Alternatives for Leica glass

SolaresLarrave · 01-09-2004

As I blabbered out in some other post, I'll keep the Leica M6TTL body I was going to sell a while ago. However, I have only one lens and my funds are still a bit thin to purchase a Leica 35mm lens. What choices do I have to get a wide angle outside of the Leica universe?

I know there's the LTM Canon and CV lenses, and that the Minolta CLE come with the M-mount. What about Russian glass? Any tips about it?

Thanks a lot in advance!

taffer · 01-09-2004

Francisco, be careful with Russian glass on Leicas. Take a look here:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/compat.html

However, if you can find a cheap example, you can always try it and check for sharpness.

Good luck !

back alley · 01-09-2004

the 40mm minolta lens is very good and i've seen them occasionally for sale on various sites.

joe

sobarel · 01-09-2004

I'll also give the thumbs up to the Minolta 40/2, an excellent lens often available at bargain prices, but be aware it will bring up the 50 framelines on a Leica. Luckily the previous owner of mine had adapted it to bring up the 35 frame and this has proven to be quite accurate.

The Konica M-Hexanon 35/2 is also a superb lens, if you can still get hold of one.

SolaresLarrave · 01-09-2004

I didn't know there was a Hexanon 35/2? I would have bet my thumbs the lenses for the Hexar RF were only in 28mm, 50mm and 90mm... Well, I learned something today!

Thanks for the warning about Russian glass, taffer. I'm a bit wary of it. About the Minolta 40mm... that's one of my favorites, and I guess if a wider angle doesn't show up, I'll end up buying one from KEH. I simply wanted something wider b/c I already have a lens of that focal lenght: the one on my Canonet!

Thanks again for the advice! I'll keep searching.

BTW, anyone know about Alex-photo, a source for Russian glass? Henricus recommended it most enthusiastically... but then he's really into Russian gear.

sobarel · 01-10-2004

The M-Hex 35/2 definitely exists - I was out taking photos with it this morning ;-)

Oh, and I've used Alex-photo via ebay before with no problems.

Dingo · 01-10-2004

Alex-photo is very reliable, I bought a lot from him, and very fast shippment - 5 to 7 days from Russia to Hong Kong !

SolaresLarrave · 01-10-2004

sobarel, thanks for the information. I never heard of that lens before...

So, Alex-photo can only be found on eBay? I'll look him up and tell you what happens. Thansk for the suggestions!

Taipei-metro · 01-11-2004

Avelon 28mm2.8 $300, Ricoh GR 28mm2.8 $450, Konica M 28mm2.8 $800.
Old one,Rokkor M 28mm2.8 maybe $350.
I have read the test report on Konica M 35mm f2,as expected,Superb! around $750...
For status quo,and to end your photographic journey, Leica 35mm/2 aspherical titanium limited $1,695...

rpsawin · 01-11-2004

I'm currently using two of the CV 35mm lenses: 35/2.5 Skopar and the 35/1.7 Ultron. I like them both but really like the 35/2.5 Skopar. It's small, super fast to focus and produces very good results. And the price is very affordable. While I look forward to the day I can find a 35/2 Summicron or Hexanon at a reasonable price I'm enjoying the two CV's today.

Bob

SolaresLarrave · 01-12-2004

You're right about the Skopar, it's small and most affordable. However, I'm interested in speed. The Skopar is not a slow lens by any means... but what kind of bokeh do you get with it?

This won't be a Leica year for me... Alas! My kingdom for a Summilux 35, or at least a Summicron...

rpsawin · 01-12-2004

Francisco,

I've just started scanning some of my B&W negs. I'll post a few shots taken with the Skopar in the near future.

Bob

PS: Take a look at the CV 35/1.2 Nokton. It's supposed to be a fantastic lens and under $900.

Bob

SolaresLarrave · 01-13-2004

Bob, I think I saw your nickname at the famous auction site... Didn't you just purchased a 90mm Minolta Rokkor lens from P. Keyes?

Cyberspace can be pretty scary, huh?

rpsawin · 01-14-2004

Busted....yes, and I expect delivery today. This lilttle beauty will round out my lenses for the M6.

Bob

SolaresLarrave · 01-14-2004

Talking about busted... so were my hopes. Or rather crushed: I placed a bid on a nice 28mm Minolta he had for sale and lost.

Another day, another sale...

SolaresLarrave · 01-16-2004

Time to bump this thread!

I have a small dilemma: on the one hand, I can lay my hands on a CV 35 f1.7 Ultron for almost $400 (including adapter ring for M-mount), on the other, I'm being offered a Summicron-like black Canon 35mm f2 for $300. What would you choose? Why? I need some help but later I won't blame anyone on the choice I make. Honest!

taffer · 01-17-2004

Ok, never tried any of them, but you could have in mind a couple of things in order to choose:

- Quality and condition: If one is clearly far better than the other, well then why choose the 'worst' one ?

- Price, $100 difference but the Canon is a LTM one, no ? Then you'll need to invest some more extra bucks in the M adapter.

- That extra f stop.

- Let's see, $100 is equal to a couple of mint good FSU RFs, probably 2-5 FSU lenses depending on model and condition, public transport travel cards for 4 months, a new hard disk drive for the computer, and so on, sure you can think on more interesting things to buy/do for $100. But it's up to you to decide if you want to spend or save that extra bucks, I don't want to feel guilty later

- And of course, real user opinions and experiences. My only 35 is my strange and not very used Jupiter-12, and now there's also the 40mm of the Canonet.

Anyway let us know ! What happened with the 40mm Minolta you were looking for ? You can still look for another one on eBay or second hand store.

SolaresLarrave · 01-17-2004

Oscar, the voice of common sense!

I got photos from the Canon lens (which has a fairly good reputation among leicaphiles). It looks pristine, and the owner doesn't use it as much as his wider angle CV 21mm. Still...

I'll need to spend cash on the adapter, no matter which lens I buy, that's a problem.

Yes... the additiona f-stop is tempting...

About the 100 bucks? It may be the price of peace of mind. But then I must tell you something: the CV Ultron has the annoying habit of falling apart on you (literally). I've read about some cases in which the front component starts getting loose until it nearly falls off the camera, and fixing it oneself takes some skills I don't have (I read a detailed account of how one guy put his back together on his dining room table with optical screwdrivers). Scary, huh?

Well, on the other hand, I could keep bidding on a 28mm Minolta lens on eBay. I lost one already to a Chinese bidder but then, there's always more!

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll have to give it more thought. It simply happens that, for La Boquería market in BCN, I would like a nice, wide angle lens. What do you think?

rover · 01-17-2004

Francisco, I have the Ultron without problems after about a year. That said I am pretty easy on my equipment. Also, if I had it to do again I would pass on the Ultron and get the Classic Skopar, which is slower I know. I actually think that my second choice would be the Canon 35, which tend to command a bit of a premium due to scarcity. The best solution probably is the Minolta 28 in my mind bang for the buck.

taffer · 01-17-2004

Scary indeed, I thought only russian lenses fell apart !

If the Canon 35 is a good lens with proved good reputation and is pristine as you said then maybe it's the way to go, and at f2 is still pretty fast too.

If you're not going to sleep well due to that extra $100 then the choice is still easier. Grab whatever makes you feel better!

I have a free pdf newsletter I downloaded some months ago from the 37th frame, that has some 35 mm lens reviews and also some words praising the virtues of that focal length. You can find it here. It's the last link, free sample issue (pdf).

http://www.37thframe.com/subscribe.htm

And now there's no way I could be against the copyright anymore

SolaresLarrave · 01-17-2004

Oscar, as the Rubén Blades' song goes, "life will surprise you". When I asked the Canon lens seller about the good, ole fashioned and always trusted "money back" guarantee... he said that given the Paypal and shipping expenses and loss of funds involved, he wouldn't offer any $ back. He claims his lens is beyond doubt in perfect and pristine shape, but I don't question the lens at all, I'd just like to know that I can get my money back in case something goes awry... which can happen since he'd be shipping the lens all the way from (clearing throat) Tokyo, in Japan.

How do you like'em apples?

Oh, well, I guess I'll spend the additional $100, but now I can decide to do it later, shortly before dealing with those Boquería shots.

And thanks a big lot for the article! I don't think you're doing anything wrong. It'd be really bad news if you had said to be the author, at least to me... I'll keep you posted!

taffer · 01-18-2004

Waaa, no good. In this case that $100 ARE the price of peace of mind. The kind of peace of mind you get when you know you can have some kind of warranty.

Only one thing, why don't take a look at some reviews for that 35/2.5 Rover said? It's $219 new in cameraquest, add the price for the adapter and you are still below the AS IS canon price.

Decisions are always the most difficult part, hehe.

And no, I don't use to write that kind of things, now if we were talking of El Quijote I could tell you my friend how that guy Cervantes stole the whole idea from me a bunch of years ago...

It would be nice to get the second part of that review though, but I downloaded it just for curiosity before getting my Jupiter-12 and soon forgot it in the pdfs folder.

Edit: I finally found that pdf on the original site. It's the last link of the "subscribe" page.

rover · 01-18-2004

Speaking of the CV Ultron, have you guys seen this auction which simply never will end? I have seen this listing for 2 months probably, simply priced not to sell.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=30063

SolaresLarrave · 01-18-2004

Oscar, the Skopar looks good, pricewise, but then, I'm after speed in this case, and while the Skopar can be considerate fairly good at f2.5, it certainly cannot beat a f1.7 lens. It's on my short list nonetheless...

Rover, I had that auction in my watch list until I got tired of seeing it... and also when I found out the price this lens goes for in the US I considered myself insulted. One of these days I'll send them a message with information about the prices an Ultron fetches here. In fact, I don't think those prices are correct in Canadian dollars!

Time to keep looking!

back alley · 01-18-2004

franciso,

don't get too hung up on speed. there are always faster films and one of the obvious beauties of the rangefinder is being able to shoot at slower speeds.
my mamiya lens are very slow, and i consistantly shoot handheld at 1/30th of a sec with good results.

just think of all the film the savings will buy.

joe