GTM Posted May 16, 2011 Share #1 Posted May 16, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I hate coming on this site - I always tempt myself! The classifieds have a lovely looking M8 for £1,500 and the buyer is about a 20 minute walk from work! Damn it... My only problem is lenses. I would love to try out the M8 again (after an aborted M7 mission needing to be sold due to a friends wedding in sodding Tasmania!) But I really don't have a clue what I'm doing. For a new starter are Voigtlander lenses good enough? I can get a 35mm and 50mm for about £600 at Aperture.com which is kinda what I was hoping to spend. But I'm not even sure I need both! And am torn whether it's a waste and I'd be better off just investing in £8/900. It's not chump change I'm talking but I adore the photos you get from a Leica - something about them! And I'm thinking if things don't work out the re-sale value can get me back a fair bit... Decisions, desisions and I expect like everything it's down to what you need but I'm completely torn! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Hi GTM, Take a look here Temptation.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted May 16, 2011 Share #2 Posted May 16, 2011 A number of CV lenses are certainly good enough, and so are all Zeiss lenses, but even more fun is the universe of older Leica lenses out there. Have a look athe used departments on the web of ffordes or Meister camera -- sorry to add to the confusion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted May 16, 2011 Haha thanks, what I want is someone to say "get it, you'll love it and you'll take amazing photo's with it" It's a lot of money. A lot. If only I'd won the Euro! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biswasg Posted May 16, 2011 Share #4 Posted May 16, 2011 what I want is someone to say "get it, you'll love it and you'll take amazing photo's with it" I did exactly what you wanted to do. After 35 years of Canon, I added the Leica M8 to my arsenal. It is wonderful to own your own M8. As some wise men have said, "Don't care about money, it is transient, comes and goes..." So dive! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted May 16, 2011 My bank manager would hate you biswasg. I'm looking primarily for portrait work and some street photography. Have eyed up a Chrome M8 and the Leica Elmar 50mm f2.8-M... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 16, 2011 Share #6 Posted May 16, 2011 Excellent little lens for portrait on the M8, but a bit long for the street. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted May 16, 2011 Share #7 Posted May 16, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) One of the best entry lenses on the M8 is a Summicron 40-C. It has some issues like the lack of frameline for it. Other than that it is a real Leica and the cheapest Summicron around. The inside of the 35 mm frames on the M8 is near perfect. There are DIY guides on the web to modify it to bring up the 35 mm frame in stead of the 50 frame when mounted on the M8. Buy a 39mm UV/IR and have it coded for best results. I started with a M2 and 40C while saving for the M8... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efix Posted May 17, 2011 Share #8 Posted May 17, 2011 I doubt you would be disappointed by the M8 + the two CV lenses. They're great value, and they deliver good results. GO FOR IT! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted May 19, 2011 Thanks for the comments - I caved and got the Leica D-Lux 5... I couldn't afford the M8 - I just couldn't. So this is a little taster... And I love it!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TshawM8 Posted May 20, 2011 Share #10 Posted May 20, 2011 Possibly best to save for the M until you know you can afford it...not the camera...I mean the lenses I have recently found upon my acquisition of the camera that they are the most addicting, and most expensive, part of joining the Leica...no regrets here...my financial manager on the other hand! I kid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted May 20, 2011 Share #11 Posted May 20, 2011 Have eyed up a Chrome M8 and the Leica Elmar 50mm f2.8-M... I have this lens, it is a small, light jewel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikP Posted May 20, 2011 Share #12 Posted May 20, 2011 I did exactly what you wanted to do. After 35 years of Canon, I added the Leica M8 to my arsenal. It is wonderful to own your own M8. As some wise men have said, "Don't care about money, it is transient, comes and goes..."So dive! I went through the 80's with an analog Minolta and darkroom all the way through most Nikon Digitals to a full frame Nikon D700 and now finally a Leica M8. Started with a VM 35/1.4 from Camera Quest and complemented vith an Hector 135/4.5, at an auction in Stockholm, LP foto - I am so pleased - can't stop smiling when I Load pictures into an iPad. The 135 mm Hektor is from 1955 and render portraits of my son that are mind blowing. Still keeping the D700 for action and low light :-) Save money if you find the passion for pictures Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 20, 2011 Share #13 Posted May 20, 2011 I use all the small slower CV lenses from 21mm to 9cm, (I do have others as well,) they are cheap and light, you will have to be patient and quick as they are not long on dealer shelves, they are on the forum classifieds occassionally, probably cheaper, and phone Red Dot as well. The ergonomics of the LTM and M lenses can be significantly different. If they have not been damaged they are ok. the ZM are a step in £, but you may like them less. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiOnara Posted May 22, 2011 Share #14 Posted May 22, 2011 I recently purchased a 50mm f2 Jupiter lens off eBay for £3.50! It actually takes damn fine pictures. It's great to have a Leica lens and I love my 28mm Elmarit BUT you can take perfectly splendid photographs using much cheaper glass Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.