wider

[Sprinkhaan]

Hi,
I'm very new to rangefinders, actually I'm new to photography in general.
About a month I bought myself a beautiful Leica IIIg with a Summicron 50mm. Shot some test rolls, and I'm very happy with the results (I've got lots to learn...)

But while shooting, I noticed I definitely want a wider lens, too. As I'm new to the Screw Mount-world, I thought I might ask for some advise...

Which wide lens would you guys recommend? I'm mainly thinking about 28mm, but I'm open to other focal lengths.

PS: I am very fond of the looks of my IIIg with the 'cron, so I'm mainly thinking 'vintage lens', not 'black plastic'. 😱

 

[johannielscom]

Hoi Sprinkhaan, welkom! 😉

My wide of choice is a Canon 28/3.5 LTM lens. Small, compact and real sharp, while it has nice low contrast.
It's a classic 1950s lens, heavy brass and chrome. No filter or hood necessary. Read about my example of that lens here if you please.



20110718-35Kodacolor200-3-2001 by buzzardkid, on Flickr

Read about my example of that lens here if you please.

 

[Austerby]

There are not many vintage wide angle lenses beyond 35mm that I'm aware of, certainly not in quantity, but the saviour exists in chrome versions of the Voigtlander LTM mount range (much of which is discontinued now) which are not 'black plastic' though don't have the heft of a vintage lens but nor do they have the hazing and deterioration of 50+ years to cope with.

The obvious vintage Leica wide-angle lens to look at though is the tiny 3.5cm f3.5 Elmar. There are lots around and mine cost £150 from a dealer a couple of years ago. Get a good one and you'll be surprised how such a small lens can produce such good results. I use mine regularly on my M8 and NEX-3 as well as my IIIa.

My favourite of the Voigtlander lenses is the 25mm f4 in LTM, which is not rangefinder coupled but that doesn't matter. A lovely rendering lens and again not expensive. Others speak highly of the 28mm and 21mm sister lenses and they also did 35mm and 50mm LTM lenses of equally high quality.

For these wider lenses you will need a separate viewfinder. One came with the Voigtlander lenses but is black and plastic. Voigtlander also do a range of lovely metal viewfinders or there are plenty of other makes available on the internet auction sites.

 

[haempe]

I can highly recommend the use of the CV 25/4 Snapshot Skopar with a Leica Screwmount camera.
With some practice scale-focussing with this lens is dead easy because the click-stops.
No need to change between the focussing/framing window.
Just distance guess, set, frame, shot... 😉

 

[Sprinkhaan]

Thanks a lot!
I'm gone check out the Voigtlanders and the Canon.

 

[ampguy]

I would go with the Canon 28/2.8 LTM. Nothing newer is like this lens.

 

[Landshark]

The super Angulon f4 was available from '58-'63. It may be to new for your purposes though 28 & 35 are the most common.

 

[Melvin]

A little Barnack with a wide angle view is a nifty idea. I have a 15mm VC Heliar for mine. One lens that doesn't get as much mention as it should is the Nikkor 35mm/f2.5. I will never part with mine.

 

[Livesteamer]

Another vote for the Nikkor 35mm f2.5. I got one earlier this year and got to spend two weeks in Colorado with the little Nikkor on a IIIc. It's small and wonderful. I agree. It's a lens I will keep. Joe

 

[newspaperguy]

I was very happy with the CV35/2.5 on my IIIf.

It now lives on my CL, with an M adapter.

I also used a Jupiter 12 with good results.

Rick

 

[Nikon Bob]

The 21/4 and 28/3.5 VC lenses are pretty darn good and match a Barnack nicely. The 28/3.5 is heavily built similar to the vintage Leica glass, it is no light weight.

Bob

 

[charjohncarter]

I like 28 or 35mm (mostly 35), but I have used my Zenitar 16mm on my BessaR (LTM) (not pleasant, and not full frame):

 

[Jamie Pillers]

The Voigtlander 25/4 (screw mount version) is fantastic! If someone ever makes a small full-frame digital camera, that's the first lens I'm going to put on it.