What are your favorite modern M mount lenses?

[jsrockit]

I was just wondering which modern M mount lenses (or modern LTM) people are really hooked on these days? I will define modern, for this post, as within the last two decades... say 1990 and on.

For me, I'm really blown away by the Zeiss 35mm C-Biogon 2.8 and the 50mm Leica Summarit 2.5. I never thought I'd like the slow lenses as much as I do. I love the compact size, the short focus throws, and the modern sharpness / rendering. I've used more expensive and more hyped lenses, but these two are very special in my opinion (and relatively cheap in terms of new Leica mount lenses).

 

[Richard G]

I've looked at the Summarit 50. Amazingly short and compact. If I didn't have a good 50 I'd get that for sure. And I still might, one day. My 70s Summicron really needs a service.

My picks are all Zeiss: 50 C Sonnar, 25 Biogon and 21 4.5 Biogon.

 

[perudo]

I was just wondering which modern M mount lenses (or modern LTM) people are really hooked on these days? I will define modern, for this post, as within the last two decades... say 1990 and on.

For me, I'm really blown away by the Zeiss 35mm C-Biogon 2.8 and the 50mm Leica Summarit 2.5. I never thought I'd like the slow lenses as much as I do. I love the compact size, the short focus throws, and the modern sharpness / rendering. I've used more expensive and more hyped lenses, but these two are very special in my opinion (and relatively cheap in terms of new Leica mount lenses).

me too, love the biogon 2.8. When I see how much overpriced used leica lenses are right now, this is defenetly a best buy right now.

 

[Austerby]

I think the Zeiss lenses mentioned here are terrific and they've really found a market by being relatively affordable as well as at the highest performance levels.

Certain Voigtlander lenses are also stars - the 35/1.2 for one.

My favourite has to be the Zeiss 50mm C-Sonnar

 

[CrisR]

For me, having little experience outside of those i've been able to purchase myself, it's the Nokton 50mm f1.1.

Paired up to my M6 TTL, i'm taking the kinds of photos i've never been able to in the past and only dreamed of.

Maybe i'll tire of the look in time, i'm probably still in the Honeymoon period, but i've never owned a better lens and am smitten with the results every time.

I still feel the 0.95 Noctilux is probably even more of what i want, but as that's never likely to be within my budget for mere hobby use, it may as well not exist. Plus, i've never taken a photo with it, so i have no idea how it would perform for me.

 

[raid]

Right now, I love the 35/1.4 pre-asph version 2. It is very compact and also very sharp. I guess, this lens is not really "modern"? Compared to a CZ 5cm/1.5 [which I love) made in the 1930's, the Lux is "modern".


I do not own any new lenses anyways, and I don't have any modern lens except the CV 25/4, CV Heliar 50/2, CV Heliar 50/3.5.

 

[FPjohn]

I suppose the Snapshot Skopar 25mm f4 is the "little lens that can".

yours
FPJ

 

[jarski]

50 Lux e46 pre-asph. me gusta 🙂

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Honestly I think the “Best modern M-mount lens design" prize should be given to the CV 40 1.4, and here's why:

It's fast and it's small. It has low distortion and it's sharp wide open... With this on mind, very few lenses rival it no matter the brand or price, but there's another big advantage:

When I think of having with me just one lens, my first worry about it is small size (street shooting)... Then I worry about what if I go into churches or other low light places, so most small lenses aren't the best tools there, but the Nokton remains a winner... And finally, I like to have with me a lens that allows me to use selective focus when that's what I prefer, and that's not easy with most 28 or 35s unless you use the biggest, heaviest ones, and going to a 50 means totally losing angle and also losing easy prefocused shooting when necessary... The difference in subject isolation ability between a 35 and the 40 Nokton (43mm) is huge: I was surprised after testing it... And the difference is huge not only because of the focal length, but because of the close focusing at 1.4...

That lens can produce images that look like 35mm ones and also images that look like 50mm ones, and there's no other 40 1.4 by any brand, so it's one of the best all around lenses in the world, or maybe the best one.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[andredossantos]

Man, Im starting to get GASSY over that 50 Summarit...Damn you, Jsrockit!

 

[Calzone]

Man, Im starting to get GASSY over that 50 Summarit...Damn you, Jsrockit!

The focus is really fast. Gotta love that tab. I'd have to get my M3 modded for close focus though.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Honestly I think the “Best modern M-mount lens design" prize should be given to the CV 40 1.4, and here's why:

It's fast and it's small. It has low distortion and it's sharp wide open... With this on mind, very few lenses rival it no matter the brand or price, but there's another big advantage:

When I think of having with me just one lens, my first worry about it is small size (street shooting)... Then I worry about what if I go into churches or other low light places, so most small lenses aren't the best tools there, but the Nokton remains a winner... And finally, I like to have with me a lens that allows me to use selective focus when that's what I prefer, and that's not easy with most 28 or 35s unless you use the biggest, heaviest ones, and going to a 50 means totally losing angle and also losing easy prefocused shooting when necessary... The difference in subject isolation ability between a 35 and the 40 Nokton (43mm) is huge: I was surprised after testing it... And the difference is huge not only because of the focal length, but because of the close focusing at 1.4...

That lens can produce images that look like 35mm ones and also images that look like 50mm ones, and there's no other 40 1.4 by any brand, so it's one of the best all around lenses in the world, or maybe the best one.

Cheers,

Juan

Juan,

Thanks for the thoughtful and helpful post.

Cal

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Well, Cal, sorry for not talking about a current line aspherical Leica 😱 (obviously great lenses) but to me it's hard to find a lens to go out with as only lens and be able to do everything with it... Thanks for your words!

Cheers,

Juan

 

[andredossantos]

Juan: I think we are all capable of realizing that there are other good lenses besides ASPH Leicas! The VC Nokton 40 1.4 and its cousin the 35 1.4 are both excellent lenses IMO.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Cool Andre!

I really like how CV design: great gear because of being great tools for different things (both cameras and lenses...) The 35 1.2 is such an amazing thing!

Cheers,

Juan

 

[benlees]

35mm skopar is the only m mount I own. Seems pretty good. The Zeiss 25mm 2.8 really temps me but the price seems high when CV offering is so much less- and a lot smaller.

 

[Glass Addict]

35mm Summilux ASPH FLE.
Can't get much sharper than this and has a very modern look.

 

[Calzone]

Well, Cal, sorry for not talking about a current line aspherical Leica 😱 (obviously great lenses) but to me it's hard to find a lens to go out with as only lens and be able to do everything with it... Thanks for your words!

Cheers,

Juan

No need to apologize. BTW I love my CV Nickel Heliars. I accually appreciate the thinking that's out of the box, and that's why I reponded to your post.

Cal

 

[rover]

Favorites, I sold a V4 35 Summicron because it was just to small, unusable for me, and re-aquired a 35 Ultron, just right, for me. I at one time, for some reason, had 5 different 50 Summircons. I now only have 1, a Rigid.

Those 2 would have to be my favorites.

 

[back alley]

from the lenses i currently own...my fave is the rollie 40/2.8 sonnar. small & sharp and i love 'the look' it gives an image.

from past kits...
the cv 40/1.4 was great! oof area never bothered me. i'd like to get another someday.
the zm 25 was extremely sharp...too bad the zm line seem so large compared to most other lenses, especially the cv line of tiny lenses.
the zm 35/2.8 very very nice lens.