lxmike
M2 fan.
Well external factors meant l had to generate funds a couple of years back and sold a lot of my gear, (including my M2), currently I shoot digital with a Fuji line up, (35/1.4 and 18/2 being my favorite lenses), film wise l have a fully working F Photomic and a Pentax MX, however I have just bought a fully working IIIG, my only LTM lens at the moment is a collapsible FED 50mm. After reading, back to front, front to back a lot of threads on hear l am toying with the following lenses: Leitz 5cm 3.5, a 5cm Summarit, an HC 5cm f 2 Nikkor or possibly a cannon ltm 5omm. What are peoples thoughts on this. Thanks in advance for any replies and/or thoughts
Erik van Straten
Veteran
VC Color-Skopar f/2.5 50mm. The best lens in LTM.
Erik.
Erik.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
You'll get all kinds of opinions here...
I'm not a fan of the 50mm focal length, but while I used my Nikon S2, I was also using the lens that came with it (which was an f1.4). What can I say? Incredibly sharp wide open, with a creamy, dreamy out-of-focus area and a particular rendition and contrast that I really liked. But the impressive aspect to me was how sharp it could be wide open.
I see that your choices include a Nikon 50mm f2. Based on my experience, and if your budget allows it, go for that one before you pick a Leica. At some point, this one offers the same aperture as a Summicron, and incredible quality.
Best of luck!
I'm not a fan of the 50mm focal length, but while I used my Nikon S2, I was also using the lens that came with it (which was an f1.4). What can I say? Incredibly sharp wide open, with a creamy, dreamy out-of-focus area and a particular rendition and contrast that I really liked. But the impressive aspect to me was how sharp it could be wide open.
I see that your choices include a Nikon 50mm f2. Based on my experience, and if your budget allows it, go for that one before you pick a Leica. At some point, this one offers the same aperture as a Summicron, and incredible quality.
Best of luck!
karlin
Well-known
Imho a clean summicron collapsible and Elmar 50 3.5 red scale
shawn
Veteran
I don't have a IIIG but a Leotax TV2 clone. It seems wrong to not use a collapsible lens on it. I just started a thread about the Konishiroku Hexar on the Leotax and it was compared to an Industar 22 with shots taken on a Fuji.
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=162494
Shawn
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=162494
Shawn
Mjd-djm
Established
I use a 50mm f2.5 Skopar as well and I can't say enough good things about it. It works well on the IIIg and is nicely balanced. I tend to use it more on my R2a though and use my 5cm 3.5 Elmar on the IIIg. The image quality is outstanding and you can't get a more compact package. Ergonomically it is perfect IMO.
lxmike
M2 fan.
many thanks for the reply Erik, l will keep an eye out
lxmike
M2 fan.
Nikkors have always attracted me, nice glass, if only l could grab one a a good price
lxmike
M2 fan.
lxmike
M2 fan.
thanks for the link l will read this thread next
lxmike
M2 fan.
x-ray
Veteran
The 5cm f2 ltm is outstanding. It's every bit as good as the rider Summicron. I own/owned both and compared them. The f2Nikkor is a bargain too and the build is excellent. There are plenty of clean examples at good prices.
lxmike
M2 fan.
there is one on the bay at the moment in the UK for £185, l am very tempted
AlexBG
Well-known
What are you going to be shooting with the camera mostly?
I had the same dilemma as you, summarit was my number one because I wanted the bokeh and wide open softness for portraits (just couldn't afford it). I have a collapsable elmar 50mm 3.5 and it is very very good, even wide open. I ended up getting a canon serenar 1.8 and it lives on my M3 now. Great all round lens and good value. I didn't like lenses that collapse and then having to extend them again else the summicron collapsable would be my number one choice and a non collapsable was out of my price range.
I had the same dilemma as you, summarit was my number one because I wanted the bokeh and wide open softness for portraits (just couldn't afford it). I have a collapsable elmar 50mm 3.5 and it is very very good, even wide open. I ended up getting a canon serenar 1.8 and it lives on my M3 now. Great all round lens and good value. I didn't like lenses that collapse and then having to extend them again else the summicron collapsable would be my number one choice and a non collapsable was out of my price range.
Mackinaw
Think Different
The Canon LTM 50/1.4 and LTM Nikkor 50.2.0 are excellent lenses (both of which I own). They're affordable too. I’m sure there are others.
Jim B.
Jim B.
lxmike
M2 fan.
I must admit that likewise l am not keen on collapsing and extending lenses time and time again, that why l am leaning towards the Nikkor H C 5cm
jcb4718
Well-known
I have a Canon 50mm f1.5 on my IIIG. Its a great lens but the others mentioned are great, too, no doubt. This size of lens plays to a strength of the IIIG, namely that it does not intrude into the IIIG viewfinder. Also it compliments nicely the size and weight of the IIIG. An f3.5 and/or a collapsible lens I don't think compliments the IIIG as well.
Crazy Fedya
Well-known
I have 45/2.8 super rokkor mounted on IIIg. Makes for a wonderful kit. Lens performs like nothing else in its price range. I really like it. These days it can be had for well under $200. Its ergonomics are peculiar, but it makes up in images quality.
x-ray
Veteran
The. Ikkor F2 is very small and solid. It's a sonar design also. Wide open it's remarkably sharp and beautiful smooth tones.
Generally I'm not a huge fan of collapsible lenses either. If you find one that's not worn out they're fine though. My complaint with many of them is that when you change aperture like on the Summitar, Summicron and Elmar with the aperture ring (50's 60's version) the lens wants to rotate and collapse. Once in a while you find ones that are still tight though and won't do that. I had 2 Summitar's that were tight and a Summicron that was basically new.
All of these are very good optically.
shawn
Veteran
The nice thing with the smaller collapsible lenses is it makes it a shirt pocket camera or a small belt pouch. Easy to carry around and when I get to a situation for shooting, I extend the lens and just walk with the camera in my hand.
Shawn