Comprehensive LTM and M-mount lens reference book

[Jamie Pillers]

I enjoy reading RFF members' descriptions of, and opinions about, all the LTM and M-mount lenses they've wanted, owned, sold, traded, put in the closet... and even used.

So that I don't have to sit here at the computer through the wee hours of the night, I'm wondering if there is a single comprehensive reference book (or maybe two) that describes the characteristics of all the LTM and M-mount lenses that exist.

[nikonhswebmaster]

Nope.

The problem is that LTM lenses have been made by so many manufacturers over the years. Leica, Canon, Nikon, Komura, etc etc etc.

For some LTM, like the Nikkors, there is simply nothing out there, except some articles done years ago in the Nikon Historical Society Journal. Ditto for the Komuras.

And to complicate matters even more, most reference works are written from either the collector or the use point of view, with only the collector books containing complete descriptions of entire product lines.

You could start with Jim Lager's books. But still far from complete.

[infrequent]

There is a list of M-mount lenses compiled by our beloved host.

http://www.cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm

And there is one for LTM lenses as well.

http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmlens.htm

Maybe not as comprehensive as a book but now a bad start!

Cheers~
Sunny

[nikonhswebmaster]

The cameraquest.com web site is a good start for any information about older bodies and lenses, one of the best on the web.

[rbiemer]

Fred,
I've seen/read the book 300 Leica Copies referenced as an OK source for "off brand" lens info. Haven't read the book myself and I thought it was more about cameras than lenses? Worth considering?
Rob

[nikonhswebmaster]

Fred,
I've seen/read the book 300 Leica Copies referenced as an OK source for "off brand" lens info. Haven't read the book myself and I thought it was more about cameras than lenses? Worth considering?
Rob

It is not about lenses, but there a lot of spill over, so lenses are covered indirectly. Outside of the "the Collectors guide to Japanese Camera" it is really the best out there. The collector's guide is very hard to find. Leica Copies is just a great book to own for the fun of seeing all the variations in one place, and it covers non Japanese copies.

http://www.nikonhs.org/images/publications/300.jpg

http://www.nikonhs.org/images/col_guide_jap_cam.gif

My personal recommendations are here: http://www.nikonhs.org/publications.html

[ferider]

Too many lenses and brands ...

One good book covering a subset is by Marc James Small, "NON-LEITZ LEICA THREAD-MOUNT LENSES", covering various European and Russian LTM lenses, mostly.

For Nikkor, Canon and Leica it is better to look for specific references, like Rotoloni, Dechert, and/or Lager. Puts has a nice PDF document on Leica lenses on-line.

Roland.

[Jamie Pillers]

Thanks, folks! Ok.... so I won't be able to have one big tome sitting next to the bed at night. I'll have fun looking for the sources you've recommended. And I LOVE the cameraquest site... thanks, Gandy!

Thanks again for you all in this amazing RFF community. You've been invaluable in helping transition into the elegant world of rangefinder photography.
Jamie