Favorite budget M-mount lens recs? ie < $500

[ian_T]

Hi everyone,

I've had a Nikon-Z--Leica-M adapter that's been kicking around for a couple years completely unused; principle reason being I have a few Z cameras and exactly zero M lenses. Obviously, the sensible thing to do is to acquire an M-mount lens rather than sell the z-m adapter. SO, in lieu of dropping serious dollars on a leica lens *(not to say they're not worth it, but my goal is just a fun diversion not serious life-long investment), I'm curious to hear your opinions and recommendations on favorite M-mount lenses of any brand that are budget-friendly, ideally under $500, to help me realize my Neica dream.

I know there's a whole thread on non-leica brand lenses... I'm specifically interested in BUDGET lenses : )

 

[Photon42]

I would seriously look at some Voigtländer lenses in the 35-90 range.

 

[Knorp]

I'd say: TTArtisan

 

[Geoff]

Voigtlander 35 f2.5 Color Skopar. Great lens and a steal.

 

[ptomsu]

Look at some Voigtlaender glass, these are usually pretty good for a fraction of original Leica glass.

 

[pegelli]

If you want real Leica lenses there's not much choice under $500, but there are a few that are below that (2nd hand)

Probably the cheapest are the original (~1960's) Elmar 90/4, Elmar 135/4 or Elmarit 90/2.8. You can find good copies of these from 150 - 300 $

Other ones (a bit more expensive, but still below 500 $) are the Elmar 50/3.5 or 50/2.8.

Any other focal length forget Leica M lenses under 500$ even second hand, then indeed other brands as suggested above are your best bet.

 

[B L]

If you want real Leica lenses there's not much choice under $500, but there are a few that are below that (2nd hand)

Probably the cheapest are the original (~1960's) Elmar 90/4, Elmar 135/4 or Elmarit 90/2.8. You can find good copies of these from 150 - 300 $

Other ones (a bit more expensive, but still below 500 $) are the Elmar 50/3.5 or 50/2.8.

Any other focal length forget Leica M lenses under 500$ even second hand, then indeed other brands as suggested above are your best bet.

True, West Yorkshire Camera Shop has tons of those !

 

[Bill Caulfeild-Browne]

I like the Zeiss M mount lenses.

 

[iiiNelson]

Voigtlander has some 15’s to 50’s in this range. If you go used you can find a few more. There are also the Chinese brands like TTArtisan in this price range as well that may be worth looking at reviews of. In Leica there are a few really old versions floating around in the 1960’s range in age and there are things like the 40 Summicron developed with Minolta worth looking for maybe.