What are your favorite modern M mount lenses?

[rogerzilla]

I've just biought the anti-snob's lens, the Summarit-M 35mm. Erwin reckons it's as good, if not better than, the Summicron ASPH. Pics later this week when the film is developed (Ektar 100). I can't fault the handling or weight.

Ken Rockwell disparages the Summarits purely on the grounds of snob value, admitting that the optics are excellent. FWIW, not having the modern Leica font on the lens is a plus point of you're using it on an M2 or M3, like I do; a current Summicron would look a bit silly, like another manufacturer's lens. It's a shame they don't make 'em in silver chrome, though.

 

[noimmunity]

The ZM C Biogon 21/4.5 is probably my most-used lens, definitely a favorite.

 

[uhoh7]

My best Ms are the 28 elmarit, 50/2 v4, the CV 75/2.5 and the tele-elmarit 90, but
as said above the ZMs are just fantastic--wish I had one.

But another one that I wish I had is the CV 50/1.5 🙂

 

[semilog]

^--- I'm scanning my very first roll from the ZM 21/4.5 right now. ACROS in XTOL 1+1. Wonderful.

It's a perfect match to the ZM 35/2.8; I can't think of higher praise for a lens than that.

 

[robbeiflex]

ZM C Sonnar 50mm and CV 15mm Super Wide Heliar are both very special in my books. The C Sonnar is a wonderful high quality fast 50 in a surprisingly small package. I consider the 15mm something of a special purpose lens and only use it a few times per year, but whenever I do I find it fun to use and the results fantastic. Just looking through its crazy finder is enough to put a smile on my face.

 

[ian_watts]

I have the current 35 Summilux ASPH and, in spite of a quirk or two, it's probably the best single M lens I've owned (I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've owned 15 of the modern Leica lenses from 24-90mm at one time or another). That said, I think I'd be quite happy with just the 35 Summarit - it's ergonomically the perfect M lens and optically more than sufficient for my needs.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Ok, for the ones that must be persuaded: here's another one made with the 25mm Biogon,