Complete lens alternatives for M8 system

[mikel cumiskey]

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hi,

I own an M8 and am curious about options for adapting lenses to the camera that extend beyond Leica lenses, Voightlander lenses, CV lenses. I hope that someone on this board wouldnt mind sharing some information with me regarding cheaper lens options (i know that they must exist) other than russian made lenses.

 

Please, i know there are some M8 gurus on here that are willing to spill the beans.

 

 

m

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[efix]

Konica M-mount lenses? Minolta M-mount lenses? Third party M39 lenses? Or are you talking about adapting non-rangefinder-coupled lenses?

[Ecar]

As a general rule:

Leica = expensive

Zeiss = somewhat less expensive

Cosina-Voigtlander (or CV) = much less expensive

 

Cheaper options include:

- Old versions of the above (M-mount or screw-mount - you'll need an adapter for the latter) plus old lenses from other brands (Canon, Konica, etc.)

- Russian lenses

 

Not many beans to spill I'm afraid...

[Guest BigSplash]

As a general rule:

Leica = expensive

Zeiss = somewhat less expensive

Cosina-Voigtlander (or CV) = much less expensive

 

Cheaper options include:

- Old versions of the above (M-mount or screw-mount - you'll need an adapter for the latter) plus old lenses from other brands (Canon, Konica, etc.)

- Russian lenses

 

Not many beans to spill I'm afraid...

 

Surely it is also true that:

Leica new ASPH high speed lenses = expensive

Leica old lenses (eg 21mm super Angulon, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm f2 Summicron of 1970 to 1980 vintage) = very cheap and truly excellent although admittedly less contrast and not quite as good as new ASPH lenses at full aperture.

 

I would believe that if price was a major consideration eBay or a good Leica secondhand dealer is the way to go!

[tim_c]

Are you after a particular look that comes with using older glass or this a cost saving choice? You can get adapters to use older screw type lenses on M bodies. I've found the best compromise is to buy used Leica glass.

 

Perversely, one of the things I find an advantage with using Leica equipment is that prohibitive cost of lenses & bodies stops me from constantly buying more equipment, which means I focus on taking photographs. My entire photo kit consists of M6 & M8 bodies, 50/2, 90/2 lenses plus some filters, I'm looking to buy a 28/2.8 and a flash for daylight fill. I also have a T5 point & Shoot :-)

 

Regards, Tim

[zipper]

you can't go wrong with a s/h Voiglander Color Skopar 21 or 24.

[Double Negative]

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I'm a bit partial to the Zeiss ZM lenses. The build isn't quite on par with Leica, but the optics most certainly are. The VC lenses are also pretty decent; I love the lil' Color Skopars and the 1,2/35 Nokton.

[giordano]

As others have said, just about any lens ever made in M bayonet mount or Leica screw mount can be used on an M8. The latter includes many old lenses from Canon, Nikon, Schneider, Angénieux, and many other makers. Most will couple to the M rangefinder.

 

Most lenses for Nikon and old Contax rangefinder cameras (not the Contax cameras of recent decades) can be used with the appropriate, rather expensive, adapters which couple them to the M rangefinder.

 

There are adapters to fit the vast majority of 35mm SLR lenses on a Leica body, including M42 (Pentax/Practica), Nikon, Minolta MD, Canon FD, and Olympus OM. And by stacking adapters one can in principle mount a Hasselblad (C or F) or Bronica or Pentax 67 lens on a Leica body. But none of them will couple with the rangefinder except for most 50mm lenses in the old Alpa Reflex mount - and then only with an expensive adapter that probably has to be calibrated to the individual lens.

 

So there are lots of cheap options, and lots of good ones - but not so many good cheap ones!

[AncientCityPhoto]

Honestly after seeing Sean Reids reviews of 35mm lenses on the M8 I bought a 35mm Voigtlander Color Skopar 2.5. Its the newest version for M mount.

 

It triggers the 35mm frame lines as a "46mm" look roughly. A little bit wider than normal, but slightly tighter than a 35. 35mm is my favorite view and I have been fine with this lens.

 

Shooting wide open has been a wake up call for me! I am getting better looking results than I ever did from my Canon gear. It has gorgeous rendering! It only cost like $350 bucks and it's absolutely tiny!

 

A 35mm Summicron may definitely have to wait! There is a major different in price and for half a stop...I figured let me give it a shot. I am quite impressed.

[jaapv]

I have both the Summicron asph and the color-Skopar. However they are as different as chalk and cheese. The Summicron is unbelievably sharp, nearly clinical and will render even high frequencies flawlessly. The CV is more oldfashioned low-contrast and more subdued. As a lens, the Leica is far superior. As an image taking machine - well, it depends on the subject. I will use and like both.

[Yogibear]

The Leica C-lenses (and their Minolta counterparts) are very much worth considering, they're not expensive, are well made and (Summicron-C 40mm) frighteningly sharp...

 

With an adapter, you can mount older Contax lenses (e-g. Sonnar) on an M-body, with coupled rangefinder. The results are quite good and the Sonnars are of a very high quality.

 

I just bought a Miranda 1.4/50 lens including an M-rangefinder coupled adapter via Ebay and am eagerly awaiting delivery.

 

Edit. I forgot to mention all the old Leica glass!

[Printmaker]

Honestly after seeing Sean Reids reviews of 35mm lenses on the M8 I bought a 35mm Voigtlander Color Skopar 2.5. Its the newest version for M mount.

 

It triggers the 35mm frame lines as a "46mm" look roughly. A little bit wider than normal, but slightly tighter than a 35. 35mm is my favorite view and I have been fine with this lens.

 

Shooting wide open has been a wake up call for me! I am getting better looking results than I ever did from my Canon gear. It has gorgeous rendering! It only cost like $350 bucks and it's absolutely tiny!

 

A 35mm Summicron may definitely have to wait! There is a major different in price and for half a stop...I figured let me give it a shot. I am quite impressed.

 

I have both the 35/2.5 Skopar and the 35/2 V4 Summicron. While I love the smooth sharpness of the Summicron, the Skopar is one fine little lens. Mine is razor sharp, tiny and, ergonomically, a joy to use. Oh yeah, it was more than a grand cheaper... new.

 

My 35 Summicron lives on my M8. I only swap it for the Skopar when I'm in sea spray. Not fair for the Skopar, it does deserve better treatment given its optical and mechanical excellence.

 

Tom

[giordano]

I just bought a Miranda 1.4/50 lens including an M-rangefinder coupled adapter via Ebay and am eagerly awaiting delivery.

 

Hi Yogi,

 

Is this a Miranda lens that's been put in an M mount, or is there actually a Miranda-to-M adapter that couples the SLR lens to the rangefinder?

[farnz]

The Kobalux lenses are worth considering too; excellent build quality, plenty sharp and inexpensive. (They're also marketed under the name Avenon.)

 

Pete.

[zombii]

The Summicron-C 40 is probably one of the best deals you'll find. Excellent sharpness and contrast, very good price.

[mikel cumiskey]

does anyone on this forum know anything about the ELEFOTO adapter made in Japan - as in if you slap this adapter on your m camera can you still focus accurately?

just curious - thanks for all the input this far - its been very enlightening

[luigi bertolotti]

If you surf here :

https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/leica-lenses-for-leica-screw-c-1000_1010.html

 

you can have a good idea of what an incredible number of lenses can be mounted onto a M8...

[farnz]

does anyone on this forum know anything about the ELEFOTO adapter made in Japan - as in if you slap this adapter on your m camera can you still focus accurately?

just curious - thanks for all the input this far - its been very enlightening

Mikel,

 

What you're referring to is usually called "rangefinder coupling" where moving the focussing ring on the lens moves the rangefinder follower accordingly so that the viewfinder patch lines up when the picture is in focus.

 

The Elephoto site shows a number of adaptors for Leica M cameras but lists them as "w/o meter coupling" in the "Focussing" column, which suggests that they're not rangefinder coupled and to focus you'd need to use zone focussing or focus off the lens scale.

 

Pete.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[terrycioni]

hi,

I own an M8 and am curious about options for adapting lenses to the camera that extend beyond Leica lenses, Voightlander lenses, CV lenses. I hope that someone on this board wouldnt mind sharing some information with me regarding cheaper lens options (i know that they must exist) other than russian made lenses.

 

Please, i know there are some M8 gurus on here that are willing to spill the beans.

 

 

m

 

A bit higher-up the price scale then the CV and ZM offerings the Leica Summarits are very good lenses from Leica, 35, 50, and 75 (there is also a very good 90) are all excellent choices and come coded by the factory and are small - I have noticed a few of them on the used market as well.

 

Cheers, Terry

[Ecaton]

I had and sold several VC and ZM lenses and lost money with all of them. All Leica M lenses I bought, are now priced higher in the used market than what I paid for them, some significantly. Just recently sold a macro elmar 90 at a 35 percent gain after enjoying it for 3 years.

So whilst Leica lenses are costly (cash out), they are less expensive, since they tend to appreciate in value.

Just to through in another thought, besides performance and technical considerations.