My first LTM, a IIf, help with lenses.

[Norwaycamera]

Hello all.

A IIf that has busted been CLA is on its way to me.
🙂
It is my first rangefinder, yes, maybe a bit crazy to go for a LTM, but they do look so cool and feel great.
The camera comes with a VIOOH and a original leather bag, according to the seller, it will allow the finder to stay on the camera.
Will post photos when I get my hans on it.

But, lenses.
I have non.

The only film camera I have and has been using is a Rolleicord Va.
So here comes my question:

Are there some of the vintage lenses that even an amateur like me can master?
I mean, the Canons, Nikons, Leicas and so gives some great photos, but are some models more user-friendly than others?

I am seeking a lense for all round use, to start with, family photos, nature, snap shots of the kids. A 35 or 50mm is what I had in mind.
I also do like to try and take some portraits of my two kids, so a 85-135 is on my mind. From what I have seen here, I really like the Nikkor 85 and the 135.

All tip/help is welcome, and indeed needed🙂

Thanks.

 

[AlexBG]

Canon 50mm 1.8 ltm would be my suggestion. Good all round lens and good value.
If you go collapsable then an elmar is the way to go, 5cm f3.5

 

[Livesteamer]

Don't forget that there are some Russian lens that are very good at low cost. A Jupiter 8 is a 50mm f2.0 and the Jupiter 12 is a 35mm f2.8. They can be very good. Also Industar 50 or 22 are very compact 50mm lens altho a bit slow at f3.5. Good Luck. Joe

 

[ForestCap]

Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8 for 35mm.

Industar-50 50mm f/3.5 collapsible version for a portable combo.

Jupiter-8 50mm f/2 for faster 50mm.

 

[Roger Hicks]

50/3,5 Elmar.

Cheers,

R.

 

[NeeZee]

I love the Summaron f3.5 35mm on my IIIf. Very compact and a good performer if in good condition. You'll need an external finder then of course.

 

[BillBingham2]

What a great camera, congrats on a wonderful choice.

So many different paths, each more fun than the other.

Any Leica 50mm collapsible will be great and my first choice for a 50. A solid Nikkor would be a very close second.

I love the 90/4 from Leica because of the size. I've had the Nikkor 85/2 and it is a great lens, but heavy.

Nikkor 35/2.5 in LTM is a bit hard to find but it's a solid performer. I had a Summaron 35/3.5 for one of my M kits and loved it.

I've never had a Canon lens but I know some folks hear love them.

I look for character in my glass along with sharpness. Take your time and look for clean, clear, scratch free (as possible) glass, it's out there.

B2 (;->

 

[Norwaycamera]

Thanks all for helping me.
Well, I will keep my eyes open for a collapsible 50 from Leica.

B2, was the Nikkor 85/2 to heavy? Needed a tripod?

 

[ray*j*gun]

Canon 50mm 1.8 ltm would be my suggestion. Good all round lens and good value.
If you go collapsible then an Elmar is the way to go, 5cm f3.5

If You should decide on the Canon although it is a wonderful lens, many have developed haze/fungus and it can't be removed without wrecking the coating. I have a clear one and its one of my fav's.

The Elmar 3.5 is a classic great lens but slow. Very comact though so it gets used here quite a lot.

I don't think you need a tripod for the Nikkor 85.

Barnacks rule lol. Good luck.

 

[x-ray]

Thanks all for helping me.
Well, I will keep my eyes open for a collapsible 50 from Leica.

B2, was the Nikkor 85/2 to heavy? Needed a tripod?

I just sold a Nikkor 85 f2 and it won't require a tripod but it is quite a chunk of glass and quite heavy. Also I'd say the RF base on the ltm cameras is too narrow for accurate focusing at f2 and possibly f2.8. I found my highest ratio of sharp images with an f2 85/90 on my M film cameras is with my .85x MP or .91 M3.

I'd recommend a nice 90 Elmar. The 50 f3.5 is excellent as is the Summaron 35. If you want faster look at the 5cm Nikkor f2. I just sold one and felt it was at least as good as my 5cm Summicron v2. They are excellent and tiny lenses at a bargain price. Also they're a Sonnar design and make beautiful images.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Plus one on the Elmar 90. Light and fantastic OOF rendering. In fact I have one in LTM and M mount. The LTM version is uncoated.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Another +1 for the 90 f/4 Elmar. Very underrated, but fine for portraits.
Some people complain about the 'long' throw of the focus, but for the prices these lenses tend to go for I'm not complaining, though.

A 50mm f/3.5 Elmar might be considered slow, but it certainly is a true and tested design that won't disappoint.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I used IIf for a while, before I switched to M. Yes, IIf has better build comparing to my Canadian Leicas, but they don't need eVF.


IIf RD, Summitar, VIOOH. by Kostya Fedot, on Flickr

Get universal FSU VF. It is ugly, but optically is better comparing to Leica made.
Get Leica 90 f4 LTM for portraits, don't pay above $100 for it, but lens is great.
Get any 50 LTM lens you could afford. Preferably, Leitz made. As standard lens.
Elmar 50 3.5 will let you achieve great compactness and lens is great.
Orion-15 or Skopar 28 3.5 for snapshots.

For these lenses you'll need to learn, if not already, how to push 400 film to 1200, 1600. I'm using HP5+ for it and it is not a big deal.

 

[Norwaycamera]

Thanks all for helping me.
So, the Leica 90/4, witch model are you all talking about, the black one dating pre 1940?
Another odd question is about pushing the film. Well, why do I need to do so with these old lenses?

 

[BillBingham2]

....Another odd question is about pushing the film. Well, why do I need to do so with these old lenses?

Unless you are looking for courser grain and higher film speed you don't have to push your film.

Tri-X does a fine job just about everywhere.

BTW, the 90/4 was made for several years, mine came from the factory as an M mount so my guess is it was in production for a couple of decades in LTM.

B2 (;->

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I'll suggest the f/3.5 Elmar 50mm or the Summitar f/2 both come coated or uncoated and, obviously, the coated is better. Lens hoods for them can be an expensive item to source but there are many non-Leica versions around.

As for HP5+ pushed, I'm baffled and I spent years using 64 and 25 ASA/ISO slide film. And nowadays I seldom go above 200 or 160 ASA/ISO.

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

To the OP...

First get yourself a 50mm f3.5 Elmar as others have suggested. The lens is a bit fiddly but is excellent. Get a hood at the same time.
Coated or uncoated? Style, budget and availability will decide.

You seem to want something longer so yes, the 90mm f4 Elmar is excellent and usually cheap. Again, you must decide whether you want coated or uncoated. Doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference money wise. Hood is not so essential but frankly the one you buy for the 50mm lens will do. 135mm though very cheap is really a bit of a handful.

When thinking about LTM Leicas always remember their compactness and portability. Big aperture lenses are great but they are, by definition, big.

For the 90mm lens you will need a viewfinder. SGVOO in my opinion is the best, I think there is a CV alternative. Universal viewfinders are never quite as good and are quite a lot larger.

But start with 50mm and see where you go. Think small, think quick, don't worry and don't spend too much, you may not like it!

Michael

 

[Jason Sprenger]

The Canon 50/1.8 is pretty user friendly and a good copy can keep up very well with today's lenses. Collapsible lenses are a little fiddly, especially setting the aperture of the Elmar 50/3.5, the Summicron 50/2 is less fiddly.

For more money, the 50/1.5 Jupiter 3+ from Lomography is a new LTM version of the classic Zeiss Sonnar which is both fast and pretty compact using only a 40.5 mm filter. The lens is not a modern design which supplies a distinctive look to photos.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Just a thought, you say it has a VIOOH with it. In your shoes, perhaps, you should see it as a distraction and sell it. Then buy a 50mm or 5cm lens for it.

I'd check the serial number for the age and then look for one of the same age or a year older to get the body and lens as they would have been when new.

BTW, you say it came with a leather bag, that could mean several different things and decide what lens can be used. A picture of it would help. It might even be something rare like an ETTAS, ETTEL or EPOCH...

Regards, David

PS and be wary of the Summar lens, often cheap and sometimes a disaster.

 

[lynnb]

I'd consider a 35mm as a first lens for the subjects you mention - much easier to focus with its deeper dof.. is there any reason you want a vintage lens? I bought a CV 35mm f2.5 LTM from a fellow RFF member and find it a good all-round lens for people and family photography.

I use 50mm as a short telephoto and have never felt any desire for anything longer with an LTM body. Longer focal lengths and reflex viewing go hand in hand IMO, so I use SLRs for traditional portrait focal lengths (in the range of 70-105mm) to avoid parallax errors and enjoy more accurate focusing.

You have a wide choice in 5cm between authentic vintage (notably the Elmar 3.5), Summitar or Summicron f2 collapsible (the latter I can vouch for), or much cheaper but no less attractive Jupiter 8 f2 (v. good portrait lens), Industar 61 f2.8 (amazingly sharp) and others mentioned above.

I find the LTM bodies shine for street and intimate people photos at normal to shorter focal lengths.