M9 with an old 35mm lens

[starless]

Hi all,

I am wondering if I could use the M9 with an older (pre-ASPH) 35mm Summicron? Would I be able to adjust exposure easily? What image quality should I expect compared to the latest 35mm lens. On film I was not able to see much difference between these lenses but I suspect the difference will be more pronounced by digital capture.

Thanks!

 

[starless]

Thanks for the reply. Sounds good!
Sharpness is the last thing i look for in a photograph ...

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Irwin Puts has a essay devoted to this topic. He furthermore stated that Zeiss lenses are usuable when a code is selected to a comparable Leica lens.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I use my pre-aspheric 35 Summilux (bought c. 1984) with mine. It's great. I've just sent the M9 review to my webmaster so I hope it'll be on the site in a week or two, and there are quite a few pics in it taken with this lens.

Cheers,

R.

 

[jarski]

try Flickr search for example "M9" and "Summar" or other old lens.

 

[Bébèrt]

Xenon 50/1.5 from 1939 on M9 from 2009.

 

[starless]

Thanks!
I guess I will have to borrow one to test for myself but it looks promising so far. Or I might go for a 8.2 and save the cash.

 

[eleskin]

I used to own the chrome 35mm Summicron from te 1960's and loved it

I used to own the chrome 35mm Summicron from te 1960's and loved it

I used to have a chrome 35mm Summicron made in the 1960's (I lost it in Florida 15 years ago). Very sharp wide open and excellent contrast, but not too much.

Here is something that you may have heard. The older lenses that have lighter coatings that are not as contrasty actually work even better with digital in that they do not clip the highlights when there is a little over exposure. Essentially, the older lenses give any digital M user greater dynamic range!!!!!

Here is where Leica really shines. Some of the sharpest lenses they ever made did not have the modern high contrast coatings (Dual Range Summicron, 35mm Summicron, etc,,,,) and are great at their widest f stops. Many Lenses made by Nikon and Canon for their SLR's from this time period (1960's) cannot make this claim.

 

[bressoniac]

I'm shooting an M9 with a 35mm f1.4 ASPHERICAL (first type) and it is slick-as-sin.

My favorite camera/lens combo in years.

My 2nd favorite lens on this is the 50mm f2.0 Heliar that Cosina-Voigtlander just released. Nothing short of spectacular results.

When I add a 21, my kit will be complete for the time being.

ciao,
Rich
photovillage.com