Leica M3 and what 50mm lens?

[IIIg]

I would like to give you a different suggestion. Personally I have an M3 and a 50 Summicron rigid, but recently I also bought a 40 summicron and it makes a great impression on this camera. No problem for the viewfinder, just use the whole framed surface.
The advantage?
1 - A slightly wider angle of view than 50.
2- A weight and a size much lower than the rigid 50.
3 - A minimum focus of 80 cm instead of 1 m of the rigid 50.

If you put a piece of tape over the center window, the 50mm frame lines will disappear and using the full view will seem more natural.

When using a 50mm lens, stick the tape to the baseplate where you will be able to find it again.

 

[raid]

My M3 came to me with a Rigid Summicron. They seem to form the classic set for M3 with 50mm lens. I may have obtained 10-15 additional 50mm RF lenses over the years. There is no real all time favorite here, except maybe the Rigid Summicron being very special.

 

[IIIg]

M3 just got a serious CLA (fixed a lot of nagging stuff). I would like to congratulate her with a new 50mm lens mate. What is the best fit for her? Leaning towards a 'Cron from her time period. But really open to any suggestions.

If your lens needn't be period correct, you might like the Hexanon M 50/f2.

A modern sharp lens with no soft glass elements or propensity to fog.

I have shot at least 120 rolls with this lens on Leica M's with no disappontments.

 

[Huss]

M3, 7A 50 1.1, Silberra Orto 50

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Summicron rigid.

Erik.

 

[splitimageview]

Partial to Sonnars here. I’d go for a Nikkor 50/2 LTM or a modern 50/1.5 Sonnar.

 

[Huss]

M3, 7A 50 1.1, Silberra Orto 50

 

[kshapero]

M3 this time mated to a Voigt 50/1.5 ASPH Nokton: Leica Screw Mount Lens

 

[Ccoppola82]

Another more budget option might be an old 50mm 2.8 Elmar. Probably much easier to find a good one than a collapsible Cron in good condition and much cheaper. I had a rough v1 Cron and when the opportunity came around for a near mint glass version, I paid a pretty penny for it because I knew what it did and I loved it in BW.

This may be a silly thing, but the 2.8 Elmar has some of the most attractive looking aperture blades I’ve seen in a lens.

 

[kshapero]

Leica M3, Summicron rigid.

Erik.

This is other worldly. Proves a point that a lens does have a signature.😎

 

[Erik van Straten]

This is other worldly. Proves a point that a lens does have a signature.😎

Thanks! Here's another.

Erik.

 

[taemo]

fantastic shots with the 50mm focal length!

The Rigid Summicron was the standard lens for the early M3 then?
I have a collapsible 50mm Summicron and love using it on mine.

 

[raid]

Leica M3, Summicron rigid.

Erik.

As you have made us gotten used to your beautiful B&W images, Erik!

 

[raid]

fantastic shots with the 50mm focal length!

The Rigid Summicron was the standard lens for the early M3 then?
I have a collapsible 50mm Summicron and love using it on mine.

I have two Rigid Summicrons and a DR. This lens is such a good lens. I got my first with my M3.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The Rigid Summicron was the standard lens for the early M3 then?

Thanks!

Yes, the rigid was introduced in 1958 or maybe even earlier. The original MP's also had rigids mounted on them.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

As you have made us gotten used to your beautiful B&W images, Erik!

Thank you, Raid!

Erik.

 

[Bingley]

I've got a different recommendation that's faster than the Rigid, 1/10th the cost, contemporary of your M3 and arguably a phenomenal optic in its own right and up there with the Rigid or DR.

Canon 50/1.8 LTM

Two thumbs up on that recommendation! Check out what Dante Stella had to say about this lens in his review of Canon lenses for Leica, on his blog.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3/Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v2.

Erik.

 

[jrose125]

I sold my M3 last year to buy an M6 TTL, but in an ideal world I would grab another someday. One of my favourite camera/lens of all time was that M3 and a 50mm f/2.8 Elmar, which I also sold last year in favour of a Summicron V3.

I love my M6/Cron setup, but was something special about those two beautiful hunks of brass and glass.

 

[Mudman]

Leica M3 and what 50mm lens?

I usually use an Elmar, but I've been enjoying a LTM Summarit lately.