Best all around Lens for the M8

[jaapv]

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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.

True, but from time to time I make the choice before taking the camera out. I might slip the Elmarit 90 in my pocket just in case, though.

[SJP]

28 cron ASPH as it is the equivalent to the classic 35mm on FF

[esquire53]

... After 20 years of shooting with Leica lenses ...

 

After 20 years you probably know what you want and need ...

 

 

I go for the 28, which I use on my M8 most of the time.

Very nice and always ready to go. Keep the Noctilux.

When you get addicted to the M9, leave the M8 with 28mm for your 35mm equivalent.

 

Cheers

[tecumseh]

My only issue with the nokton 35mm is the weight and the way it unbalances my camera. However, some of my best available light shots are are taken with the Nokton at f/1.2 ISO 640 1/30. When I travel on budget airlines (about 6 times a year) and can only fit an M8 and single lens in my bag I take my 50mm 'cron or the incredibly tiny 21mm Color-Skopar pancake on my Ikon. Sold my 90mm 'cron because I very rarely used it.

 

I haven't managed to get good shots with the 21mm on my M8 but get some lovely shots with it on the Ikon. Has anyone else got good results with vc21 on the M8? Like to see the results, ken Rockwell argues it's no use on the M8. Is it good on the ff M9?

 

Finally, I love the VC 12mm. Many think it's gimmicky and I only use it in certain circumstances but I always like the results.

[Jeff S]

When choosing to carry 2 lenses for the M8.2, then it's the 28 Summicron asph and the 50 Summilux asph, with the former getting the heavier load.

 

With a single lens, then it's the 35 Summicron asph.

 

Doesn't make these the best all-around lenses; merely what works for me.

 

Jeff

[Revdockj]

The 24mm 2.8 Elmarit. Perfect combination.

 

Ken

[sfokevin]

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It always seems to be the one I don't already have?....

[pgk]

but from time to time I make the choice before taking the camera out

So do I. But I have two Ms one with the 35/1.4 and the other with the 50/1.4.........

[AbbeyFoto]

Personally my standard lens for the M8 is a collapsible 50mm Summincron.

[wstotler]

. . . it is my opinion the 35mm f1.2 Nokton offers the best value and performance as an all around lens for the M8.

 

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.

 

 

I concur. I picked up the Nokton (in silver, yum) for the f/1.2 and use it almost exclusively at that aperture. (I picked up a 6-stop ND filter, also, so I could use it in EV 10 to 16 conditions and with TTL flash at f/1.2.)

 

While the Summicron 35mm makes better photos in terms of sharpness and color, and it is much lighter compared to the Nokton, the Nokton has been involved in some of my best work--once I start shooting with it, I just keep shooting with it. It is, indeed, an excellent "single lens" appropriate for my shooting style--a single "go to" lens for street shooting in any conditions with models. I can nuke backgrounds with the Nokton's heavy bokeh and get shots that would otherwise be spoiled by clutter--or are improved, IMO, by in-lens blur.

 

If you're an f/4 to f/8 shooter in terms of what you expect to see in yoir backgrounds, I can say the Nokton's extremely shallow depth of field won't likely be to your taste. But I love the look of the Nokton's selective focus effects first and its low-light capabilities second. It is soft compared to the Summicron, for sure, but I can nail focus with it in the dimmest light (lots of practice). I always use the 1.25x Leica magnifer to improve focusing accuracy when shooting with the Nokton, even though framing in the viewfinder is slightly impared.

 

Of note, the Nokton will throw a rainbow-colored arc into some of the shots when the sun is in just the right place and I'll get veiling flare sometimes, too (both conditions are rare, like 1 in 400 rare)--the Summicron never has these issues--but I've published these photos with the imperfections anyway as I like the effect. And I want the overall benefits of the Nokton's capabilities way more than I worry about its infrequent bad behavior with light. Have to mention that I keep a really close eye on highlights when in bright light--they can get blown fast and hard if I'm not paying attention. Using TTl flash at f/1.2, 1/125th, ISO 320 and the ND filter to get balanced, natural light effects in the field, is tricky from this perspective, also. (Nevermind the balancing act of camera in the right hand and flash in the left hand, focusing, positioning the model, and getting the shot without a protracted delay between shots that kills the shoot's rhythm.)

 

I've had the lens coded by DAG and, just to mention, I use it with the optional, vented hood. The hood helps with framing and the coding gives me EXIF data in post. I could swear that color has improved since the coding, too, but the difference is slight.

 

I can say I like having both the Nokton and the Summicron--the Summicron for when I'm going to have studio light or bright daylight all day, the Nokton if I even think I'm going to have dim conditions in which I'll be working.

 

This is not, on the whole, and IMO, a lens for the beginner--I would always recommend a starter Summicron to someone new to RFs and RF photography--I think to get consistently good shots from this lens at f/1.2 on an M8 requires skill both at time of shoot and in post. Not meant as a pat on the back, but a fact. if your photography skills with the Summicron at f/2 are "all there" you can move to the Nokton's f/1.2 without worry and start learning the lens to get what you want from it. This advice probably also applies to the Summilixes and Nocti, too. (I'm reacting here to numerous forum posts about focusing trouble, expectations of sharpness, and handling light/color in post.)

 

Samples:

CV35 Nokton f/1.2 - a set on Flickr

 

Cheers!

Will

[voe]

I think if you are only to have one lens to do it all your best bet would be the latest Summilux 35mm ASPH. It's not too wide and is not too long. It's sharp even at f/1.4 and not much slower than the 35mm Nokton, while it's smaller and lighter. It has a beatufil bokeh and colors. And it's a Leica, which will satisfy your lust (at least for a while).

[menos I M6]

The Nokton 35 1.2 really is a no brainer for anybody, just starting or not yet having a drawer full of Leica 35mm.

 

It has a very nice price and the pictures, I saw from it (especially portraits in low light, close up) really show some magic!

 

I got a 35 Cron ASPH and a 35 Lux ASPH non FLE. I can't really decide, which of the two will remain, keeping both for now.

 

Always, when I take the Cron for it's tiny shape and weight, I go out of light though. A fast 35 seems to be the best imho. The Nokton fits squarely.

 

If CV would stop the scalloped focus rings, I'd get some of these lenses (like the lightweight of the 50 Nokton). I hate scalloped focus rings.

[rebride]

If I'm not wrong, there were two questions: ALLAROUND lens and the pick of ONE (favourite) lens, which is not the same question.

 

Therefore, two answers:

 

Allaround? For sure MATE!

 

One (favourite) lens? Lux 35mm ASPH!

[efix]

My two cents:

 

If I were to have only ONE lens, I think it had to be a 50mm equivalent - a 35mm thus. It wouldn't be the 35/2 Biogon, as it's too slow for its size, imho. So if speed is not an issue, it's the 35 'cron, alternatively the 40 C-cron or 40 M-Rokkor.

If speed is an issue, then the 35/1.2 Nokton as the OP stated.

 

For me, I think a two-lens kit would be nicer, consisting of a semi-fast 28 and a fast 50. Examples for such lenses abound, so I need not refer to actual models.

 

In fact, I'm currently re-building my lineup, switching from a one-lens 35/2 Biogon solution to a two-lens 28/2.8 M-Rokkor + 50/1.5 Nokton solution. I'm curious to see if and how this'll work out.

[viramati]

28 cron asph (microdetail to die for both on M9 and M8) one of the best lenses, IMHO, in the leica stable

[ramosa]

for me, it has to be a 50. i had a cron, but replaced it with a lux. i love 50s in the united states (where i tend to be farther away from people on the street), but love 28s in europe (where everthing seems to be closer).

[super7668]

28mm cron ASPH is my all around lens, I also bring the 50mm cron with me if I need a longer one.

[john_newell]

Original Tri-Elmar 28/35/50mm. Mild WA to short tele. Gorgeous images without the harshness of the modern APOs. The only drawback is f/4, so not first choice for dim light.

[tbarker13]

I'd have to pick my 35/2 UC Hexanon. Wonderful images. Tiny lens. And it gets bonus points for the black paint finish paired with the M8.2.

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[luigi bertolotti]

Summicron 35 asph for me ; if I had one, maybe the TriElmar 28-35-50 (even if a bit too much protruding for my taste of "single lens set")