[Leica] Re: Other lenses for Leica

[LRZeitlin <LRZeitlin@aol.com>]

<<I'm interested in mounting some old lenses on my M6; does anyone have
any specific advice, do's and don'ts, etc? Relatively cheap yet funky
lenses to try? I've read nice comments about the Summar 5cm, but are
there any 35's that are a must? Any info will be greatly appreciated...>>

One of the virtues of the Leica is that you can mount most of the older Leica
lenses, including all Leica screw mounts on the M series. Of course you wont
get viewfinder frames for all of the lenses but that's what auxiliary finders
are for. Any of the older 50 mm lenses will mount, screw lenses of course
requiring a 50mm screw to M converter. The collapsible Elmar f3.5 and
collapsible Summitar and Summicron f2.0s make the camera a relatively thin
package that may slip into a very heavily reinforced pants pocket, if you
don't mind walking with a list. Each of these lenses will give a very high
quality, sharp image and each was the standard for its time. (The seven
element Summicron was probably the standard for all time.) Differences between
the lenses are speed and corner fall off. It takes a large enlargement to see
significant print differences.

The 50mm f2 Summar gives a soft image at any opening wider than f4. If you can
pick up a lens cheaply enough, it's worth a try if you like that sort of
thing. A smudge of vaseline on a Summicron works pretty much the same way.
Stay away from the Hektor f2.5. It has no redeeming values. For a combination
of controllable softness and speed, I prefer the 50mm f1.2 Canon screw mount.
Wide open it gives a diffuse halo around objects and makes available light
portraits look lovely. My wife's favorite picture of herself was taken with
this lens. I use it a lot at weddings and family gatherings for the friendly
glow. At f1.2 and with fast film you can take pictures in coal cellars.
Stopped down to f4 it rivals the Summicron in sharpness. I've seen them priced
at about $200 to 300. 

Some of the better short telephotos were in the Canon line as well, notably
the f3.5 100mm shortie and the f3.5 135mm. If you can find it, the Canon 19mm
f3.5 is a unique wide angle that fits the Leica. Leica also made a couple of
specialist lenses for Visoflex mounts and portraits. The Thambar f2.2 variable
softness lens has a cult following, but it is worth far more as a collecter's
item than as a user.

For a time (1935-1955) the Leica screw mount was the defacto standard for RF
35mm camera lenses. Lenses were made or remounted by Leica, Canon, Reid,
Schact (sp?), Fed, Zorki, and perhaps a dozen other camera makers. Many of
these lenses were of poor quality, but many were vary good indeed. Junk boxes
in camera stores are full of them since there is very little demand. All you
need is a couple of screw to M converters and the willingness to experiment. -
LarryZ