Lens thoughts for my 'new' M4

[Puggie]

I'm selling off my Contax-G to move back to the M system, for want of a more manual camera and frankly that awesome leica viewfinder/rangefinder. So far i have a nice used M4 (to complement my Sony A7 digital) , and my old screw mount lenses:

CV heliar 15mm, for when i want w--i--d--e

Jupiter 12 as my cheap and cheerful 35mm

Jupiter 8 as it was small and cheap fo play with.

Canon 50mm f1.2, for silly fast portrait/pub shots.

So I'd like a compact lens for travel, when i had an M3 this was my 50mm elmar, looking back I'd maybe prefer a 35mm. I was thinking the CV color-skopar in 35mm f2.5, fast enough and compact. Any thoughts on other options?
I'd also like a nice sharp fast something normal, and coming from the Contax, the obvious option would be the 50mm f2 Planar, but any other options i should consider? Budget is limited but flexible, but im looking in the region of tge planar.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Shac]

Given that you'd "... also like a nice sharp fast something normal,..." - from personal experience I was surprised how good the LTM Canon 50/1.4 was. It and my V2 50/1.4 Summilux are the best 1.4 lenses at full aperture I've ever used.

Good luck with the hunt

 

[Rob-F]

35mm Leitz Summaron f/2.8 is a very fine lens in the "sharp and fast enough" category.

For a 50mm, you might consider the 2.8 Elmar in that same category. The older one is already a fairly contrasty and sharp lens when stopped to f/4 or f/5.6. If the later one is an option for you, they are said to be improved with newer glasses and design methods.

For a 50/2, I'm satisfied with the Summicron and would rather have it than a Planar, just because it's a Leica lens on a Leica. But that's a matter of taste!

 

[michaelwj]

If it's a chrome M4, then the 35/2.8 Summaron is the perfect match. If it's a black M4, then the v3 35/2 Summicron.

 

[B-9]

Skip the 50/1.2

It is far from ideal for pub shots, creative portraits.. sure!

I've owned and serviced at least 5 of these (is my memory going)

I would not personally spend another dime on one. Instead splurge on a Summarit 1.5 or opt for the 1.4 Canon.

 

[froyd]

For travel, I think the price/value of the 35 Nokton is hard to beat.

The Summaron recommended above is a fantastic lens, but in the $900-1000 territory. And while superior to the Nokton, it's nice to have a 1.4 lens when traveling, so you can cover a wide range of light.

Best of all the economics are great. Small, tabbed, light weight, and not as contrasty as the Skopar, which I find too modern for that aspect.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If sharp=nice then it is hard to beat Skopar and Planar. Skopar 35 and Skopar 50 are even more nicer. Because Skopar 50 is small, but Planar isn't.

For other than sharp=nice options I have chosen Summarit-M 35 2.5 over Skopar (I had all three versions of this lens). Not small, not big lens.
For 50 and small, then collapsed, it is hard to beat Elmar-M 50 2.8. It is also Leica lens which has character, but non Leica price range.
Personally, I'm finding Jupiter-3 to be best 50 lens on film. Not expensive, no issues, and small by size, but huge by character and sharp enough on film even wide open. It even doesn't have Leica glow, which fault, actually, not glory, IMO and doesn't make swirly bokeh, which is another fault, IMO.

 

[Huss]

Fast 50mm? 7artisans 50 1.1 for about $350 new.
To go faster than that for a new lens, you need to pay $10,400 more...

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161647&page=8

 

[sc_rufctr]

35mm Summicron (any older version) And you'll never look back.

 

[Dez]

Given a limited budget but a very good lens, I would recommend a CV 35 f1.7 Ultron. Mine is the LTM version- it's small and takes proper 39mm filters, as Leica lenses are supposed to! It is considered "modern", sharp and extremely contrasty, which I like, but many don't. (Makes one wonder why optical companies have spent millions over the last 50 years or so increasing sharpness and contrast of their lenses.) The 35 f1.4 Nokton is a lens which people seem to love or hate, the main grumble I have heard is something about minor distortion, which seems to be important for some folks who specialize in head-on photographs of brick walls. I have no experience with that lens though. Another very good choice is the Canon 35mm f2, which is generally considered Canon's best ever rangefinder 35mm lens. It is also quite small, and takes 40mm filters.

The CV Nokton 50 f1.5 has very similar performance to that of the Ultron, but is rather too large for me. I do agree with the people recommending the Canon 50 f1.4; it is undoubtedly the best bargain going for an all-purpose fast 50. It's also biggish with a 48mm filter mount. Make sure the one you get does not have any internal haze; it is sometimes impossible to cure for less than the cost of the lens.

I would love to add some pictures of these lenses mounted on a camera, but the greedy people at Photobucket have recently decided that you can no longer post links to pictures on their site unless you pay $400 per year for the privilege.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[f16sunshine]

CV Color Skopar 50mm f2.5 !

It's a great little lens with super build/ergonomics and a lovely rendering.
I tried them all (50mm) and have not felt the need to try any more once I landed on this lens.

The Skopar does duty as the "daily carry".
Lately I don't use RF's much so mine has been on the Sony a bit more than on a native rangefinder.

There are one of each color for sale in the rff classified as I write this 🙂 (not mine)

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Another vote for the Classic Nokton 35mm f1.4. Small, tabbed, nice image quality, good ergonomics (just get used to the aperture ring). I have one and I really like it.

 

[maddoc]

40mm Summicron-C or M-Rokkor 40/20 CLE. Perfect focal length. Very small and good performance. My 40/2.0 M-Rokkor (CLE version) was a better performer than the 35mm Summicron v3 I replaced it with.

 

[matt335]

I use a 35mm Summaron on mine with happy results.

 

[kiemchacsu]

I have M2, M4 and 35/2, 35/2.8
I am happy with either combination.

 

[Puggie]

Thanks for all the thoughts people.

Maybe I was not clear, I have the 15mm 2x jupiters and the canon f1.2, so they are not changing (or I'm not planning to), I'm only looking to complement them. I have no 'need' to have a Leica lens on a leica body, I'm quite happy with 3rd party glass.

The 35mm summicron/summarons seem a little more pricey than I was intending, maybe something to aspire to/keep an eye out long term. It is a chrome M4 (I'll bang a pic up later) so maybe a 2.8 Summaron is something to keep an eye out for, most of what I saw were goggled from the M3 as these the type you mean?

The 50mm Elmar 2.8, I had one on my M3 and liked it, certainly a consideration as something to complement the Canon. it is kind of the other end of 50mm lenses IMHO, not silly fast, not silly big and compact. I never wanted for any more sharpness with mine, it was a good lens. I have the 90 f4 collapsible too I liked that as well.

I think I need to look harder at the CV stuff and try and work out which 35 would suit best, I had kinda settled on the Skopar but maybe the Nokton and Ultron are worth a look. I had the 50mm Nokton 1.5 on the M3 I found it lovely, but a bit bulky.

So current thoughts I will probably look for:

Elmar 50mm f2.8 small and I liked my last one.
CV 35mm no idea which, fprobably the 1.4 or skopar
Longer term keep an eye out for a Leica 35mm summaron/icron/arrit when something comes up for a good price.

many thanks

 

[David Hughes]

FWIW, get the one you know, ie the 50mm Elmar 2.8 and you'll have no problems checking it quickly once it's in your hands. Also I think it's a sleeper. Well, I like mine.

Regards, David

 

[cz23]

I wouldn't rule out the C-Biogon. A great performer, well-built, very small, and pretty low priced used.

John

 

[leicapixie]

I like your choices!
The Collapsible Summicron, low contrast is sharp enough.
The 50mm Elmar is equal in sharpness and has great contrast.
The Elmar actually way more compact.
I had the canon f1.2 which is no slouch IF in good condition..
I hated the 90mm f4, but mine was worn out!
Remember its only a lens!
Use your Jupiter or Canon and take and make exposures.
Best of luck and enjoy your M4!

 

[roscoetuff]

Don't know which lenses you've used on the Contax G, but some folks have had those (the 90mm in particular) converted to Leica M mount for Zeiss coloring. As a Zeiss fan, I thought about it, but not long. Maybe one day...
Problem is that I like the 3-clicks per F-stop (1/3 steps) Zeiss ZM and I hear the Contax-G lenses are only 2-clicks (half steps). What I'm not a fan of in the Elmarit 90mm is the half-stop steps. Ah.... but it's still pretty doggone good.

But I do shoot Zeiss ZM lenses and love them. Just sayin'.