My first LTM, a IIf, help with lenses.

[presspass]

There are some older lenses that are much better than their online reputation would lead you to believe. The 90mm Elmar has been mentioned above and it can be a stellar lens. The 50mm Summar is collapsible, tiny, and is an f 2.0. Again, if you get a good one, it's better than the pundits claim. I have a nice Voightlander 1.7 for a 35 but, if there's enough light, would rather use a very old Elmar f 3.5. The Summar and the two Elmars make a nice light kit and seem to fit the style of my IIIa. With these older lenses, condition is the key but if you are shooting traditional black and white film and can do your own processing, they are wonderful

 

[jonmanjiro]

I'd consider a 35mm as a first lens for the subjects you mention - much easier to focus with its deeper dof.

I second Lynn's advice! A 35mm lens works really well on a Leica Barnack. Despite having several 50mm screw mount lenses I could use, I only ever use a W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 LTM lens on my Leica IIIf. It just balances/works so well.

 

[David Hughes]

Hmmm, 35mm is nice but with an extra (expensive) view-finder on the top and the range-finder below and then two eyepieces below and one of them being wrong as it's not for the RF...

Best to stick to 50mm, imo and lead a simple life.

Regards, David

 

[Norwaycamera]

Thanks all for helping .
I will return home saturday, then I will post photos of the camera/gear.

35 vs 50......Selling my external viewfinder...
Ahh,..... Well, am away for some days now, time to think.....Will lett you all know what I will do.
First, have to take a good look at the new gear.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Hmmm, 35mm is nice but with an extra (expensive) view-finder on the top and the range-finder below and then two eyepieces below and one of them being wrong as it's not for the RF... Best to stick to 50mm, imo and lead a simple life. Regards, David

It's only as complicated as you want to make it. With a 35mm lens, precise focusing isn't really necessary most of the time > scale focusing. An external finder is nice but not necessary. IIRC Lynn does just fine framing loosely with the inbuilt finder.

 

[traveler_101]

35 or 50 - you are probably going to end up trying both anyway.

I would weigh in favour of the 5cm "Elmar" f3.5 as your first purchase, mainly because as a very small, light and collapsible lens that doesn't require an auxiliary finder, it makes the most compact package possible. For me the the Barnack cameras are about portability, but that may not be your first priority. My Elmar is from 1946; the trick is to get one in good condition.

I also have two relatively modern 35s for my IIIf - the Jupiter 12 f2.8 and the Voigtlander Color Skopar f2.5. Both are tiny. I actually like the Russian lens better. You can get an inexpensive Russian 35mm auxiliary finder. Works well.

 

[shimokita]

With my IIIf, I am using the Canon 28 f/2.8, 50 f/1.8, and 135 f3.5. For the most part I shoot the 28 with out an external finder, but I did pick up a Voigtländer 28mm finder and found a used 13.5 Leica finder... works for me...

For me the 50mm is the most used lens on the IIIf ...have fun.

Casey

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

My reasoning was that chasing down and buying a IIf means a CRF camera is wanted. I agree you could zone focus with a 35mm (or a 28, 50 etc for that matter) but I figured the IIf was wanted for its size and RF coupling. By that I mean precise and fast focussing.

Size is spoilt with the VIOOH which complicates matters a little. Better to use what it was designed for and that was a 50mm lens. Also, with the VIOOH on the thing you have problems or a bit of bother with the ERC, unless its a special one, or else carry it in a bag with other lenses, meter etc.

Regards, David

EDIT Coupled Range Finder = CRF

 

[Dez]

The most convenient 50 is an f3.5 Elmar, or an FSU collapsible Industar which is almost as good and costs about a fifth as much.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[dee]

Just be careful with the register on FSU lenses - most of mine don't focus properly on my adapted M8 - just one Fed collapsible which is superb !
dee

 

[traveler_101]

Hi,

My reasoning was that chasing down and buying a IIf means a CRF camera is wanted. I agree you could zone focus with a 35mm (or a 28, 50 etc for that matter) but I figured the IIf was wanted for its size and RF coupling. By that I mean precise and fast focussing.

Size is spoilt with the VIOOH which complicates matters a little. Better to use what it was designed for and that was a 50mm lens. Also, with the VIOOH on the thing you have problems or a bit of bother with the ERC, unless its a special one, or else carry it in a bag with other lenses, meter etc.

Regards, David

EDIT Coupled Range Finder = CRF

David is right about the Elmar - it does not get much more portable than this

But if you are stuck on a 35mm FOV and want a small package at the same time try this combo, or substitute a Jupiter 12 for the CV Color Skopar (shown)

.
Read what Hamish has to say about the mini-finder here:http://www.35mmc.com/16/01/2016/voigtlander-2835-mini-finder-micro-review/

 

[Pioneer]

Lots of great options. The Elmar 5cm f3.5 is certainly the classic favorite, and a terrific choice. My go-to 50 is the Nikkor 50/2 HC. Not as compact but works very well. That additional stop and a half will be useful since you will not have slow shutter speeds available with your IIF. Another one to consider is the Canon 50/1.4 LTM. It is a bit wider.

Portraits are a different story. Usually people are behaving themselves and standing still. You can use a 50 for this as well but the 75 or 90 are the classic portrait lenses. I do own the Elmar 90/4 LTM and I enjoy working with it, but the newer Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 90/3.5 is a very good lens. I would also love to try a Voigtlander 75/1.8 but can't find one in thread mount.

Remember, for most of these lenses you should find a lens hood. Additionally it won't hurt to have the older ones cleaned by a professional if that hasn't already been done. Some of the older lenses will likely have some serious haze coating the inside of the lens that will definitely have an effect of the quality of your results. If you can find a nice Voigtlander Heliar 50/2 the price of lens cleaning can be priced into the additional cost of the newer lens.

I am not a real wide angle aficionado but for my uses a good 28mm is the way to go. But there are others who use these lenses far more often than I do and can provide you with more useful advice.

 

[Norwaycamera]

Photos of my new, my first Leica and first RF.

 

[Norwaycamera]

If serial number is: 712166.
External view finder: 91273.
Summaron 3.5/35: 1596523

First, sorry for the bad photos, the only digital camera I have on the one on my cell phone.

From what I am told, the camera had a CLA these spring, the lense 2 years ago.
The lense looks fine to me, no haze/fungus, only one small scratch.
Hope it will not affect the photos. Well, maybe not for one with my skills...🙂

The view finder has also been cleaned.
The focusing window is a bit hazy, but not at all bad. The view finder window, on the camera is very nice.
Better than the one on the external finder.
Focusing is working good.

I like these camera.
Draw back is the external finder, big and a bit odd to use, first focusing, then move the head a bit more than I like.

Lense(s), thank you all for helping me with tip and your own experience.
I have to say I agree more and more for small lenses on these camera. It is so compact, why get a 80+ lense?
Portrait?
Yes, maybe. Later.
Travler_101 wow, nice camera. Very compact.
Yes, the 50 Elmar is one I am looking more at.

Why I like a vintage lense? Well, they do give a look/feel that modern lenses are not able to.
Llooking at the 35 lense now, I can do sone focusing, but then I need to use the external finder......Hmmm.
More and more speaks for a 50mm lense.
The Nikkor lenses gets high credits, stunning results with them, not as compact as a Elmar, but as Pioneer say, they give you an additional stop and a half.

These will be my compact camera to take with me when hikking, going to the park with the kids and so. Other words, family shots , out doors, will be its main use.
Portraits, well, all in time. I will try and se how I will mange shorter lenses first.

Oh, close to forget, film loading.....😀
Have read a lot of horror stories, maybe it is just me, stupid or nor not, but I do not find it THAT hard.
Yes, it does take a bit time, but, I am not in a hurry.

 

[Norwaycamera]

The leather bag.

 

[David Hughes]

Thanks for the picture of the case, I guess you know the camera body is '54 and the lens is '58 vintage?

But I wonder which case it is, or rather, what code name...

Regards, David

 

[Norwaycamera]

Thanks David.
Yes, I did find that out.
So, you have not seen a case like these before?
It is really nice and handy, allows you to keep the VIOOH on at all times.

Regarding the VIOOH, have been playing around with it for some time now, it gets more, how to say, user-friendly, but not as fast nor comfortable as the one built in.
I can use it, what I do fear is the chances of losing it!
Then, what to do??
With that in mind, the 50mm is more tempting.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'll keep VIOOH as collectible item. I was trying to use it on my IIf, but it is un-proportional and heavy. Kills compactness of LTM camera.
Summaron 35 is very good lens on film, but compact VF for it cost the same as the camera. Now you know, why many of us switched to M.

 

[Norwaycamera]

I'll keep VIOOH as collectible item. I was trying to use it on my IIf, but it is un-proportional and heavy. Kills compactness of LTM camera.
Summaron 35 is very good lens on film, but compact VF for it cost the same as the camera. Now you know, why many of us switched to M.

They do cost a LOT more than what I paid for my camera.
But, the VIOOH will stay here, who knows, maybe I will use it.