M8China Posted March 5, 2010 Share #1 Posted March 5, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Owners of the WATE Tri-Elmar 16-21-28/F4 would definitely have quite an array of lenses in his or her inventory I guess, including several wide angles like 24, 21 or 28 in the bag. I like to know if you preferred fixed f-length wide angles and if so how did you come to buy the WATE, or if you use the WATE more frequently now. Some comments please. I do notice there are less discussions on the WATE in the forum, has it fell off favor already? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 5, 2010 Posted March 5, 2010 Hi M8China, Take a look here How frequent do you use the WATE?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
archi4 Posted March 5, 2010 Share #2 Posted March 5, 2010 I use the WATE less than I thought I would. If I don't need three focal lengths I will take a smaller lengths and I find the f4 opening a limiting factor. However, just looking at the results have now made me decide to use it more often - amazing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkk Posted March 5, 2010 Share #3 Posted March 5, 2010 Dear M8China, I just moved away from China to Ukraine, so I send you warmest greetings to my old home. I have a WATE 16-18-21 f4. I bought it together with my M8 as my first lens. I used it extensively in Beijing. I am an architect, I should say. I love it. It is sharp. I did use it a lot, with or without the famous external viewfinderr, Frankenfinder, as the people here call it. Well, after some time, I found myself not to use the external viewfinder too much, it is bulky, and people start wondering, what kind of mechanical instrument that is. The IR-Filter itself is bulky enough. I love the lens, I do not love the filter, the filter-adapter and the bulky viewfinder. Although the viewfinder is a terrific instrument. It will show precisely the frame in 16, 18 or 21mm. After half a year I got a VC 35 mm f1.2 and just recently I got a used Noctilux f1.0. So that's all the lenses I have, and I am quite happy. The WATE is by far the sharpest lens I have. It is brilliant. When I got it, I did not really mind the f=4. I do mostly daylight architecture or street photography with it. I made some really nice pics from Downtown Hong Kong by night with it... Now, I am swapping lenses... for a while, I put on the 35, than I change for the WATE, or the Noctilux. I enjoy to see the world through different glass... Best from L'viv, Falk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted March 5, 2010 Share #4 Posted March 5, 2010 A lot. No, most times:D All Pano's in my latest Zenfolio (link hereunder) spread were made with the WATE: unbeatable lens! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted March 5, 2010 Share #5 Posted March 5, 2010 M8C-- I bought the WATE with Universal VF when I bought the M8, in order to maintain the ability to get to 21 mm equivalent, as I had done with film. I use the Milich adapter for the IR/UV-Cut filter, so the lens still fits (snugly) in its case with filter and hood, ready to shoot. The f/4 maximum aperture is seldom a problem and the lens is optically superb. It's great to be able to switch from 28 mm equiv (my general-purpose focal length) to 21 mm equiv without changing lenses. My problem is remembering to change both finder and camera settings each time I change focal length. Sometimes lens and camera match but I forget to change the finder, causing me to miss framing. (Frequently a recoverable error.) Sometimes I get lens and finder matched but forget to change the camera correction. (Always creates an image problem.) Therefore I usually use a 21 mm prime instead of the WATE, going to it only when I want a wider field of view. The WATE would be much more usable on the M9 since it doesn't require UV/IR correction. On the other hand, the need for the lens is less with the M9 because of its full-frame field of view. On film, my widest lens was 21 mm; that may suffice with full-frame digital as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted March 5, 2010 Share #6 Posted March 5, 2010 The WATE is even better on the M9! Great lens:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markgay Posted March 6, 2010 Share #7 Posted March 6, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) For landscapes, it is my most-used lens. That means on some travels, it is the only lens I use. I combine it either with the big finder, which is bright and precise, offering parallax compensation, or with a Zeiss 21mm finder, which is small and bright. Even with a broader-aperture lens you would be stopping down to f/4 to get the best from the lens, so f/4 is not an issue. Regards, Mark http://moneycircus.blogspot.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8China Posted March 6, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted March 6, 2010 Really appreciate all the input, as I am starting to enjoy landscape and scenery photography more I will give the WATE a bit more exposure. I used the Cron 35/2 more often living in China as I took people and events. That should change as I retire and travel more around and out of China. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8China Posted March 6, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted March 6, 2010 Hi Vanhulsenbeek, your shots are breathtaking, that gives me confidence to plunge in for the purchase. Many thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted March 7, 2010 Share #10 Posted March 7, 2010 Thanks! Have fun, but for the M8 get a John Milich adapter (find through Search) for a 49mm UV/IR filter: indispensable! The Leica 67mm adapter plus filter also works but is rather clunky and ungainly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8China Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted March 8, 2010 Alas! Too late! I just placed an order for a Leica filter adapter and a B+W 486 filter, just have to live with it. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted March 9, 2010 Share #12 Posted March 9, 2010 Nothing wrong with doing that for the M9, but for the M8 the Milich adapter is much more convenient, as I indicated in post #5 above. See my picture of it at http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/81437-way-wate.html#post852804. (Maybe you should order it as well, and then tell us what you think. ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted March 9, 2010 Share #13 Posted March 9, 2010 I use a WATE and a MATE (28-35-50) when I travel for business and am likely to have a weekend free. The two lenses and one body cover a terrific range for such a small sized package. If I travel just for photography I tend to take the primes as well, just because of the extra speed available .......... not that I normally need it. In my opinion both the WATE and the MATE are terrific lenses if you can live with f4. _______________________ Regards, tom Photography by Tom Lane Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8China Posted March 9, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted March 9, 2010 Yup I will try pick up the Milich adapter later but two days into the WATE I feel the color rendition is more vivid and vibrant, compare to say my 35/2, and very sharp. I need to put in more tests later as weather in Shanghai has been hell for past weeks. I am also considering the MATE and M9 but have to sell some stuff first to raise the cash. Reading this forum can damage your wallet substantially. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
proenca Posted March 9, 2010 Share #15 Posted March 9, 2010 I bought a Voigtlander 15mm for fun with my M8. Suddently I started to fell in love more and more with the focal lenght to the point it was almost my staple lens and I would moan if I left home without it in my bag. After two years of intensive use of the CV, I sold it and move to a WATE. Love the lens, its gorgeous, results are tack sharp , it is a brilliant lens. Still have some mixed feelings about it, since my John Millich filter is due to arrive and I still getting some weird colours with it. But the thing is sharp, the Frakenfinder is not half has bad I thought it was. Great lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.