lepremier Posted February 5, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted February 5, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've had my M8 for a couple of weeks now and love the quality that it oozes, the simplicity of the menu setup and the digital possibilities but....I come from the land of Nikon and am missing the auto focus, under certain conditions and mostly the lack of "zoom".I rushed out rather too quicky maybe and bought the 24mm Elmarit/50mm Summilux/50mm Noctilux and a 90mm Summicron lenses. The Noctilux I know is a bit of a specialist, low light type lens and under some conditions not at all easy to focus (slight understatement). The other lenses are all good quality pieces, BUT whilst I was away travelling recently and trying to get some close up shots of people, without sticking the lens in their faces and then, a few minutes later wanting to shoot some wider angled scenes. I found myself, in a densley crowded area continuosly changing lenses and in the process, also trying to keep inquisitive people and fingers out of my camera bag. I really missed my auto focus, zoom lenses on the Nikon. I was wondering whether or not to try and sell the 24mm Elmarit and 50mm Summilux lenses and buy a 28-35-50mm Tri-Elmar lens...... Â Any comments and suggestions from you Leica profis on how to adapt and any comments on the Tri-Elmar lens, especially quality wise would be MOST appreciated. Â Thanks in advance...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorflow Posted February 5, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted February 5, 2007 I am not a pro but have been shooting M film for years and bought the M8 last Dec. Can only offer you a one sided opinion since I don't have a Tri-Elmar. I love the low light capability and the OOF bokeh of my 28 Cron, 50 Lux, 75 Lux and 90 Cron. IMHO the Tri-ElmarI can't replace them, but would be great as an addition for walk around use. Or get a second M8 body... Â Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepremier Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share #3 Â Posted February 5, 2007 Thanks Alan......I just love your last suggestion, I don't think my wife would tho'!!! Seriously though, why is the Tri lens not a suitable replacement, is it just a quality issue? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorflow Posted February 5, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted February 5, 2007 TheTri is just as good in quality but it is f4. You can certainly use it for general purpose shots. But Leica is about low ambient light, OOF, bokeh, and I just love the Lux at 1.4 or Cron at 2.0. Don't give up the Lux:) Â Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepremier Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share #5 Â Posted February 5, 2007 Okay Alan, thanks...I understand what you mean now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotomiguel Posted February 5, 2007 Share #6  Posted February 5, 2007 I come from nikon too, but I think that my change was not too strong. I used fixed lenses on my nikon F90. I had 20mm, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm macro and 180mm. Somethimes I put the 35mm f2 on my M8 and I leave it the whole day. Just walk and look for. So I miss the 20mm and the macro especially. So I'm going to keep my nikon gear and I'll buy a D80 just for macro and tele. Perhaps I'll buy the 15mm voigtländer for my M8. The manual focus is a way to improve your pictures. In my opinion, the manual focus keep me thinking in a different way. Somethimes I set the focus and the aperture and I keep on shooting. Somethimes I prefocus and wait... and then shoot. Sometimes I focus exact where I like and change the frame. The M8 manual focus is very gentle. I've tried with the 35mm and the 50mm. I'll see with the 75mm when arrive. I hope will be fine. I'm still learning and improving my manual focus ability. I think that RF camera is the way to give the best of ourselves and to shoot with our minds instead with technology. The M8 is great!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted February 5, 2007 Share #7  Posted February 5, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I recently added a Tri-Elmar to my "lens collection".  After practical evaluation and heavy discussion with myself I decided to get the Tri-Elmar. There are just times, when quick and easy lens change is a big plus, and also times when low weight and space is an advantage (IMO for hiking, skiing, also for city trips, also for times when you use flash on parties etc.)  I shot some coparisons and I could see differences in IQ on screen, but in printa at 20x30 cm I could not see much if any difference. The primes seem to show a little more detail over the frame, a litlle more contrast,overall a little clearer image.  I decided for myself that the differences in Image quality are minor compared to nopt having the right lens on the camera at thge right time.  However for those times when light is dimm a fast prime as an addtion is a must IMO.  I only have had it for short time but have the feeling the Tri-ELmar could very well get one of my most used lenses. I wish it was 24-35-50.  Look here for some comparison shots but dont let yourself impress too much from the IQ-differences.  trielmar Photo Gallery by TOM at pbase.com  Regards, tom  cheers, tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 5, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted February 5, 2007 PeterA, Â The lens set you have is superb. The 24mm and the 50mm Summilux are amongst the world's best camera optics and will provide you with sensational results. The Summilux is more practical than the Noct for general shooting and I doubt you'll need both in the short term. I haven't owned a Noct. Â The problem your experiencing is the change from auto everything to 'selective seeing'. This is not an anti-slr statement, but advice to keep you on track. A few weeks is not enough to make the change. I encourage you to predominately use one lens at a time and use that lens to see as that lens can see and make pictures. Use them wide open as much as you can. Â Lens changing will become quite quick if the lens is already in your pocket. Because they are small, you can hold both lenses at once and thumb the release button. Film M's were cheap enough to have a second body + lens on the shoulder, but two M8's ? Â Give it months, not weeks and watch your number of keepers grow. Spend no more money chasing something you're not sure about yet, is my suggestion. Â Rolo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepremier Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share #9 Â Posted February 5, 2007 Thanks to all for your comments....much appreciated, really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreyg Posted February 5, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted February 5, 2007 Rolo's comments are right on the money. M's are a different way of working and take some time to get used to. You can shoot fora long time with just one lens - you just get used to it, and start seeing your shots differently. Â Having said that, I just added a Tri-E to the lens bag - and wow: with the 50, its instant telephoto... and the 28 acts as the normal wide lens. Its pretty neat stuff. F4 is an issue, but with the M8, its OK, as you can up the ISO readily. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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