LTM Newbie seeking guidance on Lenses & service for LTM Bodies/Lenses

[Luddite Frank]

Greetings all !

Found this forum via Google.


Have been collecting old cameras and trying to take pictures with them since I was six.

After using a Retina IIIc ( 35 / 50 / 85 S-K Xenons ) as my primary RF shooter for the last 20 -odd years, I finally "upgraded" to thread-mount Leica. 😎


I have two Wetzlar cameras:

1932 Leica Model D; black/nickle, with 5 cm nickle Elmar, uncoated.


1950 Leica III-F bd; vulc/ chrome, with 5 cm Summicron collapsable.

Lenses: 9 cm Elmar (black); 13,5 Hektor (black/chrome)


I have been told about the superority of Leitz lenses for many years, by photogs who seem to know what they are talking about.

However, I have found it difficult (and expensive) to find Leitz lenses that do not have "issues" (wipe marks, scratches, haze, etc).


I'm trying to build my Leica outfit on a pretty slim budget, and I am looking for suggestions as to good Leica and non-Leica lenses for a user. Presently, I shoot more color than B&W.

From a dollars & sense aspect, it seems like the new Cosina- Voighlander lenses or used Canon or Nikkor LTM are a better buy...


AND,

Would like some direction as to where to send my LTM bodies & lenses for service (CLA)....

Thanks !

Luddite Frank

 

[foto_fool]

Welcome Frank! Dean Willimas (deansphotographica.com) is a good resource for CLA on the bodies. DAG and Sherry Krauter are also excellent, and for your lenses as well.

My favorite Leica lens-on-a-budget is the 50/2 Summar but as you say it will be sctatched and hazy, and even after the haze is removed you will get a very "vintage" look to your photos.

The lens that spends the most time on my IIIf is a 50/1.4 Nikkor SC. I also just got a Zeiss Jena 50/1.5 Sonnar back from DAG and expect that this lens will get a workout as well.

I don't have one but a lot of folks here like their J-3's - same optical formula as the Sonnar and less likely to be fake.

- John

 

[cpborello]

As far as 50s go, I have found the Canon 50/1.4 ltm to be a versatile and relatively inexpensive lens (approx $200). I understand the Canon 50/1.8 ltm can be had for about $150, but I don't have any personal experience with it.

Regarding CLAs, I have used Sherry Krauter of Golden Touch, and my dealings with her have been positive.

-Chris

 

[Bingley]

Welcome, Frank!

I concur w/ the recommendation on Don Goldberg (DAG) for a CLA, and many others on this forum praise Sherry Krauter too.

It sounds like you already have some (nice) Leica LTM lenses and bodies, and perhaps w/ a cleaning these will work well for you. It may not be necessary to spend more $$$ on 50 mm lenses, if the two you've already got are usable.

That said, I also concur w/ the recommendation to look at CV LTM and Canon lenses. I have some of each and they're delightful to use. It doesn't appear that you've got any wide-angle lenses in LTM, so that may be a place to start looking. Both CV and Canon make/made wonderful 35s and 28s (and, in CV's case, even wider), but these lenses have different signatures, levels of contrast, etc. One suggestion would be to peruse the threads on the Leica LTM, Canon RF, and Voigtlander Bessa forums here. There have been a number of threads over the last year on the comparative virtues of some of these lenses. Also, you can find old "back issues" of RFF threads on particular lenses by using Google and typing in the lens you're interested in.

Know this, however: lurking around these parts can lead to a very serious malady called GAS.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Thanks John,

The very first hands-on experience I ever had with Leica was in my early teens, when my dad arranged for me to spend a day with the guys in the US Senate photo lab... eventually, I mentioned my interest in old cameras, and one of the lab techs dug out some of the lab's retired TM Leicas (probably III-c's)...

At any rate, they all had "strange looking lenses" with a really unusual diaphragm... most of that day has faded into hazy memory, but I still remembered those "funny-looking Leica lenses"...

Fast-forward 25 years, and my present Leica-mania, I discover that the "lens with the funky diaphragm" is the Leitz Summar !

I am keeping my eyes open for a decent Summar...


As for the Nikkor 50 /1.4 , that's what's on my dad's Nikon S, which was the first 35 mm camera I ever saw / eventually used. The camera body needs help these days, but the lens is still sharp & clear; Dad shot hundreds for Kodachrome slides with it, as well as plenty of B&W prints (he was a Tri-X man), and I don't think anyone ever took a fuzzy picture with that camera/ lens.

I appreciate the input !


Regards,

Frank

 

[Bingley]

Frank -- While you search for your decent Summar, check out the threads by RFF'er Sanders McNew if you haven't already discovered them here. Wonderful images w/ a Summar and an old Leica, and a lot of helpful advice to boot from a pro and a great guy.

 

[cmedin]

Youxin Ye would be my recommendation for Leica screwmount CLA. Super nice guy and very quick turnaround.

When shopping for a Summar, watch out for haze... there are good ones out there still and not very expensive so worth waiting for the right example. Mine was $125 with some filters and a hood. 🙂

 

[LeicaTom]

I`ve heard nothing but great things about Youxin Ye as it comes to LTM`s
(mine have gone out to be done privately, I`m not sure if that person wants business quite yet, but there could be possibly another person doing LTM CLA`s soon....)

As for lenses, I`m almost always shooting 50`s
(funny enough mostly Canon and Nikkor on my IIIC`s and not because there cheaper, but because they perfom in the style I want)

my favorites are the

Leitz Summitar f2.0 all around great lens - postwar versions can be found under $200
(I use a early "wartine" uncoated version which is rarer, but simillar signature as the postwar version)

Leitz Elmar f3.5 Leica`s LTM workhorse

Canon f1.5 *dreamy lens* gives an amazing creamy 3D "Sonnar" effect, not easy to find and not as cheap either $350/$400 will get you a perfect one

Canon f1.8 great everyday lens, still reasonable at under $150 for decent ones and a good workhorse like the Summitar

Nikkor f2.0 another great LTM lens, light and compact compared to the Canon`s of the same era, but getting harder and harder to find in good clean shape though....$100 to $250 depending on condition

That`s all for now

Happy Shooting

Tom

 

[payasam]

Frank, you already have everything but a wide angle lens.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Yes, but they all seem to have the Curse of Leica : haze, swipes, etc.


I just got my first pics back from my III-F / Summicron - talk about lens flare !!!
Yipe.

I have to see what the pics from the D / Elmar 5cm look like, then I will choose which is the first lens to get sent-out for CLA.

But, yes, I do need a wide-angle... from what I've read at various places around the 'Net, even a 35mm Summaron in "perfect" condition is not one of Leica's best lenses, so I'm thinking of finding either a Nikkor, Canon, or CV to fill that void...


LF

 

[payasam]

I've had two LTM Summarons and must agree with you. The Canon 35/2 is highly regarded and the 35/1.8 is said to be almost as good. The CV 35/1.7 is well spoken of and may be the easiest to get. If speed is not so important, there's also the compact CV 35/2.5. I do not know if you have a finder or finders, but my vote goes to the VIOOH (IMARECT).

 

[Bob Corwin]

'Youxin Ye would be my recommendation for Leica screwmount CLA. Super nice guy and very quick turnaround.'


DAG or Sherry would get my vote, especially on anything borderline
collector-grade or above. It's easy enough to get your Leica back
working, it's another thing to have it come back with its original parts.

 

[cmedin]

'Youxin Ye would be my recommendation for Leica screwmount CLA. Super nice guy and very quick turnaround.'


DAG or Sherry would get my vote, especially on anything borderline
collector-grade or above. It's easy enough to get your Leica back
working, it's another thing to have it come back with its original parts.

What are you trying to say here?

 

[FrankS]

In less espensive 35mm lenses, I'd suggest a Canon f2.8 ($175) or a Jupiter 12 ($50) for vintage results, and the CVf2.5 for contrasty modern results ($175 also used).

I quite like my Summaron! (vintage results)

 

[Luddite Frank]

Thanks for the continuing input, all...

I am awaiting the arrival of my Imarect finder...



Frank S - The main criticism I've read/heard about the Summaron (at least the f-3.5 version) is that it is supposedly not one of Leitz's sharper lenses...

A good friend who is a knowleable collector and skilled photographer swears that his late 35mm Summaron (f-2.8?) is very sharp...

???

By your description of "vintage results", are you speaking of a "soft image" ?


(Still learning "the Leica way"...)

LF

 

[brachal]

'Youxin Ye would be my recommendation for Leica screwmount CLA. Super nice guy and very quick turnaround.'


DAG or Sherry would get my vote, especially on anything borderline
collector-grade or above. It's easy enough to get your Leica back
working, it's another thing to have it come back with its original parts.

Can you elaborate a little bit? I've never seen anything but raves about Youxin's work.