LBJ2 wrote:
Ashwin Rao's post was one of a few that inspired me to become vey interested to try the Leica M10, my first Leica camera. Ever hear of the Palouse? It's on my list.
This lens (and your and Fred's talking about Leica M cameras) has had me thinking of getting an M10 again. I had an M10 and a nice set of Leica lenses that was unfortunately stolen. I couldn't replace it right away, but I am thinking I might be able to do so before long. What Voigtlander (and to some extent 7 Artisans) has provided in the last couple of years is a whole set of fast lenses for Leica M that are relatively low in price. Look what our option include for fast M mount lenses:
All of these lenses (except the 7 Artisans 75) are reasonably small and all can be had for under $1,000. The Voigtlander lenses are all really high quality and the 7 Artisans lenses (if not quite up to the Voigtlander lenses) are surprisingly good with decent bokeh and incredibly cheap. In my mind these lenses really change the game for getting a Leica system. You can now setup a 4 lens Leica system with lenses that are no more expensive (and maybe even a bit less expensive) than a similar system for mirrorless.
In addition to these fast lenses there are also cheap new slower lenses and Zeiss ZM and even in some case Leica M lenses have dropped in price enough to allow lots of options. Here is an even longer list of sub $1,000 lenses (ZM and Leica M are used prices):
Voigtlander 10 f/5.6
Voigtlander 12 f/5.6 III
Voigtlander 15 f/4.5 III
Zeiss ZM 18 f/4
Zeiss ZM 21 f/2.8
Voigtlander 21 f/3.5
Zeiss ZM 25 f/2.8
Zeiss ZM 28 f/2.8
Voigtlander 35 f/1.7
Voigtlander 35 f/2
Leica M 35 f/2.5 (you have to shop carefully to get this under $1,000)
Zeiss ZM 50 f/1.5
Zeiss ZM 50 f/2
Leica M 50 f/2.5
Voigtlander 50 f/3.5 (and we can hope for a Voigtlander 50 f/2 APO for not much more than $1,000)
Leica M 75 f/2.5
Zeiss ZM 85 f/4
Leica M 90 f/2 E55 non-AA (you have to shop carefully but this can be found for less than $1,000)
Leica M 90 f/2.5
Leica M 90 f/2.8 (latest model with built in hood, you have to shop a bit carefully but this can be found for less than $1,000)
Voigtlander 90 f/3.5 APO (this is a screw mount not Leica M model)
Leica M 135 f/4 (latest 46mm threads model with built-in hood)
I think all of these are at least reasonably good performers.
Surprisingly you can now even get these really nice Leica M lenses for less than $2,000 a piece as well (all prices used)
Leica M 18 f/3.8 SEM
Leica M 21 f/3.4 SEM
Leica M 24 f/3.8 Asph
Leica M 28 f/2.8 Asph
Leica M 35 f/2.4 Asph
Leica M 50 f/2 (Pre-AA; last version before AA)
Leica M 50 f/2.4
Leica M 75 f/2.4
Leica M 90 f/2 AA
Leica M 135 f/3.4 APO
So, I am seeing that you can put together a really nice kit for Leica M without the lenses breaking the bank. The camera of course will be expensive, but it is unique and there is no competition so that price has to be incurred but if you like shooting a rangefinder, then there are not many options.
LBJ2 wrote:
Ashwin Rao's post was one of a few that inspired me to become vey interested to try the Leica M10, my first Leica camera. Ever hear of the Palouse? It's on my list.
This lens (and your and Fred's talking about Leica M cameras) has had me thinking of getting an M10 again. I had an M10 and a nice set of Leica lenses that was unfortunately stolen. I couldn't replace it right away, but I am thinking I might be able to do so before long. What Voigtlander (and to some extent 7 Artisans) has provided in the last couple of years is a whole set of fast lenses for Leica M that are relatively low in price. Look what our option include for fast M mount lenses:
All of these lenses (except the 7 Artisans 75) are reasonably small and all can be had for under $1,000. The Voigtlander lenses are all really high quality and the 7 Artisans lenses (if not quite up to the Voigtlander lenses) are surprisingly good with decent bokeh and incredibly cheap. In my mind these lenses really change the game for getting a Leica system. You can now setup a 4 lens Leica system with lenses that are no more expensive (and maybe even a bit less expensive) than a similar system for mirrorless.
In addition to these fast lenses there are also cheap new slower lenses and Zeiss ZM and even in some case Leica M lenses have dropped in price enough to allow lots of options. Here is an even longer list of sub $1,000 lenses (ZM and Leica M are used prices):
Voigtlander 10 f/5.6
Voigtlander 12 f/5.6 III
Voigtlander 15 f/4.5 III
Zeiss ZM 18 f/4
Voigtlander 21 f/3.5
Zeiss ZM 25 f/2.8
Zeiss ZM 28 f/2.8
Voigtlander 35 f/1.7
Voigtlander 35 f/2
Leica M 35 f/2.5 (you have to shop carefully to get this under $1,000)
Zeiss ZM 50 f/1.5
Zeiss ZM 50 f/2
Leica M 50 f/2.5
Voigtlander 50 f/3.5 (and we can hope for a Voigtlander 50 f/2 APO for not much more than $1,000)
Leica M 75 f/2.5
Zeiss ZM 85 f/4
Leica M 90 f/2 E55 non-AA (you have to shop carefully but this can be found for less than $1,000)
Leica M 90 f/2.5
Leica M 90 f/2.8 (latest model with built in hood, you have to shop a bit carefully but this can be found for less than $1,000)
Voigtlander 90 f/3.5 APO (this is a screw mount not Leica M model)
Leica M 135 f/4 (latest 46mm threads model with built-in hood)
I think all of these are at least reasonably good performers.
Surprisingly you can now even get these really nice Leica M lenses for less than $2,000 a piece as well (all prices used)
Leica M 18 f/3.8 SEM
Leica M 21 f/3.4 SEM
Leica M 24 f/3.8 Asph
Leica M 28 f/2.8 Asph
Leica M 35 f/2.4 Asph
Leica M 50 f/2 (Pre-AA; last version before AA)
Leica M 50 f/2.4
Leica M 75 f/2.4
Leica M 90 f/2 AA
Leica M 135 f/3.4 APO
So, I am seeing that you can put together a really nice kit for Leica M without the lenses breaking the bank. The camera of course will be expensive, but it is unique and there is no competition so that price has to be incurred but if you like shooting a rangefinder, then there are not many options.
Apr 26, 2020 at 10:32 AM
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