Lens Ergonomics

Which lens/M body combo feels the most comfortable to use? I have several lenses

but have always felt the 50 Lux pre asph on an M7 or MP feels the most

comfortable. The short focus throw, barrel thickness and focus ring instead of

tab somehow works together to make the whole package really well balanced. We

have heard loads about glass performance and sharpness, but for me ease of use

and instinctive ergonomics have just as important a role to play in rating a lens.

I suspect it is different for others and would be interested to read about it.

Seb.

I like the balance of my M6 with 40/2 rokkor attatched, also my M3 with 50 coll. summicron

has a nice feel to it as well. I guess I like a more compact combination, I had a 50/1.4 (2nd

version) once and I thought it was a tad front heavy on my M3, great lens though!

 

Todd

I only really think about weight and balance when having a bit of a fondle or walking around with the combo hanging around my neck all day, when busying myself with shooting these concerns disappear. There are many M-mount lenses I have never used but of those I have I find the rokkor 40 extremely fast in use - a 'must have' in the absence of a Leica 35. Johnny.

We've sure got plenty of choices! I prefer tabbed lenses. You can nudge the tab a bit with an extended finger when holding the camera in one hand, and pretty much tell where your focus is just by feeling where the tab is. What I don't like is the infinity lock because that's hard to work with the one finger while holding the camera with one hand. I'd love to see a selectable infinity lock so it could be disengaged without doing surgery to the mount. I like the ergonomics of the second model 35mm Summicron best, but maybe that's just because I've used it the most for so many years. The 40mm Summicron-C feels good too, and has a tab with no infinity lock.

If you don't wear glasses, a Barnack camera with the Elmar. It's tiny, it fits the hands, and the lens may be focused with either the tab or the barrel. Next choice: CL/40 Summicron.

yep... has to the old 50 lux on an M3 for the ultimate camera-lens combination.

 

Though I do like the 35 lux ASPH on 0.72 finders.

 

agree totally about the instinctive ergonomics, that BS about getting into the zone and not

noticing the camera... everything just works. Its cool when that happens.

 

c.

MP, M2, or M6 with 35mm Summicron is great for weight and balance. Also with the 50 18817 or collapsible, or the 90 Tele-Elmarit. These combos make comfortable walkaround outfits. Also the Tri-Elmar can be comfortable in that I'm ready with three focal lengths, yet the weight is not bad at all. Less comfortable is its length, which makes it less ergonomic in that one respect.

Anything without a tab.

I vote for the early Barnacks and the 50 Elmar. The later LTM's are only an eighth of an inch longer, but it makes a big difference if you are used to the earlier models. I use the squinty VF for aiming only, having learned years ago how to compose in my brain rather than with guide lines, and it's a damn sight more convenient if you don't have a bunch of appurtenances cluttering up the camera and getting in the way. Obviously it would be a chore to learn the field of view of all the focal lengths, but very few of us use ALL the focal lengths!. I would venture that the great majority of Leica users favor one particular focal length with maybe a couple more for special situations, so the chore isn't so onerous after all. The old Leica III has become an extension of my hand and eye to the extent that my more modern M6 and 40 'cron never can, as much as I would like. For a while I tried the Leica grip with my M6 but it just made it bigger and less convenient to stuff in a jacket pocket. I recently handled an R8 at the shop; hell that thing's as big as my old Speed Graphic, and not as well balanced!

by far the 35mmlux asph. everything is positive, out in the open, easy access, even w/ the shade on. The 90mm are pretty good too.

I like my rigid Summicron 50 on my M3, but you guys are making me want to find an old Summilux.

I vote for the 35/8-element on an M. As Al said, I can focus, initially, by feel: Tab a 6-O'Clock corresponds to ~6-feet. I can fine tune it by feel based on my estimate of closer/farther, or at my eye. The added DOF vs. my heavy (less ergo.) 50 'lux (no tab) results in more success WRT focus.

IIIF and 50 Summitar. M6 Classic 0.72 and the 35 lux asph or 35 CV pancake or current 50 sumi.

I'd say the Leica CL with its vertical shutter speed dial at your finger tip and the wonderful needle meter in the viewfinder (although I don't like the way underexposure puts the needle above vertical) and a 40 cron with its tab. My hands are average to large, but not very large and that size is so similar to all those 1970 classic fixed lens cameras, and it just seems to fit and hang ways that my M6 with a 35 doesn't (although I wish the side mount strap lugs were on the other side). Even with those caveats, I think its about perfect. Still, I use the M6 more for its absolute solidity. If Cosina would make a new CL, I'd buy one, even at about $1000.

35mm Summicron (tabbed) on an M2.

40mm Summicron (tabbed) on a CL.

I like the feel of a M-4 with a Lietz Wetzlar Noctilux 1:1.2/50, a clean pair of Chuck Taylor

all stars, a pair of levi's 501, white tee, and tongue stud/chain.

"I vote for the 35/8-element on an M."

 

Definitely! I copy that!

The Rokkor 40mm ergonomics used with a M body is outstanding. I found the aperture ring smoother and easier to use than a 35mm v2 cron. Additionally, you get the best image quality for the buck with the 40mm. M bodies with the central circular LED indicating correct exposure are more user friendly than the M6 Classic meter display. The easiest film loading, shutter speed dial ergonomics, and meter display was found in the CL I regretable sold.

I'll happily take an MP 0.58 with the 28 Elmarit and 50 Lux. Comfortable to use, both with 46mm filter size. I also use the 21mm Elmarit but it's a big chunk of glass, and the universal polariser won't fit it.