which lens for my CL: 40mm Nokton or 40mm Summicron/Rokkor

[msbarnes]

I just purchased a CL. I want a compact/fast 40mm lens to put on my camera. I'm either getting a 40mm Nokton or a 40mm Summicron/Rokkor. I plan on using this camera/lens combination for daily use, so I want something small, compact, and fast (I shoot in low light often). Distortion doesn't matter me because I hardly notice it. Likewise, with clinical sharpness. I would like good bokeh, but those discussions are all over the place.

1. How do these lenses compare in terms of flare? Similar? I plan on using this lens without a hood, or a very short one.

2. What is the difference in lengths between the CV and Leica/minolta lenses? Any visuals?

 

[rhl-oregon]

I had a Rokkor, but traded it away for something more important at the time; now I have the CV b/c 1.4 = low light asset + isolation of subject. They're both small; the CV hood messes a bit with the rf, I notice. I don't know about flare resistance, but don't ordinarily shoot angles that invite it. The CV will be easier to find in good shape at a good price.

 

[Dan Daniel]

I looked at lots of photos on line when I was deciding. I went with the Summicron. In the '80s, I used the Rokkor on a CL as my main 35mm camera and it was wonderful. I did find the SummiKor to have a better look, smoother transitions in focus, than the Nokton based on the samples I saw.

The later Rokkors, made for the CLE but same design, have multi-coating, which should help with flare.

Although I went with the SummiKor, I imagine that the Nokton would have been fine. As usually happens with quality optics, which both lenses are, you'll forget its differences and make it work for how you shoot. Which is the important thing- get one and get shooting. The CL is a fun everyday camera.

A mention of the Rokkor and the Nokton-
http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/why-40mm.html

A sample from the Summicron in low light with lights in the photo. I don't see any flare but maybe it's there...

 

[skibeerr]

Does the Nokton cam bring up the 40mm frame lines in the cl/cle ?

 

[Godfrey]

Does the Nokton cam bring up the 40mm frame lines in the cl/cle ?

Yes; just like with the Summicron and M-Rokkor 40s, they're keyed to the 50mm lens cam. What you see in the CL finder is both the 40 and 50 framelines.

I have had all of the Summicron/M-Rokkors and the Nokton 40 as well. I keep the M-Rokkor 40/2 version II (from the CLE) on my CL, and have used the Nokton 40 on my GXR the most.

For the most part, these lenses (all four of them) produce extremely similar, high quality photos. The Nokton bokeh gets a little jangly at f/1.4, but at f/2 it's very similar to the other three. The Nokton and M-Rokkor II are both multicoated (unless you get the specialty single-coated version of the Nokton) and control flare well. The M-Rokkor II is the smallest and lightest of the four lenses.

Can't go wrong with any of them.

G

 

[f16sunshine]

All the 40mm lenses made in M mount are great ones. The Pentax and Rollei should also be considered.
For me having thried them all. The CLE Version M Rokkor has the most pleasing look.
The transitions are smooth yet punchy. The OOF area is beautifully smooth. It's a super little lens.
Just on the right side of being big enough yet very compact.

An image I've posted often to display what I like about this lens on film. It's also fantastic on M8 and RD1 (never tried on M9 but probably great there too).

HP5 and Rodinal
Vika Margarita 🙂 by Adnan W, on Flickr

 

[FrankS]

The Summicron C is smaller, the cv Nocton is faster.

I've had both. Still have one.

Can't go wrong with either. Decide which characteristic is most important to you.

 

[Ljós]

Even though I have a Nokton 40 for sale at the moment, I would vote for one of the f2 40s, be it Leitz or Rokkor. I used the CLE-Rokkor some time both with M2 and with Leica CL.
You say you are looking for a small package, and the Nokton is a bit larger, heavier also.
About flare: when I had my Rokkor, I used it with one filter with knocked out glass as "shade", that is to say basically without shade. I had no flare problems.

You have to consider the focus accuracy also. The Nokton is getting borderline accurate with the CL's rangefinder.

Bokeh: at f2, the Nokton is smoother. But not an earthshaking difference. Both the Nokton and the Rokkor smoothen up as you stop them down (as do many, if not most lenses).

Leica CL with Rokkor or Leitz 40 is a nice package!

Greetings, Ljós

 

[GaryLH]

I have the mc version of the vc 40 and the Minolta CLE version.. I tend to like the Minolta version the best.

Gary

 

[philcycles]

Leica said that the RF base was too short for lenses wider than f2.

 

[FrankS]

I was about to respond saying that the Summicron is smaller but the Nokton is faster, and you can't go wrong with either, but I noticed that I did exactly that last year in post #7.

About the CL's short rf base length, you don't have to use the Nokton at f1.4, but it is there when you need it.

 

[Dez]

A 50mm f1.4 lens may be dodgy with the CL, but the 40mm lens has considerably more DOF, so you would probably be OK. I have the CV 40mm lens on my Bessa R3A, and I'm very happy with it.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Huss]

A 50mm f1.4 lens may be dodgy with the CL, but the 40mm lens has considerably more DOF, so you would probably be OK. I have the CV 40mm lens on my Bessa R3A, and I'm very happy with it.

Cheers,
Dez

Yup, the CL has a tiny RF base width. I don't think you would be able to use 1.4 successfully with it. One reason why I prefer the CLE, same size, much more accurate focussing with larger RF base width.

https://cameraquest.com/leica.htm