M8.2 (new to me) + 35 Cron ASPH + one more?

[cinemascreen]

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I am on the verge of purchasing an M8.2 (with 3 months of Leica warranty left) and a 35 Summicron ASPH (uncoded) plus thumbs up and grip.

 

I love the look of the Nokton 50 1.2 and 1.4 lenses (the 1.1 seems soft to me), and was going to add that to the 35, but have read that the 35 and 50 are too close in range on the M8.2??

 

That being said, would I be better off getting just the M8.2 and adding my own lenses later? Starting with the Nokton 50?

 

I debated for many weeks over this purchase or an M9 with only Nokton 50 1.2 (which I still wonder if I should do) - (the diff in price between the two packages is $1800)

 

Thanks for any help.

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[okram]

There is a 75 Cron ASPH at a very good price in the ad section.

I would jump on it immediately, but I just bought one three weeks ago.

 

35 and 75 Cron are the best match for me. If you turn out to desire wider angle at some time, just buy a M9- in two years it will be 2500 Eur used.

 

 

M

[farnz]

... I love the look of the Nokton 50 1.2 and 1.4 lenses ...

Welcome to the forum, Cinemascreen!

 

Are you getting confused? Voigtlander has made a Nokton 50/1.1 and a Nokton 50/1.5 but in Leica M mount or Leica screw mount it's never produced 50/1.2 or a 50/1.4 to my knowledge.

 

Don't forget the 1.3x crop factor on the M8.2, which will effectively make a 35mm into a 47mm and a 50mm into a 67mm.

 

I don't find 35 and 50mm too close on my M8 but I also have 28 and 90mm for longer and wider. But if I only had 2 lenses then 35 and 50 might seem a little close together.

 

Pete.

[wstotler]

I am on the verge of purchasing an M8.2 (with 3 months of Leica warranty left) and a 35 Summicron ASPH (uncoded) plus thumbs up and grip.

 

I love the look of the Nokton 50 1.2 and 1.4 lenses (the 1.1 seems soft to me), and was going to add that to the 35, but have read that the 35 and 50 are too close in range on the M8.2??

 

That being said, would I be better off getting just the M8.2 and adding my own lenses later? Starting with the Nokton 50?

 

I debated for many weeks over this purchase or an M9 with only Nokton 50 1.2 (which I still wonder if I should do) - (the diff in price between the two packages is $1800)

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Welcome. Buy the camera and 35. To start, that's more than enough. Shoot extensively *every day* for five or six months. At that time, re-visit the question. You'll figure out if you need to go wider or narrower--and a host of other things to make an informed decision--while you're shooting. The lenses will be there when you're ready.

 

Cheers!

Will

[radfilm]

I would buy the camera and the 35mm Cron and then try to find a good deal on a 50mm Cron.

 

I bought a 28mm Elmerit first when I bought my M8 but I did have a older 50mm cron,35mm and a 90mm Elmar

 

I just purchased a new 50mm Ver 5 Cron as I starting shooting my 50mm a lot because of the look and speed. The 28mm is almost too sharp and contrasty for me as it really does not have the glow of the older lenses.

 

I really like shooting Leica lenses and that is why I own the camera in the first place

 

I have had a great time shooting my M8 and when I purchase a M9 I will still be happy with the M8 experience.

 

I hope this helps

[cinemascreen]

Thanks so much for all the responses...it's been very helpful. I was confusing the Noktons (35 and 50) in my original post for sure.

 

I decided upon the M8.2 instead of the M9 right now, because it fits my budget and just makes more sense for me. That being said, the 35 Cron really is above my financial limit right now, and I realize the 35 Summarit can be had for less. I will definitely add more lenses later, and Leica lenses will be a part of that, but what interests me most is the look the Noktons give out, and I can afford them.

 

The Nokton 50 1.1 seems soft to me in most examples, and I wonder if with the crop, having only that lens may be an issue, so I was looking at the Nokton 35 1.2. I realize neither of these may be great for all around shooting.

 

I have a DSLR for other type shots, but the ones I'd like to achieve with this setup are the ones similar to the Nokton - usually shooting people in lower light.

 

I hope this makes sense, and am certainly up for any opinions otherwise. I know alot of these questions will be answered when I get the setup and shoot for myself, but I really appreciate the help of the experienced.

 

I will just get one lens for now, so keep that in mind as well. Thanks!

[lct]

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...I realize the 35 Summarit can be had for less...

Best choice on my M8.2. Good sharpness, smooth bokeh, minimum flare, it's become my favorite 35 for general photo over 35/1.4 v2, 35/2 v4, 35/2.8 and CV 35/1.4 sc. FWIW.

[luigi bertolotti]

I agree you made a choice that makes lot of sense : btw, the Summarit 35 will surely be coded, while the Asph you spoke of was not. Don't be in hurry to get another lens... M8+35 is a nice set : anyway, I join the opinion that the 2nd is better not to be a 50... if you will feel the need for a longer one, there is another Summarit (75) which is a superb lens.

[farnz]

... so I was looking at the Nokton 35 1.2. I realize neither of these may be great for all around shooting. ...

The Nokton 35/1.2 is an excellent lens and is well-suited to all round shooting because of it's extra wide aperture, which other lenses lack, so it allows you to shoot in very low light if you choose.

 

I find it to be a good lens wide open where it has its own signature and mine shows no focus shift or back focus. Perhaps the one strike against it is its size. It's large and heavy compared to other rangefinder lenses but if you're used to carrying dSLR lenses or a medium format kit then not so.

 

Pete.

[ramosa]

I was one who recommended that you go the M9 route. And I still recommend it. That said, if you will have an M8 and a 35, here are three questions to consider. First, how many lenses do you think you'll end up with? And, second, how do you normally shoot (wider or longer)? And, third, do you expext to move up to a FF M9 at some point?

 

Per the second question, if wider, you could ponder an 18 or 21 or 24. If longer, you could ponder a 75 or 90. With so few lenses, I wouldn't recommend a 28 or 50 as they are quite close to the 35.

 

The first question can be hard to answer, and the third question can make things complex.

[menos I M6]

You mentioned, that you usually plan to shoot people in lower light.

 

Now "low light" is a very flexible term, used also here on the forum for anything between ISO640 | f2 | 1/60 (which is not "low light" in my understanding) to ISO1250 | f1.4 | 1/15 and beyond.

 

I shoot mostly during the late evening and the night - have a look at my website, to get an idea, how I use a M8.2 and fast lenses.

 

For this very reason, I (personally) would not pair a M8 sensor with a f2.5 lens and would have reservations even to pair it with f2 lenses for that matter.

 

There are actually two 35mm lenses, you might want, which could be almost in your budget - one for the lowest of light conditions and one very light weight and compact, while the second one might be superficial (it has become for me entirely).

 

The 35 1.2 Nokton is a great lens (possibly the absolute best package of a new lens for performance and bargain price regarding Leica M mount).

I don't understand at all, why this lens would not be an all around user - it's a great lens in all accounts.

 

The only reason, why I do not use mine much is, that I just prefer the ergonomics (focus, focus tab, scale) of the Lux ASPH, but lens is three times the price!

I prefer the image character of the Nokton over the Lux ASPH (by a hair, while the ergonomic reason happen, to land the Lux more often on the camera).

[mobeyone]

I love the 50 on the M8 and have just gone back to a 50 from a 35.

 

If you find it too close, just stand back a little)