Leica LTM Looking for 50mm M39 Suggestions!

[das]

If one would be so kind, I'm looking for suggestions for a sub f/2, non-Leica-brand M39 50mm lens that has at least a 0.7m minimum focus and no focus shift (so no Sonnar-types or other modern lenses with shift, etc.). The focusing distance is important because I already own multiple 50s that have a 1.0m min. focus. I'm looking for something to shoot on my Canon VI as well as Leica M film bodies. Anyone have any favorites from any age? Thanks!

 

[Miles.]

Light Lens Lab Elcan 50mm f2

Not much to choose from given those parameters!

 

[Evergreen States]

If one would be so kind, I'm looking for suggestions for a sub f/2, non-Leica-brand M39 50mm lens that has at least a 0.7m minimum focus and no focus shift (so no Sonnar-types or other modern lenses with shift, etc.). The focusing distance is important because I already own multiple 50s that have a 1.0m min. focus. I'm looking for something to shoot on my Canon VI as well as Leica M film bodies. Anyone have any favorites from any age? Thanks!

By "sub ƒ/2" do you mean a greater or smaller maximum aperture? Because if you mean smaller, I'd suggest the Voigtlander 50mm ƒ/2.5 Color Skopar. Greater than ƒ/2? That's a very tall order, indeed.

 

[das]

By "sub ƒ/2" do you mean a greater or smaller maximum aperture? Because if you mean smaller, I'd suggest the Voigtlander 50mm ƒ/2.5 Color Skopar. Greater than ƒ/2? That's a very tall order, indeed.

Wider than f/2. 🙂.

 

[splitimageview]

The LTM Nokton is faster, f/1.5, but focus is 0.9m. Nikkor 50/1.4 will focus closer uncoupled, but it's a Sonnar (focus shift.)

 

[Darinwc]

The Canon 50mm f1.4 focuses a little closer than 1m.. I am not sure how close because it is not marked. It would be a perfect companion to your Canon VI

 

[das]

The Canon 50mm f1.4 focuses a little closer than 1m.. I am not sure how close because it is not marked. It would be a perfect companion to your Canon VI

I've owned several Canon 50mm f/1.4s over the years. A great lens, but I need that closer focus. 🙂.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Jupiter-3 Close Focus Mod

Pictures and instructions lost from years of forum changes- I have reposted towards the end of this thread.

www.rangefinderforum.com

J-3 is awesome lens on film. I have ditched all of the Leitz, Leica 50mm lenses. Keeping this and clean Canon 50 1.8 from Helen. They are fine on digital as well.

But f1.5 will burn shutters cloths on bright sunny day and snow on the ground within few minutes, if left WO. ("tested").

 

[maartenmoerman]

Canon 50mm f0,95, f1.2 & f1.4 can be modified to focus to 0.7meter.

Alternatively: Nikkor 50/1.4 Millenium edition in an Amedeo NikonS-LTM adapter (it's not a sonnar)

 

[Dralowid]

Any depth of field at less than f2 at 0.7m is going to be limited to say the least...

 

[wlewisiii]

Canon 50/1.8 or 1.4 will do the trick fantastically. I have both, love both.

You have to be careful to find clean ones but once you do, they are some of the finest non Sonnar 50's made by any company.

ETA:
Didn't see that you'd tried it. I don't know of anything that will focus closer in LTM that isn't a Sonnar.

Try sending a PM to Sonnar Brian, he's the lens guru here.

 

[splitimageview]

Canon 50/1.8 or 1.4 will do the trick fantastically.

These focus to 0.7m?

 

[das]

Canon 50mm f0,95, f1.2 & f1.4 can be modified to focus to 0.7meter.

Alternatively: Nikkor 50/1.4 Millenium edition in an Amedeo NikonS-LTM adapter (it's not a sonnar)

I actually have and use a Y2K Nikkor with an Amedeo M adapter, but it only focuses down to 0.9m. Apparently, with the Coiro adapter from the ROK, 50mm Contax/Nikkor RF 50s can focus down to 0.7m with no additional modification needed. The Y2K Nikkor is otherwise an outstanding lens that does not noticeably shift. Unfortunately, these are not solutions for M39. 🙁.

I have heard about the Canons being able to be modified to go down to 0.7m. I am not really a fan of the f/1.2 as an everyday shooter. The f/1.4 is really great for b&w but its rendition on color film has always been weird for me.

 

[Darinwc]

I have the Nikkor 5cm f1.4 in LTM. It is a Sonnar but I don't see any discernable focus shift.

 

[Darinwc]

Why on earth do you have that set of parameters?

Most rangefinders don't focus closer than 1 meter. And aren't very good at close ups anyway. What's the mfs on a Canon vi?

With a rangefinder, you are not going to be focusing wide open and then stopping down. So it just needs to be accurate at whatever working aperture is. If your working aperture is stopped down, why do you need a fast lens?

Close up and wide open, there will be a razor thin depth of field. You will only have confirmation of focus in the center where the rangefinder is. So especially hand held, good luck getting and decently sharp results.

Soooo.. really scratching my head as to why you need this lens. The best answer for what you want to do is just use an SLR.

 

[das]

Why on earth do you have that set of parameters?

Most rangefinders don't focus closer than 1 meter. And aren't very good at close ups anyway. What's the mfs on a Canon vi?

With a rangefinder, you are not going to be focusing wide open and then stopping down. So it just needs to be accurate at whatever working aperture is. If your working aperture is stopped down, why do you need a fast lens?

Close up and wide open, there will be a razor thin depth of field. You will only have confirmation of focus in the center where the rangefinder is. So especially hand held, good luck getting and decently sharp results.

Soooo.. really scratching my head as to why you need this lens. The best answer for what you want to do is just use an SLR.

Because I want a fast 50mm lens for use on a variety of bodies I own and already have 1.0m min. focus 50s. 🙂. If it doesn't exist, then I guess it doesn't exist.

The VI and my M3 (modified), and M7 focus down to 0.7m.

And I don't think f/1.4 is so impossible to accurately focus with a rangefinder. Do it all the time with M-mount lenses.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You must modify any LTM lens to focus to 0.7m.
The other problem: the RF of an LTM camera will not go to 0.7m.

 

[das]

You must modify any LTM lens to focus to 0.7m.
The other problem: the RF of an LTM camera will not go to 0.7m.

But both of these VC M39 lenses (28 and 40) focus down to 0.7m. I thought some of the VC lenses for the original R camera could do RF-coupled 0.7m as well.

28 mm / 1:2.8 Color Skopar - Voigtländer

www.voigtlaender.de

40 mm / 1:2.8 Nokton aspherical - Voigtländer

www.voigtlaender.de

 

[splitimageview]

Those two Voigtlanders are available in both LTM and M mount versions, so it would make sense that the LTM versions would also focus to 0.7m, as they would focus to 0.7m when used on M bodies with an LTM adapter.

Two other lenses offered screw mount that focused to 0.7m: the dual mount versions of the 35/2.8 Summaron, and the 35/2 Summicron 8 element. These look like native M mount lenses but the bayonet is removable after loosening a set screw, revealing an M39 screw thread. The focus scale on these lenses goes to 0.7m. There were also native screw mount versions of these two, with close focus to 1m.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Jupiter-3+. Focus to 0.7m. No problem using mine.

Of the Classic LTM lenses: the threads must be notched out and the internal stops must be modified.
I modified a J-8 for 0.65m close-focus. Easy job.

If you must use the lens on an M-Mount camera to get close focus, much easier to get a lens made for it.