The tiny E39 lenses are one of the great advantages of the M system with a lot of history. I do use bigger and heavier lenses like Noktons (I have 50/28/21), the 21 mm for example is really hefty, and I use my not small Apo 135 often. A small bag (I like my 30 year old Domke F5XB) can hold a M, film or digital and a few E39 lenses. The main sacrifice is not having fast lenses. I thought I’d open up a topic discussion of the thoughts and experiences limited to the use and opportunities of E39 tiny M lenses.
My present set
Top lens Apo 50/2 summicron
Supporting cast 21, 28, 90 Voigtlander colorskopers
New character lenses LLL elcan. LLL SP2 rigid, 35/2 LLL
Old top glass Leica 50/2 rigid made in 1966, Leica 50.2.8 Elmer made in 1956.
Add in E39 3 and 6 stop ND and polarizer, plus a screw in hood for all except the apo 50/2 that has a built in and I am good to go.
I do not ever take all, just a selection depending on anticipated photography to keep it lighter, and the selections are narrower if it is MP film rather than M11P digital.
Had to read your post twice to understand correctly that you refer to E39-filter diameter based M lenses and NOT to L39-based screw-mount lenses! One letter makes a big difference in the meaning of your post!
I have a few E39-based M-mount lenses, but I am actually not a big fan of the 39 mm filter diameter. 39 mm is unique for Leica lenses only - and therefore prices for any kind of 39 mm filter are crazy high. I rather prefer more "common" filter diameter sizes which are shared between different brands - probably 58 mm is one of the most common, and filters are in comparison to 39 mm cheap!
retrofocus wrote:
Had to read your post twice to understand correctly that you refer to E39-filter diameter based M lenses and NOT to L39-based screw-mount lenses! One letter makes a big difference in the meaning of your post!
I have a few E39-based M-mount lenses, but I am actually not a big fan of the 39 mm filter diameter. 39 mm is unique for Leica lenses only - and therefore prices for any kind of 39 mm filter are crazy high. I rather prefer more "common" filter diameter sizes which are shared between different brands - probably 58 mm is one of the most common, and filters are in comparison to 39 mm cheap! ...Show more →
Sure include the scew mount lenses, with adapters they work, and if you happen to have a really vintage Leica film they are it and they are compatible with any M.. I have 58s, 49s and others, such LLL Z21 1966 and the CS Noktons, but none of these are tiny some are hefty like a mirrorless lens,, a screw mount Leica whether vintage or among the small set of more recents are indeed tiny. There are others notably the E46 steelrim that is tiny, along with many of the ms-optics that are E40.5 and such that are also tiny.
retrofocus wrote:
Had to read your post twice to understand correctly that you refer to E39-filter diameter based M lenses and NOT to L39-based screw-mount lenses! One letter makes a big difference in the meaning of your post!
I have a few E39-based M-mount lenses, but I am actually not a big fan of the 39 mm filter diameter. 39 mm is unique for Leica lenses only - and therefore prices for any kind of 39 mm filter are crazy high. I rather prefer more "common" filter diameter sizes which are shared between different brands - probably 58 mm is one of the most common, and filters are in comparison to 39 mm cheap! ...Show more →
I honestly haven't found that to be the case. Polarisers and ND filters here seem to run about the same in 39mm as in other sizes. The tricky lenses are the ones with the series 5.5 filters.
pingflood wrote:
I honestly haven't found that to be the case. Polarisers and ND filters here seem to run about the same in 39mm as in other sizes. The tricky lenses are the ones with the series 5.5 filters.
I can tell from color filters for 39 mm diameter lenses. Very pricey!
Most of m-mount lenses with 39mm filter threads are the heaviest of all the M-mount lenses I own; I think I might sell them as they make my camera+lens heavier than I'd like. For example, the dual-range Summicron, even without adding the goggles, is one of the heaviest lenses I own. I also have the 35/2.8 Summaron which would be fairly light but mine is the goggled version and it's heavy and awkward. I have the 90mm/2.8 Elmarit which is not too heavy for its size, and the 35/2 Ultron, which is fairly light.
My LTM lenses with 39mm threads are super-light and I tend to use those most often (35/2.5 Color-Skopar and 25/4 Snapshot Skopar).
