Jump to content

Which new lens for the T ?


Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Being very near  to buy a T and interested in a small compact system I'm thinking about which lenses I would like on this camera.

 

For sure I'll get the native 23 which as I experienced both on my M7 and X1 cover a large share of my photography.

 

But the smaller part of my photography which lens will require? For occasional use and as a starting point I'll use one of my m 35s and maybe one of my 50s.

 

But what I would like to see in the T system is a native 56 F 1,2 or 1,4 lens for portraits. In this case 23+56 would make a perfect combination, still small and light! And with the Leica high quality.

 

I know that there are the two zooms of which I read positive comments, but I think many Leica user prefer to photographs with primes. At least myself!

 

S0 which lens would you like to see in the T system?

 

robert

 

PS: And if one day Leica should make a 14mm F 2,8... 

Link to post
Share on other sites

In 35mm equivalent:

 

50mm

90mm

 

A macro

 

Please....

 

Macro prime is long overdue and an absolute necessity for a system camera … and a long focus macro prime would double as a portrait lens.

 

The 'T' can never be considered a complete system camera without a macro lens. 

 

T body sales could increase if and when a macro lens is offered.

 

No other camera company has failed to offer an AF macro optic in their lens systems.

 

dunk

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Macro prime is long overdue and an absolute necessity for a system camera … and a long focus macro prime would double as a portrait lens.

 

The 'T' can never be considered a complete system camera without a macro lens. 

 

T body sales could increase if and when a macro lens is offered.

 

No other camera company has failed to offer an AF macro optic in their lens systems.

 

dunk

Hi There Dunk

Of course you're right . . but the Leica 90mm macro elmar with the macro adapter M works really really well as a long focal length macro on the T - of course, it's manual focus, but it's small and lovely and produces great results . . .

 

and if you don't want to stretch so far, then the 60mm macro elmarit R works really well too (you can still get them for a reasonable price).

Edited by jonoslack
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi There Dunk

Of course you're right . . but the Leica 90mm macro elmar with the macro adapter M works really really well as a long focal length macro on the T - of course, it's manual focus, but it's small and lovely and produces great results . . .

 

and if you don't want to stretch so far, then the 60mm macro elmarit R works really well too (you can still get them for a reasonable price).

 

 

Jono, I cannot justify another 90mm M lens because I already have two … and I also have a 60mm R and three 100mm R lenses which can be used on the 'T'.  OK the 'T' is a versatile mirrorless camera and as such can be used with a variety of legacy lenses - but it's primarily a Leica interchangeable AF lens system camera for which there are just three dedicated AF zooms and one semi-wide angle AF prime. in no way can a mere four AF 'T' lenses justify the title 'system camera' … the system is incomplete. When the 'T' was announced Dr. Kaufman suggested it was 'reduced to the essence' - well if 'essence' implies 'essential' and all we have so far is a mere 4 AF lenses then maybe Leica camera AG do not consider an AF macro lens as sufficiently important - but for many photographers a state of the art, 'T' AF macro optic is important.

 

Most Leica enthusiasts are aware that 'T' lenses' manufacture is contracted out to Japanese optical specialists - thus any additional 'T' lenses are not going to stretch Leica's production resources in Portugal and Germany very much. These days with advanced computerised lens design and the great varieties of optical glass available it's probably not quite so difficult to make a decent macro lens as it was years ago. Most macro lenses are designed as medium aperture optics thus probably do not require the sophisticated optical glass mixes required for a Noctilux. A 90mm or 100mm FF equivalent AF 'T' macro lens with a medium maximum aperture should be within Leica's capabilities - but 16 months on from the initial 'T' system camera announcement no AF macro prime lens is available. 

 

Today I've been photographing insects with my 'T' camera using a manual focus macro lens. My 'hit rate', i.e. images in focus rate, could probably have been vastly improved if an AF macro lens was available. The 'T' system needs an AF macro lens - such an optic would probably sell very well - and also give the 'T' system credibility. 

 

Best wishes

 

dunk

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello,

 

Leaving M lenses out of the picture and just considering two T lenses: the 23mm and the 18-56 zoom...

 

If one has the 23(35) mm lens, is there much need for the 18-56(27–84)?

 

True, one loses the ability to go wider than 23 (35), but with the 23(35) one gains F2 and sheds a little weight. Also, one can crop the 23 (35) shot to get a zoom effect.

 

Perhaps I have it all wrong. I suppose I'm asking what the zoom offers that the 23(35) and a little walking will not achieve.

 

Advice please.

 

Thanks, 

 

John

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello,

 

Leaving M lenses out of the picture and just considering two T lenses: the 23mm and the 18-56 zoom...

 

If one has the 23(35) mm lens, is there much need for the 18-56(27–84)?

 

True, one loses the ability to go wider than 23 (35), but with the 23(35) one gains F2 and sheds a little weight. Also, one can crop the 23 (35) shot to get a zoom effect.

 

Perhaps I have it all wrong. I suppose I'm asking what the zoom offers that the 23(35) and a little walking will not achieve.

 

Advice please.

 

Thanks, 

 

John

Zooming in to 56 you get a more compressed look for closer portraits with more natural looking face. 

 

Zooming out to 18 gives you...well...28 equivalent FOV.

 

On the other side one can do many things with just the 23mm. There is one thing I dont like about the 23...it often shows a lot of "purple edges/CA".

 

I like the 23 for a little shallower DOF at 23mm, other than that I guess I prefer the zoom for its flexibility.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Rethinking about this a few days later my conclusion has a double view: one is personal and the other is about the system.

 

Personal, based on my needs: the 23 cron is ok. I would like to have beside it a 56 (85 eq)  F1,2 (1,4 is ok as well!) for closer portraits. This is based on the fact that with my M7 the combo 35+75 works well as low weight simple kit. I could use my M lenses (35+50) at the moment, but seeing such a lens would also confirm the Leica commitment to the T system.

 

As a system I think to be complete it would need a prime 14mm (20 eq) and a zoom 55-135 F2,8, I know it could be too big for such a small body, but useful. And as suggested a macro lens.

 

Now at Leica they are busy with that new system...let's wait and see what will happen!

 

robert

Edited by robert blu
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...