View Full Version : Lens for Leica IIIf
I purchased the IIIf from David Murphy. I have a Jupiter 8 to use to start with. My question; If you only were going to use one lens with this camera, what would it be.
I have a Bessa R with 35/2.5, J-8 and J-9. I want to use only a 50mm on the IIIf. I like available light work and will be using slow film such as Efke 25 and also fast such as Tri-X.
I do not want to block the RF or much of VF. Do I just say "stick with Tri-X" and get a 50/3.5 collapsable or use another high quality faster lens? I like the idea of a compact camera, but I want quality also. For now, the J-8 will be fine and will have to save for the "great" lens.
Thank you for your input...John
Sean Moran
06-12-2006, 05:48
I purchased the IIIf from David Murphy. I have a Jupiter 8 to use to start with. My question; If you only were going to use one lens with this camera, what would it be.
I have a Bessa R with 35/2.5, J-8 and J-9. I want to use only a 50mm on the IIIf. I like available light work and will be using slow film such as Efke 25 and also fast such as Tri-X.
I do not want to block the RF or much of VF. Do I just say "stick with Tri-X" and get a 50/3.5 collapsable or use another high quality faster lens? I like the idea of a compact camera, but I want quality also. For now, the J-8 will be fine and will have to save for the "great" lens.
Thank you for your input...John
Hello John,
I hope you enjoy the IIIf. The Summitar 50mm f/2 is almost as good as the Summicron and is collapsible and affordable. The only downside is the 'barn-door' lenshood.
Cheers,
Seán.
Congrats on that purchase! Let's face it, you're going to want to have several differnt 50mm lenses eventually. One (or more) of them should be a collapsible type: FED, ELmar, Summar, Summitar, or Summicron.
I started with an Elmar 50 3.5. Not the fastest of the lot, mind you, but it seems like it's designed specially for my IIIf. The collapsible lens makes it a great walk-around camera. It comes along with me most of the time nowadays. With a f4 90 Elmar and a RASUL (like a wireframe finder you put in the cold shoe on top of the camera) it's a good travel kit. Together with Tri-X or Neopan 400 it's good for available light. When it gets dark, uprate the Tri-X to 800 or 1200. Or use Neopan 1600.
If you HAD to narrow it down: collapsible Elmar if low light shooting is not a priority, or collapsible Summicron if it is.
Elmar and a tripod can do wonders in low light! Plus, it looks so cool, and even with a CV finder I can put it in my suit PANTS pocket.
I am about convinced to go with the Elmar and Tri-X or Neopan...now to find one I can afford. :) I do think the collapsable lens just looks right on that camera. What are the differences between prewar and postwar? I know the uncoated lenses have more flare, but more contrast also?
Thanks again...John
John Shriver
06-12-2006, 17:53
No, the uncoated ones have less contrast.
The Elmar is the screwmount gestalt lens. But with only three groups, coating isn't that important.
There's a lot of risk buying a collapsible Summicron, internal haze can ruin them. Cleaning it out can also tank the lens.
A good Summitar is a lovely lens, great with B&W. Low contrast wide open, but gains contrast quickly as stopped down. If you get one with a clean front element, ideally coated, you'll have a great lens.
dreamsandart
06-12-2006, 18:55
Elmars are nice and small, a very classic Leica lens. The coated version just before the 'red scale' may be the best value as its not a collector's item and has the lens coating. This is not a low light lens with slow film - slow+slow=slow
Summicrons and Summitars are both very good lenses, better than the elmar in image, easier to use - no rotating barrel, and easy f stop changing - and are fast at f2. But look for a really good condition example as the collapsable barrel gets wobbly and the front element get scratched easy on both.
If you want to go really fast, when I had my IIIf cameras my standard lens was a Nikkor 5cm f1.4 Its a really well made lens, compact, super optics and again - fast!
The IIIf has a very easy to see 1.5x magnified rangefinder, but the cameras viewfinder is less than OK. Get an external Leitz 50mm finder for the best view. Its a big and bright life size view, you'll get to love it. You also get used to focusing with the camera and switching to the finder for a framing view.
Cheers,
back alley
06-12-2006, 18:57
it's not on a screwmount but the elmar 50/2.8 is a very nice, small lens.
and it would look great on your new camera too.
joe
Back alley, that is one shiny body and lens. Nice looking, too. What is your secret?
back alley
06-12-2006, 19:51
buy good used gear?
For low light I have both a Summarit and a Nokton-but in the daytime why carry the big 'uns?
I should put up a few comparisons-the Elmar is really quite good compared to the modern lens.
For low light I have both a Summarit and a Nokton-but in the daytime why carry the big 'uns?
I should put up a few comparisons-the Elmar is really quite good compared to the modern lens.
Please do. This is probably an old topic of discussion here, but I am learning a lot about an area that I have not followed before...John
OK, I am only going to get one shot at this (with spouse approval anyway), what do you think of the LTM 50s on this page? I am new to Leica gear, so has anyone had dealings with this company?
Edit: How can one tell a ridgid from a collapsable lens by their names?
John
http://www.igorcamera.com/leica_lenses.htm
And here also...same questions.
http://www.danblackleica.com/prices.php
Someone will probably say that putting a Russian lens on a Leica is like putting a Chevy emblem on a Rolls-Royce, but the Jupiter-8 (50mm f/2) has a good reputation.
I already have a good J-8 and will use it, but I have a strange sense of "completeness" and want at least one lens designed for this camera. I am sort of a reverse snob most of the time. I would rather have the new MINI-Cooper I owned for three years than a BMW of the same year. But the MINI is still a long way from a Chevy Cavalier. ;)
Another great lens for you to consider is the 50mm Elmar f2.8, either the old or the new version. It splits the difference in speed between the Summicron and the f3.5 Elmar. It is collapsible and very sharp with a pleasing signature.
As a IIIc owner, I would suggest a 50mm Canon f1.8 - sharp lens, small, and good value.
Outside of that, I also have the 50mm Elmar f3.5 which is really cool and makes the camera "pocketable"
Dave
Per dcsang, don't forget the excellent Canon RF lenses in LTM. They made a good 50/1.9 collapsible:
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/s/data/s_sere_50_19.html
as well as many other excellent 50s that will fit your IIIf.
I purchased the IIIf from David Murphy. I have a Jupiter 8 to use to start with. My question; If you only were going to use one lens with this camera, what would it be.
I have a Bessa R with 35/2.5, J-8 and J-9. I want to use only a 50mm on the IIIf. I like available light work and will be using slow film such as Efke 25 and also fast such as Tri-X.
I do not want to block the RF or much of VF. Do I just say "stick with Tri-X" and get a 50/3.5 collapsable or use another high quality faster lens? I like the idea of a compact camera, but I want quality also. For now, the J-8 will be fine and will have to save for the "great" lens.
Thank you for your input...John
wlewisiii
06-14-2006, 06:42
First of all, I agree with DLL927 - the Jupiter 8 is an excellent 50/2 lens so don't sell it short. That said, I'd say that on Igor's page this one - SM Summicron 5cm/2 #1316441, cleaning marks, just CLA, cap, EX+ $275 - has the potential of being the best buy. Collapsible (I believe based on serial), freshly CLA'd, cap and good cosmetics are good points. It depends on what he means by "cleaning marks" but it is really an over rated problem usually. IME and all that. YMMV. :)
Good luck & enjoy!
William
I need to develop patience...hard for me to do. I have not even heard from the seller yet since I sent the money. He has been vetted on here so I am not too worried, he may be busy. An Elmar 50/2.8 would be great, I havn't seen one for sale anywhere yet though. I have gone nine months without a GAS attack but I have it bad now.
You bought something and sent the money? What did you buy?
The IIIf from David Murphy. As I said, I am not worried yet.
Oh, I thought you were still talking about lenses. Be patient. You've got a very good lens in the J8, take some time and figure out what it is you want. Don't rush. (Easy for me to say!)
As a IIIc owner, I would suggest a 50mm Canon f1.8 - sharp lens, small, and good value.
Dave
I concur. I wish I had mine back. I also concur on the Nikor 50/1.4. However, the Nikor seem to cost more than similar vintage but slower Leica lenses.
I also appreciate your desire to "complete" your Leica body. I knew better, but ended up doing the same thing. Glad I did too! :)
c.poulton
06-14-2006, 10:22
The 50mm Canon f1.8 is a good sharp lens, but my favorite is the Leica 50 mm summicron f2 if you have some money to spare?
Whats the going price for a good quality 1.4 nikon nowadays ?
Well, the camera is in the mail. :D
David's good-expect LOTS of bubble wrap!
I don't have a direct comparison test between the Elmar and Nokton, but you certainly can't tell which lens is which if you're shooting at f8. I think the newer lens is a teeny bit brighter.
AAD...I love your shot of the Vincent. I was in my teens when they were new and they were the stuff dreams were made of.
John
Thanks-that shot is in very low light, the lens was at or near wide open, and 1/25 , if I remember right. Not bad for a pocket camera.
Whats the going price for a good quality 1.4 nikon nowadays ?
If my memory can be trusted (right!), $250 and up. The late model Canon 50/1.4 a bit less.
John, it seems to me that some or much of the flexibility of a "system" camera will be lost if you limit yourself as you propose to do.
Payasm, my limit is mainly financial at this time. I have a Bessa R with a CV 35/2.5 plus a J-8 and J-9. The Bessa has Bright Lines for each of the lenses.
I can see why people want the 1:1 50mm finder for this camera...I want one also. I will look for a turret finder or such, to use the 35 and 85 on the IIIf.
I decided to buy an I-50 to see if I can live with the 3.5 max opening. Should start shooting next week.
davidbivins
06-16-2006, 11:54
I bought a well-used, collapsible Summicron 50/2 for $200. It has cleaning marks and dust, but none of that shows up in the negatives. Superficially, it looks and feels practically new.
The three-dimensional effect is astonishing. I also have used a Nikkor 50 (which came with the Tower-3, clone of the IIIf) and Canon 50/1.8 and they're both excellent. But I think the collapsible Summicron is a perfect match for the little IIIf and Tower-3. Super-compact and a gorgeous performer.
I may be willing to part with my turret finder- let me know. I have a 50 and 25 CV, and might buy a 90, then I'm done.
I just bought the Summitar in the classifieds. My spousal approval has reached its limits for now. Thanks everyone for your input to this thread. Now, I have to get it all together and shoot some film.
Cool! Congrats, and best of light to you!
Several considerations here, John. First, need and utility are perhaps more important than one's budget. That is, there's much to be said for making a great deal of very little, for adapting and improvising, instead of having a special what have you for every conceivable requirement. If your J-8 is good, then an I-50 might have made sense: slower, but a lot smaller. The Summitar, for its part, is also collapsible and can do things which perhaps no other lens can manage. But its coating and glass are notoriously fragile, and your work will suffer if you don't use it with the right hood, the rectangular SOOPD. People make much of 1:1 finders. They are comfortable to work with, certainly, but I managed as well with other finders as I did with the nearly 1:1 finder of the M3 I had. It's generally best not to have an extra thingamajig sticking out. I have known people to swear by the VIDOM and the VIOOH, despite the small images they give specially with the longer focal lengths. Turret finders can be dicey. The Russian ones are of two types, depending on which way the optics lean above the foot, and if you get a Kiev/Contax type for your Leica you'll be in trouble. I was thrilled to win a 35-50-100 for my IIIc, but it was made for the Argus and getting it to seat properly is a problem I have only half solved. Why do you not consider the tele-wide Yashica or Helios finders? Much smaller, and the second costs relatively little. Those finders cannot compensate for parallax, but surely you can.
Payasam, are you perhaps a school teacher? I feel like I was asked to stay after class for a constructive conversation. ;) Thank you for your attention and I mean my comments in a nice way...John
University, John. Pompous variety. Long back. Have also been in informal education of kids, adults, Labrador retrievers. Have taught, and sometimes still teach, photography.
mc_vancouver
06-18-2006, 16:26
... The Summitar 50mm f/2 is almost as good as the Summicron and is collapsible and affordable. The only downside is the 'barn-door' lenshood...
I'd have to agree with Sean, I recently bought a Summitar on eBay for a Leica IIIf I also got on eBay. The lens is sharp though nothing like the sharpness of a modern multicoated Summicron or 'lux, or even, probably, some of the Voigtlander lenses (I'm waiting on a Nokton 40/1.4 in the post). The lens hood is really quite nicely made but I would feel very conspicuous walking around with it, it's about a subtle as a Panaflex 35mm motion picture camera. No, I don't think I'll be using that hood much, although, in a studio, where "subtle" isn't necessary, I think it must be a terrific hood. I currently (June 18-21) have this lens, with hood and filters, on eBay, but I just raised the minimum bid because I'm not sure now I want to sell it!! Call me crazy.
mc_vancouver
06-22-2006, 14:56
Hello John,
I hope you enjoy the IIIf. The Summitar 50mm f/2 is almost as good as the Summicron and is collapsible and affordable. The only downside is the 'barn-door' lenshood.
Cheers,
Seán.
Please see the classified section. I believe there are two Summitars for sale. I have the hood, and although it is large, it works very well, because it is large.
I have finally run a roll of XP2 through the camera with a Summitar. I uploaded a few shots to my gallery. This is with new/old camera, new/old lens, new light meter and new Dimage DS IV scanner so lots of variables. I shot the 400 film at 200. I ended up raising the black point in levels about 1 stop worth. I saw a lot of flare on some shots and have ordered a barn door. Thanks to egpj (Glenn )for the heads up on a local fly-in. Thanks for all the input...John
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