Wwjd?

[JoeFriday]

ok, I seriously doubt Jesus would spend much time contemplating this decision, but it's my latest conundrum

with the impending arrival of my M3, I've suddenly realized I don't have a quality lens for it.. I have a Jupiter-8 and a Jupiter-3, which most likely won't mate properly.. but as was pointed out to me the other day, the Leica deserves world-class glass

assuming the cost is the same, would you...

a) buy a used 50/2 'cron

b) buy a Contax to M-mount adapter to use a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 50/1.5

I've fallen in love with my Sonnar and would really like to use it on a Leica.. on the other hand, buying the Summicron is probably the more cost-effective decision given that I'd have two lenses and two cameras.. rather than 1 lens to be shared

thoughts and/or general ribbing, anyone?

 

[Hektor]

If you want sharp and contrasty, by a new 50 summilux ASPH,

cheap and good, voigt/cosina 50 F1.5,

Classic and then some, Dual range 50 Summicron,

My favorite S/H new style 50 F2.8 Elmar,

If you can't sleep for the agony, use your Sonnar. Does it rf couple in an adapter?

 

[Hektor]

Oh, I forgot, a Noctilux can be exiting !

 

[rover]

Love your Sonnar, but a Contax to M mount adaptor is going to run you north of $350 right now. Save that cash and buy a Summicron.

 

[rover]

Or, the Canon 50/1.5 is a Sonnar copy and very nice to boot.

 

[dexdog]

Wwjd

Wwjd

OK, Hektor, I give up. What's a leicapile? Does that mean that you own a ****load of Leicas?

dexdog

 

[StuartR]

Just get a summicron. They are compartively inexpensive and they are absurdly good. Older versions have more "Leica look" and more flare. Modern versions are contrastier with slide film and don't flare as much.

 

[wlewisiii]

Or, the Canon 50/1.5 is a Sonnar copy and very nice to boot.

Rover beat me to it. If you like the Sonnar look, this is by far the easiest way to get in for your M. But I still say give that Industar-61L/D a workout too; you might be pleasantly surprised.

William

 

[JoeFriday]

Love your Sonnar, but a Contax to M mount adaptor is going to run you north of $350 right now. Save that cash and buy a Summicron.

correct.. I'm looking at (eventually) spending about $400.. which means either the adapter or a decent (but probably not pristine) older Summicron

buying the Summicron is probably the wise decision.. but I've never been called a wise man.. only a wiseguy

 

[Todd.Hanz]

If it's gotta be a fifty, get the DR summicron, very sharp!

Todd

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You have the Sonnar for the Contax, so why get a duplicate look from your Leica?

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Daring, get a Summarit and buck the trend.

Or be like me and buy one of everything. I could do a movie called "The Seventh Sonnar". Zeiss-Opton 5cm F1.5 Sonnar, Zeiss 5cm F2 Pre-war Sonnar, Nikkor 5cm F1.4 Sonnar-Copy, Nikkor 5cm F2 Sonnar Copy, Canon 50mm F1.5 Sonnar Copy, Jupiter-3 50mm F1.5 Sonnar copy, Jupiter-8 50mm F2 Sonnar copy.

 

[Fred]

Recon Hektor wrapped up the options very well. Personally the cron gets the big thumbs up. One thing I've learnt (or is that spent) if you get arguably the best camera, you should put the best glass on it. 😎

OK that's wishful thinking for most of us including me so maybe start with the CV that at the very least will be darn fine lens that will couple for a few dollars and think later about a cron when you can afford it (probably after the CV 35 Ultron and 90 lenses that are also very good) 🙂

 

[Hektor]

Dexdog, I saw the word come up in a post a few days ago, it made me ROFL.

I think FrankS might say, -you get GAS and end up with leicapiles !

- someone was having a frank and enthusiastic exchange of views with Roger Hicks, and meant to say, "you leicaphiles", but typed "leicapiles" instead.

Roger responded by saying "leicapiles ?, leicapiles ?, - what are those ?"

FrankS and a few others took up the response.

Well it made me laugh at the time, and since I can't take some leicaphiles too seriously, I try to keep "leicapile" in common usage.


p.s. yeah i've got some. my favourite is a doublewind M3.

p.p.s. does a doublewind give you extra GAS ? --- bigger leicapiles ?

 

[furcafe]

If you want to be really different, I have an extra Taylor, Taylor & Hobson 2-inch/2 Cooke Amotal Anastigmat (c.1948-50) in LTM I can sell you. These fine lenses were originally made for the Bell & Howell Foton. Email me if you're interested.

 

[egpj]

My vote: 50 F2.8 Elmar

A classic for a classic.

 

[Hektor]

p.p.p.s. - having thought what I would buy on a $400 budget so as to get the most fun from the most sophisticated choice, -- the thinking mans crumpet lens has to be the Summarit 50/F1.5.

They look GREAT on an M3, and would be very interesting to use, as Leitz intended to be a direct competitor to the Sonnar.

Regards, John C. (Hektor)

 

[dexdog]

Joe, bite the bullet and get a leica lens.

Hektor, I thought that was hilarious! Unfortunately, I must have missed the thread that you mentioned. I would probably go for a ROFLMAO classification on this jewel. Congrats on using it.

 

[ray_g]

You already have LTM Sonnar copies in the J8 and J3, and a 50/1.5 Sonnar in Contax mount. I would get the 50 (or 40) Summicron or the elmar, as suggested.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Everyone loves the Summicron.

Everyone loves the Summilux.

It's a SCIENTIFIC FACT that the Summarit is faster than the Summicron, and just as fast as the first edition Summilux! YES, even though it was marked "F1.4" it was really measured at "F1.5". SCIENTIFIC FACT: The Summarit is soft wide-open and close-up so that portraits LOOK MORE FLATTERING and is very sharp at F4 through F11 so that your outdoor scenary shots look CRISP.

It's also about the cheapest Leica glass around, and often sells for less than the F3.5 Elmar. That is because people do not know their scientific facts. It also tends to haze, giving poor results unless CLA'd. I wish someone could CLA me as I approach 50.

 

[Hektor]

Thats good info Brian. I've seen some REALLY nice Summarits that have been expertly cleaned and re-coated and are still good VFM.

I'd be happy to have one like that if I could only have one lens.

Probably I'd buy a nice one in original undamaged but a bit smokey condition for a fair price, then have it cla'd and coated by a really good outfit, maybe even Leica, and then just use it and love it forever.