Next best "bargain" lens for M outside of 40 f/2 rokkor / summicron-c?

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animefx

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We all know the 40mm f/2 rokkor (which I own) and 40 summicron-c M lenses are consider Leica's best value, but after that what would you say the 2nd best value is? I'm talking $300 - $700 which is fairly cheap for M. Please don't count Voigtlander, but other manufactures are ok.
 
Konica M-Hexanon 50mm F2, a.k.a Leica Summicron-M 50mm F2 (latest version), same performance, different name, about 500ish dollars? Why not, go figure.
 
If you can find any of the Konica Hexanon-M lenses around your price point then your money is well spent. The 50 f/2 is one of the best of the bunch, followed by the 35 f/2. I haven't used the 28 or the 90 too much but if they are as good as the other lenses, then you can't go wrong.

The ZM line is really awesome as well, but it's hard to find some of the lenses in your price point. The 50 f/2 Planar and the 35 f/2 Biogon show up around $650 at times, but lately they've been priced higher. The Biogon-C 35 f/2.8 is reputed to be a great lens as well.

I'm sure you'll get lots of responses here all with varying opinions. The M-Rokkor is a great little lens for the cost.
 
Think I would have to go 35 f2.8 summaron. Its tiny, made extremely well and is one of the sharpest lenses I own. Not sure what it hours for these days, but shouldnt be more than the price range you're considering
 
slantface said:
Think I would have to go 35 f2.8 summaron. Its tiny, made extremely well and is one of the sharpest lenses I own. Not sure what it hours for these days, but shouldnt be more than the price range you're considering
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Last two I saw went for $850 -- they've sky rocketed in the past 6 months.
 
slantface said:
Think I would have to go 35 f2.8 summaron. Its tiny, made extremely well and is one of the sharpest lenses I own. Not sure what it hours for these days, but shouldnt be more than the price range you're considering
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35 2.8 summaron is $800-900 range now.
I have one and thought about selling it at one time, but now I'm glad I didn't.
I agree with everything you said.
 
There are still bargains among screwmount lenses. The Summicron Dual Range is also good value because it's useless on an M9. Actually, my case has all the good value ones:

Summar 50/2
Summicron DR 50/2
Red Scale Elmar 50/3.5
Summaron 35/3.5 (LTM)
Summicron-C 40/2
Elmarit 90/2.8 (original long focus type)

I also have a Voigtlander 21/4 which I can't fault, although you have to appreciate light fall-off into the corners.
 
The two big sleeper's are still the 90mm Elmarit M and the 50mm Elmar M, two of Leica's finest lenses, but overlooked since they went out of production in the frenzy for Summilux and Asph and Summarit. If you want a cheap alternative for early Leica LTM lenses to use with an adapter on an M body a Canon f1.8 beats early Summicron's. All are as cheap now as they are ever going to be.

Steve
 
No question: Canon 50mm f1.8. Good ones still go for $200 or less. An outstanding lens that goes toe-to-toe w/ Summicrons of the same era.

The little Canon 35 f2.8 lens is also excellent and undervalued; goes for about $300 w/ finder and case. A worthy alternative to a summaron?

Finally, the Elmar 50/3.5 is still a bargain.
 
The Heliar 50/2 or Heliar 50/2 are excellent overall. Save some money and get the classic version (non-Nickel).

The Canon 50/1.4 and the Nikon 50/2 are stellar lenses.

The Summaron 35/2.8 is a first class moderately wide angle lens.

The original Elmar 5cm/2.8 is a super lens in your price range.

If you want to save on cost, the Canon 50/1.8 is a stellar lens.
 
Any older 135mm lenses are fabulous value - e.g. tele-elmar f4: the lenses are as well-made as any summicron of the period, have the same integrity of design and quality of glass but because the focal length is not popular on a rangefinder they go for a couple of hundred or less. Seems like a bargain to me: I got one for less than a hundred and it's a great lens on my M3.
 
exe163 said:
How much does the 90/2.8 elmarit m cost now a day?
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A really good one is less than 300 GBP here in the UK, so figure $400 or so. Depends whether you mean the telephoto or non-telephoto version. The former is a bit sharper but both are good. The non-telephoto version is big but not heavy.
 
rogerzilla said:
A really good one is less than 300 GBP here in the UK, so figure $400 or so. Depends whether you mean the telephoto or non-telephoto version. The former is a bit sharper but both are good. The non-telephoto version is big but not heavy.
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Well, I do not think you can get the "90mm Elmarit-M" for that kind of money.
Elmarit-M is the term for the 90mm that went out of production in 2008 or so, and it fetches higher prices. A lot can be said about Ken Rockwell, but the info table here http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/90mm-lenses.htm#intro goes a long way towards clearing up the maze of different Leica 90mm lenses over time.

Possibly you can get one of the Tele-Elmarits for the price above, but I would say that the true bargain is the 90mm Elmarit ("first version" which was built from 1959 to 74. It is the one with the "ring" of leatherette on the lens barrel, near the focus mount. Forum wisdom :) has it that is is sharper and less prone to flare than the later Tele-Elmarits. Build quality is exemplary. It is somehow unfavored and put down because it is the longest of the 90mm f2.8 lenses, and with the hood attached I do admit it looks a bit weird and Pinocchio-like on a Leica M :) But hey, the pictures are great.

300 Euro guarantee you to find a very nice one in Europe, with caps and shade.

Greetings, Ljós
 
The 2.8 Summaron is hardly a 'bargain" lens anymore. They used to go for less than $300 a few year back, but that's over since long. The 90 regular Elmarit is on the rise too. A year ago you had a beauty for $150. Now they've (more than) doubled. Same holds for the Elmars. In fact, the last 2 years prices have been rising for most Leica glass. Perhaps only long (135mm) lenses are still cheap.
 
A bit funny how people consider > 400 US as "best bargain" for a lens ... you guys might want to check prices on clean 2.8 Summarons, DR Summicrons, 50 Hexanons, 40 Summicrons or Rokkors, 90 Elmarits, etc.

Just bought me another clean Nikkor 50/2 for US 250 (and I was lucky). Very cool lens. Or the Canon 50/1.8 that Steve mentioned above. The Canon 85/2 can still be had for not too much. The 90 Rokkor can still be had below US 300, and is as sharp as it gets.

Roland.
 
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Ljós said:
Well, I do not think you can get the "90mm Elmarit-M" for that kind of money.
Elmarit-M is the term for the 90mm that went out of production in 2008 or so, and it fetches higher prices. A lot can be said about Ken Rockwell, but the info table here http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/90mm-lenses.htm#intro goes a long way towards clearing up the maze of different Leica 90mm lenses over time.

Possibly you can get one of the Tele-Elmarits for the price above, but I would say that the true bargain is the 90mm Elmarit ("first version" which was built from 1959 to 74. It is the one with the "ring" of leatherette on the lens barrel, near the focus mount. Forum wisdom :) has it that is is sharper and less prone to flare than the later Tele-Elmarits. Build quality is exemplary. It is somehow unfavored and put down because it is the longest of the 90mm f2.8 lenses, and with the hood attached I do admit it looks a bit weird and Pinocchio-like on a Leica M :) But hey, the pictures are great.

300 Euro guarantee you to find a very nice one in Europe, with caps and shade.

Greetings, Ljós
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+1 for the elmarit. I bought mine then for 175 euro..
 
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