Leica LTM What 50mm (5cm ) lens for my IIIG

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
The are a number of attractive alternatives available you.

The Nikkor f2/50mm, the Serenar/(later)Canon f1.8/50mm, and the Topcor LTM 50mm will give fine performance with little difference among them (to the extent that I have found) - buy on condition and price.

The Canon 50/1.4 is large, too large a lens, to my taste, for a Barnack Leica. For a lens this size and weight, you will find better performance in the far more modern Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.5 and gain the advantage to modern lens design and an extra f stop..

No doubt, others here will differ.
 
Graybeard said:
The are a number of attractive alternatives available you.

The Nikkor f2/50mm, the Serenar/(later)Canon f1.8/50mm, and the Topcor LTM 50mm will give fine performance with little difference among them (to the extent that I have found) - buy on condition and price.

The Canon 50/1.4 is large, too large a lens, to my taste, for a Barnack Leica. For a lens this size and weight, you will find better performance in the far more modern Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.5 and gain the advantage to modern lens design and an extra f stop..

No doubt, others here will differ.
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Big diameter 50 mil lenses like the f1.4 Canon and the LTM CV Nokton work out OK on the Big VF IIIg. Same when mounted on the Canon bottomloader LTM cameras. The late Bob Schwalberg favoured the Canon 50mm LTM f1.4 lens on his Canon IVSb2 camera and that lens was meant for the later larger backdoor film loading LTM Cameras like the P and VIT and 7 models etc.
 
Roninman said:
The coll Cron is a luxurious and beautiful choice, and that's the lens that sits on my IIIg. Mine was a restoration project and ultimately had to be recoated by John at Focalpoint. It just looks and feels right. The "red scale" Elmar is much smaller and lighter and practically disappears into the IIIg. It makes the IIIg, which is larger than the other barnacks, almost a pocket camera. The images from these 2 lenses are legendary. The "correct" normal lens is perhaps the 50mm elmar f2.8 which I regrettably sold to purchase another coll. Cron many years ago. Good luck with your decision.
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how did you find the 2.8 elmar
 
Elmar 50/2.8:

5028-20-L.jpg


Nikon 50/2:
nikon%201-L.jpg


PC154567-L.jpg


Summitar:
P1060036-L.jpg


P1015150-L.jpg


Summar:

U3565I1184521792.SEQ.0.jpg


Heliar 50/3.5:

U3565I1251986860.SEQ.0.jpg


Pentax-L 43mm/1.9:

PNTX-L-40-X3.jpg


CV Nokton ltm 50/1.5:

NewNokM8-13-X3.jpg
 
lxmike said:
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:D
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Use caution when buying the 50mm/2.8 Elmar in screw mount.

There seems to be a glass pitting/corrosion problem with at least one internal surface with the LTM version. The is considerable discussion of this on the web.

The damage is irreversible and requires replacement of a lens element. DAG can obtain parts do this; he has done it for me.

The pitting can be mistaken for haze or fog; it can't be cleaned away.

There is speculation that the iris lubricant is responsible and that one should keep the iris completely open when the camera isn't being used.

The pitting seems to start at the edge of the lens and work its way inward. I had one of these in which the pitting had proceed only partway.
The lens functioned like the "soft focus" viewfinder lenses. Nice and sharp at f11, soft and dreamy wide open.

The problem doesn't occur with all LTM Elmar 2.8's as Raid's portraits will attest.
 
I own a number of the lenses discussed in this thread (CV 50/2.5, Nikkor-H 5cm 2.0, Canon 50/1.8 and 50/1.5, the Summitar, and the little Elmar 50/3.5). I tend to agree with Erik van Straten that the CV 50/2.5 may be the best of the lot for a Leica III*, although the Nikkor-H would be a close second, IMO. But rather than repeat what others have said, here are a few more considerations which may influence your choice:

(1) flare resistance: the CV Skopar 50 has modern coatings and is very resistant to flare, probably more so than the other lenses discussed here. I've never found that I needed to use a lens hood other than the little circular hood that came with that lens. With other lenses discussed here, you may need a hood or shade.

(2) handling: you say you're not a fan of collapsible lenses, which eliminates most of the Leitz options for the IIIg. The CV Skopar has a focusing tab and very smooth and fast action. I love the way mine handles. The Nikkor and Canon lenses have focus locks; some folks dislike them and disable them.

(3) lens "character": I love the old school look I get from a Summitar, and shoot it for that reason. The CV Skopar does have a more "modern" look, but its reputation for being overly contrasty is not well founded; the lens can produce photos with great subtleties of tone. The Canon 50/1.8 has lovely, smooth bokeh, if that matters to you. And the Nikkor gives you close focusing options you won't get with other lenses. The Nikkor-H 5.0 cm 2.0 and the Canon 50/1.5 are both sonnar design lenses, and are fun to shoot portraits with, wide open, to get that lovely sonnar fall-off. If you're primarily a landscape or street photographer, however, you may not care. Both the Canon 50/1.8 and the Canon 50/1.5 do particularly well with color film, IMO.

(4) sample condition. This may be the most important consideration. You have lots of choices, as this thread explains. I'd recommend looking for the specific lens in the best condition that fits within your budget, and get that one. You can always replace or add another 50 later.

Good luck!
 
I agree with Steve, but there is another possibility: the fifth version of the 50mm f/2 Summicron in LTM. It will cost quite a lot of money, but it will keep its value (probably it will become more valuable). Great lens, here on the M3.

Leica M3, Summicron-M 50mm f/2 v4, 400-2TMY, Perceptol.

Erik.

36863620366_f758f4b4b3_c.jpg
 
Bingley said:
I own a number of the lenses discussed in this thread (CV 50/2.5, Nikkor-H 5cm 2.0, Canon 50/1.8 and 50/1.5, the Summitar, and the little Elmar 50/3.5). I tend to agree with Erik van Straten that the CV 50/2.5 may be the best of the lot for a Leica III*, although the Nikkor-H would be a close second, IMO. But rather than repeat what others have said, here are a few more considerations which may influence your choice:

(1) flare resistance: the CV Skopar 50 has modern coatings and is very resistant to flare, probably more so than the other lenses discussed here. I've never found that I needed to use a lens hood other than the little circular hood that came with that lens. With other lenses discussed here, you may need a hood or shade.

(2) handling: you say you're not a fan of collapsible lenses, which eliminates most of the Leitz options for the IIIg. The CV Skopar has a focusing tab and very smooth and fast action. I love the way mine handles. The Nikkor and Canon lenses have focus locks; some folks dislike them and disable them.

(3) lens "character": I love the old school look I get from a Summitar, and shoot it for that reason. The CV Skopar does have a more "modern" look, but its reputation for being overly contrasty is not well founded; the lens can produce photos with great subtleties of tone. The Canon 50/1.8 has lovely, smooth bokeh, if that matters to you. And the Nikkor gives you close focusing options you won't get with other lenses. The Nikkor-H 5.0 cm 2.0 and the Canon 50/1.5 are both sonnar design lenses, and are fun to shoot portraits with, wide open, to get that lovely sonnar fall-off. If you're primarily a landscape or street photographer, however, you may not care. Both the Canon 50/1.8 and the Canon 50/1.5 do particularly well with color film, IMO.

(4) sample condition. This may be the most important consideration. You have lots of choices, as this thread explains. I'd recommend looking for the specific lens in the best condition that fits within your budget, and get that one. You can always replace or add another 50 later.

Good luck!
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thank you this is very very helpful, l am leaning towards two lenses, Nikkor 5/2 and the cannon 50/1.8, eventually l will add a Summitar:)
 
Hi everyone l really respect your views and appreciate all the help and l am still on the look out for a Summitar, however, l got a great deal on a Voigtlander Nokton 50mm 1.5 and could not resist it:eek: it was part of an afternoon GAS attack:D
 
Congratulations on getting the Nokton.
[this part is not applicable]: You need next a Prominent to ltm or M adapter,unless you bought one of those rare ltm version Noktons..
 
Yes, I now have read again his post, and he must have bought the modern CV ltm version Nokton and not the old one for the Prominent.
 
Sorry for the confusion, yes indeed l have grabbed the cv Nokton ltm
 

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Congrats on your new lens! It's such a great feeling when the decision on which lens to buy has finally been made :)

Now you can enjoy shooting with your new acquisition!
 
ornate_wrasse said:
Congrats on your new lens! It's such a great feeling when the decision on which lens to buy has finally been made :)

Now you can enjoy shooting with your new acquisition!
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Many thanks, in a weeks time l am off work for a fortnight, l will give the lens a good run out then:)
 
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