Just bought an M6ttl from Jim Kuehl yesterday. In the meantime, I know I want a 50 and a 35 for my kit. Rather than buying one new Leica lens, I am going to get one third party new and one Leica used. From SLR experience I will use these equally. Smaller/lighter is better sometimes and likewise speed will be most important at others, thus I know one will be fast and one will be a tad lighter/slower. The VC Nokton 50 looks good when compared to a used 50 Sumilux. The 35/2 hexanon looks good when compared to the last pre ASPH Leica 35/2. You get the idea.....here are the many I am considering: VC 35/1.7, 35/2.5c, 50/1.5, hex 35/2, cron 50/2(used late), cron 35/2 non asph (last one).

-- Chris Lutz (mesheca@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002

Answers

Chris, I hear in your statement that what you really would prefer is to have both Leica lenses. From experience I can tell you that even if the preformance of the non-Leica lenses is perfectly fine, you will have pangs of disillusion as long as you own them. So my advice to you is to search long and hard and locate a 1970's (3rd gen) 35/2 and a 1969-1979 11817 50/2 with perfect glass but some outward cosmetic wear. You will pay perhaps a bit more than for a 4th-gen 35/2 + 3rd-party 50 or current 50/2 + 3rd-party 35, but not much more, you will not notice any optical performance penalty, and you will be *very* happy making your images with the 100% Leica kit you really want.

Another wonderful option you have, if very fast lenses are not a *must*, is a 1st-gen Leica 28-35-50/4 Tri-Elmar. You can buy one now in the $1000-1100 range, will get superb image quality, and 3 focal lengths at once.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 19, 2002.

Hm. I think worrying about which Leica lens to get is complicated enough, w/o thinking about third party lenses. It most depends on what you want. Do you want an affordable, interchangeable lens RF system? Maybe go all Bessa-R. You probably can get a pretty complete outfit for less than the price of a used, LN M6TTL ($1150 to Steve Grandy will get you a Bessa-R, 35/1.7 and 50/1.5). Do you want to use Leica glass and body? Get all Leica. In other words, I could see getting a cheaper body (like a used Hexar RF) to afford Leica glass, but not the other way around.

Also, you might find that your SLR experience on focal lengths doesn't seem to count for much in the RF world. An SLR brings you closer or further away from your subject, whereas the RF viewfinder only frames it according to focal length. E.g., the 50mm framelines feel really different from viewing through a 50mm in an SLR. Uh, in fact it's been so long since I've held my SLR that I can't quite recall now! But it is surely different. You may want to stand nearer or farther from your subject using an RF instead of an SLR. Give yourself time with the one lens, both to get acclimated to what you have, and to save for what you want.

-- Tse-Sung (tsesung@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

Chris, I purchased a Voightlander 35/2.5 classic about a year and a half ago as a hold me over lens till I could afford something better. With it I've gotten very good pictures, maybe not Leica level, but very good. The problem is that after about a year or so I noticed dust inside the lens, I realize this wont really affect picture quality, but it does give you an idea of the over all quality of this particular lens. Just so you know, I've never abused it, its always been on my M4p or in my camera bag with caps. In addition to this it has always had a uv filter too. With this little tid bit you may want to reconsider, but I would buy another due the the low cost, decent results, and my status of being a poor student. Anyone else have dust experience with Voightlander lenses?

-- Steven Quatrale (Stevenquatrale@AOL.com), January 26, 2002.