Leica lens comparisons?

[fraley]

I'm interested in learning more about the various Leica lens models - summicron, summilux, elmar, etc. both old LTM and newer M mount. Where should I start? Not knowing anything, I'm afraid to bid on eBay 😱

I shoot mainly in daylight, overcast to bright days. Not a lot of low light shooting or flash. I like the 35-50mm focal length range.

I already have a surplus of 50mm lenses but no Leica's. Wondering if I should buy a Leica lens or body first. There are fewer bodies to learn about than lenses 😉

Any favorite sources of info on the Leica lens lineup?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[FPjohn]

Hove, Bower

Hove, Bower

Hello:

Of the many sources of lens data, I use the Hove "Leica Pocket Book" and Brian Bower's "The Leica Lens Book", David & Charles.

yours
Frank

 

[wlewisiii]

Start here for M mount lenses:

http://www.cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm

And then go here for LTM lenses:

http://www.cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm

Now, Stephen is very opinionated. You won't agree with everything he has to say as you get experience with the various lenses. This is a good thing - you have to develop your eye, not his. However, these two pages remain the best starting point.

Oh, and BTW, as far as I'm concerned, many of the best Leica lenses were made by Canon... 😉 On the gripping hand I have an exquisite collapsible Summicron too...

William

Edit: Get the glass, get the glass, get the glass... In the end a body is a light tight box. Yes some are made better than others and some feel better than others, but if all are made correctly then the only difference will be in the lenses. If you don't own a Leica 50, then get one. I'd heartily recommend a collapsible Summicron (50/2) as a good starting point. All the rest can be benchmarked from there. (The Canon glass is still exquisite though ... 😉 )

 

[RichardM]

Another well known site for Leica lens comparisons is
Erwin Put's site at:

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/leicahome.html

 

[Xmas]

http://www.willbell.com/tm/lensdesn.htm
After you read this you will be able to raise one eyebrow like 1st officer Spock.

The Ru lens are cheaper and different, the CV similar.

Noel

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[MarkEDavison]

Leica lens brochure by Puts

Leica lens brochure by Puts

There is a Leica lens brochure by Erwin Puts which is available on-line, which covers both current M lenses and their predecessors.

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/lenses/469.html

Mark Davison

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[sgy1962]

I'm interested in learning more about the various Leica lens models - summicron, summilux, elmar, etc. both old LTM and newer M mount. Where should I start? Not knowing anything, I'm afraid to bid on eBay 😱

I shoot mainly in daylight, overcast to bright days. Not a lot of low light shooting or flash. I like the 35-50mm focal length range.

I already have a surplus of 50mm lenses but no Leica's. Wondering if I should buy a Leica lens or body first. There are fewer bodies to learn about than lenses 😉

Any favorite sources of info on the Leica lens lineup?

Thanks,
Michael

If you shoot mainly daylight, then it is unlikely that you will need anything faster then a Summicron, which is Leica's designation for a max aperture of f/2. Both the 35mm and 50mm Summicrons from 1979 to the present are quite good. The 50mm Summicron has retained the same optical formula for this period, although the coating shave probably improved over time. In the mid apertures -- f/4 or so -- it is outstanding, and quite good shot wide open also. In the mid-90's the 35mm Summicron had an optical change to include asperical elements. The current version, denoted 35mm Summicron ASPH, is sharper then it's predecessor at the wider apertures. It has better flare resistance. But the prior 35mm Summicron -- the 4th version -- has remained very popular because of its small size; pleasing bokah; and any improvement with the new lens is only incremental, not revolutionary. The prior lens is a superb performer also.

 

[fraley]

Thanks everyone, for taking the time to reply with in-depth advice! I have some studying to do now 🙂

 

[aad]

On the GRIPPING hand? A motie?
I wonder how many Niven/Pournelle fans are here.

 

[Dougg]

Had a hard time setting Mote In God's Eye aside for such trivialities as sleep and food... 😀

Lenses usable on M-mount are such a very broad range it makes for a richness of choices.

 

[peterrm]

just watch out for the coffee machine.......

 

[Turtle]

I have a different perspective:

BODIES, BODIES, BODIES.

Yes, Leica lenses are great but the most modern ones are astoundingly expensive. The most modern Asphs are the only ones which really are as good as if not better than anything else out there. Even some of the CV lenses are as good as or better than quite recent Leica non-current line lenses and the Zeiss ZMs...well, read Puts!

Leica produce the quietest most manual most solid bodies about that really will last forever. There generally are not too many longevity concerns with lenses, but eletronics in bodies is a different matter. My interest in Leica is the uniqueness of the bodies and the discretion they afford. You can equip a M body with good CV or Zeiss lenses and take great great shots. If you can afford Leica lenses well that is a bonus. This is why I just bought an MP with Zeiss lenses (and one leica lens - 90 2.8 elmarit-M) - quiet, solid, reliable, small AND with a set of lenses. Had i even bought a 35mm Asph I would have to have dropped the 25mm ZM which Puts says equals the 24 Elmarit. That would have been plain silly considering that the 35mm Planar is only a touch behind the 35mm summicron ASPH according to the same Leicaphile and thats only up to 2.8.

Just my 2 cents...