Leica M8 Lens recommendations requested

[due163]

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Hi all

 

Im in the finalisation process of acquiring a Leica m8 up here in chilly Canada and I need some advice/tips on lenses for it

 

 

My preferred focal length is 50mm( ( fa50/1.4 Takumar 50/1.4) , followed by 85mm ( helios 40 85mm f1.5 and Zeiss planar T* 85/1.4 )on my pentax KX and on my old Canon Rebel

 

I dislike zooms, and for some reason the only wide angle I use is 28mm and only then for sky and/or landscapes ( takumar 28/3.5)

 

 

So here is the question: would I be losing any of the potential of the M8 by using non leica glass? Say a voigtlander 40/1.4 or 75/2.5 , or zeiss ZM planar 50/2 I can get new ones quite inexpensively.

 

My initial plan was to search for a cron 50 and 90 as the lenses i use now are sharp only once you get to f2 or 2.2 and i understand the leica glass is sharp at max aperture.

 

 

 

 

Any tips/advice/suggestions are welcome, as i find this forum very helpful and polite compared to 95% of the others I go to

 

cheers

 

Robert

[Nicoleica]

Don't forget that due to M8's 'crop-factor' your preferred focal lengths may need adjusting. So for a 50mm you should consider a 35mm, and for a 90mm, a 75mm will be closest.

 

Zeiss make some excellent lenses, and there are many here who swear by them. But Leica lenses do tend to be in a class of their own, and new ones have the benefit of being coded too. The Summarit range are beautiful lenses, and are inexpensive by Leica standards. If you are able to, I'd strongly recommend that you consider them.

[due163]

Nicole

 

you should work for leica!

 

Im reading this at the moment

 

Leica M8 and Summarit-M Lenses Review - photo.net

[usayit]

Two most used lenses on my m8 are the 35mm and 75mm Summarit. The 50mm focal length felt "odd" to me on the M8.

[due163]

I realise the crop factor consideration, as my others SLrs had 1.5 and 1.6 crops:o

[Shootist]

Does the Pentax KX have a full frame sensor?

If not then the same FL will be about the same on the M8. Maybe even give you a wider view/image.

 

Simple thing to do is buy one of each focal length. That way you can make the ckoice your self.

[Jeff S]

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Another source to whet your appetite for Summarits.

 

Jeff

[Xmas]

So here is the question: would I be losing any of the potential of the M8 by using non leica glass? Say a voigtlander 40/1.4 or 75/2.5 , or zeiss ZM planar 50/2 I can get new ones quite inexpensively.

t

 

Only if you use f/1.4 or wider all the time...

The Cosina lenses ZM Zeiss or CV Voightlander are cheaper, and offer an increased choce, Konca and Canon also make LTM lenses, which allow the LTM adapter to be coded by a third party.

Note the M is not a SLR and you may change you way of shooting e.g. to use wider angle lenses.

The UV/IR filter can cause a lot of flare problems with normal and wide angle lenses, e.g. the current summicron 5cm.

 

Noel .

[due163]

Another source to whet your appetite for Summarits.

 

Jeff

 

 

I read that one also!

 

thanks

 

Robert

[piblondin]

Hi Robert, I'm also a 50mm shooter. The Leica 40mm Summicron-C is great with the M8 and won't cost you and arm and a leg. I modified mine to bring up the 35mm frame lines on the M8, and they're quite accurate.

[due163]

Thanks PI

 

Ill take a look around for one of those in that case

 

I guess with the 1.33 crop that makes it a 53mm so pretty darn close to what I want!

 

I have pretty much decided that if i am paying the premium to get a Leica, I may as well get Leica glass , so no college for my kids!

[pico]

The crop factor math is elementary.

 

So what are you really asking? Go for Voightlander. If the results look good enough to you, be happy. If they do not, then come on back and inform the rest of us.

 

And what kind of college today charges so little that a Leica lens would sap a year of tuition?

 

.

[due163]

Pico, thanks for the constructive advice , do you use the voigtlander stuff yourself?

 

My first post has my question in plain english.

 

the tuition line was a joke .

[due163]

SO I bought a rigid summicron 50/2 and a Elmar 90/4 to go with the m8u

 

 

thanks for all the help !

[pico]

All the discussion regarding crop-factors lead me to be convinced that the M8 was a trial effort, a between-thing leading to the proper camera, the M9. I'd never consider an M8. It is much like the M6 was to the M7, but with no crop issue, just refinement.

 

M9, M7, M4, M3 - that's it for me.

 

.

[cbretteville]

All the discussion regarding crop-factors lead me to be convinced that the M8 was a trial effort, a between-thing leading to the proper camera, the M9. I'd never consider an M8. It is much like the M6 was to the M7, but with no crop issue, just refinement.

 

You should be grateful that enough of us did (and still do) consider the M8 a usable and proper camera. Without us there it is highly unlikely that the M9 would exist. And to be honest, I consider it such a small step up from the M8 that it isn't worth the money I'd have to spend to 'upgrade'. As such the M9 can be seen as an in between to the M10 that hopefully will have a much better sensor than what is in the M8 and M9 etc., etc., etc.

 

C

[lct]

Yes in spite of commendable efforts from Leica, spending €5.5K for color shifts and average high isos doesn't look much appealing to some. Better get a s/h M8 and invest in good lenses usable on the M10 imho. Beware that 50mm lenses can be felt either too long or too wide on the M8 due to the crop factor though.I 'd better choose a 28, a 35 or a 40 for a stater kit but it is a matter of tastes.

[due163]

Hi all

 

for some reason I dont gel well with the 35mm length (on the cropped sensors)

 

I love the 50 which is 75-80 depending on which body , and the 85 which is 128-136 fov on the crops

 

One thing I do like is the wideness of the 24-28mms though!

 

I can afford a m9 , even second hand they are very expensive, so i bought a s/h M8u instead for a really good price.

 

ty

[lct]

...I love the 50 which is 75-80...

Agree about APS-C (75) but as far as FoV, a 50 will only be 50x1.33 = 66.5 on the M8.

Hence what i said above about the feeling that this focal length may either be too long or too wide on the M8. YMMV of course.

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[colonel]

Hi all

 

for some reason I dont gel well with the 35mm length (on the cropped sensors)

 

I love the 50 which is 75-80 depending on which body , and the 85 which is 128-136 fov on the crops

 

One thing I do like is the wideness of the 24-28mms though!

 

I can afford a m9 , even second hand they are very expensive, so i bought a s/h M8u instead for a really good price.

 

ty

 

I agree.

I have the 50mm summarit and the 28mm elmarit on the M8 and they are perfect for me. I will be getting a 90mm shortly.

 

I particularly like the 50mm (67mm equiv on the M8). It can be used for architecture, flattering people/portraits and landscapes. Framing is more tricky when tighter. but I can not do "in your face" streeet shots, so the 67mm suits me better.

28mm (36mm equiv on M8) I find a great base for landscapes and scenes.

I use the 50mm mostly though.

 

I just want to quote what one dealer told me, "sure voigtlander and zeiss make nice lenses, but at least buy one Leica lens, hopefully your first, to show you what the camera can do!"

 

I haven't used non-Leica lenses on the M8 yet but the Leica ones certainly live up to my expectations.

 

I am tempted by the Voigtlander 75mm f1.8 which has a good reputation though, telephoto being lower priority for my shooting type.