M8 lens recommendations

[John in Japan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've got an M8 inbound from Adorama and now have to pick up some glass. I shoot mainly landscapes and family stuff. Not into catching motion and I have a Nikon D200 if I do want to go that way.

 

I'm really lusting after the new Tri-Elmar lens but 3500 American is pretty steep for a lens I've never touched or held before. Then again if I jump in with the new 28mm lens at $1500 and I decide to pick up another lens I'm not too far away from $3500 suddenly.

 

I'm not afraid of the money but I am concerned with being happy the first time around.

 

Any thoughts are appreciated. I'm strictly amateur and don't get paid for any shots. Only once, and that was a fluke that'll probably never repeat itself.

 

John

[doug_m]

The new Tri- Elm. sounds like a nice lens that I will probably buy. However, I would not go this route for my first M lens.

 

As a newbie to the M system I would buy the new 28 and the 50 F1.4 ASPH which will be a great combo. Or just buy the 28 to start and decide later which direcetion you want to go with a second lens. Remember, on the M8 the 28 is equal to a 37 mm. Good luck.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[nryn]

I agree. the new 28 is a great lens...small, very reasonably priced, and if you buy it new, you'll get a couple vouchers for lens codings, so you can hit the used lens market afterwards With the cost of the M8, this lens might hit the pocketbook just right.

 

My favorite lens so far is the 35mm 1.4. I have a 50mm summicron, which I also like, but the 35's on the camera most. Great for landscapes as well as candid portraits in small rooms.

[LichMD]

After extensively research the topic here and subscribing and reading Sean Reid's excellent article on 28 mm lenses I decided to get the 28mm 2.0 today. What a great lens! A great prime lens for this camera.

[Shootist]

If this is your first M and you have NO glass for it then I suggest the 35 f/2.0. It is a very sharp lens, not to expensive and can do both wide, kinda, and close in work.

The one thing you have to get use to is YOU being the zoom ring, using your feet to get closer or farther away from the subject.

I would not suggest the Tri-Elmar as your first lens for one big reason. It is f/4 which totally defeats the whole Leica M concept, IE small fast lenses for natural light photography.

If we were together taking a shot of the same thing, me with a 35 f/2 and you with the Tri-Elmar both wide open, and I was at ISO 640 with a shutter speed 1/60 you would either need to take that same shot at a SP of 1/15 or bump up the ISO to 2500.

One thing you have to get use to is there are NO inexpensive Leica lenses. Yes the 28 f/2.8 is low priced for a Leica/Leitz lens but it is still 5+X (close to 6 times) more then a 28 f/2.8 Nikon or Canon lens.

[MP3]

John

 

With your questions in mind, I think your interest is on the wide angle side of the lens spectrum. If you find 28mm (equi. FOV 27mm) a good normal lens for your personal view and STILL lust for a wider 2nd lens, there are only 2 real candidates on current Leica's lineup, the 21/2.8 asph and the WATE, ZM and VC aside.

 

My personal opinion is:

 

- 21/2.8 - great landscape lens, relatively compact, and good for people subject in a moderate WA view (due to the crop factor and 2.8 speed) as it's sharp wide open. In fact, it becomes my fast hypo-focus reportage day lens on M8.

 

- WATE - vario focal length on various landscape and super WA work. If you opt for this lens, I would suggest you hold on a little longer as many features and characteristics of this lens is still to show up. And it need a 77mm filter holder if one want to use the 486 filters.

 

My current lineup for a day or a week long trip is:

 

- 1 day single walkaround street lenses: 28 Cron

- 1 day - 2 lens combo to include low light & indoor party - 28 Cron and 50 Lux asph

- Week-long trip - 3 to 4 lens kit for all occasions - (VC15 this is optional for me but it is a real small gem), 21 asph, 35 Lux asph and 75 Cron.

 

Mind you as well, a 21 asph plus a VC15 is about the same price as the WATE. So you may also consider on that path IMHO.

 

Best

Matthew