Landscape lens

[cosmonaut]

Which M/LTM lens is your favorite for landscapes? Right now my widest is the 40mm Nokton. I had the 15mm Voigtlander and I was hit or miss with it. I would up selling it.

 

[segedi]

I've used 21, 25, 35, 40 and 50mm and it all depends what you are going for. There are some super wide landscapes that look incredible, but I like 35-50mm for landscape. And street. I find the wide end to be less effective for the landscapes I shoot.

 

[GaryLH]

I always paired the 40 w/ a 21 on the wide and a 90 or 135 on the tele. A pair of Leica/Minolta CLs. One had the 40 and the other and the 21. 90 in the sling bag or pocket.

For landscape, 21 was the widest I ever used and 135 was the longest tele when I used an rf camera. In slr, I tended to use even longer focal lengths. Focal lengths from 21 to 200 for slr's.

Gary

 

[dct]

Depending on the field of view I need, it is mostly the CV28/3.5, sometimes the CV15/4.5. I seldom use 50mm lenses for landscape.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Macro Elmar 90 is the perfect travel lens and my most often used for landscapes.

 

[Alex Krasotkin]

Summicron C 40/2

 

[cosmonaut]

Well I would like something without distortion. How wide can I go before it's an issue?

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Well I would like something without distortion. How wide can I go before it's an issue?

The semetrically designed lenses typically have less distortion, a modern wide example would be the Zeiss ZM C Biogon 21mm f/4.5...almost no distortion.

 

[akitadog]

I have used the Summicron 35mm and 50mm for landscapes quite a bit. also used the 21mm Elmarit M, but it was not my style of images. Later sold all my Leica lenses and now use the Zeiss ZM 35 f2.8 and the ZM 50 f1.5 lenses. I liked the look of the Leica lenses, but also like the look of these two Zeiss lenses, and the difference in dollars between what I sold the Leica glass for used and the price paid for the Zeiss glass new allowed me to buy a 24MP DSLR to use with my big telephoto lens.

I find that I really like the Zeiss 35 lens for it's look and lack of distortion. awesome lens for the price.

The Zeiss 50 f1.5 is an interesting lens also, but takes a bit of getting used to due to it's focus shift. Once you get that under control, it is a wonderful lens as well.

Regards,

Akitadog

 

[Bingley]

For me, 50 is a perfect focal length for landscapes taken on 35mm film. My favorite landscape 50s are a CV Skopar 50/2.5 and a coated Elmar 50/3.5.

I've also used 28 quite a bit for landscape photos; the CV Skopar 28/3.5 is superb, IMO, particularly with black and white film.

 

[FrankS]

21 to 135mm depending on the landscape and ones interpretation of it. Sometimes even wider.

 

[Jockos]

Are there any bad 90mm lenses for M mount? Seems like you can't go wrong with landscape lenses 😉

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Are there any bad 90mm lenses for M mount? Seems like you can't go wrong with landscape lenses 😉

Even really early Elmar LTM 9cm that can be found for $100 are great performers under the right conditions.

 

[cosmonaut]

I like the idea of the Zeiss 35mm. That has always been my favorite focal length.

 

[noimmunity]

The C-Biogons are great, both the 21 and the 35.

You might also consider the Leica Elmar M 24/3.8 . It is extremely even across the frame, more so than the Zeiss lenses, I think, and if you are patient you might find a used copy that is not too too expensive. A really reliable wonderful lens.

My most used M lenses for landscape are either the ZM 21/4.5 or the Leica 24/3.8 teamed up with a Konica Hex 50/2.4 and a Minolta Rokkor-C 90/4.

 

[cosmonaut]

Thanks Jon