Quote:
Originally Posted by hankg
I thought with the 28/2 Summicron and the 50/1.4 preASPH that I had my lens kit for the M8 sorted out. But I'm finding it's not quite right. On a film M I pretty much shot exclusively with a 50/1.4. Great stopped down when using the camera as a point and shoot with the hyperfocal distance set. Great wide open with beautiful transitions to OOF areas and great for low light. Once in a while I'd use a 75 at 2 or 2.8 for a portrait.
Now I really love the rendering of the 28 but I'm finding it a little wide. The 50 is better suited to my way of shooting but often I can't get far enough back to frame the scene as it's a 70 on the M8. I've been thinking about picking up a 35 summicron-M IV. I have owned the lens in the past and love it but it doesn't get me to 1.4. So I'm thinking trade the 28 and the 50 for a 35/1.4 ASPH if I can find one that doesn't have excessive focus shift. From what I've seen the 35 Summilux ASPH is closer to the 28/2 in feel then the other ASPH lenses and from the images I've seen it has a very pleasant bokeh closer to the preASPH lenses then most of the current Leica line up. Sean when are we going to see those OOF samples in your 35 reviews  So what say you with experience with the 28/2 50 preASPH and 35/1.4 ASPH. How does the 35/1.4 signature compare to my 2 current lenses?
This is for my private shooting. For commercial stuff I'll still need a wide but for those applications I am always shooting stopped down to f8 - f16 and at those apertures any of the CV's or older Leica lenses will match the new expensive stuff. I also have a 90/4 Macro and I'm happy with that wide open for portraits and to take care of product shots while I am sans SLR. I hate having lots of lenses and the idea of one lens taking the place of 2 is really appealing. No wondering what to slap on the camera before you run out the door. I hate carrying a bag and living in the tropics I don't have any pockets to drop an extra lens into. For me less is more. |
Hi Hank,
First of all, I will try to finish up those 35 mm OOF samples as soon as I can. The delay comes because I'm doing a lot of croppings, at several apertures, for all of the lenses. So, the prep work is really time intensive.
I think that if I had to work with only one lens on the M8, it would likely be the 35/1.4 ASPH. Stopped down, its more contrasty than I'd like and the focus shift may or may not pose a problem for you, but it's just a wonderful and versatile little lens. And I agree that the stop beyond F/2 is well worth having for anyone who works in existing light.
Should you give up the other two lenses for this lens? That's not for me to say and never would be. The 35 Ultron is, however, a way for you to see how much you love a 35 on the M8 without needing to sell the other two lenses. It's only a half-stop slower, of course, and its contrast is lower than many (which you may appreciate but which disappoints some people). Both the Ultron and the 35 Lux ASPH render beautifully in OOF areas. If you end up loving the Ultron, you'll have saved a ton of money. If not, you can sell it and go for the Lux ASPH. So that might be a good way to test the waters.
Cheers,
Sean