Need some suggestions for a good wide angle lens to use with a Leica M6

[LeicaTom]

........that`s in the *under $600* PRICE RANGE

I`d love to have a German 1990`s f2.0 35mm Summicron M but I can`t afford it 🙁


Am I dreaming? or is it possible to find a really good performing modern (1980`s 90`s) wide angle lens in this price range?


Here`s why I need it.........

I was at a really popular concours vintage car show this past weekend here in Florida and I realized that my f2.0 50mm Summicron was`nt giving me enough picture in the tight spots while shooting Automobile "purist" styled photography
*aka detail shots, cockpit shots, overhead shots, trying to shoot without people in the photos, radical angles etc.*

Sir Stirling Moss`s 1960 Maserati Birdcage was at the show and this was a car that was just simply

"sex on wheels"

Italian red with chrome wire wheels it was a masterpiece, curves and angles everywhere! 🙂


Here`s a sample from the same days work but in digital....

Details of that amazing 1960 Maserati Birdcage (at about 40mm)



I`ve been shooting alot of my magazine and car show work on digital and with a vario zoom I was getting work that varied from 34 to 40mm on the wide angle side of it

I`ve never really thought about needing a wide angle before untill I tried shooting the car show the other day WITH THE M6 which I just got back from California this past month!
(I always used the M6 on a tri-pod and for doing pinup work indoors in studio or outdoors in wide open spaces and always just using the standard f2.0 50mm Summicron lens and that was enough for me, but not for the car shows)

I never worked with the M6 in confining space or as at a car show limited area to get most view and real artistic angles

Hopefully someone out there will understand my ramble and suggest something that`s fit for the car show styled work, I figure f2.0 is fast enough and I DON`T want to go under 35mm because I`m worried about distortion, the car photos have to be dead on while work has to be poster styled, museum type quality shots........

Well honestly I`ve always been a 50/90 and 135mm Leica user
SO USING A WIDE ANGLE IS REALLY NEW FOR ME!
(I had a 35mm Summaron in the past but it was more for show than go back in my "collector" days)


Will a 28mm or lower angled lens distort a cars features?


Thanks in advance to all who may be of assistance to me in finding a logical and reasonable priced lens🙄

Tom

PS: I`m going to shoot the "Birdcage" with a very sexy late 1950`s styled model sometime this winter....I can`t wait to see that car again it was amazing!

 

[lubitel]

sounds like you need the voigtlaender ultron 35/1.7. somewhere about $250-350.

dont have experience with other fast wides.

 

[Photog9001]

i can recommend both the cv 21/4 and 28/2. the 28 shows quite a bit of barrel distortion, i'm not sure if the slower 3.5 lens does so. not sure about availability of the 28/2 (hasn't it been discontioued??), but both/all would be well under $600. check the classifieds from time to time... ,-)

others will likely recommend other brands, which unfortuneatly i have no experience with below 50....

 

[Roger Hicks]

sounds like you need the voigtlaender ultron 35/1.7. somewhere about $250-350.

dont have experience with other fast wides.

Seconded -- and I DO have experience with other fast wides.

 

[mfogiel]

I think you will need at least a 28mm lens, although depending on the type of shots you want, you could go as wide as 12mm. To illustrate the point, here's a shot made with a 35mm:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/466500137/in/set-72157600129466148/

and this one has been made with a 25mm - probably the best lens in this class ever made:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1404112270/in/set-72157602063137880/

and this one with a 15mm - a real bargain to boot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1569002944/in/set-72157600129466148/

another focal length which is great is the 21mm, but I do not have car shots handy.

If you have never shot with a wide angle so far, I would get the 28/1.9 Ultron, which is available at reasonable prices, and makes a good all round companion to your 50mm without the need for an external VF. If later you will find you need to go wider, I would go to 21mm first and 15mm later.

 

[nobbylon]

I used the Ultron 35mm 1.7 with my M6 when I first got it. Great lens for a great price, I sold mine on here for $300 about 6 months ago and they are holding around that price. The only thing I didn't like was the external thread for the hood around the barrel. I will probably come in for some flak here but if i'm being honest, I can't see that much difference in the photo's shot with the 35 sum-asph I bought to replace it!

 

[LeicaTom]

Yes, sounds like I`m going to go for the Ultron f1.7 35mm....I want to see some samples, who has some to post here and maybe with cars at best? 😉

I think 35mm will be enough angle to start off with....

Shortly I`ll be selling off some of my rarer Postwar Leica gear, just keeping maybe 3 bodies and adding another IIIC K to the group, then I`m fit with Leica LTM gear for all my PinUp work

and in the near future I want a Nokton f1.5 50mm as well, I`ve heard nothing but good things about these VC lenses and as long as they work well with my trusty ole M6 I`ll be happy 😀

Tom

 

[mfogiel]

Tom, if you like taking shots of shiny cars, you should definitely try one of the current ZM Zeiss lenses, the coatings of these are simply the best there are around, and the amount of flare is minimal, look for a second hand Biogon 35 ZM, it is well worth the money.

 

[LeicaTom]

I might even have a deal going on now for a 1990`s f2/35 "German" Summicron afterall?????

If I do, I`ll keep everyone informed, I`m also looking at a f2/90mm Summicron as well, I have a valuable toy collection I`m selling and want to turn it into lenses for my M6

It would be perfect if I could get my artists pallet filled across the board with semi modern Summicron`s it will really be photo taking time then!!!!! 😀

*Crosses fingers*

Tom

 

[kipkeston]

Tom, if you like taking shots of shiny cars, you should definitely try one of the current ZM Zeiss lenses, the coatings of these are simply the best there are around, and the amount of flare is minimal, look for a second hand Biogon 35 ZM, it is well worth the money.

Does that mean you don't really need a filter to protect the front element?

 

[mfogiel]

kipkeston
When you have a glaring reflection in your photo, like the one in the shot above of the old Mercedes taken with the 25mm Biogon, the only thing that can minimize the effect is a good coating on your lens - any type of extra glass or plastic filter will only make things worse, no matter how well coated it is. My strategy is to use the best coated lenses (Zeiss mainly) I can get, and use always the lens shade, but to put filters on it only when strictly necessary, and making sure there is no strong light source directly in the view field of the lens.

 

[laptoprob]

Wider than 35mm will distort perspective a lot. You don't want that with cars. I can reccommend the Ultron 35/1,7 as well. I like the lower contrast, somewhat like '50s lenses.
If you don't need the speed you could also go for the Canon 35/2,8. Great little lens.

 

[Ken Ford]

Go get a 40 Cron and be happy.

 

[northpole]

I'm in agreement with mfogiel's suggestion - the 35mm Biogon should be absolutely perfect for the subject matter you have described. I would expect the Biogon to perform much better with potential glare from reflections than just about any lens on the market today, never mind 10-20 year old models. Good luck with your decision making.

 

[John Elder]

Tom, if you have a M6 and don't have a 35mm lens, get one. If I were you I would look for a 35mm summaron 2.8. If you look long and hard I believe you can get 1 for less tha 600. If you are willing to get one with eyes you can get one for 400 or less. I did.

 

[x-ray]

Tom, if you have a M6 and don't have a 35mm lens, get one. If I were you I would look for a 35mm summaron 2.8. If you look long and hard I believe you can get 1 for less tha 600. If you are willing to get one with eyes you can get one for 400 or less. I did.

Why mess with a 40+ year old lens that may need a CLA and won't perform like a Zeiss for darn near the same price. For a few dollard more you can have the state of the art glass with a warranty. I was looking at a summaron just to pick up for a secondary kit. I started looking a couple of years ago when the were in the 300 range and deceided they were over priced then. $600 for this lens is nuts! The cult is running the price up on these now and are willing to pay almost any price. It's just like the v1 summilux 35 and the v1 summicron 35's. Not worth half the money but the cult drives the price and everyone thinks they're the best because they cost the most. Absolutely nuts!

 

[John Elder]

In the last 6 months I bought a 35mm summaron 2.8 from "shimson" on e-bay for 305 bucks. The lens was in ex++ condition or mint- condition. It takes great pics. High resolution, not as high contrast as a version 4 cron. Actually the slightly lower contrast is nice on bright sunny days. And they don't make them like they use to, its built like a tank-solid.

 

[dadsm3]

A version III 35mm 'cron must be around that price range....no?
That's the lens M6's were built to shoot.

 

[jbf]

I might even have a deal going on now for a 1990`s f2/35 "German" Summicron afterall?????

If I do, I`ll keep everyone informed, I`m also looking at a f2/90mm Summicron as well, I have a valuable toy collection I`m selling and want to turn it into lenses for my M6

It would be perfect if I could get my artists pallet filled across the board with semi modern Summicron`s it will really be photo taking time then!!!!! 😀

*Crosses fingers*

Tom

Funny you mention that... I'm about to sell off quite a bit of toy collection that I had when i was younger in order to purchase some lenses as well. Hah. 🙂

 

[LeicaTom]

Funny you mention that... I'm about to sell off quite a bit of toy collection that I had when i was younger in order to purchase some lenses as well. Hah. 🙂

Yep!

There`s what I have it`s a very rare collection of Tekno Toys from Denmark

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=514502

$3,000 takes the whole lot....

.....or if someone out there has a Vers. 4 35mm Cron, a f1.5 50mm Xenon a f1.4 50mm Nikkor in LTM and a Canon f2.0 100mm with a finder I`m up for a trade

or a well worn and documented Leica IIIC K "Grey" would also fit the bill

Wonder if there`s any TOY COLLECTORS on the RFF????? This is a SERIOUS collection of toys, very rare in the condition they are in and I`ve got a bunch of rare VW items also posted there for sale, I`m sure there`s some BIG LEICA collector out there who`s also a Vintage VW collector, if I could find them we could make a really great deal with each other

Tom

PS: I`m not too sure the Vers. 4 35mm Cron deal is coming off now 🙁 I hope so, if not then I`m going with a VC lens for starters