Re: [Leica] Cheaper of cheap 28mm lenses

[Rich Lahrson <tripspud@transbay.net>]

Hi,

     My only experience with a 25mm was about 15 years ago with a IIIa
and the Nikkor 25/4.  The SMALLEST.  Nowadays, collector interest
has driven prices through the roof.  I've heard complaints about Nikon's
25 finder for this lens, but I found okay and strong, not like those
pieces of junk plastic that breaks that Leitz's currently offers.  I recall
the lens had considerable light fall off typical of it's focal length.

                                                                    Cheers,

                                                Rich Lahrson
                                                tripspud@transbay.net

Steve Unsworth wrote:

> Joe
>
> As Guy says have you considered the Voigtlander 25mm. If you're going to use
> a viewfinder for the 28mm why not go that little bit wider (only about 10%)
> and get a 25mm? I don't think you'll be disappointed by it's performance.
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Guy Bennett
> Sent: 28 July 2001 14:34
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Cheaper of cheap 28mm lenses
>
> Joe,
>
> A couple of years ago I too was looking for a 28 in LTM to use with my IIIf
> and couldn't really find anything I liked. I wanted a vintage lens and thus
> Canon seemed the best choice since it was the fastest, but I felt they were
> too expensive. The Leica 28s (Hektor and Summaron) were even more expensive
> and slower, with (in the case of the Summaron) a maximum aperture of 5.6
> (the Hektor's max ap being 6.3). For these reasons I eventually abandoned
> the idea of getting a 28 and eventually went with the Cosina 25, which I
> sold a few months ago and which I will replace with their new 21.
>
> Like you, I find that some of the Cosina lenses - though they are in LTM -
> do not balance well on the LTM bodies. The 50/1.5, 35/1.7, 28/1.9, even the
> 75 (and, I suspect, the 90) seem too bulky on a IIIf (but probably feel
> great on an M). On the other hand, their 21, 25, and 35 "classic" balance
> well with the LTM body, and a IIIf with one of those lenses is a great wide
> angle combo that's small enough to slip into your pocket.
>
> Why not consider going wider than 28?
>
> Guy
>
> P.S. If your stuck on the 28 focal length and 5.6 is fast enough for you, I
> believe that Don Chatterton's currently got a Summaron 28/5.6 for sale...