M8-"entry level set"

[Ecaton]

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After having gained P&Sh and SLR experience (film and digital), I plan to buy a black M8 and hope to get some input from experienced M users concerning ideal lenses to start with. I guess my main applications would be travel, landscape, portraits.Would the 28-35-50mm Tri-Elmar-M plus the 90mm Elmarit or the new Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm (plus the 90mm) make more sense as starter sets?

 

Appreciate your advice

 

Happy New Year!

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[marknorton]

To start with, I don't think you need to go with anything as wide as the 16-18-21 Tri-Elmar or as long as a 90mm lens. I would buy a 28 or 35mm lens to start with and decide where to go from there.

[stunsworth]

Martin, what lenses or focal lengths do you use most with the SLR and p&S? Use that to decide after factoring in the conversion factor.

 

Personally I'd start with a 24mm or the 28mm that Mark suggests and think about other focal lengths later.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Before you buy though either think in terms as a total also. Do you want 3 ,4 or 5 lenses when all said and done. This way you can make a nice selection that compliments the total amount you buy.

 

So maybe a 3 lens package would be 24,35,75

4 lens pakage maybe 21,28,50,75 or 90

5 lens package maybe 15,21,28,50,75 or 90

I fall on the 6 lens 15,21,28,35,50,75,90 Okay i cheated and made it 7 . LOL

 

Seriously though it is a good idea to figure the total that you really want to end with and that gives you a good spread between focal lengths. Another great 4 lens setup would be 15,24,35,75

[Guest smep_reloaded]

For over 40 years only lenses with fixed focal length have been available for the Leica M system.

 

The masters of this years took their pictures with one or two lenses (and a good eye, of course).

 

You should also have a look at the frames in the M8 viewfinder:

 

[ATTACH]20180[/ATTACH]

 

With the 0,72 finder best focal length was 35mm.

 

With the 1,33 crop of the M8 I recommend 28mm as first lens.

 

The new Elmarit-M 28/2.8 asph. is a very good compact lens but only f2.8

The Summicron-M 28/2.0 asph. is a jewel among the M-Lenses.

 

As second lens buy 50 or 75mm.

 

Leica M Photograpy is about composition with brain and eye, not about "I have them all"!

 

Regards Stefan

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Stefen though sometimes having them all is not about the so called M photography either . For me having them gives me the options that I need photographically. I don't look at the M8 in that classic view as the HCB did with one or two lenses . For me it is not about reportage work where having a few is the ideal. I do many types of differnt kinds of work and being in control of my gear and my choices are more dictated by the task at hand. i bought the M8 for the wide work because the M lenses are slightly better than my DMR which i sold the wide stuff . So for me having the choice from 15mm to 240mm is what it is all about. These are my tools and i can't be in the field saying. Damn i need a 50mm to get this shot. So from my prespective like I started that thread about debunking the M uses. This is NOT just a reportage camera like a journalist would use. There are commercial guys like me that are using it for many things and also supllemented by the DMR with shift lenses, macro's,zooms and long lenses. So really for me the history of the M style means absolutely nothing and this camera can work in situations that no one thought it could or should. i simple have to have a range of tools

[Guest smep_reloaded]

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Guy,

 

it´s o.k. if a pro has a lot of lenses for all kind of situations!

 

I have two M-Bodies + CV15/4,5 - 28/2.0asph. - 35/2.0asph. - 50/1.4 - 90/2.8

 

But the question was about a M8-"entry level set" and I just wanted to give a historical background.

 

And don´t forget: Lenses under 24mm and over 75mm are not very nice to use with the M8. (External viewfinder / frame very small)

 

Regards Stefan

[Stevez4]

Start with one lens, and only one lens. The traditional starter lens is usually a 50 or a 35. In M8 terms a 35 or 28. Get to know that lens very well. Its picture stengths and weaknesses. Try out every possible photoshop and C1 permutation with it. If you do you'll accomplish many things, but most important you'll become competent with the new system your investing in. Resist the temptation to buy seven lenses. Ask yourself the question" what do I want from photography and how much effort am I willing to give it".

 

A wide variety of lenses do not make a great photographer. Committment, determination to master the craft and the gift of being able to visualize are what counts.

 

I have the feeling I did a good job of not answering your question. Oh well.....

[Tony C.]

Stefan–

 

I am also switching from a DSLR to the M8, and your visual viewfinder illustration is extremely helpful. Thank you!

 

I am planning to begin with the The Summicron-M 28/2.0 asph, and a Noctilux. I'm quite sure that I will be happy with those for a while, and will add as needed in the future.

 

Best regards for the new year!

 

Tony C.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

I agree and part was that 3 lens setup just gives you a nice spread. When folks ask the question what lens do i get which comes up daily if not hourly. LOL

 

Is always think system than lens and that was what i was driving at and maybe that comes from the DSLR days but the M the best lens on it in my opinion is the 28mm because of the clean frame lines and also you can see the frame lines even with the 1.25 magnifer. i leave the magnifer on all the time and from 28mm up it works great.

[bnelson]

I just received my M8 this last week and here is my starter package...

 

I had an older style (non ASPH) 50/1.4 and I have a 28/2.0 and 75/2.0 coming tomorrow. For me that is a great starter package.

 

I also picked up a a 21/2.8 Kobalux for something a little wider that the 28.

 

Bill

[michael_b_elmer]

I propose that you start with the 35/1.4 asph. and try whether that lens does not fulfil all your needs. After some time you can decide whether you need other lenses, and eventually which.

[ptomsu]

After having gained P&Sh and SLR experience (film and digital), I plan to buy a black M8 and hope to get some input from experienced M users concerning ideal lenses to start with. I guess my main applications would be travel, landscape, portraits.Would the 28-35-50mm Tri-Elmar-M plus the 90mm Elmarit or the new Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm (plus the 90mm) make more sense as starter sets?

 

Appreciate your advice

 

Happy New Year!

 

For me all the Tri Elmar solutions make no sense, because I see the M system exceptional in the high aperture available light area. I would seriously plan to buy a differnet system (Nikon or Canon) if I would like to have kind of Zoom lenses.

 

Peter

[bill vann]

horses for courses,

 

i think all the info is valuable but your decision should be more based on what you shoot.

 

i've a full compliment and will add the tri elmars for summer bright light travel.

 

essentially i have a low light set and a bright light set.

 

Sean Reid either on his own site or luminous landscape soeaks to the bright/low light lens mentality and i've found it to be how i worked professionally ove 30 years and although mostly retired still find it a viable route.

 

fwiw the CVs are really great and well priced so you can build a good set at different price points, also covered by sean.

 

i primarily keep a 28 elmarit (last version) or 35 summicron asp on the camera and the next 2 for most usage the 21skopar and 50 either elmar or nokton.

 

if not used to rf shooting i would build slowly as it is different than slr.

 

kindly

 

bill

[woodyspedden]

I just received my M8 this last week and here is my starter package...

 

I had an older style (non ASPH) 50/1.4 and I have a 28/2.0 and 75/2.0 coming tomorrow. For me that is a great starter package.

 

I also picked up a a 21/2.8 Kobalux for something a little wider that the 28.

 

Bill

 

Bill

 

I agree that this is an ideal set (not just a starter set). Depending on the type of shooting you do you may find at some point that a CV 15 is a high qualilty/low cost way to get wide performance, equivalent to 21mm on the M8

 

Woody Spedden