Lenses under $2,000 Lenses

Steinheil's Culminar 85mm f/2.8 VL is a Tessar-type LTM portrait lens from 1950s Munich, an uncoupled, budget-priced alternative to Leitz telephotos.

The Leica Hektor 135mm f/4.5 is a long, slow M-mount telephoto descended from a 1933 Leitz design, valued by collectors for its classic build and 15-blade iris.</parameter> <parameter name="long_description">## Leica Hektor 135mm f/4.5 Among the longest lenses in the classic Leica rangefinder catalogue, the Hektor 135mm f/4.5 is a modest-aperture telephoto whose lineage reaches back to a Leitz design first offered in 1933, after which the lens went through many revisions before reaching its later screw and bayonet forms [1]. The name Hektor was applied across several Leitz designs of the period, and on the 135mm it covers a comparatively simple optic that prioritized a long reach and a compact diameter over speed. Its slim barrel, 39mm filter thread, and fifteen-blade diaphragm are typical of the careful, conservative engineering that makes these lenses recognizable to collectors. Optically the Hektor 135mm uses four elements in three groups, a straightforward arrangement that suited the long focal length and the relatively dim f/4.5 maximum aperture [1]. The lens is rangefinder coupled and focuses to a minimum distance of 1.5m, with a long focusing throw that aids precision at portrait and short-telephoto distances. The barrel is all metal in a two-tone finish, and at roughly 440g it is light for its 127mm length because the slow aperture keeps the front elements small. On the M mount it couples to the camera rangefinder directly, while the broader 135mm Hektor family was also produced in Leica thread mount and in short-mount form for the Visoflex reflex housing. Identification of a particular Hektor 135mm depends heavily on its production stage, since the design changed repeatedly over its long life. Examples were issued in screw mount and bayonet mount, in chrome and later black-trimmed finishes, and with front fittings that differ between the older A36 clamp-on size and the 39mm screw-in filter standard [1][2]. Some versions have removable lens heads, and on certain serial ranges these heads cannot be mounted on the Visoflex unless factory modified, so the head, focusing mount, and intended camera must be matched together rather than assumed compatible [1][2]. Documented model and order codes for the line include HEFAR / 11035, HEFARCHROM, HEFARKUP, and OHEBO / 11040. --- ## Optical qualities **Rendering** Detailed published testing of the Hektor 135mm f/4.5 is limited, and it is best understood as a slow classic telephoto rather than a high-performance optic. Its four-element design and f/4.5 aperture place it among the gentler renderers in the Leica catalogue, and a contemporary review treated it as a usable vintage long lens rather than a modern performer [3]. Buyers should expect character consistent with an early-coated or uncoated design of its era, and individual results vary widely with the specific version and the condition of the glass. Because firm, repeatable data on sharpness, contrast, and flare is not well documented across sources, no detailed performance claims are made here. --- ## History **Development and Launch** The 135mm Hektor was introduced by Leitz in 1933 as a long telephoto for the 35mm rangefinder system, and it remained in the catalogue with numerous design changes into the 1960s [1]. It served as the long end of the system alongside the faster and later 135mm Elmar, giving photographers reach for portraits, sports, and distant subjects within the constraints of rangefinder focusing. **Production Evolution** Over its long run the lens passed through many variations in optics, finish, and fittings, and a distinct silver-finished version was introduced in 1950 [1]. Front filter and accessory fittings shifted from the older A36 size to the 39mm screw-in thread, and barrels were produced in both screw and bayonet mounts with chrome and two-tone finishes [1][2]. Lens-head removability also changed across serial ranges, with early lenses below serial 241000 and those from 245000 to 245800 carrying heads that cannot be used on the Visoflex without factory modification [1]. **Special editions** No major factory special editions of the 135mm Hektor f/4.5 are widely documented beyond the standard mount, finish, and head variations noted above. **Collector Notes** Because so many versions exist, matching is the central concern when buying or assembling a Hektor 135mm: the lens head, focusing mount, and camera should be confirmed to focus correctly together, since heads from different serial ranges and mounts do not always interchange and some require factory work for Visoflex use [1][2]. Owners on collector forums also note that screw-mount and short-mount heads can be confused with the similar 135mm Elmar, so the engraved focal-length marking near the infinity setting and the aperture markings are worth checking before assuming a head belongs to the lens [2]. Haze inside the optical group is common on surviving examples and should be inspected, and originality of finish and fittings is worth verifying given the many factory variations [1][2]. --- ## Sources * [1] Kamerastore. *Leica 135mm f4.5 Hektor (Silver, HEFAR)*. https://kamerastore.com/en-us/products/leica-135mm-f4-5-hektor-silver-hefar-ltm-m39-t134974 * [2] Leica Forum (l-camera-forum.com). *Hektor 135mm/f:4,5 LTM*. https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/54291-hektor-135mmf45-ltm/ * [3] Leica Rumors. *Leica's Ernst Leitz Hektor 135mm f/4.5 lens review*. https://leicarumors.com/2011/03/14/leicas-ernst-leitz-hektor-135mm-f4-5-lens-review.aspx/

Sankyo-Kohki Komura 105mm f/3.5: an uncommon Japanese short telephoto in Leica screw mount (LTM), a low-key collector lens from the 1950s rangefinder era.

FED 50mm f/3.5 is a collapsible Leica L39/LTM Tessar-type normal lens, also known as Industar-10, with strong Soviet collector appeal.

The Leica Elmar 90mm f/4 is a compact, lightweight M-mount short telephoto, a long-lived collector-friendly classic prized for portability and modest aperture.

The Canon Serenar 50mm f/1.9 is an early postwar LTM rangefinder lens, Canon's first fast normal optic and a sought-after Japanese Leica-era classic.

Arco Tele-Snowva 135mm f/3.8 is a rare Japanese Leica L39/LTM telephoto lens with chrome brass build and collector appeal.

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 I is a compact six-element LTM rangefinder standard lens from 1951, a classic Serenar design popular with screw-mount collectors.

The Leica Elmar 5cm f/3.5 (11110) is the M-bayonet version of the classic collapsible 50mm Tessar-type lens, prized by Leica M rangefinder collectors.

The KMZ Jupiter-12 is a 35mm f/2.8 LTM rangefinder lens, a Soviet copy of the prewar Zeiss Biogon prized by collectors for its low cost and Biogon character.

Canon Serenar 35mm f/3.5 is an early Leica L39/LTM Canon rangefinder wide-angle lens with 4/3 optics and chrome brass collector appeal.

The Leica Elmarit 90mm f/2.8 is a 1959 short telephoto for M and screw mount, the rangefinder portrait classic that the later Tele-Elmarit replaced.

ED-36 100mm f/6.3 is a rare prewar Soviet Leica L39/LTM telephoto lens with M39 mount and strong collector relevance.

The Ross Xtralux 13.5cm f/4.5 is a scarce British-made 135mm uncoupled telephoto in Leica LTM screw mount, prized by collectors of Ross and Reid-era optics.

The Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor-Q.C 13.5cm f/3.5 is a four-element LTM rangefinder telephoto from Nikon's S-system era, prized by classic Nikon collectors.

Leica Summar 5cm f/2, 1933 LTM rangefinder lens with 6/4 optics, collapsible build, early f/2 history, and collectible rigid, nickel variants.

The TTArtisan 11mm f/2.8 is a diagonal fisheye for Leica M mount, notable as the first full-frame fisheye made for the rangefinder system.

Fujinon-L 5cm f/2.8 LTM is a rare Fuji Leica screw-mount standard lens made for Leotax rangefinder collectors.

The 7artisans 35mm f/2 WEN (Mark II) is a compact 8-element manual prime in Leica M mount, part of the street-oriented WEN series for rangefinder shooters.

The Yashica Super-Yashinon 50mm f/1.8 is a six-element LTM rangefinder lens from the 1959 Yashica YF, a scarce post-Nicca screw-mount collectible.

The Canon 35mm f/1.8 is a fast LTM screw-mount rangefinder wide-angle from the late 1950s, valued by collectors for its compact build and vintage rendering.

The TTArtisan 21mm f1.5 ASPH is a fast, affordable Leica M-mount wide-angle whose rare 21mm f/1.5 aperture made it a notable budget alternative for collectors.

The Canon 50mm f/1.4 II is a fast six-element LTM rangefinder lens prized by collectors as among the best Canon screw-mount fifties.

The 7artisans 75mm f/1.25 I is a fast, affordable Leica M-mount portrait lens whose smooth bokeh and 12-blade diaphragm draw budget-minded collectors.

The Minolta M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 is a compact Leica M-mount telephoto built around the CL and CLE rangefinders, prized by collectors for its small size.

The Leica Elmar 5cm f/2.8 (11612) is a compact collapsible four-element 50mm M-mount lens prized by collectors as the last of Leica's classic Elmar fifties.

The Sankyo-Kohki W-Komura 28mm f/3.5 is a rangefinder-coupled LTM wide-angle from a noted Japanese third-party maker, of interest to Leica screw-mount collectors.

The 7artisans 50mm f/1.1 is a Sonnar-derived Leica M-mount lens whose ultra-fast aperture and budget price made it a popular entry into M-mount fast fifties.

The Sankyo-Kohki Komura 80mm f/3.5 is a short telephoto in Leica screw mount (LTM), a rangefinder-coupled Japanese lens of niche interest to collectors.</parameter> <parameter name="long_description">## Sankyo-Kohki Komura 80mm f/3.5 The Komura 80mm f/3.5 belongs to a family of affordable Japanese lenses that competed with established German and domestic makers by offering interchangeable-mount optics at lower prices. It was made by Sankyo Kohki Co., Ltd., the Tokyo optical firm that built lenses under the Komura brand for a wide range of cameras, including Leica screw-mount rangefinders [1][2]. Documentation specific to the 80mm f/3.5 is sparse, so much of what can be said about it is best understood through the wider Komura rangefinder line and the company's general design practices rather than through dedicated reviews of this focal length. As a Leica thread-mount (LTM, M39) lens, this 80mm couples to a rangefinder for focusing and reaches a close focus of 1.25 m. Its short-telephoto length sits a little beyond the more common 75mm and 90mm portrait options, and a maximum aperture of f/3.5 marks it as a modest-speed design rather than a fast portrait lens. The diaphragm uses ten blades, which tends to keep the aperture opening reasonably round through the stops. Sankyo Kohki was known for selling fast or unusually specified lenses in Leica screw mount as a way to carve out a market niche against larger rivals [3][4]. The firm also produced Komura optics for Nikon rangefinders and, through adapter systems, for numerous SLR mounts, so a buyer should confirm that a given example is the rangefinder-coupled LTM version rather than a converted or adapted barrel [4]. Recorded variants of this exact lens are not well documented in the sources consulted. The lens was offered in black and silver finishes. Komura branding generally appears as "Sankyo Kohki" on lens badges, while English-language trademark filings used the spelling "Sankyo Koki," a point that can cause confusion when searching records and listings [1][2]. --- ## Optical qualities **Rendering** Detailed, lens-specific test data for the Komura 80mm f/3.5 is not available in the sources reviewed, so firm performance claims cannot be made for this particular model. More broadly, knowledgeable collectors have praised Komura lenses for high contrast, pleasing color rendering, and smooth bokeh [2]. Those traits describe the brand's reputation in general and should be treated as context rather than as measured results for this specific 80mm. --- ## History **Development and Launch** Sankyo Kohki traces to an optical research institute established in 1951 and was reorganized as Sankyo Kohki Co., Ltd. in 1955; the Komura brand name was first used in 1953 and was formed from the names of company principals [1][2]. By around 1960 the firm had become one of the largest third-party lens makers in Japan, with wide-angle and medium-telephoto lenses that were popular for offering good image quality below the price of more established brands, which drew interest from Western photographers and American distributors [3]. **Production Evolution** Komura's interchangeable lenses are frequently noted for preset-style aperture construction, with the optical system and aperture in a front section and a helicoid in the rear section that could be separated and swapped by hand [1]. Over the 1960s and 1970s the company expanded into Bronica medium-format lenses, the Komura Unidapter adapter system for many SLR mounts, and later the Komuranon SLR series, before changing its name to Komura Lens Manufacturing, Ltd. and becoming insolvent in 1980 [2][3][4]. **Special editions** No major factory special editions of the 80mm f/3.5 are widely documented in the sources reviewed. **Collector Notes** Buyers should confirm the lens is the rangefinder-coupled Leica screw-mount version, since Komura optics were sold for several systems and were sometimes adapted between mounts [4]. Brand-wide, collectors note that the rear element of some Komura preset designs is prone to fogging and scratches, which makes clean examples scarcer; inspecting the rear glass for haze and coating wear is therefore worthwhile, even though that observation comes from the broader Komura line rather than this specific lens [1]. Because the maker's name appears as both "Sankyo Kohki" and "Sankyo Koki," searching under both spellings helps when verifying a purchase [1][2]. --- ## Sources * [1] Kameramanufaktur. *Sankyo Kohki and the Komura lenses*. https://kameramanufaktur.jimdofree.com/lenses/komura-lenses/ * [2] FilmPhotograph.com. *About Komura*. https://filmphotograph.com/komura/about * [3] Mike Eckman. *Sankyo Kohki Komura 500mm f/7*. https://mikeeckman.com/2022/10/sankyo-kohki-komura-500mm-f-7/ * [4] Rangefinderforum (Jason Schneider). *Komura Lenses For Bronicas: Better Than Their Rep & Still Relatively Cheap*. https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/komura-lenses-for-bronicas-better-than-their-rep-still-relatively-cheap.4761676/

The Mr. Ding Noxlux DG 50mm f/1.1 is a fast double-Gauss 50mm M-mount lens from China, prized by collectors for creamy bokeh at a low price.

Sankyo-Kohki's W-Komura 35mm f/2.8 is a compact six-element wide-angle in Leica screw mount (LTM), a scarce Japanese third-party rangefinder lens collectors seek.

The Leica Summitar 5cm f/2 is a collapsible LTM-mount normal lens of 1939, a seven-element Leitz design prized by screw-mount collectors and film shooters.

Canon Serenar 85mm f/2 I is an early Leica screw-mount portrait lens with 6/4 optics, a heavy chrome-brass barrel and classic rendering.

The Canon 85mm f/1.9 Serenar is a chrome, six-element LTM (M39) rangefinder portrait lens, a fast short telephoto sought by Leica screw-mount collectors.

The Leica Elmarit-M 135mm f/2.8 II with OVU is an M-mount telephoto whose built-in magnifying goggles aid rangefinder focusing, a distinctive collector lens.

The TTArtisan M 35mm f/1.4 is a low-cost, all-metal Leica M-mount fast wide-angle prime, notable as one of the brand's first M lenses for digital and film bodies.

The 7Artisans M 35mm f/2.8 is a tiny double-Gauss pancake prime in M and LTM mounts, a low-cost vintage-styled 35mm aimed at rangefinder shooters.

The Leica Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 is a compact M-mount short telephoto whose four-element "thin" version is prized by collectors for its small size.

Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor-HC 5cm f/2 Rigid: a Sonnar-derived 50mm f/2 LTM rangefinder lens, prized by Leica thread-mount collectors for its build and rendering.

The Leica Summicron-M 90mm f/2 (pre-ASPH), order numbers 11136 and 11137, is a fast Canadian-designed telephoto for the M rangefinder, prized by portrait shooters.

The Leica Tele-Elmarit 90mm f/2.8 "Fat" is a Canadian-made M and LTM short telephoto from the 1960s, prized by collectors for its compact true-tele design.

The Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I is a compact apochromatic M-mount rangefinder lens that revives a classic name with modern corrected optics.</parameter> <parameter name="long_description">## Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I The APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I revives one of Voigtländer's most prestigious names in a compact, slow-aperture standard prime built by Cosina for the Leica M mount. Announced in July 2024, it pairs a deliberately classical exterior with a fully corrected modern optical design, and the "APO-LANTHAR" engraving signals an apochromatic formula intended to suppress chromatic aberration across the visible spectrum [1][4]. Although its profile recalls older collapsible normal lenses, the Type I is a rigid, non-collapsing barrel despite a styling that some observers compare to vintage designs [2][4]. Optically the lens uses eight elements in six groups, four of which are made of anomalous partial-dispersion glass, an arrangement Cosina describes as delivering uncompromising performance with very little distortion [1][4]. The aperture relies on ten straight blades, which produce ten-pointed sunstars from roughly f/4 to f/16, a trait common to Cosina-made lenses [2][4]. The Type I focuses to 0.45 m by means of a linear all-metal helicoid that extends past the 0.7 m point where rangefinder coupling ends, with a tactile click marking the transition from the coupled range to live-view focusing on capable bodies [3][6]. The lens is rangefinder coupled, takes a 34 mm filter, and its compatible optical design makes it adaptable to mirrorless cameras through an M adapter [4][5]. The "Type" designation refers to barrel design rather than optics: the Type I is the slimmer, more compact variant with a 34 mm filter thread, while the Type II adopts a more traditional, slightly larger barrel with a 39 mm filter thread and a closer 0.35 m minimum focus [4]. Within the Type I family Voigtländer offers two finishes, a two-tone black paint and chrome version of heavier brass construction and a lighter matte black version using aluminium, which accounts for the difference between the heavier and lighter recorded weights [3][6]. None of these versions is six-bit coded for Leica bodies. --- ## Optical qualities **Rendering** Reviewers position the lens as a refinement of the long-running Voigtländer 50mm f/3.5 Heliar, a design noted for high resolution and contrast, with the APO-LANTHAR said to build on those qualities while keeping a broadly similar rendering [2]. The apochromatic correction is intended to remove longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration, and Cosina states there is effectively no visible distortion [1][4]. **Flare resistance** The simple optical layout and small front element give the lens strong resistance to flare, which reviewers rate among the best of Cosina's lenses [2]. **Bokeh and transitions** The ten-blade diaphragm is intended to keep the aperture nearly circular for smoother out-of-focus rendering, in addition to producing its characteristic ten-point sunstars when stopped down [2][4]. --- ## History **Development and Launch** Voigtländer unveiled the APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 in Type I and Type II forms in July 2024, with pre-orders opening in September 2024 [4][5]. The lens reuses the historic APO-LANTHAR name, which Cosina applies to designs intended to demonstrate the highest level of optical correction, and it follows the company's long-produced 50mm f/3.5 Heliar in the slow-normal segment of the M-mount lineup [1][2]. **Special editions** To mark 25 years of Cosina Voigtländer production, the company released a 25th Anniversary Limited Edition of the Type I in late 2024, totalling 750 lenses split across navy, gray, and olive painted finishes, with 250 of each colour [7][8]. Each carries an individually engraved limited-edition number and a matching colour pouch, and includes a heavy knurled brass hood, a chrome-finished brass hood cap, and an all-metal brass rear cap; the limited run reportedly sold out quickly [7][8]. **Collector Notes** Buyers should distinguish the Type I from the Type II, since the two share optics but differ in barrel size, filter thread (34 mm versus 39 mm), and minimum focus, and they should confirm which Type I finish they hold, as the brass two-tone and aluminium matte black versions differ substantially in weight [4][6]. The standard catalogue colours are the matte black and the two-tone black and chrome (sometimes referred to as a panda finish), while navy, gray, and olive indicate the numbered anniversary editions [3][7]. As with most current Cosina lenses, the standard versions ship with a dedicated metal hood and caps worth verifying as present and matching on the used market [6]. --- ## Sources * [1] PRONEWS. *Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm F3.5 Type I/II VM Unveiled*. https://en.pronews.com/news/2024071614288155.html * [2] Leica Rumors. *Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I / II VM lens review*. https://leicarumors.com/2024/09/23/voigtlander-apo-lanthar-50mm-f-3-5-type-i-ii-vm-lens-review.aspx/ * [3] Mainline Photographics. *Voigtländer 50mm f3.5 APO-LANTHAR VM Type I Black Paint & Chrome Lens*. https://mainlinephoto.com.au/voigtlander-50mm-f3-5-apo-lanthar-vm-type-i-black-paint-chrome-lens/ * [4] PetaPixel. *Voigtländer's New APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Lenses Promise Vintage Vibes*. https://petapixel.com/2024/07/12/voigtlanders-new-apo-lanthar-50mm-f-3-5-lenses-promise-vintage-vibes/ * [5] Leica Rumors. *The new Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I / II VM lenses are now available for pre-order*. https://leicarumors.com/2024/09/17/the-new-voigtlander-apo-lanthar-50mm-f-3-5-type-i-ii-vm-lenses-are-now-available-for-pre-order.aspx/ * [6] CameraQuest. *Voigtländer 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Limited Navy*. https://shop.cameraquest.com/voigtlander-leica-mount-lenses/voigtlander-50mm-f/3.5-apo-lanthar-limited-navy/ * [7] Robert White. *Voigtländer 50mm f3.5 APO-LANTHAR VM Type I Limited Edition Olive Lens*. https://www.robertwhite.co.uk/voigtlander-50mm-f3-5-apo-lanthar-vm-type-i-limited-edition-olive-lens.html * [8] Rangefinder Forum. *Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm F3.5 VM Limited coming in December 2024*. https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/voigtlander-apo-lanthar-50mm-f3-5-vm-limited-coming-in-december-2024.4817230/

The 7artisans 75mm f/1.25 II is a fast manual-focus portrait lens for Leica M mount, a low-cost alternative to Leica's far pricier Noctilux 75mm.

Leica Summarit 50mm (5cm) f/1.5, 1949 fast LTM and M lens with 7/5 optics, Xenon roots, vintage glow, and collectible SOOIA variants.

The Carl Zeiss Biogon T* 21mm f/2.8 ZM is a Cosina-built super-wide for Leica M mount, prized by rangefinder users for sharpness and low distortion.

The Voigtländer APO-Skopar 90mm f/2.8 is a compact apochromatic short telephoto in Leica M mount, prized by rangefinder users for sharpness in a 250g body.

The Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 I is the original f/1.2 aspherical M-mount 35, prized by collectors as the fastest production rangefinder 35mm of its day.

The Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 II Dual Range is a chrome M-mount near-focusing lens (1956 to 1968), prized by collectors for its build and rendering.

The Leica Summaron 35mm f/3.5 with OVU goggles (SOONC-M, 11105) is an M-mount classic prized by M3 users for its compact build and vintage character.</parameter> <parameter name="long_description">## Leica Summaron 35mm f/3.5 with OVU SOONC-M What sets this version of the Summaron 35mm f/3.5 apart is the OVU optical attachment, the pair of auxiliary "goggles" that sit in front of the rangefinder and viewfinder windows. The Leica M3, the camera the lens was designed to accompany, has no built-in 35mm frame line, so the goggles magnify the wider field down into the M3 finder and bring up the correct framing while keeping the rangefinder coupled. The result is a lens that lets M3 owners shoot 35mm without an accessory finder, and the assembly is why collectors single out this configuration, catalogued under model number 11105 [1][2]. Optically the lens uses a six-element, four-group design, and the same formula was carried across the screw-mount and bayonet versions of the lens [2]. The bayonet M version was produced toward the end of the Summaron 35mm f/3.5 run, which spanned roughly the mid-1940s to about 1960 in screw mount and the second half of the 1950s in M mount [2][3]. The barrel is short and light, in keeping with other compact Leica wide angles of the era, and build quality is regularly described as excellent, with many surviving copies still working smoothly and remaining largely free of internal dust [2][3]. The diaphragm uses ten blades, which keeps the aperture opening close to circular and contributes to the lens's gentle out-of-focus rendering [2]. The lens is rangefinder coupled, takes 39mm filters, and focuses to one meter. Because the optical cell is shared between mounts, the most important identification point is the mount and the presence of the goggles rather than the glass itself. A goggled f/3.5 Summaron in M bayonet, carrying the SOONC-M designation and model number 11105, is distinct from the plain screw-mount lens used with an adapter and from the later faster f/2.8 Summaron, which is a different optical design and is not covered here [2][3]. --- ## Optical qualities **Rendering** The Summaron 35mm f/3.5 is valued more for character than for clinical correctness. Reviewers describe a lens that is not flawless wide open but renders with a distinctive, atmospheric quality, combining mild softness, vignetting and a particular tonal feel that suits mood-led and black-and-white work [3]. It was designed in an era when monochrome was the dominant medium, and users note that it performs at its best in good light, where it can still produce smooth, pleasant out-of-focus areas helped by the ten-bladed diaphragm [1][3]. Those drawn to it generally want the classic vintage Leica look and a rendering that differs visibly from modern optics, rather than maximum sharpness across the frame [1]. --- ## History **Development and Launch** The Summaron 35mm f/3.5 was one of Leica's common wide-angle lenses of the period, first offered in screw mount and later adapted to the M bayonet [2][3]. With the introduction of the M3 in 1954, Leica needed a way to use a 35mm lens on a camera whose viewfinder lacked a 35mm frame line, and the goggled SOONC-M version answered that need by adding the OVU optical attachment to the bayonet lens [1][2]. **Production Evolution** The lens kept its six-element, four-group optical formula across both the screw-mount and M-mount versions, so the principal change over its life was the mount and the addition of the finder goggles for M3 use rather than a new optical design [2]. Production of the f/3.5 Summaron ran to about 1960, after which Leica's 35mm offerings moved on to faster designs [2][3]. **Special editions** No major factory special editions of this specific goggled f/3.5 version are widely documented in collector sources beyond the standard SOONC-M configuration recorded as model 11105 [1][2]. **Collector Notes** For an M3 user the goggled Summaron is often regarded as both a usable lens and a desirable collector item [1]. When evaluating a copy, confirm that the goggles are present, undamaged and clear, since they are integral to correct framing on the M3 and are awkward to replace. As with any lens of this age, check the front and rear glass and internal elements for haze, fungus and separation; many surviving examples remain clean, but condition varies. The 39mm filter thread and period caps and hoods are worth verifying as original. Note also that the plain screw-mount Summaron and the later f/2.8 Summaron are easily confused with this version in listings, so checking the mount, the goggles and the model number helps avoid mistaken purchases [2][3]. --- ## Sources * [1] Dankerin Photography. *Leica 35mm F3.5 Summaron*. https://dankerinphotography.com/leica-35mm-f35-summaron * [2] Vintage Camera Lenses. *Leica Summaron 35mm f3.5*. https://vintage-camera-lenses.com/leica-summaron-35mm-f3-5/ * [3] MrLeica (Matt Osborne). *Leica Summaron 35mm f3.5 Review & Photos*. https://mrleica.com/summaron-35mm-f3-5/

The Voigtländer Heliar 50mm f/3.5 I is a collapsible LTM screw-mount normal lens reviving the classic Heliar formula, prized by rangefinder collectors.

The Leica Summaron 35mm f/3.5 is a compact six-element wide-angle lens in M mount, prized by collectors for its vintage low-contrast rendering and tiny size.

The Konica M-Hexanon 28mm f/2.8 is a compact wide-angle prime in Leica M mount, a versatile, well-regarded Hexar RF-era lens now sought by collectors.

The Leica Summaron 35mm f/2.8 (11106) is the M3 goggled SIMWO version, a compact six-element wide-angle rangefinder lens collectors prize for classic rendering.

Compact chrome Leica Elmar 35mm f/3.5 wide-angle lens with L39 screw mount, rangefinder coupling, four-element optics and A36 filters. Long Description: See separate Markdown block below.

Canon 35mm f/2.8 II is a Leica L39/LTM wide-angle lens with 6/4 optics, compact black/chrome build and collector appeal.

A Sonnar-derived Canon 50mm f/1.5 in Leica thread mount, a 1952 large-aperture standard lens prized by collectors for its classic rendering.

The Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 is a double-Gauss Leica M-mount standard lens from the Hexar RF system, prized by rangefinder collectors.

The chrome Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 II Rigid is a collectible M-mount fifty, prized for its compact build, classic optics, and Swiss-watch focusing feel.

Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85mm f/4 ZM, a compact manual-focus short telephoto in Leica M mount prized as a light, sharp travel and landscape lens.

The Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 II is a focus-tab M-mount lens that swaps the original infinity lock for a crescent tab, keeping the same 14-blade optics.

The Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 II is a fast aspherical M-mount rangefinder lens, long valued as the quickest 35mm option for the Leica M system.

The Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 III is a compact, all-metal M-mount manual lens, the smallest and lightest of Cosina's fast 35mm trio.</parameter> <parameter name="long_description">## Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 III This is the third version of Cosina's fast 35mm Nokton for Leica M-mount, and it marks a clear break from the two designs that came before it. Where the original Nokton and its Mark II both used a ten-element optical layout, the III was rebuilt around a smaller nine-element, seven-group formula, allowing Cosina to shed bulk while keeping the f/1.2 maximum aperture that gives the line its reputation as one of the fastest 35mm rangefinder lenses available [1][2]. The result is a lens that is roughly 20 percent shorter and about 30 percent lighter than the Mark II, which makes it considerably easier to carry and to balance on a Leica M body than its predecessors [2]. Build and handling follow the pattern collectors expect from modern Voigtländer M-mount glass. The barrel is almost entirely metal with engraved, paint-filled markings, the focus ring turns with firm resistance over roughly 130 degrees from the 0.5 m minimum focus distance to infinity, and the aperture ring uses half-stop click detents across its travel [1]. The diaphragm has twelve straight blades, and the lens is rangefinder coupled, so it focuses through the optical finder on M cameras [1]. It is not factory six-bit coded. Reviewers note that the III balances better on an M10 than the earlier versions, with only mild finder blockage, and that it shows essentially no focus shift, which is useful for rangefinder users who set focus wide open [1]. The 52 mm filter thread is shared across this generation of Voigtländer fast primes, and as with most of Cosina's M-mount lenses a hood is not supplied in the box [1]. The III should not be confused with the earlier Mark I and Mark II Noktons, which are heavier and use the older ten-element design, nor with the Nokton 35mm f/1.2 SE, a Sony E-mount lens that shares the III's optical formula but adds electronic coupling and focuses closer [1]. Sources note that the M-mount III and the E-mount SE differ in how they are optimized for their respective sensor stacks, so corner rendering on a digital body can vary between them [1]. --- ## Optical qualities **Rendering** The III is generally described as a lens built for atmosphere and shallow depth of field rather than clinical across-frame sharpness. The center is good wide open and improves quickly on stopping down, while the midframe and corners are soft at f/1.2 and need to be stopped down well, with f/8 recommended for best even sharpness at infinity [1]. It appears to be a unit-focus design optimized for a middle distance, so at the close end wide open it is soft, again clearing up by around f/2 [1]. **Bokeh and transitions** Out-of-focus rendering is a strength. Close and mid-distance backgrounds are smooth, though cat's-eye shapes from optical vignetting become visible with point lights toward the edges, and at long distances the corner bokeh can suffer from the field-curvature effects common to fast rangefinder wide-angles on thick-sensor-stack cameras [1]. **Flare resistance** Flare control is good, and reviewers found it hard to provoke strong ghosting even with the sun near the frame edge, which softens the absence of a bundled hood [1]. **Distortion and vignetting** Distortion is described as pronounced and wavy, correctable with the E-mount version's profile in software, and light falloff wide open is strong at roughly 3.3 EV, easing as the lens is stopped down [1]. **Aberrations** Coma correction is moderate, with astigmatism present until about f/4, and the lens shows spherical-aberration glow at f/1.2 [1]. Lateral chromatic aberration is moderate and easily corrected, while longitudinal CA and purple fringing wide open are notable, the latter being singled out as a weak point [1]. --- ## History **Development and Launch** The Nokton 35mm f/1.2 III is the latest member of a line that Cosina has positioned as the fastest 35mm lens for the Leica M system [1][2]. The design goal of this version was size reduction: by adopting newer optical glasses and a revised computation, Cosina cut both length and weight relative to the Mark II while retaining the established performance level of the previous model [2]. It is sold as the Nokton 35mm F1.2 Aspherical III VM [3]. **Production Evolution** Across the three M-mount Noktons the most significant change is at the III, which moved from the ten-element, seven-group construction of versions I and II to a nine-element, seven-group layout, accompanied by the large drop in weight and length [1][2]. The earlier Mark I also had a longer 0.7 m minimum focus distance, which was shortened to 0.5 m from the Mark II onward [1]. **Special editions** No major factory special editions of the III are widely documented. Cosina did release an optically related Sony E-mount variant, the Nokton 35mm f/1.2 SE, but that is a separate E-mount product rather than a finish variant of the M-mount III [1]. **Collector Notes** The chief point of confusion is version identification: the III is distinctly smaller and lighter than the heavier Mark I and Mark II, and buyers should confirm they are getting the nine-element III rather than an older ten-element copy [1][2]. The lens is identified as the VM (M-mount) model and carries the manufacturer code BA355A in retail listings [3]. Because no hood ships in the box, a hood is an accessory worth sourcing separately [1]. --- ## Sources * [1] phillipreeve.net (Bastian Kratzke). *Review: Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III*. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-voigtlander-vm-35mm-1-2-iii/ * [2] Adorama (manufacturer specifications and description). *Used Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical III VM Lens*. https://www.adorama.com/used-voigtlander-nokton-35mm-f-12-aspherical-iii-vm-lens/p/us2000502 * [3] findingrange.com. *Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 Aspherical III Lens Review*. http://findingrange.com/2020/08/19/voigtlander-nokton-35mm-f1-2-aspherical-iii-lens-review/

The Thypoch Simera 21mm f/1.4 ASPH. is a fast wide-angle Leica M-mount lens, a 2025 rangefinder option closely echoing Voigtländer's 21mm Nokton.

The Carl Zeiss C Biogon T* 35mm f/2.8 ZM is a compact, highly corrected M-mount wide-angle prized by collectors for sharpness and small size.

The Canon 19mm f/3.5 is a rangefinder-coupled LTM super-wide pancake from 1964, widely collected as Canon's widest and last screw-mount lens.

The Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM is a Cosina-built six-element double-Gauss standard lens in Leica M mount, prized for sharpness and flare control.

The Voigtländer Nokton 75mm f/1.5 Aspherical is a fast, compact M-mount short telephoto from Cosina's Vintage Line, prized by Leica rangefinder shooters.

The Voigtländer Ultron 21mm f/1.8 Aspherical is an ultrafast Leica M-mount ultrawide from Cosina, valued by collectors as an affordable rangefinder-coupled alternative.

The Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.2 is an ultra-light aluminum M-mount rangefinder lens, a compact modern 50 that draws growing collector interest.

Voigtländer Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 LTM is a 2023 screw-mount wide-angle, the lightest L39 version of Cosina's compact rangefinder-coupled 28.

The Voigtländer Ultron 75mm f/1.9 SC/MC is a compact, close-focusing short-telephoto lens for Leica M-mount, offered in single- and multi-coated versions.

Voigtländer Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 Type II is a compact aspherical M-mount rangefinder lens, the modern aluminum-barrel variant in Cosina's trio.

A Sonnar-derived Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor-SC 50mm f/1.4 in Leica screw mount (LTM), a single-coated fast fifty prized by rangefinder collectors for classic rendering.

The Leica Summicron-C 40mm f/2 is a compact M-mount rangefinder lens built for the Leica CL, prized by collectors as an affordable Summicron sleeper.

The Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II, an M-mount rangefinder lens in SC and MC coatings, updates a cult fast 35mm for digital sensors.

The Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type II is a compact apochromatic standard lens in Leica M mount, prized for near-perfect optics in a classic body.

The Leica Hektor 28mm f/6.3 was Leitz's first 28mm lens, a tiny LTM screw-mount wide-angle (1935 to 1955) now prized by Leica collectors.

The Leica Summicron-M 90mm f/2 II Type 2 is a Canadian-made M-mount portrait lens (11136/11137), the E55 pre-ASPH prized for its classic rendering.

The Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH. is a compact 16-blade Leica M-mount portrait prime, the longest entry in Thypoch's fast Simera lineup.

The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 II is a manual triplet telephoto in Leica M mount, prized by collectors for its signature soap bubble bokeh.

The Leica Hektor 5cm f/2.5 is a 1930s LTM standard lens, the fastest early screw-mount Leitz fifty and a sought-after Barnack-era collector piece.

The Light Lens Lab 75mm f/2 "SPII" is a Leica M-mount mid-telephoto recreating Cooke Speed Panchro II rendering, drawing strong collector interest among modern M lenses.

The Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 III is a six-element M-mount rangefinder lens from 1969, the lightweight black "black sheep" version collectors prize.

The Voigtländer Ultron 35mm f/2 I ASPH. is a compact M-mount rangefinder lens with a classic focusing lever, prized as an affordable modern 35mm Summicron alternative.

The Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 ASPH. II VM is a fast, compact M-mount rangefinder lens, a 2025 refinement of Cosina's near-normal aspherical Nokton.

The Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 III is a Walter Mandler M-mount wide-angle, the last pre-aspherical 28 Elmarit and a collector favorite for its rendering.

The Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.5 is a compact, affordable M-mount short telephoto from the 2007 Summarit-M family, valued by collectors for its image quality.

The Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 ASPH. IV is a fast, compact manual 35mm M-mount prime, the fourth generation of Cosina's high-speed 35.

The Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical is Cosina's fastest 28mm M-mount rangefinder lens, a compact Vintage Line wide-angle prized by Leica shooters.

The Voigtländer Ultron Vintage 28mm f/2 ASPH Type II is a compact M-mount rangefinder lens, built in brass with classic styling and modern optics.

The Rollei HFT Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 is a compact LTM screw-mount Sonnar-type rangefinder lens from 2002, sold with the Cosina-built Rollei 35 RF.

The Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 (11134) is a pre-aspherical M-mount ultra-wide prime made 1980 to 1997, prized by Leica rangefinder collectors.

Leica's Xenon 50mm f/1.5 in LTM screw mount was the company's first super-speed standard lens, a 1930s Schneider-built rival to the Zeiss Sonnar prized by collectors.

The Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.5 Aspherical VM Type 2 is a compact brass-bodied M-mount lens prized for vintage rendering and Leica Summilux-rivaling value.

The Leica Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 II (Transitional) is a Canada-built M-mount wide-angle whose redesigned rear cleared the M5 and CL, prized by collectors.

The Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2 is an apochromatic Leica M-mount lens prized by collectors for very high resolution and contrast wide open.

Light Lens Lab announces the 75mm f/1.5 Z21 for Leica M-mount, a fast portrait lens now $949.05 with code LEICALENSLIST

Voigtländer APO-Ultron 90mm f/2 VM is a compact apochromatic Leica M telephoto lens with clinical rendering and good color reproduction.

The MS-Optics Apoqualia 28mm f/2 is a hand-built ultra-compact Leica M-mount wide-angle prized by collectors for its tiny size and unusual rendering.

The Steinheil Quinon 50mm f/2 is a chrome LTM normal lens from Munich maker C. A. Steinheil, an uncommon screw-mount alternative for vintage rangefinder collectors.

The Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 III (11309) is a compact six-element M-mount rangefinder lens made from 1971 to 1979, prized by collectors for its character.

The MS Optics 24mm f/4 Perar is widely regarded as the "Goldilocks" lens of the Perar lineup, balancing the extreme pancake size of the 21mm with a slightly more manageable focal length and less aggressive color shifting on digital bodies. Hand-assembled by Sadayasu Miyazaki, this "Super Triplet" weighs 43 grams and measures just 5.2mm thick, effectively transforming a Leica M into a pocket camera. While it still demands patience due to its tiny, hood-controlled aperture and inevitable vignetting, it offers a distinct, high-contrast render that feels far more organic than clinical modern alternatives.

The Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 28mm f/2 Aspherical is a Leica M-mount wide-angle prime that brings Cosina's apochromatic optics to the rangefinder system.

The Leica Super-Angulon-M 21mm f/4, a Schneider-derived ultra-wide M-mount rangefinder lens from 1958, prized by collectors for its symmetrical optical design.

The Leica Summaron 35mm f/2.8 SIMOO is the screw-mount (LTM) version of Leica's classic six-element wide-angle, prized as an affordable vintage M39 lens.