What is your favorite M mount lens and why?

Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid, Leica M3, Tmax400.

Erik.

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50 Summicron Type VI tabbed version, pre-1994 (without the built-in hood). Mine is from 1993. The sturdy plastic snap-on hood protects the front element very well.

And having a focus tab is essential to me, at least. I have a 1995 version of this lens, as well as a 50 pre-asph lux, but this one's "it". It is smaller and lighter (and more beautiful :D) than the version after 1994. The optics are identical. But when I need f/1.4....
 
My favorite is VC Nokton 40mm f1.4 MC, all-around great performer for me and love its focal length. And for its potential to make shots like this possible:

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Which is why I decided to not sell it, after all.
 
I tend to throw one or two lenses in my bag most days so my favorite lens is a 50+another wide. Usually a 50 M-Hexanon if I'll be shooting indoors & outdoors. If I'm shooting black and white or strictly out doors, 50 L-Hex f/2.4.

Favorite wide - 21 C-Biogon f/4.5
 
35 cron v4. tiny, light, great handling, handles flare ok and looks so great with the square hood.

but i'm very torn about picking it or the 35/1.2 nokton, which is fantastic for pretty much any light situation, handling is fantastic, almost never flares but it's a bit heavier than i'd like.
 
I love two M lenses a lot:

50mm/2 rigid Summicron and 35mm/1.4 pre-asph Summilux.
For many years, the 50mm Summicron was my top choice for photography due to its very high resolution and medium-high contrast. It is built like a tank,and it resembles the classical Leica lens for the M3 that I use this lens with.

More recently, I started using the 35mm Lux. It is a small lens that has high resolution and excellent versatility as a one lens (with any M body) combo. I have Version II, which reportedly has better flare control than Version I.

The 75mm Lux is still growing on me.... so forgive me Oh Lux ..
 
Absolute favorite image maker: DR Summicron.

Now that I use an M9 more than my M4 and the DR Cron, I lean towards the 35mm pre-asph Summilux. But then, I also LOVE my 21mm f/3.4 Super Angulon too...

Phil Forrest
 
For digital: 50 'lux ASPH and 28 'cron ASPH. For film: 35 'cron v. 4 and any 50 'cron. And for both: I really like the 90 Macro Elmar.
 
The majority of the "very good" shots I get are with the tabbed 50 Summicron. But somehow, the majority of the shots I get that are "magical" come from the very clean 1939 Summar 50.
 
I like them all, but the Summar is the only one that really contributes to the look of a picture, rather than just recording what's there. If I only had one lens it would be a toss-up between the Elmar red scale (equally sharp at any aperture and very small) or the DR Summicron (also sharp throughout but heavy). The Elmar does mean using faster film in winter, because f/3.5 isn't enough for ISO 100 when it's dull.
 
This is hard for me to answer... but I'd have to go with the 50 Summarit right now. A 50mm lens with a short focus throw and is the size of a small 35mm lens... dream.
 
I've used the following over the years (some I still have; other I've sold):
35mm Summicron (IV)
35mm Summicron ASPH
35mm Summilux ASPH
50mm Summicron (III)
50mm Summicron (IV)
50mm Summicron (V)
50mm Summilux (last one)
50mm Summilux ASPH
90mm Elmarit
90mm Tele-Elmarit
135mm Tele-elmar

They are all good lenses.

There's something very special about the aspherical Summiluxes. Wish I had kept the 35mm one, but we all do stupid things. I do have the 50mm Summilux asph, but it's a big lens. Of all these lenses, I find the 50mm Summicron (V) and the 35mm Summicron asph the most practical.
 
75mm Summilux: Of the lenses I own, it has the most distinctive signature - one I love. It is my least replaceable lens.
 
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