M mount on a budget...

[OurManInTangier]

...now stop smirking at the back there. Hands on laps and eyes to the front, this is serious.

Now I realise that Leica glass is considered the best and you pay through the nose for it BUT I've just ordered a VC 35mm 2.5 color skopar because 1. It's excellent value 2. It's a great lens ( by most accounts ) for the price and 3. It's my first M mount lens and it needed to be 35mm so...and here's where you guys come in...

What other lenses do you guys suggest for someone with a Leica M6 .72 who does alot of street, documentary and obviously general photography. I'm thinking I'd like my kit to consist of 35mm, 50mm and maybe a 75mm or 90mm. I know I'll have focus issues at the longer focal lengths but lets see how we go...oh and I'm tempted by a wide but not sure which 15mm CV??

I'll save up so no price restrictions but please incl any 'worthy' cheaper lenses by other manufacturers.

Many Thanks

 

[iml]

I have a CV 35/1.7 Ultron and 21/4.0 Skopar. If the rest of the CV range are like those lenses, I don't think you can go too far wrong with any of them, so you could probably fill in your preferred lens range entirely with CV glass and be very happy.

My 50 is a 50/1.2 Canon in Leica thread mount. It's heavy, but a seriously nice lens, beautifully made, and didn't cost much. Canon also made 50/1.4 and 50/1.8 lenses, all of which seem well-regarded.

At the telephoto end, Jupiter lenses seem well-liked, and easy enough to find on ebay for not much money. I have no direct experience with them though.

Ian

 

[Davor]

Wouldn't it be easier if you instead of buying alot of cheap lenses bought a few really good ones that you liked, and then really learned to know them? This is atleast the strategy that I have chosen, since I'm in a quite similar situation.

That said, the 15mm is afaik a great lens and a used 50mm summicron isn't that much more expensive then a new lens from cameraquest -- atleast here in Sweden. The latest summicron-50 costs about $550 and a dual range costs about $400.

 

[ferider]

Hi Simon,

Canon 50/1.4 (really good value for the money, currently; check KEH, for instance), Heliar 75/2.8 or classic Elmarit 90/2.8. On the wide side, the CV 21 or 15 are good value, IMO. The Canon behaves pretty much like the CV 50/1.5, except it's smaller, more solid, single coated and cheaper.

Maybe to start with the 75 Heliar, since it fits well together with the 35 ? Adorama has a good used black one, at the moment (US 249).

I vote against the Jupiter 9, it is difficult to find a good one (also after a CLA of Yuri, for example, it might
still be off at close focus). I tried 5.

Enjoy, picking lenses is the best part,

Roland.

 

[RML]

For a 50 check out the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50/2.

 

[payasam]

I'd have said a CV 75, but Roland already said it. That and a 35 cover most things, and focus ought not to be a problem.

 

[RayPA]

Simon,
Photographing on the street, I'd suggest adding a 28 and a 50. Some think that a 28 is too close to the 35, but to me it's a fine companion. The CV 28/3.5, although a little on the slow side, is a really good lens . It fits the Skopar model as a: "great lens, great size, great price." The 50 fl range is wide open. There are some really good lenses. I agree with Roland about the 50/1.4. I like the Nokton, too. The 50/2 Heliar looks good as well. I don't have one, but from what I've seen it's nice. If you can, go for speed, but that usually means more $ and a bigger lens.

🙂

 

[markinlondon]

I'm surprised noones mentioned the VC Nokton 50 f1.5, £150-200 used and very good, but it needs an LTM adapter. As for 90's can recommend the CV 90mm Apo-Lanthar very highly, but you could also find a 1960's 90mm f2.8 Elmarit for not much more cash and it wouldn't need the adapter.

 

[markinlondon]

My bad above, Roland mentioned the Nokton.

 

[payasam]

I'd say a CV 75, but Roland's already said it. Between that and the 35, you'll have most things covered: and focus ought not to be a problem.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Ray - Fully agree with the speed issue, especially as I've already gone for a f/2.5 with the 35mm. The idea of a 50mm 1.2 should cover me for pretty much every type of job.

Mark - Have you got the 50mm 1.5 - much difference that you've noticed?...massive saving with the CV lenses.

What about these M mount converters, do they turn a small lens into a leviathon? I'm happy to take a punt on ebay for glass but seem to have a mental block with buying lenses that way. I suppose just go for one with plenty of photos.

No-one has come back so far to say that anyone lens is much worse than another with the exception of Roland, but if I understand you point is more about the number of quality Jupiter's than the quality of the design?

 

[davidbivins]

The CV 15mm is a great, fun lens. I also like the 28mm Ultron. I think the difference between 28 and 35 is pretty significant, visually, and I use both. I have both the CV 35mm 1.7 and a Summicron; I use the Summicron more because it's a lot shorter. For a 50 I have a LTM collapsible Summicron which I use with a M adapter. I rarely use anything longer than 50, though I do like my German-made 90mm f4 Rokkor. I have other lenses, but these are what I use mostly. Lately I'm trying to only shoot 50mm for the discipline, but my 35mm will be fixed on Monday and I'll probably be unable to resist using it immediately.

 

[markinlondon]

I had a Nokton but sold it on as it didn't get used much, very nice though.
The adapters are 0.8mm thick and screw on without any protuding bits. You won't know they're there unless they come loose.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I had a Nokton but sold it on as it didn't get used much, very nice though.
The adapters are 0.8mm thick and screw on without any protuding bits. You won't know they're there unless they come loose.

That opens things up a bit. It was the idea of adding great lumps to the front of my camera that had me searching for M mount lenses only.

Just noticed that Robert White has put the prices up on the CV lenses, the m mount 35mm color skopar is £200 from £187. Still very good value.

 

[iml]

What about these M mount converters, do they turn a small lens into a leviathon?

No, they're thin shims. You'll need to buy the appropriate one to bring up the right framelines. Voigtlander make a selection, and they're not expensive. Robert White's a good source if you can't find any secondhand.

Edit: oops, got in too late!

Ian

 

[RayPA]

That opens things up a bit. It was the idea of adding great lumps to the front of my camera that had me searching for M mount lenses only.

Just noticed that Robert White has put the prices up on the CV lenses, the m mount 35mm color skopar is £200 from £187. Still very good value.

I often forget that a lot of my CV lenses are LTM, because the adapters are almost indistinguishable from the rest of the lens.


🙂

 

[markinlondon]

Oh, I forgot to say I saw a pile of LTM-M adapters in a dealer on Saturday so they are around used. Expect to pay 15-25 pounds instead of about 35-40 new.

 

[JeffGreene]

I realize you just purchased the 35, but I wanted to put in a plug for the VC 28 1.9 Ultron. Great lens and razor sharp!😱

 

[fgianni]

Problem with the 28 ultron is that it is a big lens, that's why it is one of my least used lenses together with the 75 lux, I guess I'll be selling the lux soon, it does not make sense to keep such an expensive piece of glass gathering dust!
OTOH it's about one year I say I am going to sell the lux, but it is such a good piece of glass that I haven't yet managed to bring myself to part with it.

 

[peter_n]

For the 50 I suggest the current Elmar-M 50/2.8; a tremendous lens and perfect for street/general photography. Can be had used for $400-500 depending on condition.