Voigtlander 35mm class or summicron 40mm/2

[cheezecheeze]

Hello,
I have just acquired a leica m6 .72 classic after months of saving. I'm considering between cv 35mm or summicron 40mm. I do mostly street photo and landscape. Please advise 1 lens cause I can only afford 1 lens at the moment. It's my first leica. So if cv then sc or mc? Any help will be appreciated. Thank you. Have a nice day.

 

[raid]

The 40/2 is a wonderful lens, but not many cameras show the 40mm frame. Does the M6 0.72 have 40mm frame lines?

The CV 35/1.7 ASPH seems to be a terrific lens, I am told.

Which CV 35mm lens are you targeting? SC is more used for B&W.

 

[cheezecheeze]

Before getting leica. I was experimenting b&w film with ricoh 500G. I was able to develope bw film at home. But in the future I might to for color. Staying with bw for now. I'm still learning abt leica m6. Not sure if it have 40mm frame line. I can see 3 different frames in my viewfinder though.

 

[lam]

Yeah, I think we need more specific direction as which 35mm CV you're referring to.

35mm f2.5 Pancake Type I and II
35mm f1.4 Nokton SC and MC
35mm f1.7 Ultron ASPH
35mm f1.2 Nokton ASPH V1 and V2

🙂

 

[cheezecheeze]

Wow. I didn't know so many type of 35mm. I think if I'm not wrong. People has been telling me abt 35mm classic 1/4.

 

[cheezecheeze]

Can you guys advise which one best for money?

 

[Jan Pedersen]

No 40mm frame lines on the Classic M6. 35 is the closest but the 40 Summicron may not activate the 35 which would be close enough to use a 40mm.

 

[cheezecheeze]

Jan Pedersen. Can you be more specific. Sorry I'm new to this

 

[cheezecheeze]

Maybe which is the best one lens for m6 classic?

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Indeed. When you look through your viewfinder you will see two white frame lines, i don't remember which ones when no lens is attached as i don't have my M6 handy.
There are 6 frame lines available in set's of three, you can see them change as you activate the little lever on the left of your lens mount (Looking from behind) move it slightly to either side while you look through your view finder and you will see how they change.
The M6 have frame lines for 28, 35, 50, 90 and 135mm lenses, one is missing in this line up and i don't remember which one is missing. Perhaps 75mm?
If you want to take advantage of these frame lines you will need to use a lens that have the focal length that accurately project the frame lines. The 40mm Summicron would most likely not activate the correct one so what you think will be in recorded on your film could be either more or less of what you envision using the frame the 40mm lens will activate.
Hope that help?

 

[Jan Pedersen]

In addition to the 35mm lenses Dave listed there are also 35mm lenses from Zeiss that will work very well on the M6 although more expensive than the CV lenses.

 

[lam]

Cron 40 or any 40 will activate 50mm lines. You can grind away one of the flange pieces to activate 35mm lines. Some do this, I haven't yet.

I find it not being much of an issue using 40 as 35mm lines or 50mm lines, give or take some space (switch between the two til you remember visually where the line is)

Nokton 35/1.4 is an excellent lens. Single is great for flat B&W photos and Multi coating is good for color, I always liked the MC lenses more.
They can be had really good prices and perform exceptional even at f1.4

 

[cheezecheeze]

Thank Jan. that was very helpful. learned something new today. I will consider between Zeiss and CV. only can afford 1 lens atm so.
@lam: if i buy Norton 35/1.4 SC, do i need any adapter or just plug and shoot 🙂

 

[markrich]

I have the 35mm 1.4 SC. It creates a lovely softer feel to my pictures. The 'classic' name is well deserved. I love it.

 

[cheezecheeze]

nice to hear 😀 any guide on the price range i would go for? I only can search around on Ebay though.

 

[Brian Legge]

Best bang for buck - if you don't need the speed or ability to focus closer than 1 meter - is the CV 35mm 2.5 though you do need an adapter which adds cost.

Personally I found I needed more speed as I often user slower film and we have lots of cloudy days so I went with the CV 35mm 1.4. The images have a different look which some like and I do so it works for me. 🙂

I'd suggest searching for the different lenses on Flickr (or in threads here). A lot of it comes down to personal choice about how a lens renders. And then, if possible, trying to handle some of the lenses to see if there are any which you really don't like ergonomically.

 

[cheezecheeze]

so both 35mm 1.4 and 2.5mm need adapter for m6? where im living i don't have access to many shops or stores. mostly do it online so it is hard for me to try out lens before buying 🙁

 

[taemo]

my 2 cents since I was originally shooting a CV 40mm 1.4 on my M6, get a 35mm or 50mm
don't get me wrong, the CV40mm is great but like what some have mentioned already, it pulls out the 50mm frameline on the M6 so sometimes you have to guesstimate your composition.

i bought a CV 35mm 1.4 for my M6 as I'll be using it for street and sharpness is not my top priority, prior to that I had a zeiss 50 ZM on the M6 but now that's going to the M3.

 

[cheezecheeze]

thank you 🙂 guess going with CV 35mm. 1.4 or 2.5 will depend on my budget. which adapter should i get? sorry for asking too many questions

 

[Brian Legge]

Stick with Voigtlander branded adapters (or Leica brand if you come across a good price on a real one). Cheap off brand ones are often the wrong thickness which causes focus problems.