Leica Mount (LSM and M) Lenses - Wide (< 40mm)

| No Comments
Leica Mount Cameras:
Leica-mount Lenses:
Other Classic Camera Lens Mounts
Contax / Nikon RF Bayonet Mount
Pentax Screw Mount (M42)

Leica Screw Mount Lenses (M39)    SuperWide- Wide - Standard - Tele

Leica Mount
Wide Angle Lenses
(<40 mm)

by Karen Nakamura

 

Wide Angle Lenses

Wide-angle lenses are essential for photoethnographic work, especially in the genre of environmental portraiture - showing people embedded in the surroundings in which they live and work. The standard technique is to use a wide- to very-wide angle lens (20-35mm) and get extremely close to the subject. This allows for a strong central subject but also includes enough of the background to place the person in his environment. The problem with wide-angles is that they have a tendency to exaggerate facial features (especially noses) if you get too close, so use this with caution.


Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7

For a while, I was holding out for the new Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2, but got caught up in the wonderful selection of 35mm lenses available in Leica mount. I now have several wide-angles lenses, all of which I love. For very detailed information on choosing between 3rd party 35mm focal length lenses, see Tom Abrahamsson's write-up, posted on the Leica Users Group in May of 2003, and reposted here with permission.

 

 

Canon Serenar 35/f2.8: I bought a Canon Serenar 35mm f/2.8 with the viewfinder on ebay. I think it was a bit of an impulse purchase as it exceeded my budget, but it looked mint and came with the leather case and a cute little viewfinder (left). It's a 6 element lens, not hypercorrected but nothing to sneeze at either.Typical of lenses of the era, it has low contrast but high resolution. I particularly like the "bokeh". I have a few photos taken with this lens ("Butch" and "Construction Worker") in my Gallery page. I was fond of this lens - the high resolution with low contrast gives very unique looking photographs, especially on high-resolution B&W film such as Fuji Neopan 100 Acros. I just never used it, so I ended up selling this lens.

 

 

 

Canon 35mm f/2: My impression of this lens is very strong. It's pictured to the left here on my Leica CL. As you can see, the 35mm f/2 lens is very compact. I loved this lens but ended up swapping it for the Leitz Summaron 35mm f/2.8 for fun.

Many of the photographs taken in my Japan 2003 Gallery use the Canon 35mm f/2. The lens is much sharper and contrast is higher than the f/2.8. Photos seem more "modern" perhaps to the point where I might use the 35mm f/2.8 for my retro photos.

I prefer the focusing lever of the older lens, as the newer lens mimics the same type of barrel as a SLR lens. The Canon 35mm f/2 uses the same impossible-to-find 40mm inner filter thread as the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Hoods are similarly hard to find. I bought a Canon clamp-on 42mm Series VI filter adaptor which I wanted to use with my screw-in Series VI lens hood (seen on my Jupiter-8 50mm f/2), but the Series VI hood vignettes slightly with the 35mm f/2. In Japan, I finally found a 40mm thread hood for the 35/2 made by "Hansa," a small company that is designing some neat classic gear. It specifically notes the Canon 35/2 and 50/1.8 as compatible. However, it intrudes in the framelines of the CL and M7.

 

Leitz Summicron-M 35/f2: Although it came in several variations, the Leitz Summicron 35mm lens is world renowned. The original 8-element Summicron is well known for its gentle softness, high center resolution, and wonderful "bokeh" or out-of-focus areas.

The 35 'cron that I own is the 4th generation, made in Canada, 7-element, the so-called "Pre-ASPH" because it's the last non-ASPH version. It is known for its sharpness across the field, even illumination, and high resolution, and great bokeh. It's shown here pictured with my M7.

The ASPH or aspherical Summicron 35 was released in 1997. It is known for its high resolution, higher contrast, but slightly less appealing "bokeh." It's also considerably larger and more expensive, so many people opt for the pre-ASPH version instead.

 

Leitz Summaron-M 35/f2.8: I swapped my Canon Serenar 35mm f/2 for this Leitz Summaron at a swap meet in 2004. I'm not sure who got the better deal, but I'm pretty happy.

This is the original six-element version designed for the Leica M3, which did not have framelines for the 35mm perspective. So, in order to get around this, the Summaron had "goggles" mounted on it which enlarged the field of view, forcing the 50mm framelines to be the equivalent of 35mm.

They were made from around 1958 to 1974. Mine is an early unit, around 1959 using the serial number as a guide.

One advantage of the goggles - the Summaron focuses down to 0.65 meters, which is closer than the regular 0.7 meters achievable on M-rangefinders.

On the 0.72x M7 and M2, the goggles are really unnecessary because they have 35mm framelines built-in. They are only needed on the original M3 or the 0.85x M7/MP.

I have some photos taken with the Summaron on my M3 in my PAW 2004 Gallery. I'm thrilled with the performance of the Summaron, it has both resolution, sharpness, and a softness of "bokeh" that older lenses are famous for.

 

 

 

 

 

Leitz Elmar 35mm f/3.5
This Elmar came with my Leica IIIf. I haven't yet a chance to play with it yet. I think the bronze chrome is particularly beautiful.

Although it looks like a collapsed 50mm Elmar, the 35mm is not a collapsible lens. This is the actual size when shooting. This makes for a very compact lens/camera combination.

It's a simple 4-elements in 3 group triplet design. Not highly corrected but it doesn't need to be at f/3.5. Like the 50mm Elmar, the aperture setting is on the front of the lens.

 

 

Former Soviet Union Lenses: From a person on the Russian Rangefinder mailing list, I bought a whole set of Russian lenses and two Zorki 4K cameras. In wide-angle lenses, I obtained a Orion-15 28mm f/6 rectilinear wide-angle and a Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8.

Orion-15 28mm f/6: The Orion-15 is famous for very high resolution (40+ lpm) performance and my own tests bear this out. Stopped down to f/11, it's great. Sharp and good color. The only problem is that f/11 (and even f/6) is pretty dark and inflexible. I ended up selling this.

 

Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8: The Jupiter-12 is a copy of the Zeiss Biogon, a very famous 35mm f/2.8 design. Because it isn't retrofocus, the rear element almost touches the focal plane curtains of Leica and Leica-clones*; while it hits the double metal shutters of the Bessa R/R2 and the light baffles of the Canon P. But... with all those caveats... if you have a camera that works with the Jupiter-12, then it's a stellar lens. The non-retrofocus design means that there is very low distortion. Overally, very, very high quality. It's a bit of a pain storing the lens when it's off the camera because the rear element is so vulnerable. I ended up selling this.

*In addition, if you have a Leica M6/M7, it partially blocks the metering area. On the M5/CL it actually hits the metering stalk.

 

Manufacturer
Cosina Voigtländer
Lens
35mm f/1.2 Nokton 35mm f/1.7 Ultron 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar C
Serial #
     
Place of Manufacture
Japan
Date of Manufacture
2003~current 1999~current 2000~current
Lens Construction
10 elements in 7 groups
3 aspherical elements
8 elements in 6 groups
Aspherical element
7 elements in 5groups
Lens Mount

Leica M bayonet mount
w/ coupled rangefinder

Leica M39 screw mount
w/ coupled rangefinder

Focusing range

0.7 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
63° Angle of View (AoV)

0.9 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
63° Angle of View (AoV)

Apertures

f/1.2, f/1.4~ f/16 (x stop steps)
12 aperture blades

f/1.7, f/2.0 ~ f/16 (x stop steps)
10 aperture blades

f/2.5, f/2.8 ~ f/16 (x stop steps)
10 aperture blades

Filter Mount

Filter: 52mm threaded
Lens cap: 54mm push on

Filter: 39mm threaded
Lens cap: 41mm push on

Filter: 43mm threaded
Lens cap: 45mm push on

Body Construction
     
Dimensions and weight
63mm D x 77.8mm L
490g
55mm D x 47.7mm L (with hood)
203g

Retail price

¥135,000 black MSRP (2003)

¥65,000 silver MSRP (1999)
¥68,000 black MSRP
$340~390 (street 1 & 2)

 

Technical Details - Wide Angle Lenses (italics = I wish I had or I sold [and regret])

Manufacturer
Canon
Lens
35mm f/1.5 35mm f/1.8 35mm f/2 35mm f/2.8
Serenar Mk. I
Serial #
     43593 1349x
Place of Manufacture
Japan
Date of Manufacture
1957 ~ 19xx 1957 ~ 19xx 1962~1963 (Mk I)
1963~ 1972 (Mk II)
1951~ (Mk I)
1957~ (Mk II)
Lens Construction
8 elements in 4 groups  7 elements in 4 groups (Planar type) 7 elements in 4 groups 6 elements in 4 groups
Lens Mount

Leica M39 screw mount
w/ coupled rangefinder

Focusing range

1 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
63° Angle of View (AoV)

Apertures

f/1.5, f/2.0 ~ f/22 (x stop steps)
10 aperture blades

f/1.8, f/2.0 ~ f/22 (1 stop steps)

f/2.0 ~ f/22 (1 stop steps)
Right stops down
9 aperture blades

f/2.8 ~ f/22 (1 stop steps)
6 aperture blades

Filter Mount

Filter: 48mm threaded
Lens cap: xx mm push on

Filter: 40mm threaded
Filter: A42mm / Series VI push-on adaptor
Lens cap: 42mm push on

Filter: 40mm threaded
Filter:
A42mm / Series VI push-on adaptor
Lens cap: 42mm push on

Filter: 34mm threaded
Lens cap: 36mm push on

Body Construction
      Solid chromed brass
Dimensions and weight

56mm D x 29mm L
185g

48mm D x 28.2mm L
125g

49mm D x 28mm L
107g

48mm D x 25.5mm L Mk. I
48mm D x 30.2mm L Mk II
165g Mk I
125g Mk II

Retail price
¥35,000 (1958) ¥32,000 (1957) ¥19,000 (1962) ¥21,000 (1951)
¥19,500 (1957)

 

Manufacturer
Leitz
Lens
35mm f/3.5 Elmar
35mm f/3.5 Summaron

35mm f/2.8 Summaron
SIMWO/11106

Serial#
 16081x   16958xx
Place of Manufacture
Germany
Date of Manufacture
1930-1950
My one: 19xx (given serial#)
1946-60

1958-74
My one: 1959 (given serial#)

Lens Construction
 4 elements in 3 groups 6 elements in 4 groups 6 elements in 4 groups
Lens Mount

Leica screw mount (m39)
w/ coupled rangefinder

Leica M bayonet mount
w/ coupled rangefinder "goggles"
Focusing range

1 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
64° Angle of View (AoV)

0.65 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
64° Angle of View (AoV)

Apertures

f/3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18 (no click stops)

f/3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 (no click stops)

f/2.8 ~ f/22

Filter Mount

A 36 push-on
Hood: FIKUS/FLQOO

A36/A39 push-on
Hood: VIOOH

Filter: E39
HOOD: IROOA

Body Construction
 
Chrome brass

Nickel / Chrome

Dimensions and weight

130g

195g

210g w/ goggles
Retail price

 

¥
 

 

Manufacturer
Leitz
Leica
Lens
35mm f/2.0 Summicron 35mm f/2.0 Summicron-M (4th type; #11310)
35mm f/2.0 Summicron-M ASPH
Serial#
  33968xx  
Place of Manufacture
Germany
Canada
Germany
Date of Manufacture
1958-69 (Mk. I)
1969-1979 (Mk II/III)
1979-1997
My one: 1986 (given serial#)
1997~current

1958-74
My one: 1959 (given serial#)

Lens Construction
Mk I: 8 elements in 6 groups (Gauss type)
Mk II: 6 elements in 4 groups
7 elements in 5 groups (Gauss type) 7 elements in 5 groups (1 aspherical)
Lens Mount

Leica M bayonet mount
w/ coupled rangefinder

 
Focusing range

0.7 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
64° Angle of View (AoV)

Apertures

Mk I: f/2.0 ~ f/16 (1 stop steps)
Mk II: f/2 ~ f/32

f/2.0 ~ f/16 (1 stop steps)

f/2 ~ f/16

Filter Mount

Filter: 39mm threaded
Mk I Hood:IROOA
Mk II Hood: 12585

39mm thread
Hood: 12524

42mm thread
Hood: 12526


Body Construction
 
Black painted alloy or chrome brass

 

Dimensions and weight
150g

26mm x 52mm
Black: 160g
Chrome: 250g

34.5mm x 53mm
Black: 255g
Chrome: 340g

Retail price

$180 in 1962

¥

 

Manufacturer
Leica
Nikon
Lens
35mm f/1.4 Summulix 35mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH 35mm f/1.8 W-Nikkor

35mm f/2.5 W-Nikkor

Serial#
       
Place of Manufacture
Germany
Japan
Date of Manufacture
1961-1995   1956-6x
1957-6x (Screw mount)

1952-61

Lens Construction
7 elements in 5groups 9 elements in 5 groups (one aspherical)  7 elements in 5 groups (modified Gauss?; Xenotar type) 6 elements in 4 groups (Gauss type)
Lens Mount

Leica M bayonet mount
w/ coupled rangefinder

Leica M39 screw mount
w/ coupled rangefinder

Also Nikon RF mount

Focusing range

0.7 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
63° Angle of View (AoV)

0.9 meter - infinity
63° Angle of View (AoV)

xx meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
62° Angle of View (AOV)

Apertures

f/2.0 ~ f/16 (1 stop steps)

f/1.4 ~ f/16

f/1.8, f/2.0 ~ f/22 (x stop steps)

f/2.5, f/2.8 ~ f/22 (x stop steps)

Filter Mount

Filter: E41 / Series 7
Hood: 12522

Filter: E46
Hood: 12588

Filter: 43mm threaded
Lens cap: 48mm push on
(Nikon Mount)

Filter: 43mm threaded
Hood: 43mm spring

Body Construction

Chrome brass
Black alloy
Titanium coat

Black alloy Light alloy

Originally chrome plated brass.
Change to light alloy after 1958

Dimensions and weight
245g early
195g late

46.2mm x 53mm
Black: 250g
Chrome: 415g

55.8mm D. x 39.5 mm L
160g
(Nikon mount)

55.8 mm dia. x 34.8 mm
110 g (post-1958 model)
Retail price

¥39,500 (1958)
¥33,600 (1959)
¥27,500 (1961)
¥27,000 (1962)
(Nikon Mount)
¥27,500 (1958)
¥22,000 (1959)
¥18,000 (1961)

 

 

Former Soviet Union

Manufacturer
Zagorsk
 
KMZ
Zeiss
Lens
28mm f/6 Orion-15
  35mm f/2.8 Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8 Biogon
Serial#
       
Place of Manufacture
USSR
  USSR
 
Date of Manufacture

1968-1974
Manufactured in 1973?
Serial #7302xx

 

Manuactured in 1969?
Serial #69051xx

1952-61

Lens Construction
4 elements in 4 groups
(Double-Gauss)
Resolution: 45/18
  6 elements in 4 groups
Resolution: 34/12
x elements in x groups (Gauss type)
Lens Mount

Leica M bayonet mount
w/ coupled rangefinder

Focusing range

1.0 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
75° Angle of View (AoV)

xx meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
xx° Angle of View (AoV)

1.0 meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
62° Angle of View (AoV)

xx meter - infinity
Right focusing (infinity at right)
63° Angle of View (AOV)

Apertures

f/6.0 ~ f/22 (stepless)
7 aperture blades

f/3.5, f/4.0 ~ f/xx (x stop steps)

f/2.8 ~ f/22 (x stop steps)

f/2.5, f/2.8 ~ f/22 (x stop steps)

Filter Mount

Filter: 40.5mm x 0.5 threaded
Lens cap: xxmm push on

Filter: xxmm threaded
Lens cap: xxmm push on

Filter: 40.5mm x 0.5 threaded
Lens cap: xxmm push on

Filter: xxmm threaded
Hood: xxmm spring

Body Construction
Aluminum   Aluminum

Originally chrome plated brass.
Change to light alloy after 1958

Dimensions and weight
51mm D x 21.2 H
65g
 

50mm D x 28 mm H

 
Retail price

 

 

 



 

 

On the Net

Leave a comment