact pocketability and it was a bargain
28 elmarit asph... the only leica lens I ever bought brand new. a real gem and the perfect focal length for an M8, IMHO. the $300 rebate helped make the price a little easier to swallow.
jupiter 8, for around 40 bucks what could be a better bargain.
Neare
Well-known
Nokton 35mm 1.2 - Just gives great results, whatever it's used for.
Converted Canon 50mm 0.95 "Dream Lens" - Crazy bokeh and not so perfect (which is a good thing IMO)
ZM Sonnar 50mm 1.5 - Another sweet lens that its little imperfections make it all the more interesting
Kobalux 21mm 2.8 - Ummm, looks cool 😉
Obviously I've got a thing for fast lenses.
Now in the search for a lens around the 85mm mark that I'd like.
and just because
Adapted Millennium Nikkors 50mm 1.4 & 35mm 1.8 - certainly two great lenses that IMO give the Leica lenses in the same class a run for their money.
Converted Canon 50mm 0.95 "Dream Lens" - Crazy bokeh and not so perfect (which is a good thing IMO)
ZM Sonnar 50mm 1.5 - Another sweet lens that its little imperfections make it all the more interesting
Kobalux 21mm 2.8 - Ummm, looks cool 😉
Obviously I've got a thing for fast lenses.
Now in the search for a lens around the 85mm mark that I'd like.
and just because
Adapted Millennium Nikkors 50mm 1.4 & 35mm 1.8 - certainly two great lenses that IMO give the Leica lenses in the same class a run for their money.
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
What: 35/1.4 ASPH. Favorite. Lens. Ever.
Why: Everything, everywhere. Perfect color. Outrageous and distinctive OOF areas. Great ergos. The optical love of my life!
What: 35/2.8 Biogon-C. The New Hotness.
Why: Compact. Decent ergos. Unsurpassed flare suppression. Edge-to-edge sharpness as good as the ASPH lenses or the Summarit. Less field curvature than any of the Leica 35's. Negligible geometric distortion. Incredible color. Bokeh as distinctive and beautiful as the ASPH, and (IMO) much nicer OOF rendering than the 35/2 Biogon or the gen 4 or 5 Summicrons. Huge value.
What: 50 Summicron, gen 5 (tabbed focus).
Why: Nicest ergos of any 50 I've ever used. Like butter (my sample, anyway).
What: 75 Summilux.
Why: I love the focal length and I love the results from this lens. Just wish I could justify the expense...
Why: Everything, everywhere. Perfect color. Outrageous and distinctive OOF areas. Great ergos. The optical love of my life!
What: 35/2.8 Biogon-C. The New Hotness.
Why: Compact. Decent ergos. Unsurpassed flare suppression. Edge-to-edge sharpness as good as the ASPH lenses or the Summarit. Less field curvature than any of the Leica 35's. Negligible geometric distortion. Incredible color. Bokeh as distinctive and beautiful as the ASPH, and (IMO) much nicer OOF rendering than the 35/2 Biogon or the gen 4 or 5 Summicrons. Huge value.
What: 50 Summicron, gen 5 (tabbed focus).
Why: Nicest ergos of any 50 I've ever used. Like butter (my sample, anyway).
What: 75 Summilux.
Why: I love the focal length and I love the results from this lens. Just wish I could justify the expense...
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yanidel
Well-known
35mm Lux Asph : simply the best. Sharp wide open with great OOF. Not too contrasty, small size.
60mm Hex 1.2 : At F1.2 the look of a Nocti. At F1.4, almost a 50 Lux Asph, and below the sharpest lens I have ever owned. All of that in an acceptable size and weight package and great build.
24mm Elmarit : not much in use since I got the M9, but it sang on the M8. Wonderful rendering.
60mm Hex 1.2 : At F1.2 the look of a Nocti. At F1.4, almost a 50 Lux Asph, and below the sharpest lens I have ever owned. All of that in an acceptable size and weight package and great build.
24mm Elmarit : not much in use since I got the M9, but it sang on the M8. Wonderful rendering.
dogberryjr
[Pithy phrase]
In no particular order:
50mm Summicron, because it was my first.
35mm Summilux ASPH, it's a treat wide open
90mm Elmarit, because of its OOF rendering.
50mm Summicron, because it was my first.
35mm Summilux ASPH, it's a treat wide open
90mm Elmarit, because of its OOF rendering.
kzphoto
Well-known
50 lux pre asph, E46. Love how it draws wide open and how sharp it can be stopped down.
21 Super Angulon f/3.4. You can set your aperture at f/8 and nearly everything from 6 feet to infinity is in focus! Turns an m7 into a P&S camera. Also, blindingly sharp.
I'm replacing the SA with a 24 elmarit. It's been one of my "to own" lenses after seeing what people are doing with it.
21 Super Angulon f/3.4. You can set your aperture at f/8 and nearly everything from 6 feet to infinity is in focus! Turns an m7 into a P&S camera. Also, blindingly sharp.
I'm replacing the SA with a 24 elmarit. It's been one of my "to own" lenses after seeing what people are doing with it.
braver
Well-known
1. 28mm Elmarit Asph. Like others already said, it's a stellar performer and I shoot 90% 28mm. Finishing, smoothness and ergonomics are perfection. You do get what you pay for.
2. 40mm Summicron-C. It is so sharp! And so tiny! And so cheap! All that goodness make it the absolute Leica bargain.
3. 50 Summulix Asph. I got the Canon 50/1.4, and it's great. However, I still really want the 'lux.
2. 40mm Summicron-C. It is so sharp! And so tiny! And so cheap! All that goodness make it the absolute Leica bargain.
3. 50 Summulix Asph. I got the Canon 50/1.4, and it's great. However, I still really want the 'lux.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Super Angulon 21mm f3.4 - because i have owned and used those lenses since 1964 - and it does everything a wide-angle is supposed to to do well!
Zeiss C Biogon 21mm f4.5 - only lens that I like better than the 21 S-A. Zero distorsion!
Nokton 35f1.4 SC - a modern Summilux 35 pre-asph.
Ultimate sharpness: Summilux 50f1.4 Asph - but best Bl/w 50 Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f1.5.
Summicron 75f2 Apo-Asph, sharp and contrasty - but for pleasing bl/w Nikkor 85f2 or the Nikkor 105f2.5.
Fast, Nokton 50mm f1.1 - just plain good. Nokton 35f1.2 - only one of a kind and when night falls - only choice for a 35.
Zeiss C Biogon 21mm f4.5 - only lens that I like better than the 21 S-A. Zero distorsion!
Nokton 35f1.4 SC - a modern Summilux 35 pre-asph.
Ultimate sharpness: Summilux 50f1.4 Asph - but best Bl/w 50 Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm f1.5.
Summicron 75f2 Apo-Asph, sharp and contrasty - but for pleasing bl/w Nikkor 85f2 or the Nikkor 105f2.5.
Fast, Nokton 50mm f1.1 - just plain good. Nokton 35f1.2 - only one of a kind and when night falls - only choice for a 35.
kermaier
Well-known
M-Rokkor 28/2.8 -- Sharp, contrasty enough, great wide open, smallest M mount 28mm I know of, great build and ergonomics.
Summaron 35/2.8 -- Sharp, great tones in b&w, perfect size, build, ergonomics.
Summicron 50/2 Rigid -- Love it for b&w, smooth as silk mechanics, beautiful retro look to the design.
If I'm allowed to stray into LTM territory then the UC-Hex 35/2, CV 28/3.5 and Nikkor H.C 50/2 might make the list.
Ari
Summaron 35/2.8 -- Sharp, great tones in b&w, perfect size, build, ergonomics.
Summicron 50/2 Rigid -- Love it for b&w, smooth as silk mechanics, beautiful retro look to the design.
If I'm allowed to stray into LTM territory then the UC-Hex 35/2, CV 28/3.5 and Nikkor H.C 50/2 might make the list.
Ari
Livesteamer
Well-known
35 summilux from 1969. I have the asph version and it is much more flare resistant but I love the images from the old 35 f1.4
50mm Summilux asph. I do a lot of little kid pictures. Mostly infants and toddlers and wide open, close up, it is so sharp. Sharp and close in available light is good with babies, wouldn't look good for an old timer like me. Joe
50mm Summilux asph. I do a lot of little kid pictures. Mostly infants and toddlers and wide open, close up, it is so sharp. Sharp and close in available light is good with babies, wouldn't look good for an old timer like me. Joe
aizan
Veteran
in m-mount, i've only owned three lenses:
28mm m-hexanon
50mm m-hexanon
35mm summicron asph
i wish the m-hexanons had focusing tabs, so i'd like to get a 28mm elmarit asph and a 50mm summilux asph (extra stop is a bonus). optically, they're all really great.
28mm m-hexanon
50mm m-hexanon
35mm summicron asph
i wish the m-hexanons had focusing tabs, so i'd like to get a 28mm elmarit asph and a 50mm summilux asph (extra stop is a bonus). optically, they're all really great.
Rico
Well-known
My new Elmarit 28 ASPH has yet to see first light, but I'm sure to like it. 🙂 Of my other nine M lenses, top pick is the Summaron 35/2.8: beautiful rendition, compact size, superb handling and build quality. Second is the classic Elmar 50/2.8 with the same attractions. Third is the Tele-Elmar 135 which is optically awesome and a steal these days. I only use the TE135 on a DSLR.
GLAUMAX
Member
My choice
My choice
1) Minolta Rokkor CLE 40 : Fantastic for black and white. Tiny and superb build
2) Summarit 35 : The affordable entry in the Leica world with superb rendering, perfect build and compact size.
3) Zeiss Sonnar 50 : I really like its distinctive signature
My choice
1) Minolta Rokkor CLE 40 : Fantastic for black and white. Tiny and superb build
2) Summarit 35 : The affordable entry in the Leica world with superb rendering, perfect build and compact size.
3) Zeiss Sonnar 50 : I really like its distinctive signature
Gary Sandhu
Well-known
1. 50 cron because of natural perspective and IQ
2. 35mm summicron pre-asph because of the small size and good enough f2
3. 28 g-rokkor (actually LTM) because of small size, and ergonomics.
2. 35mm summicron pre-asph because of the small size and good enough f2
3. 28 g-rokkor (actually LTM) because of small size, and ergonomics.
Gregoryniss
Well-known
my 1954 summicron collapsible! Love the rendition, the bokeh, perfect sharpness for my style, and the size! Also i enjoy the way it looks cosmetically.
myM8yogi
Well-known
35/1.2 Nokton.
Unquestionably.
Also loved the ergonomics of the 35 cron ASPH, but the nokton is just so special. If the weight of the Nokton is too much for a casual trip with lots of walking, I'll take a 1953 Jupiter 3 (50mm 1.5 sonnar) instead as a super light weight and compact one-lens-one-camera outfit.
Unquestionably.
Also loved the ergonomics of the 35 cron ASPH, but the nokton is just so special. If the weight of the Nokton is too much for a casual trip with lots of walking, I'll take a 1953 Jupiter 3 (50mm 1.5 sonnar) instead as a super light weight and compact one-lens-one-camera outfit.