Inexpensive LTM lenses

[Cerebum]

I have a Canon 7 plus a couple of Feds. The question is about the canon really. I would like a lens wider than a 50mm but prices are pretty crazy. Even the Jupiter 12 is fetching silly money. Is there, or are there any inexpensive, hidden gems that I can keep an eye open for? I already have a Jupiter 8, Fed, and industar 26 (all 50mm) and a Canon 135mm

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have a Canon 7 plus a couple of Feds. The question is about the canon really. I would like a lens wider than a 50mm but prices are pretty crazy. Even the Jupiter 12 is fetching silly money. Is there, or are there any inexpensive, hidden gems that I can keep an eye open for? I already have a Jupiter 8, Fed, and industar 26 (all 50mm) and a Canon 135mm

I had a black barrel 50mm f1.8 Canon that was one of the best 50's I've ever had. I then picked up a Canon 35mm f2 for my canon P and was all set. The 35mm f2 did everything I could ask for in a 35mm. Sadly, I no longer have the camera or the lenses, but you just can't keep everything.

 

[Sergey Ko]

I think the ex-USSR lens is the cheapest way & rather good quality, so the price\quality is the best!
Jupiter-12 (35mm) is not the rarity as Orion-15 (28mm) & Russar MR-2 (20mm)
I used all of them & fully satisfied

 

[Cerebum]

I think the ex-USSR lens is the cheapest way & rather good quality, so the price\quality is the best!
Jupiter-12 is not the rarity as Orion-15 (28mm) & Russar MR-2 (20mm)
I used all them fully satisfied

There was an Orion 15 on fleabay. The seller just thought he was selling a knackered zorki 4. Must have been a nice surprise when he saw what it sold for. Talking of that, there is a rough canon 7 & 50mm f0.95 on eBay, ending today. It looks like it has been stored in a quarry. Two hours to go and it has gone past the £1000 mark

 

[Sergey Ko]

There was an Orion 15 on fleabay. The seller just thought he was selling a knackered zorki 4. Must have been a nice surprise when he saw what it sold for. Talking of that, there is a rough canon 7 & 50mm f0.95 on eBay, ending today. It looks like it has been stored in a quarry. Two hours to go and it has gone past the £1000 mark

f0,95 is only for Canon-7 outside bayonet. The price is for wealthy collectors.
I am using Jupiter-3 (50mm f1,5)
Also, I have Konica Autoreflex with Hexanon 57\1,2
I can't say, that Hexanon is very interesting about the bokeh & I red the same about Canon 0,95.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I remember you posting that bottom haircut pitch a few years back. I just love the look on the little guys face. I bet he's not a little guy anymore.

 

[Sergey Ko]

I remember you posting that bottom haircut pitch a few years back. I just love the look on the little guys face. I bet he's not a little guy anymore.

Thank you
I have 2 more photos on Flickr, others are analog only.
I have another one small guy more ))
Just took the photos today with new bought Jupiter-3 (LTM m39, the old one was Kiev-Contax RF)
Not processed yet

 

[Petrochemist]

Often there is a element of luck, I once picked up an Industar 10 (a retractable 50mm/3.5 Tessar) for 50p at a boot sale. It was in a box of plumbing fittings so I doubt the seller knew anything about it!

It's certainly not the most expensive LTM lens even when in sold tip top condition, but it works OK.

 

[Don_ih]

I would like a lens wider than a 50mm but prices are pretty crazy

A Leitz Elmar 35mm generally isn't the highest priced lens. They don't have a massive cult following driving up the prices and they look pretty unassuming.

There are also some of the newer wider lenses from 7Artisans and similar that can go for less when bought used. (Seems all those are M-mount.)

I think you'll be spending a couple of hundred at least - and that's if you get lucky. I doubt you'll get anything for less.

 

[Paul Howell]

I hadn't checked U.S prices in quite some time, a quick look on American eBay and prices have seemed to have gone up quite a bit over the fast few years, and not many Canon or Voigthlander or Leica wide's on the market, seems that old USSR glass is the best bargain. I had a Canon 7S which I used as my second body when a working PJ. I also had a Leica IIIG, but liked the 7S as I did not need the external viewfinder when shooting with the 35mm. So overall a 35mm 2.8 will be the lest expensive as you not need a viewfinder.

 

[Don_ih]

prices have seemed to have gone up quite a bit over the fast few years

I just checked - and checked sold listings. You're right. Elmar 35 lenses seem to have over doubled in price since I last checked. Well, except for the one that was attached to a Leica IIIc that sold for less than $400 Canadian...

 

[BradS]

I guess it depends on one's idea of what is inexpensive. Voigtlander and some of the Chinese brands offer a few interesting LTM lenses but yeah, finding LTM lenses in good user condition for less than stupid money is difficult....has been for a while and it is one of the reasons I replaced the Barnack with an M2....vastly better lens selection and a much better user experience too....and of course one can still use the LTM lenses with an M-mount camera body.

 

[Paul Howell]

I had been considering a Canon 7 or 7s with working light meter, but as prices of lens have gone up so much does seem worth the expense, wonder how much more a Nikon S2 or even SP with a few lens would be?

 

[Dali]

I would go the Voigtlander route. Soviet lenses were an option years ago but nowadays you can find modern lenses (no scratch, no haze, better coating and certainly better optics) for a decent price.

 

[ntenny]

I would go the Voigtlander route. Soviet lenses were an option years ago but nowadays you can find modern lenses (no scratch, no haze, better coating and certainly better optics) for a decent price.

I’d agree with this. There are a couple of the LTM 35/2.5 Color-Skopars on eBay in the US$300 range, which isn’t “free stuff” but I wouldn’t call it stupid money. In my experience (in Contax mount, with the same optics) it’s a good lens that gets out of the way and does its job.

-NT

 

[Cerebum]

I think the ex-USSR lens is the cheapest way & rather good quality, so the price\quality is the best!
Jupiter-12 is not the rarity as Orion-15 (28mm) & Russar MR-2 (20mm)
I used all them fully satisfied

There was an Orion 15 on fleabay. The seller just thought he was selling a knackered zorki 4. Must have been a nice surprise when he saw what it sold for. Talking of that, there is a rough canon 7 & 50mm f0.95 on eBay, ending today. It looks like it has been stored in a quarry. Two hours to go and it has gone past the £1000 mar

 

[Sanug]

I bought some former USSR lenses for a good price at ebay. Take time and some offer will come for a reasonable price. And I am very happy concerning the image quality of USSR lenses with the Canon 7s.

I have Jupiter-9, Jupiter-12 and the Russar with original finder. The optical performance of the Russar is a positive surprise. The bad reviews may be concerning with the use on digital cameras.

 

[Cerebum]

I am keeping my eyes open. Sometimes the best way to find stuff is by looking at camera bodies. One bargain I did get was a Canon 135mm f3.5 with caps for £18. Its not the smallest but it really is a nice lens

 

[Cerebum]

I had a black barrel 50mm f1.8 Canon that was one of the best 50's I've ever had. I then picked up a Canon 35mm f2 for my canon P and was all set. The 35mm f2 did everything I could ask for in a 35mm. Sadly, I no longer have the camera or the lenses, but you just can't keep everything.

I possibly have a Canon 50mm f1.8 on the way, long story. As for 35mm, there was one on eBay yesterday that went for £130. I am on a tight budget and that was a bit rich for me. It tops my wish list though as it is stunning

 

[Cerebum]

I bought some former USSR lenses for a good price at ebay. Take time and some offer will come for a reasonable price. And I am very happy concerning the image quality of USSR lenses with the Canon 7s.

I have Jupiter-9, Jupiter-12 and the Russar with original finder. The optical performance of the Russar is a positive surprise. The bad reviews may be concerning with the use on digital cameras.

Russars go for a lot I will probably end up with a Jupiter 12. Having said that, there is often only £40 difference between a Jupiter 12 and a Canon 35mm f2

 

[loccdor]

@Sergey Ko Those Jupiter-3 pictures have a wonderful softness. I just started trying one myself. Consider posting to this thread: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/post-photos-taken-with-a-sonnar-type-lens-nw.157867

 

[Petrochemist]

For wider than 50mm you could perhaps try modifying the Industar 69, a half frame 28mm/2.8 for the Chaika camera. This M39 lens has slightly different rear focal distance than LTM (27.5 rather than 28.8mm), but it's actually a fairly simple DIY project to get it to focus. Being designed for a half frame camera it doesn't cover full frame, cropping the image it gives provides roughly a 35mm FOV.

One review that goes into the issues is here

I got mine back in late 2018 for only £11, I suspect they've gone up somewhat since then

 

[grain elevator]

Russars go for a lot I will probably end up with a Jupiter 12. Having said that, there is often only £40 difference between a Jupiter 12 and a Canon 35mm f2

In that case you're looking at fantasy-priced J-12s. They should be a lot less.

 

[Cerebum]

In that case you're looking at fantasy-priced J-12s. They should be a lot less.

Lol, you are dead right on that. I have seen several on eBay for £130+ but the value is £80-90. As for the canon, one went yesterday for £140, but I think that was cheap. EBay prices across the board are inflating daily and bargains are getting hard to find.....although, they are still out there

 

[Cerebum]

For wider than 50mm you could perhaps try modifying the Industar 69, a half frame 28mm/2.8 for the Chaika camera. This M39 lens has slightly different rear focal distance than LTM (27.5 rather than 28.8mm), but it's actually a fairly simple DIY project to get it to focus. Being designed for a half frame camera it doesn't cover full frame, cropping the image it gives provides roughly a 35mm FOV.

One review that goes into the issues is here

I got mine back in late 2018 for only £11, I suspect they've gone up somewhat since then

Funny thing, I was looking at one of these yesterday. I am not great with DIY though as my weapon of choice is more hammer than tweezer I am curious though, thanks for the link. What do you think of the image quality?