Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Fernando Martins jotted down the following: > is there any other screwmount lenses worth getting? It depends upon what your expectations are. If you think that getting LTM glass is a cheap way of getting Leica glass and are hoping to get the look of the modern ASPH and pre-ASPH lenses, you're going to be bitterly disappointed. However, if you love the look of 35mm photography from the 1930's, 1940's and early 1950's, then you'll be delighted. Yes, contrast is typically lower, spherical abberations and flare typically higher, but as long as you know about this and know how to use it to your advantage, then why not play around with some LTM glass? Good buys include the 50mm f/3.5 Elmar and 90mm f/4 Elmar. The 50mm is particularly interesting when it's uncoated: There is little in the way of shadow or highlight detail, but the mid-tones are to die for. Absolutely fabulous. Use with a yellow filter, Ilford Pan F, and develop in Rodinal 1:100. Then go out pretending you're HCB or Eisenstadt and have fun! Coated versions of the lenses have more detail in shadows and highlights. The red-scale 50mm f/3.5 Elmar is particularly sought after (and commands a premium price) because of it's great optical qualities. It's also a magnificently small package on an LTM. Fits in a shirt pocket (just don't bend over!) You'll need a separate VF on the old Leica LTMs (except the IIIg) for anything but the 50mm lenses. Personally, I find that the tiny VF for the 50mm is perfect: it forces you to take pictures with strong compositional structure. The good pictures I get from the LTM are often better than the good pictures I get from my M cameras, at least with the 50. I often think it's because of that small VF. M. - -- Martin Howard | Armored with good intentions and Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU | ignorance, one is impregnable to email: howard.390@osu.edu | learning. www: http://mvhoward.i.am/ +---------------------------------------