Favorite pancake lens for Leica M (inc LTM w/ adapter)?

<p>Hey guys!</p>

<p>Been toying with the idea of getting a tiny lens to carry around on my M2. Just wondering what everyone's favorite pancake is for their Leica? I'm open to LTM lenses with adapter and third party lenses.</p>

<p>Andrew</p>

<p>Andrew, I use the 35mm f2.8 Color-Skopar Voigtlander-Cosina classic form lens on both my LTM and M4-P Leicas. It is very small and maniable, although I use the 35mm metal VF of V-C with the IIIf which adds a little bulk (but hardly any).</p>

<p>It is not described as a pancake lens as such, but extends only 3/4 inch from the camera body. Another is the Elmar-M 50mm f2.8 black body (lighter than the "silver" version) which when retracted adds less than an inch to the depth of camera and lens. Both lenses are very fine performer in color or B&W, and I am tempted also to try them with adapter on my digital A7 series camera.</p>

<p>A 2nd vote for the 35 Color Skopar. Although not a pancake lens in the traditional sense , but collapsing into the body for pocketability is the good old 50mm/3.5 Elmar red scale, which is my go to lens both on my LTM bodies and M2, and often on my M4/3 body. Its rendering isn't the razor sharp across the frame wide open like modern designs, but rather central sharpness moving toward muted edges...by f/5.6-8 it is very good across the whole frame. I have other 50mm Leica & LTM lenses, but this one is definitely my favorite.</p><div></div>

<p>+1 for Arthur's picks. I don't have the Voight but being a 35 junkie keep toying with getting one because it's so small and affordable. I do have the 50 Elmar. Can't go wrong with the.<br>

If you can find one and cost isn't an issue, try to find a this <a href="http://leicarumors.com/2011/05/25/new-ms-super-triplet-perar-3-535-mark-ii-lens-now-available-for-sale.aspx/">35 Perar</a>.</p>

<p>As has been said a few times, the Elmar 50/3.5 is a solid lens, and fits in your pocket/camera pretty easily [when collapsed], and is really low price for how great of quality it is. I bought it when my Summilux fell apart [i still have yet to get it repaired] and was surprised by its quality</p>

<p>The pre-ASPH Summicrom 35mm f2 without the hood fitted seems pretty darn compact for an M body to me. Definitely not as compact as a 50mm f3.5 Elmar on a screw mount body, but no M body, film or digital, is.</p>

<p>Looking at the 35/2.5 II pancake Skopar mentioned here on Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest site it looks and sounds like it and the 35mm f2 pre-ash Summicron are pretty much about the same footprint on an M body.</p>

<p>My M4 and the Summicron..</p>

<p><img id="yui_3_8_0_1_1453844546735_4317" src="https://gmchappell.smugmug.com/Other/Leica-M4/i-H6636Cn/0/X2/P3100006-X2.jpg" alt="P3100006" /></p>

<p>I have the 35mm f/2.5 Voigtlander Color-Skopar II "Pancake" in M mount that I use on my M4-P. It is small and would be a perfect addition to an M-2 body. $410 from Cameraquest. Get the correct shade for it for $30</p>

<p>Summicron-C 40/f2 modded for 35mm frame lines.</p>

<p>I used the CV 35/2.5 on my M9. Great lens for the price and size.</p>

<p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7401/13644460795_947b8c00aa.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5830/21535066779_2786380636.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Impressive photos, Ian. I like how the CV, even at modest wide aperture, can blur the background to isolate the main subject, like in this case where the self composed and contented little girl is seen with an out of focus yet distinguishable passerby on bicycle, who might even be her proud father. </p>

<p>Like <em><strong>Knut S.</strong></em> recommended,<br /> but rather than <strong>mod/grind</strong> a great 40mm Summicron,<br>

a properly adapted (M2 35mm LTM to M adapter) LTM 35mm Summaron is a perfect ASA 400, compact M2 "Street Shooter"...</p><div></div>

<p>Also, the long throw tabbed lenses, allow for trainable muscle memory quick focusing...</p><div></div>

Another vote for the 35/3.5 Summaron; it's really a tiny lens, and lives on my M8 (with the LTM adapter of course) as its

"normal" lens and gives great results.

 

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/724/23578573752_64c5964ddf_o_d.jpg

<p>Sorry about that link. <a href=" a better one</a> for the shot.</p>

<p>Hi Gus, yeah, I even made a half-moon finger-tip thingie out of a little piece of 100 years dried Wenge wood.<br>

Worst part of this lens is its original knob to adjust distance IMHO.</p><div></div>

<p>Yes, the great Summaron. My first and always highly esteemed Leitz lens. No hood required.</p><div></div>

Wow, a lot of votes for the CV 35 f2.5, I have the M mount version on a M4-2 and it is delightfully small. I also have the CV vented hood

but don't use it. I prefer a small metal hood that fits a 46mm lens cap when I put the camera away. I picked up the hood from some Hong

Kong vendor on eBay for a pittance and for my use it is ideal.

<p>The only pancake I have is the MS Optical 24mm f4 triplet.<br>

<br />It gives images very different to my 24 Elmarit. </p>

The Nikkor 3.5cm F2.5, only downside is it uses 34.5mm filters. I use a little teflon tape around the threads of 34mm filters.

 

This lens is a traditional 1-2-2-1 6 elements in 4 groups as the 35mm F2.8 Summaron, is a little faster and goes ~$300.

<p>I agree with Greg Chappell -- a pre-asph 35mm f/2 Summicron is your best bet. I have an M2 and a 35mm f/2, and they are an ideal match, as the outer M2 viewfinder frameline is for 35mm. The 8-element "first version" without goggles is excellent, handles beautifully, and is as well made as a Swiss watch, but it's pricey these days. A newer pre-asph 35mm f/2 might be more affordable, and a 35mm f/2.8 Summaron more affordable still. <br>

Another nice lens would be the old Canon 35mm f/2 LTM lens -- very small and compact, excellent optics, well made, and fully usable on an M2 with an LTM-M bayonet adapter. It's not quite as good as the 35mm f/2 Summicron, but an excellent lens nonetheless, and fully capable of delivering photos with excellent image quality. The older Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM is reasonably good, though not as good as the f/2. The rare and, these days, expensive Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM is definitely not as good optically, especially at full aperture, probably due to emphasizing speed over other considerations in designing the lens. I got all three of those back when they were a lot cheaper, and the 35mm f/2 is definitely the best of them.<br>

I haven't owned or used the Nikkor or any of the Voigtlander lenses, so I can't comment on them, but others seem to like them.</p>

<p >Wonderful! Is this the f3.5 Summaron?</p>

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<p > </p>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=1670384">Knut Schwinzer</a> , Jan 28, 2016; 09:14 p.m.</p>

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<p>Yes, the great Summaron. My first and always highly esteemed Leitz lens. No hood required.<br>

"Jump!!!"</p>

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