Best all around Lens for the M8

[eleskin]

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I have quite a few lenses for my M8 (28mm Elmarit, 35mm Summicron, 35mm Nokton, 40mm Nokton, 50mm Summicron, 50mm Noctilux f1.0, 50mm Summitar, 90mm Tele Elmarit, 135mm Elamrit with goggles, and 280mm Telyt. After 20 years of shooting with Leica lenses with travel all over the world, and many photo projects and jobs, it is my opinion the 35mm f1.2 Nokton offers the best value and performance as an all around lens for the M8. It is incredibly sharp at f1.2 (I dare say a poor mans Noctilux in some but not all cases) and with that wide f stop, it offers the M8 user the ability to use the camera where low light and shallow depth of field are the norm. Most M users hate flash anyway, and this f1.2 lens is extremely useful. I love my Noctilux, but it can be a problem with certain subjects that move (Children for example). The 35mm Nokton is a much better lens if you value more shots to be in focus (Children, etc,,,).

 

the other lenses I have listed are all of great use to me, but increasingly for the M8, the Nokton seems to be used the most. In other words, the Nokton makes the most sense if that would be the only lens you would carry around and nothing else. Just a single camera and lens concept.

 

So for the rest of you, if you had to pick just one lens for your M8 what would that be?

[Nicoleica]

It looks as though you have a reasonable choice of lenses for your camera. But if I had a choice of any lens for my M8, it would be the same lens that I used on my M8 for 99% of the time. The 35mm Summarit f:2.5.

[Mark Pope]

For me, it would be either a 28mm ASPH Elmarit or 35mm ASPH Summicron. I'd probably gravitate towards the 28mm more often than not.

[Gerard]

Wow; that is quite a list you have there. I suggest you keep the 28mm Elmarit and let me look after the rest!

 

I have two lenses; 28 Cron and 75 Lux. I just love the 75 to bits, but it would be massively frustrating if this were my only lens. Likewise, the 28. But together; I find I have yet to feel the need for another purchase; just the need to shoot with them both more.

 

Just one? Argh; don't do it to me, please.

[Double Negative]

My most-used and favorite lens on the M8 was always the Zeiss 2,8/25 Biogon ZM. Stupid sharp, all the usual Zeissisms and with the crop factor, made a nice "33mm" lens. Problem is, it's not altogether "fast" at a maximum aperture of f/2.8.

 

Other than that, I would wholeheartedly agree, the 1,2/35 Nokton is probably the best choice for a one lens solution that does it all on the M8. It's inexpensive, wonderfully good (sharp w/nice bokeh) and quite fast at f/1.2.

 

Keeping things in perspective, it is on the larger/heavier side as far as RF lenses go (which isn't all that bad, really). The closest competitor is the 1,4/35 Nokton (which I really don't care for, though it is smaller/lighter) and the 1,4/35 Summilux (which is 3-4 times the price!). For the money and for the results, the 1,2/35 Nokton is hard to beat.

[garygsandhu]

My latest lens purchase is currently my favorite, the 28 cron asph.

I like the g-Rokkor 28/3.5 because of it's compact size (although I have the 28 voigtlander as well).

[Sailronin]

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My favorite on the M8 is the 24mm Elmar M. It's only f3.8 but the angle of view is outstanding, very similar to a 35mm on full frame. I use the 50mm rarely and the 90mm Summicron second to the 24.

[Big T]

It looks as though you have a reasonable choice of lenses for your camera. But if I had a choice of any lens for my M8, it would be the same lens that I used on my M8 for 99% of the time. The 35mm Summarit f:2.5.

 

Ditto Nicole. Use the same beautiful lens on my M8.2. Great pics even wide open.

 

A very underrated little lens.

[M8China]

It has to be the 28mm Cron ASPH, used it 75% of the time, the other 25% shared between VC 15mm/4.5 Heliar and 50mm/1.4 pre-ASPH.

[mikenic]

28mm Elmarit M Version IV (pre ASPH) first and 35mm Summicron ASPH second.

[pgk]

35/1.4 asph or 50/1.4 asph or 35/1.4 asph or 50/1.4 asph or 35/1.4 asph or 50/1.4 asph or 35/1.4 asph..... no there is no best all round lens for me:D.

[zombii]

V3 Summilux 50, E46 with sliding hood. Very easy to use and sharp wide open.

[jedi996sps]

A nice collection of lenses. I have 50mm series 1 f1.0 noctilux, 50mm asph lux, 75cron, 28cron asph and 28 elmarit. The 50lux tends to live on camera most of the time, what a lovely lense.

[farnz]

I've hummed and hah-ed over the 35 Summicron v4, the 50 Summilux asph, the 28 Summicron and the 35/1.2 Nokton and eventually settled on the 50 Summilux asph. But not by a lot and day by day it could change depending on what I was shooting.

 

Pete.

[jaapv]

My standard lens, when taking a single one, has always been the Summicron 35 asph.

[bocaburger]

I'll be honest here, I just can't figure any reason to ponder the "what-if" of taking my Leica out with just one lens, because the reason I buy an interchangeable lens camera is to have multiple focal lengths to choose from. That's different from asking what is my most-used lens. That would be my 28 Elmarit. I'd say it accounts for about 75% of all my shots, with about 20% going to longer lenses and 5% to shorter lenses.

[rob139]

I find the 24mm summilux to be by far the most used on my M8. It may not be the best allround lens for any M body, and it is a little big. But if I had to pick one on the M8, it would be this one.

 

Rob

[wda]

While tempted to support the 35mm Aspheric camp, I do find my 21mm Elmarit Aspheric a great performer on my M8 (28mm equivalent) and excellent for 'walk-around' photography. But then, invariably I have my X1 with me which rules out a rational answer to the one-lens bid.

[zipper]

I use a 21 'rit ASPH, 35 ASPH 'chron, 75 'lux on my M8, and need to share these with an M2 and MP. But if I only had the M8 I think the 28 ASPH 'chron? - this is a great lens, although a very good case is made for the 35 Nockton too, it isn't a Leica lens but I'd love the speed. I (almost) always shoot wide open, either for shutter speed or light. that's what you pay for with a Leica lens, I feel...

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[menos I M6]

For me, it is a race between:

35 Cron ASPH - tiny (especially without hood), super sharp, super even field, fast enough for most applications

35 Lux ASPH plastic hood - a bit bigger, faster, but less biting - beautiful oof rendering

50 Noctilux f1 - just love, what this lens does at any aperture

 

If really pushed, to choose one only from these three, it would be a selection by chance.