maitrestanley
Established
I've always considered 50mm the 'most normal' of all focal lengths. I prefer a 35.. it's a wider normal.
Normal Lens for Leica M6
- Thread starter klaengur
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RdEoSg
Well-known
I noticed you said you like the look of the 50 on your nikon dslr. Keep in mind that the nikon has a crop factor so your 50 lens is actually giving the perspective of a 75mm lens crop wise.
klaengur
Newbie
RdEoSg : Well I said that I liked my 50 mm on my Nikon SLR.. Not DSRL 🙂
Don´t even own a single digital camera.. Even though I want one im going for the normal lens on my M6 first. 😉
Don´t even own a single digital camera.. Even though I want one im going for the normal lens on my M6 first. 😉
02Pete
Member
An important consideration is what sort of pictures in what sort of lighting you usually take. If you do a lot of hand-held candid shooting in dim available light, a 50mm f/2.8 lens will usually be too slow, and even a 50mm f/2 lens may be marginal. A 50mm f/1.4 lens would offer higher shutter speeds and more of a margin against blur caused by camera shake. On the other hand, if you do most of your shooting in bright daylight at small apertures and high shutter speeds, and do not need a large maximum aperture, then you might consider an f/2 or f/2.8 lens as offering smaller size, lighter weight, and possibly higher image quality and lower cost as well. Personally, I do a fair amount of available-light photography, so speed is an important consideration for me.
The Canon 50mm f/1.4 in LTM is an excellent lens, and usable on M cameras with an LTM to bayonet adapter. I own one, and have used it on a Leica M2 with excellent results. It is not the latest or most exotic lens, and newer designs might outperform it in technical tests, but it takes great pictures. Other 50mm lenses with excellent reputations include the Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux, Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron, and Canon 50 mm f/1.8 in LTM, although I have not used any of those. The Summicron has a particularly strong reputation for image quality. The new Leica 50mm f/1.4 ASPH is reputed to be an exceptional lens, but is also considerably more expensive than older used lenses. The 50mm f/2.8 Elmar is doubtless much more affordable, and offers the advantages of recent design and modern coatings, but is on the slow side. In the final analysis, "ya pays yer money an' ya takes yer choice."
The Canon 50mm f/1.4 in LTM is an excellent lens, and usable on M cameras with an LTM to bayonet adapter. I own one, and have used it on a Leica M2 with excellent results. It is not the latest or most exotic lens, and newer designs might outperform it in technical tests, but it takes great pictures. Other 50mm lenses with excellent reputations include the Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux, Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron, and Canon 50 mm f/1.8 in LTM, although I have not used any of those. The Summicron has a particularly strong reputation for image quality. The new Leica 50mm f/1.4 ASPH is reputed to be an exceptional lens, but is also considerably more expensive than older used lenses. The 50mm f/2.8 Elmar is doubtless much more affordable, and offers the advantages of recent design and modern coatings, but is on the slow side. In the final analysis, "ya pays yer money an' ya takes yer choice."
Harry Lime
Practitioner
For $600 you should be able to pick up a nice and clean example of the 2/50 Summicron-M. I recommend verisons 3 and 4 (current incarnation)
Try
www.popflash.com/
www.keh.com
www.ritzcam.com
www.photovillage.com
Try
www.popflash.com/
www.keh.com
www.ritzcam.com
www.photovillage.com
klaengur
Newbie
Well.. No lens for me!
My Leica M6 outfit, Hasselblad 500C/M outfit and more got stolen from my hotel room last week while I was visiting Berlin.. Do not go to the ParkInn Hotel in Berlin if you visit Berlin. (#"!$%/)"#$ No good sh"!
Hoping everything will go well with the travel insurancy and all that.. :/
My Leica M6 outfit, Hasselblad 500C/M outfit and more got stolen from my hotel room last week while I was visiting Berlin.. Do not go to the ParkInn Hotel in Berlin if you visit Berlin. (#"!$%/)"#$ No good sh"!
Hoping everything will go well with the travel insurancy and all that.. :/
borismach
Established
Sorry for you and wish your insurance would recover pretty much of your lost!🙁
The good thing is you can shop around again!😀
:-( bm
The good thing is you can shop around again!😀
:-( bm
shenkerian
Established
Klaengur, that's terrible news. I hope everything gets sorted out smoothly with insurance.
El Monstro
Newbie
"Normal" lens for your M6 = Summicron 50. WYSIWYG. Happy hunting!
maitrestanley
Established
I started off my photography hobby with a 28f2.8 yashica. I loved how wide it was and it was a great lens for vacationing with. However, I found that sometimes it was too wide so I tried to switch to the tighter 50mm focal length. At first, I coudln't do it - I hated the focal length. I literally had to forced myself to leave my 28 at home so I HAD to use the 50mm. I did this for 3 or 4 months solid. Now, I've grown to love the 50. Once you master it, it is the ultimate 'normal' focal length.
Ever since my 35cron came in the mail 2 weeks ago, I've been teaching myself to go wide again (relative to the 50, of course). The 35 is another very good 'normal' lens but to me, it is one that leans a little towards the wide side of the fence. After using the more intimate 50, I must say that even widening back out to 35 has been more than just a slight challenge. For one, you must get closer to your subjects to isolate them and make them stand out. However, whereas the 50 is great for capturing photos of people on the street, the 35 really shines in tighter quarters and in indoor settings. The 35 and the 50 make a really great 'normal' set of lenses.
I guess you can go wrong with a 35 or a 50. With your budget, you might want to start off with some Cosina Voigtlander lenses. They're very good value and most people seem very pleased with them. However, for $600US, you might want to try your luck at finding a Leitz 40f2 Summicron. I've seen one sold for $400US on eBay once. It falls right in between the 35 and 50 focal lengths making it a very nice compromise between the two. Also, I also think it's one of Leitz's most underrated lenses. For it's image/build quality and price point, it is probably one of the best deals you can find out there. It's a very good lens that's both small (I do believe it's Leitz's smallest lens) and fast (not noctilux-man fast but f2 is sufficient for most applications). I actually wish I had one for myself but it seems really unnecessary for me to invest in a 40 when I already have a 35 and 50. I don't know.. maybe when I'm bored one day : P
Anyways, I'm rambling.. Goodluck on your search!
Ever since my 35cron came in the mail 2 weeks ago, I've been teaching myself to go wide again (relative to the 50, of course). The 35 is another very good 'normal' lens but to me, it is one that leans a little towards the wide side of the fence. After using the more intimate 50, I must say that even widening back out to 35 has been more than just a slight challenge. For one, you must get closer to your subjects to isolate them and make them stand out. However, whereas the 50 is great for capturing photos of people on the street, the 35 really shines in tighter quarters and in indoor settings. The 35 and the 50 make a really great 'normal' set of lenses.
I guess you can go wrong with a 35 or a 50. With your budget, you might want to start off with some Cosina Voigtlander lenses. They're very good value and most people seem very pleased with them. However, for $600US, you might want to try your luck at finding a Leitz 40f2 Summicron. I've seen one sold for $400US on eBay once. It falls right in between the 35 and 50 focal lengths making it a very nice compromise between the two. Also, I also think it's one of Leitz's most underrated lenses. For it's image/build quality and price point, it is probably one of the best deals you can find out there. It's a very good lens that's both small (I do believe it's Leitz's smallest lens) and fast (not noctilux-man fast but f2 is sufficient for most applications). I actually wish I had one for myself but it seems really unnecessary for me to invest in a 40 when I already have a 35 and 50. I don't know.. maybe when I'm bored one day : P
Anyways, I'm rambling.. Goodluck on your search!
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