I got a steel gray one - Which wide lenses now?

[Ecaton]

Walked into a NJ dealer to have a look at the X1 and walked out with a steel gray M9 yesterday (the X1 was gone 30 minutes after he had called me).
After 3 years M8 it's time rearrange the lens line up. Cron 28 and lux asph 50 will probably be used most, and so will the cron 35 for a one lens solution. At the long end am undecided yet whether 75 or 90 will be the preferred length.
A few short "tests" with CV 12 and 15 showed that they are obviously not the perfect wide solutions for the M9, so they will have to go.
Based on your experience, how do the Leica and ZM 18mm perform on the M9.

[vanhulsenbeek]

In answer to your post' title: only titanium finish lenses do. But I gather what you really wish to be answered is how the Leica and Zeiss 18mm lenses do on a M9, regardless of its finish

I can only speak for the WATE, which does extremely well. The SE 18 and the Zeiss aparently have some red corner issues on the M9 - many posts to be found here - that may be addressed in an upcoming firmware update. Optically they should be fine.

The only thing to look out for is when you want to to a lot of architecture. Many extreme wide lenses now have a wave-like distorsion that is difficult to correct. I understand the SE18 is in that class to. Less so with the WATE, but it is not distorsion-free.

[EricC]

Originally Posted by Ecaton

A few short "tests" with CV 12 showed that it is obviously not the perfect wide solution for the M9, so it will have to go.

I can only speak for the CV12mm and using Sandy's CornerFix it is a great lens on the M9.

Have a look here:-

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...cornerfix.html

[Ecaton]

Originally Posted by EricC

I can only speak for the CV12mm and using Sandy's CornerFix it is a great lens on the M9.

Have a look here:-

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...cornerfix.html

Eric, thanks, that is a great link and will definitely make me give the Cv12 a try on the M9.

[Jerry_R]

I am also waiting for 12mm to appear as rangefinder coupled, with M mount soon.

[Mokkacream]

You have to throw your lenses away, because only the new Leica pink line will work on the steelgray M9. Only trouble with the others, focus shift and bad reflections etc.

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Congrats on your new M camera.

ANY M lens is good now as its a fullframe..

.

[dseelig]

For a tele I would go with a 90 ,75 is just a bit short on an m9. Unless you are a low light guy in which case the 75 lux is the way to go. For me the titanuim 35 lux on the m9 gray model is beautiful.

[jaapv]

I do have an Elmarit 28 and a Biogon 2.8/21, but the lens used most at the wide end is the Summilux 24 - somehow it really matches up with this sensor

[tobey bilek]

PTLens will correct wave distortion. Provide some samples and he will add them to the data base. After that is is only a few brainless clicks to repair.

[Pophoto]

Originally Posted by Bo_Lorentzen

Congrats on your new M camera.

ANY M lens is good now as its a fullframe..

.

I agree with Bo, but not every lens is good! I have a 35, 50 and a 90, all are Leicas and I am thrilled as I should be, I have one CV15, and I went and shot over 300 photos with it.... but I struggle to like the lens but love the angle of view. Just adding my opinion to the mix


Pophoto

[Jerry_R]

So far we have no alternatives from Leica. CV 12mm and 15mm had very good opinions during analog time.

I also bought 15mm. Initially I was surprised, it was not like my other Leica glass. Sth was missed. But after some shots I started to 'feel' that lens. And I started to receive photos I really like. Am still observing coming CV 12mm with M mount and WATE.

[timope]

I have same situation here. I ordered black one and dealer called me up today : Steel gray is now available ! After 3 months waiting I do not think that I will wait an other 3 months to get different color...Other thing is that I am still waiting my 50 lux and need to make a decision for next additional lens. Which one you would choose ?

28mm cron ( elmarit ) or
21mm elmarit or maybe 21 Zeiss Biogon

Timo

[Jerry_R]

Originally Posted by timope

28mm cron ( elmarit ) or 21mm elmarit or maybe 21 Zeiss Biogon

Timo, why not 24mm Elmar? Another words why you ask which lens, if you didn't say what you need these lens for?
Maybe 25mm Skopar?

[SteveYork]

Back to the same combos people would use on a analog M. 35-50-90 is the classic. 35/90 is the minimalist and great for traveling.

[Balivernes]

Originally Posted by timope

I have same situation here. I ordered black one and dealer called me up today : Steel gray is now available ! After 3 months waiting I do not think that I will wait an other 3 months to get different color...Other thing is that I am still waiting my 50 lux and need to make a decision for next additional lens. Which one you would choose ?

28mm cron ( elmarit ) or
21mm elmarit or maybe 21 Zeiss Biogon

Timo

depends on your style of pics of course. But keep in mind that the 21mm Elmarit (just like most current Leica lenses) does not focus closer than 70cm. In every day use, you might find yourself in a lot of situations where you'd wish to have been able to give more importance to the main subject in the frame (relative sizes of foreground/background). With the 21mm, a human face for example will seem very far away, and good composition is quite challenging in general . The 24mm allows to bring more attention to the foreground, it is also easier to compose a compelling image in my run-of-the-mill situations. This is a M thing, as with SLRs you can usually get much closer with superwides.... The 28mm will work pretty well to, and without the need for external viewfinder.

[Jerry_R]

Originally Posted by Balivernes

depends on your style of pics of course [...] to give more importance to the main subject in the frame (relative sizes of foreground/background). With the 21mm, a human face for example will seem very far away

Good point.
For such situations - I prefer 12mm\15mm or WATE. Then you can get closer to 35-40cm when aperture is closed down a little!