Leica is often seen as expensive, but there are actually plenty of second-hand lenses that are not very expensive. For instance, the Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39 is quite old but still works great and is very cheap!
Paired with Leica iiig
The early 90mm lens looked a bit awkward when mounted on an M camera. So I decided to mount it on the IIIg, and they look quite nice. The Leica ELMAR 90mm f4 is excellent and rivals all modern Leica lenses. It’s a little too sharp, but it’s totally worth it. Maybe the F4 aperture is too small, and modern people pursue large apertures. Even at f/4, the 90mm lens can still produce beautiful bokeh effects. The aperture factor is one thing, but bokeh also depends on the distance between the lens and the subject. The closer the subject, the more obvious the bokeh.
90mm Street Photography
Saul Leiter uses a 90mm lens and does not rely on bokeh or atmosphere. He is a true master of 90mm. I think using a telephoto lens for street photography is an elegant act. You know, it takes a lot of courage to take a close-up shot with a 21mm lens, and it’s easy to spot. But the closer you get, the easier it is to get powerful photos. Street photography with a 90mm lens requires a strong sense of observation. To be honest, I’m not good at 90mm photography and prefer to use a 35mm lens.
Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39
info
Focal Length: 9cm (90mm) Mount: LEICA SM Min. Focusing Distance: approx. 1m (3ft) Minimum / Maximum Aperture: f/36(f/32 N)~f/4.0 Filter Attachament Size: E39 Weight: approx. 240/300g
Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39Leica Elmar 90mm F4 L39
The Summitar 50 f/2 is the predecessor of the Summicron 50mm f/2. This lens uses new glass and a new design, which brings its optical level up to a higher level than its predecessor. At the same time, it also has the same compact structure and light weight as its predecessor lens. But what really sets this lens apart is that its glass is radioactive.
Radioactive Yellow Glass
The main source of radioactivity in lenses is the use of thorium oxide as the glass component in the lens elements. Thorium oxide glass provides a high refractive index and low dispersion, which helps lens designers minimize chromatic aberration and reduce curvature. However, the presence of thorium in the glass can cause the lens elements to yellow over time.
Is Radiation?
If you use these lenses correctly, there’s no risk to your health from the thorium in the Leica Summicron 5cm lenses. I’ve got five of these lenses and I’ve measured their radiation levels one by one. The radiation levels are higher in the early stages than they are in the later stages. However, prolonged exposure to this radiation can damage the eyes and cause cataracts and other vision problems. The main source of radiation is within ten centimeters directly in front of the lens. The radiation value behind the lens is pretty much nothing.
Radioactive yellow glass serial number: NR 920××× NR 921××× NR 922××× NR 993××× NR 994××× NR 995××× No. 1009××× Nr102×××× No. 104××××
Clarity
When you stop the lens down to f/2, it delivers excellent subject separation, background blur, and low-light performance without sacrificing too much sharpness. However, if you stop the aperture down to f/4, it’s really sharp and captures all the detail you could ask for. It’s a lot better than the Summitar.
Maybe a small, exquisite, and beautiful 35mm lens can change your view of photography or give you a different photography style. The Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 Asph is the key to opening the door of street photography for you.
Versions
The Leica Summicron lens has always been a popular choice for street photographers and report photographers. Before the 35mm asph version, there were already four versions without asph. Their optical quality was really impressive, way above what you’d get from other brands of the same era. In terms of optical technology, asph is a big step up from previous versions.
Just wanted to let you know that the asph version has two generations now. I use the first generation asph. It comes in three colors: black anodized aluminum and silver brass chrome. There is also a brass black lacquered version, which is pretty rare. The second generation asph has the same optical design as the first, but with the addition of the aperture blades. I’m happy with the first generation.
Golden ratio
I think the Leica Summicron 35mm lens paired with an M camera is the most beautiful combination. I think it’s a great combination, and my favorite so far. I don’t like to install lens hoods because I want to maintain the golden ratio of lens to camera.
Rainbow
I think the anti-glare capability could be better. With backlighting or side backlighting, it’s easy to create a beam of light that damages the screen. But many people think it’s a wonderful rainbow and have fun with it. I’m not a big fan of it, though. I prefer more classical flares such as large light spots and reduced overall contrast.
Conclusion
I’m amazed that this lens was made in 1997. It works perfectly with digital cameras and produces rich colors and great sharpness. Leica lenses are really good quality. This lens is built to last a lifetime.
Schneider developed the Leica Super-Angulon 21mm, which Leitz later brought to market. It can focus very close (0.4m) and produces a bokeh. This lens is sharp and produces beautiful images.
Not suitable for landscapes
In general, 21mm lenses can shoot a wide range of subjects and require a 21mm lenses can shoot many subjects, but you need to know what you’re doing. Otherwise, the pictures will be messy. This 21mm lens isn’t good for architecture or landscapes. It’s great for close-ups and portraits. This lens makes people look taller and more impressive. It also makes them look three-dimensional.
Jean-loup Sieff used this lens for portraits.
Digital Leica compatibility
This lens is compatible with Leica M digital cameras, but there might be some issues with color shift around edges and corners. It’s also prone to flare on digital cameras and may overexpose on the Leica M8 and M9. Despite these issues, this lens still produces great photos, especially when converting color photos to black and white.
F4.0 vs F3.4
The f/3.4 Super-Angulon lens has better optical quality than the f/4.0 version.
Voigtlander 21mm
The Voigtländer 21mm lens is a more affordable option than the Leica Super-Angulon. Some Voigtländer users might eventually be drawn to the classic design and nostalgic appeal of the Super-Angulon lens.
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Filter: 48mm UV, VII.
Hood: 12501
Front cover: 14102
Rear cover: 14042
Stock: less than 6000.
Focus lever: metal crescent focus lever.
Minimum focusing distance: 0.4m
The lens has a slightly soft focus, suffers from chromatic aberration, and vignettes at its maximum aperture of f/1.4. When shot wide open, it produces a soft, dreamy glow with shallow depth of field, and swirly bokeh, which is why it is nicknamed the ‘Leica glow.’ This type of soft and dreamy bokeh is either loved or hated by people.
Although I have many sharp lenses in my collection, I appreciate the beauty of photography beyond just technical perfection. The special dreamy glow effect cannot be reproduced with software; it can only be achieved in-camera. This lens is excellent for street portraits due to its glowing effect and becomes very sharp when stepping down the aperture, like every other Leica lens.
The three ‘Leica glow’ lenses I have used do not easily achieve the ‘Leica glow’, especially in film photography and low-light environments. The bokeh lacks the smooth and buttery total background obliteration of the Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 ASPH and the progressive blur bokeh of the Summicron 35mm f/2 v4 (7-elements), although it is closer to the latter.
It is important to note that this is not a flawless lens. Although the ‘Leica glow’ allows for shooting at f/1.4, it should not be used at this aperture all the time. If you desire a sharp f/1.4 lens, this old lens should not be your choice; instead, you should opt for either the Summilux 11874 or the Summilux 11663. For a legacy lens with both bokeh and sharpness, the Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 v4 is a better option. It is known as the ‘king of bokeh’ and provides both bokeh and sharpness, but it does not produce the ‘Leica glow’.
Not every photo looks good at f/1.4. The ‘Leica glow’ can be reduced by stopping down, resulting in excellent image quality. I observed that the ‘Leica glow’ is nearly on par with the ‘king of bokeh’ (Summicron 35mm f/2 v4)in terms of resolution, colors, and vignetting at every aperture from f/2.8 to f/8.
Balance
Considering the optical superiority of the Summilux 35mm ASPH lenses over this older lens, one may wonder why anyone would still want to use it. However, its current popularity is undoubtedly due to its affordability, rather than its ‘soft glow’.
However, I was seeking swirly bokeh and a dreamy glow when shooting wide open, which is exactly what this lens delivered. Smaller apertures can significantly reduce the softness and vignetting. The lens is well-balanced on a Leica M and its compact size and lightweight design make it a great choice.
Production period: 1961-1995
Code: 11869(black), 11870(black
11871 (with M3 attachment), 1 1860(titanium) Serial#:1,730,001-n/a
Total production: n/a
Maximum aperture: 1: 1.4
Focal length(nominal): 35mm
Angle: 640
Minimum distance: 100cm(M3)65cm(other Weight: 245 grams, later 195 grams,
Filter: E41. later VII
Leica R lenses can be designed using M lens designs, but only for long focal lengths. This is because the last glass element of rangefinder telephoto lenses is far away from the film plane, so a reflex mirror can be placed in the middle gap, for example, for 90mm and 135mm lenses. The standard 50mm lens is at the critical point.
I believe the Summicron R50mm lens is similar in construction to the Leica rangefinder and camera Summicron-M 50mm lens. However, because there’s a reflector between the DSLR lens and the film, the R50mm lens is further away from the film plane than the M lens. So, the two lenses have different imaging styles.
Because DSLR cameras are built differently from rangefinders, R lenses usually look pretty bulky. Once the lens is attached to the camera body, the aperture is fully open as long as the shutter is not released. It’s only when you press the shutter that the camera body opens the aperture. The lever transfer mechanism in R lenses makes them a bit larger than they need to be. In fact, R lenses are more complex internally than M lenses.
The Summicron R50 E43 lens is currently available at an incredible price and has amazing quality, making it, in my opinion, the best R lens to purchase. The SLR camera can focus at close range, and the closest focusing distance of the R50 is 0.5 meters, which is much closer than the 0.7 meters of the M50.
If you’re passionate about photography, remember that your gear shouldn’t be your passion. Even if you’re a gear junkie, the goal is to take pictures, whether it’s of family, friends, or street scenes. Using the Leica R35 f/2.8 lens will help you to stop focusing on your equipment and really focus on the joy of photography.
I chose this lens because it has a close focusing distance of 0.3 meters. It’s pretty amazing, because it’s even closer than the Super Angulon 21mm f/3.4, which has a close focusing distance of 0.4 meters. As Capa said, if your photos aren’t up to scratch, it’s probably because you’re not close enough.
In 1964, the Leica R35 f/2.8 was designed for the Leicaflex. This was Leica’s first foray into the single-lens reflex market. The 35 mm focal length is the one Leica really excels at, but they didn’t release the f/2 Summaron or Summilux. Instead, they went with the f/2.8 Elmarit, which shows that Leica was initially a bit wary of the R system.
There are a few different versions of the R35 f/2.8. The first one has a S6 mount, the second one has a S7 mount, and the third one has an E55 mount. Each version has seen a few minor design changes. I’ve got the first generation R35 f/2.8, which is considered the best-made version and produces a rich image quality.
Leica M-mount 28mm lenses aren’t cheap, as they’re standard wide-angle lenses. However, the Voigtlander VM 28mm f/2 lens is really impressive in terms of quality, with rich colors and high resolution. The Leica M8 produced images that were pretty mild, but with this lens, the colors are much richer and the bokeh at f/2 is also very nice.
In general, this lens is pretty similar to a Leica lens, but in complex lighting situations with high contrast, it might produce some strange colors in the highlights or shadows. The price is pretty good for the quality of the lens. For the price, the VM 28mm f/2 is a great lens.
There are so many wonderful Leica 28mm lenses to choose from! You’ve got the 28mm f/6.3 Hekor, the 28mm f/5.6, and the Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 (v1, v2, v3, v4). There are so many different versions and lots of stories to tell! The current 28mm f/2 ASPH is the upgrade of the Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 v4, and it uses ASPH glass. It has great 3D vision, a sharp f/2 aperture, and perfect bokeh!
f/2 Bokeh
I just love the bokeh from the Summicron! It’s so easy on the eye and not at all messy. This lens is based on the design concept of modern lenses, which is really great! ASPH lenses are great for improving clarity and making bokeh nice and soft. It’s not technically part of the Leica classic lens series, but it has a really impressive optical performance! The f/2 aperture is great for shooting in low light, and the lens is really fast, so it’s super versatile!
Shortcoming
Just a quick note to let you know that the aperture ring on this lens is a little loose, so it’s easy to accidentally touch it and change the aperture without realizing it. No big deal, just thought I’d give you a heads-up! Also, the hood is a bit big, so I usually leave it off.
ZM. VM.
This is the best Leica lens on the market right now, and it’s better than all 28mm lenses from Zeiss ZM and Voigtlander VM. If you think the Summicron 28 is too expensive, a used Elmarit 28 F2.8 is a great deal.
info
Leica 28mm f/2.0 SUMMICRON-M Aspherical Lens
Focal length: 28.5mm
Aperture: f/2 to f/16
Camera Mount Type: Leica M
Angle of View: 75-degrees
