Richard G
Veteran
Money no object and going out tomorrow for a great 28 combination film Leica I would love to indulge my interest in an M7, and the first version 28 Summicron. I love the M6 meter and find it scary good even when I think a reflected reading will be defeated so I presume AE on M7 is very good. I do find with the M9 cameras that at 28 FL and wider there is too much accounting for the sky but the metering is quite different. Never used a 28 on the M6. A 21 on the M5 gave me no metering problems.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Ach, missed that. 
. It's a bit silly, I agree. Particularly since many of the best new RF lenses are essentially the same kind of lens formulae that are used in SLR lenses.
That said, my favorite 28mm lens is the new Summaron-M 28/5.6, which is a repro of a 1950s lens. And I can see the difference between photos I make with it vs my previous Summicron-M 28/2 ASPH. So ...eh? It proves nothing.
G
. It's a bit silly, I agree. Particularly since many of the best new RF lenses are essentially the same kind of lens formulae that are used in SLR lenses.That said, my favorite 28mm lens is the new Summaron-M 28/5.6, which is a repro of a 1950s lens. And I can see the difference between photos I make with it vs my previous Summicron-M 28/2 ASPH. So ...eh? It proves nothing.
G
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
Generally the only places I can tell the difference are between things like Sonnar vs Tessar vs Double Gauss types (they have actual different optical properties) or Coated vs Uncoated lenses (serious contrast differences).
Occasionally you can see in broad strokes the familial differences between say a "Leica" style and a "Zeiss" style but even that I think is mostly people fooling themselves to justify the sunk cost fallacy.
Occasionally you can see in broad strokes the familial differences between say a "Leica" style and a "Zeiss" style but even that I think is mostly people fooling themselves to justify the sunk cost fallacy.
piero2025
Established
Not an m7? (I don’t know nothing about Leicas)
piero2025
Established
Thanks! Can we elaborate on that? I now own the 28mm voigtlander LTM from 1999.
With my old account (piero2020, I lost access) I did a post where I was saying that I prefer vintage-y lenses.
What do you like about the lens you mentioned? Why not a Leica for example?
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
The M6 is purely manual. The photographer sets everything, though you have an in camera meter.
The M7 added aperture auto mode. Put the shutter speed dial on automatic and all you have to do is select the aperture and the camera will select the shutter speed based on the ISO of your film (DX or set by you on the camera back). My digital M 240 works in a roughly similar manner.
Which is better is a religious decision.
If I were to buy one today, I'd buy a Zeiss ZM instead of either.
piero2025
Established
And what these differences would be?Ach, missed that.
That said, my favorite 28mm lens is the new Summaron-M 28/5.6, which is a repro of a 1950s lens. And I can see the difference between photos I make with it vs my previous Summicron-M 28/2 ASPH. So ...eh? It proves nothing.
G
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Any 28less M has 28mm matching VF.
And it is not too difficult not to miss 28mm frames as well. Just look for the widest.
It is only 50/75 which are confusing crap. But tiny SBOOI is the best ever VF with frames for 50mm. M3's one is not true 1:1, SBOOI is.
I prefer 28less Ms and grown wider, 21mm is much more interesting and natural comparing to 28mm.
And just fine with external VF.
piero2025
Established
I own a ZM. Fantastic camera.
The other day it fell from the shelf, in a soft case, and lost focus alignment.
So I go on YouTube and find this:
Which means mailing my camera to Germany and not taking photos for a month, vs turning a screw on a Leica (or having bought 3 cheaper cameras for the price of the ZM and having 2 spares).
Then I created this post.
piero2025
Established
That is a seriously sharp image!
What would be the difference between the two Summis?
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
Doesn't look that bad to me but I've fought with Super Ikontas
Have you tried Steve's Camera Service Center | Camera Repair | Culver City ? I've read they'll work on the Ikon but don't know for certain.
Freakscene
Obscure member
Summicron
Summilux
My opinion is that the Summicron is excellent, and the Summilux is a masterpiece. I don’t look at resolution or acutance or aberration control as much as I look at tonality. The Summilux separates the tones to a degree I have never seen in any other lens. In hard, soft, intermediate light, whatever, all the tones separate out. It’s incredible.
Edit: the only 28mm I know of that is as good as the Summilux-M is the e55 version of the Leica 28mm Elmarit-R. But that’s obscure.
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piero2025
Established
Well, I live in Europe so it’s not so bad. But still, I should own backup cameras.Doesn't look that bad to me but I've fought with Super Ikontas
Have you tried Steve's Camera Service Center | Camera Repair | Culver City ? I've read they'll work on the Ikon but don't know for certain.
piero2025
Established
Incredible indeed.
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
1) With luck, I will be in Berlin applying for an Artist visa by the end of 2026. I miss Europe, now more than ever...
2) I'm fortunate that I have two divergent systems as my primaries - Pentax and Leica - so that does give me a bit of luxury if something happened to one or the other.
I’ve merged your old account so all your posts are now under piero2025
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
If you're a professional photographer or journalist, you "should own" backup cameras. Otherwise, you want backup cameras.
Phil
Phil
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Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
The M7 is a very nice camera - no doubt about it. But, as is the case with any non-Leica with an electronically controlled shutter, there are no replacements available for fried circuit boards. All other Leica made M film cameras are 100% mechanical (excepting the light meter) and can be serviced.