john_kwok

<p>I think Leica's prices are vastly overpriced now, taking for example, their new updated version of the M2 or M4, which equals the price of two, perhaps, three, used M6s in pristine condition. In stark contrast, the Zeiss ZM lenses are far more reasonably priced and are capable of producing results as good as - and in many instances, better - than their Leica equivalents.</p>

<p>I've handled the M-A twice; the first time at last year's Photo Plus Expo. As others have said, for the price of a brand new M-A, you could get two superb CLA'd Leica M4s with vintage Leica M lenses, or two superb Leica M6s. I'm not entirely sold on the MP, and would recommend to first-time Leica users that they think seriously instead of getting a M4 or M2 - if interested in a M body without a meter and intend on using more than just a 50mm lens - or a Leica M6 if you need a built-in meter.</p>

<p>Leica M6 rangefinder camera with 25mm Zeiss ZM Biogon f2.8 lens which is my favorite combination for street photography, using Kodak TMAX 400 flim.</p>

<p>This is the first time I've read one of his reviews and I am not impressed. Nor am I enamored with his photographic technique. And of course he doesn't raise the most important question, whether it is really worth spending $3,000 in US dollars to buy a brand new meter-less film Leica M rangefinder made in the new Wetzlar, Germany plant. I handled one at Photo Plus Expo last year and I felt rather underwhelmed by it.</p>

<p>Leica M6, Zeiss ZM 25mm Biogon.</p>

<p>Afzal, none of them. I own the 28mm f2 ASPH Summicron and the 24mm f2.8 ASPH Elmarit; the 28mm f2 I'll use when I need the extra speed. As for the 24mm ASPH Elmarit, it's been sitting unused ever since I opted to get a Zeiss ZM 25mm Biogon. The lenses I tend to use most are that lens, the 28mm f2.8 Biogon, the 35mm f2 Biogon and the 50mm f2 Planar. I have also started using the 21mm f4.5 Biogon-C lens and enjoy using it a lot. Please note that I recommend getting auxiliary viewfinders for the 25mm and 21mm lenses.</p>

<p>My favorite Leica M camera is either a Leica M6, M4 or M7, depending on the situation. (In situations that require as much noise reduction as possible, then it's the M7 for me.) My favorite lenses are the Zeiss ZM 25mm Biogon, 28mm Biogon, 35mm f2 Biogon and 50mm f2 Planar. I'll use my 35mm f1.4 ASPH Summilux-M and 28mm f2 ASPH Summicron when I need to work in relatively low light conditions; otherwise, I'll use my Zeiss glass.</p>

<p>Hi Jamie, I own and use Leica M4, M5, M6, M6 TTL and M7 cameras. My favorites are the original M6, M4 and M7 in that order, with the M7 my go-to rangefinder if I want the quietest rangefinder to shoot with, though the others are reasonably quiet in their own right. In lieu of the 50mm Summicron - I have an old 50mm black Summicron made in Wetzlar, I am now using the 50mm f2 Carl Zeiss Planar. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the Summicron, then I highly recommend the Planar.</p>

<p>I own several 35mm Summicrons, including two of the current ASPH version. I also own the Zeiss ZM 35mm f2 Biogon and love the look of the lens, which is why I am using it, not the Summicrons. That's my own personal taste. With regards to the build quality, it's comparable with the new Leica M lenses I have seen.</p>

<p>I own both a 50mm f2 Summicron made in Wetzlar and the Zeiss ZM 50mm f2 Planar. If I need a 50mm lens, the Zeiss is my go to lens. I just like the look of the Zeiss lens a lot better than the Summicron. Haven't used the Voigtlander or the 50mm Sonnar.</p>

<p>Jukka, I own a 35mm Summicron (circa 1978), 35mm ASPH Summicron and the 35mm F2 Biogon. The Biogon has become my favorite 35mm lens, simply for its contrast and how it renders out of focus objects, in plain English, bokeh. If you have opted to acquire one, then that's fantastic. I am sure you'll be pleasantly surprised. I don't find the issue of its lens hood - which is vented BTW - extending into the rangefinder viewfinder to be an important issue as others have indicated here.</p>

<p>My first Leica M rangefinder camera was - and still is - a M4 which I have been using since the early 1990s. It is still a great camera IMHO.</p>

<p>John,<br />You could treat your entire rangefinder viewfinder as one approximately a 28mm frame, at least for Leica M rangefinders. It may work on the Bessa2, though I don't know, since I haven't used one. Otherwise, your choices are getting the 25mm Voigtlander viewfinder, or the substantially more expensive - but optically better - 25mm viewfinder; both of which, incidentally, are made in the same Cosina Voigtlander plant. As for the 25mm Biogon, it is optically as fine as the discontinued Leica 24mm f 2.8 Elmarit ASPH lens, and may be better at the corners, wide open. It's one of my favorite lenses, and one I tend to use over my 28mm lenses.</p>

<p>Kin Yu,<br>

I own Leica M lenses in every focal length between 24mm and 90mm with the sole exception of 75mm. However, the lenses I use often are my 25mm Biogon, 35mm F2 Biogon, 50mm Planar and 28mm Biogon. I use them because I like the Zeiss "look" I obtain with ample contrast and resolution. Moreover, I think the 25mm Biogon and 50mm Planar lenses are better than my 24mm F2.8 ASPH Elmarit and 50mm Summicron lenses with regards to sharpeness and contrast at virtually every aperture. I've heard wonderful reports about the 21mm F4.5 Biogon-C and several Voigtlander lenses. The point isn't the own only Leica M lenses, but instead, to choose the best lenses that you, the photographer, believe are capable of allowing you to produce your best work. Just because I photograph with M4, M5, M6 and M7 bodies doesn't make me think that I need to use only Leica lenses with them.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Alain,<br>

You are most welcome. Please also bear in mind that you do not need to rely exclusively on Leica M lenses, since there are valid alternatives between Voigtlander and especially, Zeiss.<br>

For information on the Zeiss ZM lenses, I would recommend looking at:<br>

<a href="http://lenses.zeiss.com/photo/en_DE/home.html">http://lenses.zeiss.com/photo/en_DE/home.html</a></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Alain,</p>

<p>Andrew Nemuth has an excellent guide to the M4-2 here:<br>

<br /><br /><a href="http://leica.nemeng.com/016b.shtml">http://leica.nemeng.com/016b.shtml</a></p>

<p>Here's a prior discussion twelve years ago on the merits of the M4-P:<br>

<br /><br /><a href="http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=008hSZ">http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=008hSZ</a></p>

<p>I would also recommend Stephen Gandy's guide to Leica M rangefinder cameras:<br>

<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm">http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm</a></p>

<p>And then finally, Gandy's guide to purchasing used Leicas, what to look for when buying:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.cameraquest.com/leicamchecklist.htm">http://www.cameraquest.com/leicamchecklist.htm</a></p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

 

<p>Nozar,<br>

Thanks for commenting. I love the M4 too; my first M rangefinder camera remains a M4 I acquired from a friend nearly twenty years ago. It still works quite well.</p>

<p>Alain -<br />I haven't used either the M4-2 or M4-P, but the M4-P especially is regarded as a very reliable Leica M rangefinder camera. (I suspect the M4-2 is too, even if it isn't as highly touted as the original M4; there's simply a bias against that from those who think the only good Leicas are ones made solely in Wetzlar, Deutschland.) Aside from KEH, I would also recommend purchasing them from National Camera Exchange (<a href="http://www.natcam.com">http://www.natcam.com</a>), Tamarkin (<a href="http://www.tamarkin.com">http://www.tamarkin.com</a>), Classic Connection (<a href="http://www.classicconnection.com">http://www.classicconnection.com</a>), Kurland Photo (<a href="http://www.kurlandphoto.com">http://www.kurlandphoto.com</a>) and the used department of B & H Photo (<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com">http://www.bhphotovideo.com</a>). All of these are reputable used photographic equipment retailers, of which two (Tamarkin and Classic Connection) specialize in selling used Leica equipment. (If you call Kurland, ask for Craig; for B & H Photo, ask for Chris in the Used Equipment department.)<br>

<br />I wouldn't limit my lens purchases solely to Leica M-mount lenses exclusively. Others have written favorably here about the Voigtlander Leica screw (used on M-mount via adaptros) and M-mount lenses manufactured in Japan by Cosina as lower cost alternatives. I use some of the latest as well as older Leica-made M-mount lenses, but I photograph primarily with a quartet of Zeiss ZM lenses manufactured under strict Zeiss quality control at the Voigtlander factory; 50mm Planar, 35mm F2 Biogon, 28mm F2.8 Biogon and 25mm F2.8 Biogon. All of these compare favorably with their non-ASPH and ASPH Leica lens equivalents; the two best are the Planar and the 25mm Biogon which are optically better than the non ASPH 50mm Summicron and the recently discontinued 24mm ASPH Elmarit-M lenses IMHO.)</p>

<p>@ David -<br>

If it helps, I know photographer Lee Friedlander has been photographing with the 21mm f4.5 Zeiss Biogon-C lens alot. Have heard from others how much they like that lens for its compactness and superb image quality edge to edge. I'm one Leica M user who thinks highly of the Zeiss ZM lenses; I own the 50mm Planar, 35mm f2, 28mm and 25mm Biogon lenses and prefer using them to my Leica equivalents, especially the ASPH-designated ones. I happen to prefer the greater contrast from the Zeiss lenses.</p>

 

<p>@ John R. Fulton -<br>

The choice of lens should depend on the photographer, not on those who think that only lenses from Brand "A" should be mounted on rangefinder cameras of Brand "A". I personally think that my 50mm Planar is better wide open than my Wetzlar-made black 50mm Summicron, but the real surprise is the 25mm Biogon which is slightly better wide open than the 24mm f2.8 Elmarit ASPH-M.</p>

 

<p>I've own a slightly battered M5 (chrome three lug version) for several years now and still use it alongside my other Ms, including M4s, M6s and an M7. It's a heavy beast to be sure, but I love how it handles, especially with my heavier M-mount lenses. I agree with what Stephen York said recently about its usefulness as a camera, but I understand quite well, all the complaints I have read with regards to its ease of handling, including finding spare battteries now.</p>

<p>I tend to discount whatever Ken Rockwell says, especially when it took him a while to recognize just how good the Japanese-made Nikon F and Canon EOS mount Zeiss lenses are. I agree with those who've noted that the Leica Summarit-M lens line have been conceived as a lower price alternative to the standard Leica M lenses, in response to both the Voigtlander and Zeiss ZM lenses. I have not used any of the Summarit lenses myself, but have heard that they are superrb performers, especially the 90mm Summarit. However, having said this, I would encourage others to think seriously of acquiring the 50mm Planar, 35mm f2 Biogon and 35mm f2.8 Biogon-C Zeiss ZM lenses as alternatives to the Summarit-Ms. (I own the 50mm Planar and 35mm f2 Biogon lenses, and regard the 50 Planar as one of the best M-mount lenses I have ever used. As for the 35mm f2 Biogon, I have tended to use it more than my 35mm Summicron lenses, simply because I love how it renders the out-of-focus areas of my images, even wide open.)</p>

<p>If you don't need a built-in meter, then I would recommend the Leica M4. (The original Wetzlar made one; not the Canadian updated versions.) Otherwise, I love photographing with the M6, M5 and M7; of these, the one I like the most for photographing in situations that require minimal noise is the M7 since the shutter is quietest. I haven't used any of the digital Ms nor have any interest in them, period.</p>

<p>I just noticed this thread, and all I can say is that I am happier with my Zeiss 50mm F2 ZM Planar, which I think is a better lens than any Summicron M I have used. Leica would have to give me the new 50mm Summicron ASPH.</p>

<p>Max,<br>

Sorry for the late visit, but if you haven't gotten the Biogon yet, with regards to image quality, Erwin Puts has run some tests of both the 35mm f2 and f2.8 Biogon lenses; the f2.8 outperforms the f2 wide open, but not really by much. I own several 35mm Leica lenses and will use only my 35mm f1.4 ASPH Summilux-M (the second version that was recently discontinued) only if I need the extra speed, otherwise it's my 35mm f2 Biogon. I haven't used the Voigtlander lenses, but if I were to choose, I would stick with the Biogons for better contrast and resolution.</p>