First m8 lens, not a bank breaker

[Atracksler]

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I'm moving over to a m8 from the sir world.

 

I am looking for a first 50mm lens, since that is pretty much the lens I use the most. I have a zeiss jena 180 that I love the rendition from, but it makes my camera the photo equivalent of a bazooka, and about as subtle...but the lens has an amazing 3d pop for me.

 

I'm budgeting 5-600 for my first lens, I know this isnt a huge lens budget, and I am most likely looking at a screw mount lens in this price range.

 

Hoping that some of you might make some recommendations for me in this range. Naturally if I could get a 50 and something wider or tighter in my budget, but if push comes to shove, I'd rather get one good lens than 2 okay lenses.

 

Thanks in advance. Ad

[marknorton]

Keep in mind the M8 is a cropped sensor camera and a 50mm lens is more like a short telephoto - equivalent to 67mm. I think a 35mm lens is a better first choice for an M8.

 

You know what you shoot best, all I know is that I hardly use 50s on an M8, they feel to me neither fish nor fowl.

 

I would aim to do better than an old screw lens. Look for a 35mm or 50mm Summicron, worth saving up for.

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[desu]

A 40mm summicron-c would be in the range and it's a nice small and sharp lens. The only problem is that the filter thread has an unusual pitch so you have to figure out a way to attach a UV/IR filter. Unless you shoot B/W only. Then there is the Cosina/Voigtlaender 35mm Color Skopar Pancake II which is also a nice cheap lens. I would avoid screwmount Lenses as they are not rangefinder-coupled. (correct me if I am wrong).

[Atracksler]

I use the 50mm on my 1DS, I hadnt thought about the crop factor, so maybe a 35 or 40 would be a better choice.

 

Keep the suggestions rolling please!

[steinknies]

As far as I know, the Epson has an 1.5x crop factor (?). If I'm correct, you need something around 60mm for your new M8 to have it equal!

[steinknies]

sorry, my mistake. 1DS, not R-D1. Yours is FF - of course

[iedei]

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40mm Summicron

 

Amazing lens. amazing price. no brainer, IMO.

[hepcat]

I have a CV 35mm f/1.2 (ver.1) that lives on my M8 that is just amazing... it may be a little more than your $600 top end, but if you can find one they're well worth the money.

 

Here's a shot with that combo:

 

L1004519 by chief1120, on Flickr

[dpitt]

+ 1 for Summicron 40C

[satijntje]

+1for summicron 40mm,

 

Try to get a modified version that will Force the M8 to display the 35 mm framelines in the finder.

 

John

Edited March 9, 2013 by satijntje

[fotoism]

I would aim to do better than an old screw lens. Look for a 35mm or 50mm Summicron, worth saving up for.

+1

 

My personal preference is 35 Summicorn in this case. The older M versions are excellent value compared to today's newest lenses, with very nice rendering.

[Jaybob]

If I found myself in your position, I'd go with the budget bruising, but not bank breaking, 900 dollar, (with the hood and shipping) Zeiss ZM Biogon T* 35 2.8, or keep an eye out a perfect used Summaron 35 2.8.

 

I've heard nothing but good things about that Zeiss.

 

I would also suggest "The view through older glass" thread HERE for ideas.

Edited March 9, 2013 by Jaybob

[Jaybob]

I would avoid screwmount Lenses as they are not rangefinder-coupled. (correct me if I am wrong).

 

That is not correct.

[xalo]

Not to plus plus the Summicron 40, I'd suggest the M-Rokkor 40mm, the Leica's slightly younger twin. Supposedly better (more recent) coating, standard 40,5mm filter thread, usually a little cheaper (not for technical reasons). Should leave some money in spare, in case you would want to treat yourself to a good Jupiter-3 50mm f/1,5 (same filter thread) or similar to get a Zeiss design a little less obtrusive than the 180

 

In all cases of the older 40s, you will have to figure out if the lens has been modified to bring up the 35mm-frame. If not it's the 50mm frame that shows and you might need to find a workaround (for mine I wedge the frame selector with a piece of folded paper or of a match).

 

Alexander

[wda]

Welcome to the forum! I would recommend that you buy the best used 35m Summicron you can afford. Add a UV/ir filter which is necessary on the M8.

[dblrifle]

I would reccomend the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.4. With filter it should just about be in your range. It's what I have on my M8 and I am well pleased with it. Quality and impressions are personal things and I ,quite frankly, can't really see the difference in many lenses some say they can see. Guess my old eyes just aren't good enough but then I have never been able to discern these differences. I look at a picture that one person says is not sharp and it looks super sharp to me. I look at another with what is supposed to be the remarkable Leica 'presence' and I really can't see any difference to a Zeiss,Voigtlander or other quality lense. The defect has to be pretty obvious for me to see so I am easily pleased,I suppose.

[dpitt]

....The only problem is that the filter thread has an unusual pitch so you have to figure out a way to attach a UV/IR filter. Unless you shoot B/W only. ....

 

The thread is different, but I never had problems using a normal E39 filter, tightened gently with a few turns.

Mind you, it is not possible to use the rubber hood while the filter is on the lens.

 

Frame lever can be wedged with something to bring up 35 mm frame if it has not been modified.

[Lax Jought]

When I bought my M8 2-3 years ago, I was pretty sure I wanted a fast 50mm equivalent so I bought the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 MC. That lens was the only lens I had for that camera and I took thousands of great photos with this single camera-lens combination for those entire 2-3 years.

 

I think I would've been just as happy with the Voigtlander 40mm like someone else recommended above.

[iedei]

Not to plus plus the Summicron 40, I'd suggest the M-Rokkor 40mm, the Leica's slightly younger twin. Supposedly better (more recent) coating, standard 40,5mm filter thread, usually a little cheaper (not for technical reasons).

 

i think EITHER/OR are perfect for the original poster. I've never really understood whether the Rokkor has a better coating or not than the Summicron....i used the Rokkor briefly once and found it to feel pretty much identical. That being said....wasn't the Rokkor made in Japan and the Summicron in Germany? is that the only real difference?

 

BTW, i'm not sure why some of you are suggesting the poster to buy a 35mm Summicron, when he clearly said his budget is $500-600

 

the 40mm Summicron offers 99% of the performance of the 35mm Summicron at a budget he can afford.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[lct]

Any 40mm lens will fit the 35mm framelines of the M8 (not M8.2) in a more accurate way than 35mm lenses at medium to long distance so it is a good choice for those who don't shoot closeups a lot.

I would vote for the CV 40/1.4 if it had less focus shift problems so my favorite lens within such a budget would be a second hand Summicron 40/2 or a second hand Rokkor 40/2 as well.

I own both, their rendition is very close including their resistance to flare which is not their forte, but the Summicron 35/2 v4 is hardly better from this viewpoint. The latest Summicron 40/2 was made in Germany with a sloping focus cam whilst the latest Rokkor 40/2 (for Minolta CLE) was made in Japan with a flat focus cam like normal M lenses. The Summicron has a special filter thread which complicates a bit the choice of IR cut filters, do a search in the forum you will find solutions for that. The Rokkor can use cheaper Rocolax 40.5mm UV/IR filters. Beware that those filters have no internal filter thead though so one cannot stack another filter or screw a screw-in hood onto them.