Lens complement for M8

[geoffsm]

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Hi -- check me on this (my first post here as well). I can't really afford an M8, but I want to stop shooting film (actually, by that I mean I want to stop scanning black and white negative film and spotting each frame for hours on end -- I just can't take it anymore).

 

I'll be selling my late 80's M6, a Canon 20D and a Nikon LS-5000 film scanner. I'm keeping my 5D and all my Canon lenses and of course all of my Leica glass. I'm wondering if selling the M6 is a mistake. Anyway, those 3 items together should bring the M8 down to a little more than the cost of a 5D w/o rebates which is doable. Here's what I have for glass on the M mount side (I have the 1.25x viewfinder mag. that I'll likely be leaving on the camera all the time):

 

28mm f/1.9 V/C Ultron -- heartened by Sean's draft review results that this looks like a real winner on the M8. I never really warmed to it on my film M (but it was so cheap I just had to buy it), looking forward to working with it as a 35-ishmm in digital-land.

 

35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH -- I'm almost afraid of how sharp this thing is going to be on the M8.

 

50mm f/2 Summicron -- this is an ancient 1st version collapsable. It's such an early model (1953 by the serial no.) that it looks like one of those that has a permanent LTM-->M adapter machined onto the back. Is it for real and for true that it shouldn't be mounted on the M8 at all? Like, not even un-collapsed and at minimum focus (this is how I mount it on the M6 because I'm afraid of banging the rangefinder cam)? If this is true, and I do end up getting rid of the M6, then I guess it'll make a nice retro looking loupe . Too bad, I really love the fingerprint and low contrast.

 

50mm f/1.4 Summilux -- 90s pre-ASPH, love this lens wide open. Hope it delivers some nice images on the M8 without losing it's lucious-ness.

 

90mm f/2 Summicron -- this is a recent pre-APO/ASPH version as well. Looking forward to the tighter framing it will give me for closer portraits. Not really looking forward to focusing it wide open.

 

Thoughts? How are others outfitting themselves? Any gaping holes? Thanks!

 

--Geoff

[craigrmurray]

Geoff:

 

Welcome to the Forum (at least for posting, anyway). Selling the Canon 20d is a no-brainer, since you've got the 5D. And since you're selling your scanner, it sounds like you really want out of film. I'd only keep the M6 if you're gonna still shoot 'chromes, 'cause the M6 sale will help more in buying the M8. Besides, you can always buy a film M down the road -- I'm guessing that the M's that are users and not collectables will probably go down in value in the next five years.

 

As for lenses, it sounds like you've got a great spread. If you like wide-angles, the 21mm is popular -- might I suggest, however, the Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 Wide-Heliar. It's a great lens, and less than 600 bucks new, and that includes a terrific viewfinder.

 

The 50mm collapsible 'cron can be used on the M8, but do not collapse it when mounted. Take Leica's (and my) suggestion, and wrap a piece of Dymo labeling tape around the lens barrel -- this prevents the lens from being collapsed too far, and costs next to nothing.

 

The 75mm 'cron or 'lux becomes a 100mm on the M8, so if you've got the cash, I'd think it would be more useful on the M8 (I don't have one, but I shoot the DSLR for lenses longer than 50mm).

 

Anyway, you've got the glass, now you only need the body.

 

Good luck,

 

Craig

[geoffsm]

Craig, thanks -- I hear what you're saying about the M6 and I agree -- intellectually. It's more of an emotional thing at this point. But I don't think I can afford to keep both so it seems the right choice.

 

I'll continue to shoot film for assignments if someone else is covering the cost of development and scanning. Digital capture has shrunk both my patience level my editors' lead times. I've been playing with the various DNGs from the M8 that folks have been kind enough to make available and they're beyond acceptable for what I do (well, the obvious hardware issues aside which have hopefully been addressed by Leica). I wil wait to see that the updated bodies completely lick the sensor streaking and ghosting issues since I shoot a lot in jazz clubs and often have light sources in the frame.

 

Thanks also for the tip about blocking the collapsable 'Cron. Makes sense, and so good to hear that I can use it (carefully) with the M8! It'll at least be interesting look if nothing else.

[frc]

Same reason to want a digital workflow, same reasons to wait a bit longer before I buy to see if Leica can realy fix the flaws.

Healing- brush-tool-insanity it's called, I think ;-)

And yes welcome.

[geoffsm]

Thanks! Encouraging results here so far...

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/10677-m8-light-streaking-test.html