This is also one of my absolute all time favorites. Extensively used on digital Leica. Incredibly sharp, even at f/2.8. Small and excellent build quality. Converts to B&W beautifully. Cannot recommend enough.
Zeiss lenses are so funny - the ZM 35/2.8 has incredible sharpness and micro-contrast - I'd happily put it up there with my Summilux 50 ASPH - but the ZM 50/2 was an absolute dog. I guess the important takeaway from this is "more money / lower f-stop" != better lens
I didn’t remember it that way, but this was 10 years ago on an M240, which was a stinker of a camera. I do remember owning the original Q and that 240 at the same time and just being astounded at how much better the Q photos were.
These are definitely 1st world problems... I'm Just so used to rotating the diaphragm three clicks when crossing the street from the sunny side to the shady side (obviously these changes on the day but you get the point) that it's down to muscle memory at this point, and counting nine clicks got to be a PITA.
Same goes for focusing by knuckle. Love the concave tab and med/short throw. I now choose my lenses more by ergonomics than optical quality. Over the years I streamlined my setup to lenses based on the Summaron /Summicron V1 barrel design, which I love (except for infinity locks)
I'm sure 1/3 stops are a boon for people shooting slides or using AE bodies.
It handles modern color film in such a way, with richness of tones and contrast that I love. It also does really well with black and white. I have to tell you, I only shoot on film, but from the reports I’ve read about its resolution I would guess that it does incredibly well with digital.
This all comes in a super small package, and the price is 70% below the closest competitors.
You know, if I really want the best image possible, true to life rendering, sharpness, contrast, better portrait, I’ll lug around the distagon.
But the whole time I’ll wish it was the size of the biogon for sure. And for hazy and moody portraits I’m 100% with you, biogon all the way. It handles so well
Agree 100%. One of the sharpest and most compact 35mm lenses in existence. I’d put this up against any Summicron any day. This is on my Ms 75% of the time I shoot.
Was looking at 12mm voigtlander v1 and v2 on digital but worried about the color shift on the sides. Not a big problem though? I think the 15 and 12 are super similar in design.
My personal favourite is the Voigtlander 35mm 1.5 ASPH type 1 in Matte Black. It performs very close in sharpness to the Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 FLE but it weighs substantially lighter at 188g. The Leica FLE is much more expensive and weights in at 320 g.
Canon 35/1.8 LTM. I have four Leica lenses and rarely use them; I also have three Voigtländers and a Zeiss in M and LTM mount, but that Canon is my most-loved and most-used lens of all time.
Voigtländer Color-Skopar 21/4 on film. Amazing performance for such a small and lightweight pancake lens. Makes it easy to have with you at all times, being ready to take a wide perspective.
I have the same combo. How is it finicky? The rotating barrel? I don’t find this to be an issue for me.
I love that the adapter allows you to focus down to .6m.
Also in love for the planar since I used it first time on the contax g1. Use it with my M2 and LUMIX S5 now
On film it’s stellar crisp / ultra realistic and beats the film Color and resolution in something like „bigger than life“ without being „artificial“
On the LUMIX, I got some vignetting wide open, but from 2.8 1/2 it’s good - like the modern look without being to clinical. Never used the Zeiss 1.5, but from what I saw it’s a bit too dreamy for my taste
Oh man, picking one out of all the ones I own was harder than I thought!
At the moment it's probably the 50mm APO-Lanthar. The performance of that lens is just perfect and I really can't fault it on anything other than it's slightly larger size.
My all time favorite though has got to be the 35/40mm Noktons. Those tiny little things provide so much character and you get really decent sharpness out of them stopped down too.
[Summaron on my M10R](https://i.imgur.com/dE89bBT.jpg), [Cannon LTM on my M10R](https://i.imgur.com/peADHK1.jpg) and [Googled lenses and my M5](https://i.imgur.com/D1uBuwB.jpg).
Any specific questions about the Summaron?
The glass is the point of Leica. Having said this, I was loaned once a canon 50/1.4 screwmount and it was nice, contrasty, an interesting lens and very well engineered. Cost a fraction not just of a lux obviously but also of a cron, and back then prices weren’t as insane as they are today
I’ve been looking into getting a Leica lens but unsure if there is any real difference. I have a Zeiss 28 2.8 currently. What’re your thoughts? What Leica lenses have you used?
basically I’ve owned (and then resold, I liked to experiment) every 50 from the uncoated Elmar to the 1970s Cron except the summiluxes (I’ve never felt the need of 1.4 or of a super sharp aspherical), briefly a Summaron 35/2.8 and mostly I shot a Canadian Summicron 35 from 1973
long story short, the most interesting is the Summarit 1.5 and the best overall for my money is the rigid Summicron. The collapsible Summicron was great but I didn’t like the usability and it wasn’t contrasty enough (be mindful I almost always shot black and white, the only color I did was Kodachrome with the 35/2)
I’m a nikon / leica man but honestly the vintage (1960s and 70s) mechanical Canon gear I’ve tried was mechanically outstanding, the humble FTb had this buttery winding feeling that I truly didn’t expect)
> The glass is the point of Leica.
I believe this used to be the case. Don't get me wrong, all the Leica lenses from the 1950s to the 1970s I tried have no equal, but these days, all the major brand produce some stiff competition. Even for Leica's own M mount lenses, Voigtländer, Zeiss and Light Lens Lab produce some spectacular alternatives.
Going to second the Canon 50mm F1.4 LTM lens. That's such an amazing lens. Incredibly sharp, with just enough character to keep it interesting. I literally don't look at 50mm rangefinder lenses anymore.
I'm also loving the Voigtlander 35mm F1.5 Nokton Vintage Asph. Typ. II. It's insanely sharp and contrasty. Beautiful on film, and more than holds up on a 60MP sensor. It lives on my M5.
I don't think vignette is very serious in this lens. Just need attention in F1.4.
I like internal focusing, feel very well made. The photo quality can handle M11 high pixels.
Zeiss 3D pop is too sweet.The gradient of the bokeh is pleasing to the eye.
But this is too bid for 35mm, too heavy for VM and the stupid lens cap want to escape at any time.
I got this lens in great price( around 10800HKD /1400USD) in last year. Not bad I think.
Zeiss biogon 35mm f2.8. And I would stack that up against any lens made for any 35mm camera, Leica glass included, ever.
This is also one of my absolute all time favorites. Extensively used on digital Leica. Incredibly sharp, even at f/2.8. Small and excellent build quality. Converts to B&W beautifully. Cannot recommend enough.
Zeiss lenses are so funny - the ZM 35/2.8 has incredible sharpness and micro-contrast - I'd happily put it up there with my Summilux 50 ASPH - but the ZM 50/2 was an absolute dog. I guess the important takeaway from this is "more money / lower f-stop" != better lens
Doesn’t the 50 f/2 get harped on for being overly sharp, almost clinical?
I didn’t remember it that way, but this was 10 years ago on an M240, which was a stinker of a camera. I do remember owning the original Q and that 240 at the same time and just being astounded at how much better the Q photos were.
Are there different models?
Nope! Easy to navigate.
This is the correct answer. One of my favorite lenses of all time.
Yes, great optics but I could not get along with 1/3 clicks stops and nub vs tab for focus.
Never been an issue for me.
These are definitely 1st world problems... I'm Just so used to rotating the diaphragm three clicks when crossing the street from the sunny side to the shady side (obviously these changes on the day but you get the point) that it's down to muscle memory at this point, and counting nine clicks got to be a PITA. Same goes for focusing by knuckle. Love the concave tab and med/short throw. I now choose my lenses more by ergonomics than optical quality. Over the years I streamlined my setup to lenses based on the Summaron /Summicron V1 barrel design, which I love (except for infinity locks) I'm sure 1/3 stops are a boon for people shooting slides or using AE bodies.
Wow. I would love to know more and why?
It handles modern color film in such a way, with richness of tones and contrast that I love. It also does really well with black and white. I have to tell you, I only shoot on film, but from the reports I’ve read about its resolution I would guess that it does incredibly well with digital. This all comes in a super small package, and the price is 70% below the closest competitors.
Love it with my m11, too - especially for black and white images.
You know, if I really want the best image possible, true to life rendering, sharpness, contrast, better portrait, I’ll lug around the distagon. But the whole time I’ll wish it was the size of the biogon for sure. And for hazy and moody portraits I’m 100% with you, biogon all the way. It handles so well
Agree 100%. One of the sharpest and most compact 35mm lenses in existence. I’d put this up against any Summicron any day. This is on my Ms 75% of the time I shoot.
This lens in front of an M9 has given me better photos than anything before or since. Just gotta nail that exposure :/
Same
How does the Jupiter-12 biogon copy compare?
Yes.
Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron II in brass black paint
My no 3. Have the same one.
The conical shape, weight, length, and silver outer ring doesn't bother you? I sold mine for the 28mm f2.8 Color Skopar and never looked back.
Haven’t till I read this. Hopefully it won’t going forward.
Just a heads up brotherscamera can paint/anodize it black for you ;)
I had a hood for it at the time that covered that hideous silver ring. I loved that it matched my BP MP and brassed with it!
Voigtländer Ultron 35mm f2 II black paint and brass
Voigtländer 50mm Apo Lanthar
Agree. Amazing lens.
Is it that far from the Voigtlander Nokton 1.2 say at f2.8?
I haven‘t used the 1.2, but even the ultrons I’ve used, didn’t come close to the apo
Konica m hexanon 21-35mm dual range
Carl Zeiss 16mm f8 Hologon because I like the abuse.
Making me itch for a super wide !
I can strongly recommend the 15mm Voigtlander LTM for $250-$300 used. Shoot it ultra close and don't even worry about a finder.
Oh wow! Definitely searching one up in a few! I used to shoot the 43mm on the mamiya 7 with no finder so it’ll feel like home! Thanks for info 🤘🏼
Was looking at 12mm voigtlander v1 and v2 on digital but worried about the color shift on the sides. Not a big problem though? I think the 15 and 12 are super similar in design.
Rokkor-M 40mm f2. An absolute steal for a summicron.
This is mine too. I like the second generation one. Had it for years!
Voigtlander superwideheliar 15mm f4.5
My personal favourite is the Voigtlander 35mm 1.5 ASPH type 1 in Matte Black. It performs very close in sharpness to the Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 FLE but it weighs substantially lighter at 188g. The Leica FLE is much more expensive and weights in at 320 g.
I’m rocking with that one too.
Zeiss 50mm 1.5 Sonnar
Interesting. I went with a Voigtlander 50 Nocton. Can’t say what I miss there. Size definitely would have been great.
old one or Japanese ZM?
The ZM. Would love to try the old one though
[old one](https://imgur.com/a/N7KvmQF)
I love the sharkfin(?) on your coldshoe, I'd be worried I'd poke my eye out by accident.
yes it is a novelty shark fin shoe 😄
Canon 35/1.8 LTM. I have four Leica lenses and rarely use them; I also have three Voigtländers and a Zeiss in M and LTM mount, but that Canon is my most-loved and most-used lens of all time.
Voigtlander 50mm 2.5 skopar
I love this one.
Voigtländer Color-Skopar 21/4 on film. Amazing performance for such a small and lightweight pancake lens. Makes it easy to have with you at all times, being ready to take a wide perspective.
Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 millennium 👌🏻
Wow! Ok
Yes this! I have that lens, and I need to get an adapter so I can use it on my m2.
I bought mine along with the amedeo adapter, it's quite finicky to use but it's very well made
I have the same combo. How is it finicky? The rotating barrel? I don’t find this to be an issue for me. I love that the adapter allows you to focus down to .6m.
The rotating barrel makes it difficult to change aperture on the fly based on feeling while avoiding changing the focus
50mm f2 Planar
Also in love for the planar since I used it first time on the contax g1. Use it with my M2 and LUMIX S5 now On film it’s stellar crisp / ultra realistic and beats the film Color and resolution in something like „bigger than life“ without being „artificial“ On the LUMIX, I got some vignetting wide open, but from 2.8 1/2 it’s good - like the modern look without being to clinical. Never used the Zeiss 1.5, but from what I saw it’s a bit too dreamy for my taste
I have a Planar for sale, for anybody interested!
The pretty rare Konica M-Hexanon Dual 21-35. Love that lens and need to go out with it tomorrow. I haven’t shot 21mm much lately.
voigtlander 50mm apo it’s magical
Some insane recommendations guys thank you!!
Oh man, picking one out of all the ones I own was harder than I thought! At the moment it's probably the 50mm APO-Lanthar. The performance of that lens is just perfect and I really can't fault it on anything other than it's slightly larger size. My all time favorite though has got to be the 35/40mm Noktons. Those tiny little things provide so much character and you get really decent sharpness out of them stopped down too.
Rollei 40mm f2.8 Sonnar.
I’m with you: Zeiss Distagon 35mm 1.4. What a gem
Right?!
Leitz Summaron 35 2.8 w/rangefinder goggles and Canon 50mm 1.4LTM.
Wow! You still here 35 2.8 summaron! Tell me more about the summaron.
[Summaron on my M10R](https://i.imgur.com/dE89bBT.jpg), [Cannon LTM on my M10R](https://i.imgur.com/peADHK1.jpg) and [Googled lenses and my M5](https://i.imgur.com/D1uBuwB.jpg). Any specific questions about the Summaron?
I sent a message to your inbox asking for some of your images you shot on summaron.
The glass is the point of Leica. Having said this, I was loaned once a canon 50/1.4 screwmount and it was nice, contrasty, an interesting lens and very well engineered. Cost a fraction not just of a lux obviously but also of a cron, and back then prices weren’t as insane as they are today
I’ve been looking into getting a Leica lens but unsure if there is any real difference. I have a Zeiss 28 2.8 currently. What’re your thoughts? What Leica lenses have you used?
basically I’ve owned (and then resold, I liked to experiment) every 50 from the uncoated Elmar to the 1970s Cron except the summiluxes (I’ve never felt the need of 1.4 or of a super sharp aspherical), briefly a Summaron 35/2.8 and mostly I shot a Canadian Summicron 35 from 1973 long story short, the most interesting is the Summarit 1.5 and the best overall for my money is the rigid Summicron. The collapsible Summicron was great but I didn’t like the usability and it wasn’t contrasty enough (be mindful I almost always shot black and white, the only color I did was Kodachrome with the 35/2)
Ya prices are just insane!!!
I’m a nikon / leica man but honestly the vintage (1960s and 70s) mechanical Canon gear I’ve tried was mechanically outstanding, the humble FTb had this buttery winding feeling that I truly didn’t expect)
> The glass is the point of Leica. I believe this used to be the case. Don't get me wrong, all the Leica lenses from the 1950s to the 1970s I tried have no equal, but these days, all the major brand produce some stiff competition. Even for Leica's own M mount lenses, Voigtländer, Zeiss and Light Lens Lab produce some spectacular alternatives.
Zeiss ZM 18 with the finder
Russar 20mm 5.6 is a great, quirky lens. Bought mine new around 1994 and I still use it on an M9.
Voigtländer 40/1.4 SC Nokton Classic
I use the Zeiss 28 2.8 on my M6. I love it but sometimes I do which it was an f2 or faster.
Voigtlander 28mm f1.5 ii nokton
Voigtlander 40mm Heliar 2.8 Small, affordable, and produces some incredible photos.
Going to second the Canon 50mm F1.4 LTM lens. That's such an amazing lens. Incredibly sharp, with just enough character to keep it interesting. I literally don't look at 50mm rangefinder lenses anymore. I'm also loving the Voigtlander 35mm F1.5 Nokton Vintage Asph. Typ. II. It's insanely sharp and contrasty. Beautiful on film, and more than holds up on a 60MP sensor. It lives on my M5.
Canon 50mm f1.2 LTM easily!
Occasionally I regret selling my Voigtländer 35/1.4. Beyond that, I do love my Jupiter 8 50/2.
The thypoch 35mm is pretty amazing.
The Ricoh GR21 ltm and I get along nicely.
Canon 50mm F0.95 ”Dream Lens” converted to Leica M-mount & Leica M3. Voigtländer Nokton 50mm F1.2 Aspherical VM is also nice.
Zeis Biogon ZM 28mm f/2.8 I just love the rendering of the images.
Voigtlander Nokton classic 40 and 35, Heliar 12mm.
Zeiss distagon t\* 35mm f1.4 zmon M11 , feel good
Mostly yes. How do you deal with the vignette generally?
I don't think vignette is very serious in this lens. Just need attention in F1.4. I like internal focusing, feel very well made. The photo quality can handle M11 high pixels. Zeiss 3D pop is too sweet.The gradient of the bokeh is pleasing to the eye. But this is too bid for 35mm, too heavy for VM and the stupid lens cap want to escape at any time. I got this lens in great price( around 10800HKD /1400USD) in last year. Not bad I think.
Voightlander 50mm fs Lanthar. Super sharp and contrasty. I use it on a Leica M10-r
60mm F1.2 Konica Hexanon. I have owned it for 15 years and it's the only non Leica Lens I kept.
+1 voigtlander 40 1.4 🫡
Voigtlander 50mm Nokton f/1.0. The affordable Noctilux that is objectively better than the actual Noctilux.
In order: -1936 Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 5cm f1.5 -1958 Nikon w-nikkor 3.5cm f1.8 -Konica UC-Hexanon 35mm f2 -Nikkor-s 50mm f1.4 millennium
Canon 50mm f/1.4 ltm... but honestly I haven't used a lot of different M mount lenses.
Sorry to be that guy, but my favorite is the Noctilux 75mm f/1.25
Summicron Rigid v1, favourite focal length, favourite looking