bazzho
Newbie
Hello,
I’m new here and new to rangefinders. I’ve just purchased my first, a Yasuhara T981 as an ‘always in my pocket camera’ to use instead of my smart phone. Whilst the body is being shipped to me I’ve been looking at lenses and getting very confused!
The body is listed as an L39 mount although I have seen it listed occasionally as M39. Having spoken to another user they have confirmed L39.
Looking at this forum I’ve established that there is a difference between L39 and M39, being that M39 is an SLR lens with a different lens to film distance.
However, looking at ebay listings I often see lenses listed as “L39, M39, LTM, LSM” so my question; is there a way to identify L39 lenses from the photos on these listings??
Specifically, I’ve been looking at the Elmar 5cm f3.5 and the Elmar 5cm f2.8, I would get the f2.8 but all the listings say M39 LTM.
Thank you
Barry
I’m new here and new to rangefinders. I’ve just purchased my first, a Yasuhara T981 as an ‘always in my pocket camera’ to use instead of my smart phone. Whilst the body is being shipped to me I’ve been looking at lenses and getting very confused!
The body is listed as an L39 mount although I have seen it listed occasionally as M39. Having spoken to another user they have confirmed L39.
Looking at this forum I’ve established that there is a difference between L39 and M39, being that M39 is an SLR lens with a different lens to film distance.
However, looking at ebay listings I often see lenses listed as “L39, M39, LTM, LSM” so my question; is there a way to identify L39 lenses from the photos on these listings??
Specifically, I’ve been looking at the Elmar 5cm f3.5 and the Elmar 5cm f2.8, I would get the f2.8 but all the listings say M39 LTM.
Thank you
Barry
radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
In fact, «M39» is in a way not exact, since one has to know the pitch of the thread (usually, either 26tpi, or 1mm, but in the latter case it's not for Leica), and the flange register.
Cf.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M39_lens_mount
Cf.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M39_lens_mount
ruby.monkey
Veteran
View Range
Well-known
The Leica thread is definitely not M39. However, many sellers ignore or do not know this. Often you do have to search "M39" to find what you are looking for.
radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
bazzho
Newbie
That was the news I was hoping for! - So just because I'm very new to this and don't want to make a mistake, the lens in this link should be ok?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINTY-Leitz-Elmar-5cm-f-2-8-50-2-8-Leica-LTM-lens-w-filter-caps-EXC-/262835752607?hash=item3d323b4e9f:g:zbwAAOSw241YYu3e
radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
EUR 559.98 for a Leica Elmar 2,8/50mm? A tad overpriced, I'd say.
bazzho
Newbie
That will be the next hurdle, but I posted that example as it had good photos of the thread. Would it fit?
EUR 400 seems about average?
Thanks
EUR 400 seems about average?
Thanks
radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
If it's a really renowned shop, yes.
Livesteamer
Well-known
Some thoughts about the Elmars. The Elmar 50mm f3.5 is a tiny classic that is wonderful for a compact camera. I have an old Elmar 50mm f2.8 in Leica M mount and I like it very much but it is just as big as my Summitar. The Elmar f2.8 is optically a little better but the Summitar at F2.0 is one whole stop faster. If you don't mind the size of the larger lenses then the Summitar might be a good choice and not hard to find in good condition. Joe
bazzho
Newbie
Think I might need to look around some shops in London and see if I can find better prices!
LukeBanks
Established
Aperture have two Summitars at the moment, both priced below £300...
http://www.apertureuk.com/leica.html
http://www.apertureuk.com/leica.html
bazzho
Newbie
Thank you, the summitar does seem like a good option! However you have reminded me that I was looking at Elmars because they collapse so small, it was the aperture dial as well as the faster f stop that attracted me to the 2.8. But maybe it's sensible to stick to my original requirements, get the elmar 3.5 first then something faster at a later date!
More to think about!
More to think about!
davidnewtonguitars
Family Snaps
Heresy alert:
The Industar- 22, if you get a good one (and at a fraction of the price) will rival the Elmar in many ways. I use them both, and I can't tell the difference.
The Industar- 22, if you get a good one (and at a fraction of the price) will rival the Elmar in many ways. I use them both, and I can't tell the difference.
Scrambler
Well-known
We all hassle over the fastest f-stop on the lens, then shoot at f4-11 anyway.The older fast lenses give you a technical ability to shoot with a faster shutter, but in reality the image will be affected by lack of visual clarity rather than camera shake. Some love it (and I am one) but for general photography, the F3.5 lenses are fine - indeed even slower lenses will do well.
If you doubt my comment re f-stop - consider that other "issue" widely discussed: bokeh and the impact of shutter blades. Shutter blades ONLY have impact if the aperture is smaller than maximum: all full open apertures have a round aperture.
If you doubt my comment re f-stop - consider that other "issue" widely discussed: bokeh and the impact of shutter blades. Shutter blades ONLY have impact if the aperture is smaller than maximum: all full open apertures have a round aperture.
venchka
Veteran
Familiarize yourself with various lenses and when they were made.
Leica rangefinder lenses only come in 2 mounts: Leica threaded and M or bayonet.
Canon rangefinder lenses: Leica threaded except for 1 lens the 50mm F 0.95.
Nikkor rangefinder: Leica thread or Nikon proprietary.
Many third party lenses were made in Leica thread mount and M mount.
eBay is probably the worst place online for reliable terminology.
The price for that Elmar is scary. I own a pair of Nikkor lenses, both fasterand arguably better, and I would be embarrassed to ask that price for either one.
Wayne
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Leica rangefinder lenses only come in 2 mounts: Leica threaded and M or bayonet.
Canon rangefinder lenses: Leica threaded except for 1 lens the 50mm F 0.95.
Nikkor rangefinder: Leica thread or Nikon proprietary.
Many third party lenses were made in Leica thread mount and M mount.
eBay is probably the worst place online for reliable terminology.
The price for that Elmar is scary. I own a pair of Nikkor lenses, both fasterand arguably better, and I would be embarrassed to ask that price for either one.
Wayne
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
bazzho
Newbie
Hi All, thank you for you input and advice. I found a friendly local leica user and he put it really clearly. "There are L39 and M42 Leica Thread Mount lenses, all M39 lenses are likely to be miss labelled L39"
I went with a Canon 35mm 1.8 for low light and a (much cheaper) Elmar 3.5 50mm for portability.
I went with a Canon 35mm 1.8 for low light and a (much cheaper) Elmar 3.5 50mm for portability.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
As far as I know, the M in M39 comes from the 39mm m-for-metric diameter and the L in L39 comes from Leica 39. I'd suggest that the "friendly local leica user" got it backwards because you'd expect a 39mm mount to have a 1mm thread (25.4 tpi) whereas the Leica mount has a 26 tpi thread. But both terms are used (as it were) interchangeably.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
nukecoke
⚛Yashica
I just call them "M39",
or "Leica M39" if the discussion involves non RF lenses.
More heresy:
The collapsible Industar-50 is also a good lens, especially the KOMZ version.
or "Leica M39" if the discussion involves non RF lenses.
More heresy:
The collapsible Industar-50 is also a good lens, especially the KOMZ version.
Maybe a typo here as M42 is the Pentax screw mount.