Leica LTM Screw Mount Lens Recommendations Needed

[3 Olives]

Hello,
I have a IIIc body on the way and am looking to puchase a lems. I need a lens best suited for people/street/close range photograpy. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Peter_Jones]

Jupiter 12 (35mm f/2.8) are a decent lens (if a bit "old tech" and not as flare-resistant as a modern 35), as are Jupiter 8 (50mm f/2). Both are inexpensive and can be decent performers.

I'd go for the J12 for the use you mentioned, or possibly one of Canon's offerings for the classic look but better build than the FSU products, or if you prefer a more "modern" contrasty look with excellent sharpness go for a Cosina Voigtlander product

 

[LeicaTom]

Try a Elmar f3.5/50mm collapsible (pre 1955 era these focus down really well too for close-up work) or a rigid Nikkor HC f2/50mm, (these are also set up for close-up work as well) they are both old school, but you can still good deals on them.......

Tom

 

[3 Olives]

Jupiter 12 (35mm f/2.8) are a decent lens (if a bit "old tech" and not as flare-resistant as a modern 35), as are Jupiter 8 (50mm f/2). Both are inexpensive and can be decent performers.

I'd go for the J12 for the use you mentioned, or possibly one of Canon's offerings for the classic look but better build than the FSU products, or if you prefer a more "modern" contrasty look with excellent sharpness go for a Cosina Voigtlander product

Thanks -This is for my son and "old tech" is preferred. He does not want the "modern" contrasty look.

 

[3 Olives]

Try a Elmar f3.5/50mm collapsible (pre 1955 era these focus down really well too for close-up work) or a rigid Nikkor HC f2/50mm, (these are also set up for close-up work as well) they are both old school, but you can still good deals on them.......

Tom

Thanks for the recommendations - my son wants old school.

 

[VictorM.]

There's an interesting ltm Nikkor 50/2 in the classifieds right now.

 

[chris00nj]

How about a Summaron 35/3.5 ?

 

[rogue_designer]

Or the tiny low contrast Canon's - 35/2.8 and 35/3.2

 

[David Murphy]

Decent and bargains: Canon 50/1.8, Jupiter-12 35/2.8, Canon 50/1.9, Minolta 45/2.8

Good, but a little more expensive: Coated Elmar 50/3.5, Summitar 50/2, Nikkor 5cm/2, Summaron 3.5cm/3.5

Getting into some more serious money, but awesome performance: Summarit 50mm/1.5, Nikon 5cm/1.4, Summaron 3.5cm/2.8, Voigtlander 50mm/1.5, 50mm/2.5

.. there are more!

 

[Krosya]

Nikkor 5cm/1.4 ltm is a close focusing lens - I really like it

 

[brachal]

The Soviet Industar collapsibles, I-10, I-22, I-50, are very good performers with Elmar-like look and feel for a very modest price.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Anything other than a 50 will require an accessory finder, and with no parallax compensation close focus is a bit hit-and-miss too. Really, the IIIc is a fairly primitive camera for general use. I've owned A, II, III, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, IIIf and IIIg, and for actually taking pictures I vastly prefer an M.

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[novum]

Roger, which camera(s) are you using most often these days, if I may be so nosy?

 

[dwaoka]

35mm f2.5 Color-Skopar keep amazing me.

 

[FPjohn]

i might suggest, because i'm familiar with them on a IIIb, the Snapshot Skopar, CV 25mm f4, and the 35mm f2.8 Canon. Mr. Hicks has a point - a 50mm Elmar , CV 50, or one of a host of other 50s, may be your best choice.

yours
FPJ

 

[novum]

I had and sold a CV 50/1.5. It was almost too good in a way, almost too clinical. I just prefer a lens that errs on the side of "romantic," I guess. Crazy, I know.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger, which camera(s) are you using most often these days, if I may be so nosy?

Ummmm.... M8.2 and (current) MP. Sorry.

Before the MP my 'Sunday best' Leica for around 25 years was an M4-P bought new, with 2x M2 for back-up.

I've forgotten what the M4-P cost, but amortised over more than a quarter of a century, it wasn't too bad. I still have it.

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[novum]

Thanks for the info, Roger! I was just curious how years of knowledge and experience would be distilled, as far as camera body choices go. What you use now certainly makes sense to me.

I bought yours and Frances' Medium and Large Format book a few weeks ago. Now I want to buy the rangefinder book.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

If your son wants "old school" it is going to be hard to find an inexpensive fast lens. But: I'd go with a 35/3.5 Summaron, a 50/1.5 Summarit or a 50/2 Summitar. This last is a truly excellent lens -- the precursor to the modern Summicron, but with a distinctly old school look wide open. If it were me, I'd get the Summitar and then a 35/1.7 C/V Ultron from Cameraquest -- it is modern and sharp. Then you'd have the best of both worlds. Echoing Roger: anything that is not a 50mm lens will need an auxiliary finder. If you are buying older lenses, let me put a plug in for buying either from someone whose reputation is good (e.g. Sherry Krauter at Golden Touch -- she cleans and adjusts the lenses before she sells them) or buy one that you can physically inspect. These are 60 year old lenses and regular use can scuff 'em.

Ben Marks

Ben Marks

 

[3 Olives]

Thanks to all. The IIIc arrived today and is much nicer than the description Youxin Ye posted on eBay. The shark skin vulcanite is original and excellent. There is only minor pitting. It was CLA'd by Youxin Ye and has a new shutter curtain and beam splitter. This was the last of several cameras he was auctioning and slipped under the radar at $107.50. I'd feel guilty if I didn't put a nice lens on it.
It is primitive but my son is crazy about it. He started with a Canon A1, but a Yashica Electro 35 CC got him excited about rangefinders.
Once again, thanks to all.