Jump to content

New lenses for the M?


lars_bergquist

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 73
  • Created
  • Last Reply

I am planning to use the 21mm viewfinder that comes with it for my CV15, and to estimate the view of the 21mm lens with the entire viewfinder. There is probably a little extra in the picture, but then, there is a little extra with all the lenses, with the M8. I doubt I will use it all that much, which is why I am happy to have the option of the CV rather than the very expensive Leica. I do look forward to getting it though.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I would add this to Steve’ message: It is easy to dream of wondrously speedy lenses, but … If you would like a 16 mm 2.8, look at the current Zeiss lens! Even if designed by Leica, it would be a Noctilux-size, Noctilux-weight and Noctilux-priced aberration. I want something I can stash in a corner of my camera bag, and f:4 would be all right with me. In fact all I want beyond the current CV lens is a codeable M mount, rangefinder coupling and a filter thread. Period.

 

As things stand now, this is rerally a prime (!) business opportunity for Mr Kobayashi.

 

The old man from the Age of Uncoated Optics

 

Lars

 

Perhaps I beat a dead horse but please, if you have not tried the CV 15 4.5 do so. This under $400 lens is unbeatable. I have been doing some experiments with my R15 3.5 using the Novoflex R to M adapter with extremely good results. Takes getting used to since you have this monstrous lens on the relatively tiny M8 but the images are great. I use it either by just infinity focusing and letting the amazing DOF do the job or use my old time Leica external rangefinder, find the distance to the image focal point and then manually set the distance on the lens. However the point is that unless you are doing very critical architechtural work the Leica R15 is not worth the effort compared to the tiny superb CV 15 4.5.. Try it........you will be so impressed. Just MHO

 

Woody

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Helped a forum member unload a CV15 a while back as well and can't fathom why he parted with it. I love this little lens; thanks MG. In detailed work you can tell (barely) it doesn't hold up to my Leica lenses, but for $400, wow.

 

Peter

Link to post
Share on other sites

There are good reasons to expect the 1.33 format will remain the standard for the M8 for the indefinite future. The main reason is that for Leica to develop fast, wides that are comparable to FF film 28mmF2 and 35mmF1.4, they must design a 28mm F1.4 and a 21mm F2.0 to fill the gap. But there is no way that such lenses can be designed at a reasonable size and also cover a full frame. Also a full frame M mount sensor would have even more trouble controlling cyan vignetting than the current M8 1.33 format. And lets face it, most of us got use to the reduced format concept anyway. 10 or 12 MP is plenty of resolution for 99% of our needs. Full frame is more appropriate for full size DSLR's than our street fighter Leica. I treat my M8 more like a grown up, interchangable lens point n' shoot more than anything else.

Just what I always wanted in a travel camera: the file quality of a 5D with a full kit that fits in a small unobtrusive camera bag. Now all I need is a fairly compact 21 or 24mm f2.0 to complete my dream kit.

 

Rex

Link to post
Share on other sites

Anyone who stands back and looks at the slope concerning the advancement of performance in digicams over the past decade or so should be very hesitant to declare something to the effect of, "Thats it, can't go much/any farther from here".

 

Are those who remember that Leica themselves noted around 5 years ago that they couldn't make a digital M?

 

Well whaddya know. They did, and by all thats been reported, they did a pretty good job.

 

NO one should think that a FF M is impossible, or even an unworthy goal. I suspect that Leica is at least in the early stages of looking at it, and if they survive (at least the camera division) they'll get there. Probably in around the same five years it took them to get out the M8.

 

If they are serious about getting on the digital train (and staying on) they had better spend their time there, and not worrying about "digital" lenses for the M.

 

Jerry

Link to post
Share on other sites

Anyone who stands back and looks at the slope concerning the advancement of performance in digicams over the past decade or so should be very hesitant to declare something to the effect of, "Thats it, can't go much/any farther from here".

Jerry

 

Jerry,

the same thought occurred to me when reading this thread, I agree with you there absolutely. However it remains to be seen how Leica combine their, shall I say 'modest', pace of new product development with the digital industry express train.

 

Having said that there is still a good chance of a selection of 1.33 crop specific lenses. If they can be engineered using existing tooling and a high proportion of existing parts for the barrel, then the cost to Leica is a 'one off' product development cost. There is certainly demand out there for a faster widish angle.

 

At this point in time only the big C have successfully done a 24x36 sensor (in a '35mm' body), I dont think the Kodak or Contax attempts were commercially successful, regardless of image quality. Meantime Nikon and the independents are churning out reduced image circla lenses, oh yes, Canon are as well!

 

Who knows!? let wait and see what Leica come up with!

Guy

Link to post
Share on other sites

Lars

 

Perhaps I beat a dead horse but please, if you have not tried the CV 15 4.5 do so. -----

 

Woody

 

Woody, I own it. In fact, it brought me back to rangefinder photography and, ultimately, to the Leica M. I wanted that lens and got myself a Bessa L for it. I did quickly tire of the camera because of the chintzy, unreliable and basically unrepairable film transport, and have never considered a C/V camera since then. At that time however a nice M4-P Jubilee, with matching 90 mm Tele-Elmarit and 35 mm Summicron, was auctioned locally, and there! I was stuck. And yes, the lens is remarkably good, better than the C/V 21 mm in fact, and now it serves as a 21 mm replacement with my M8.

 

The old man from the age of the Super-Angulon

Link to post
Share on other sites

There's one thing I want to add here: Sometimes old lenses blossom unexpectedly when they meet an M8. I used a 1960 vintage Elmar 50mm/1:2.8 for my 'walkabout lens' on my M4-P. No way I would put that on the M8! But my classical fourth version 35 mm Summicron from 1983 stepped into the breach with aplomb. The weaknesses of this lens when wide open is a moderate contrast, and a noticeable definition fall-off in the corners. But the first is remediable in the digital world, and the corners are nicely cropped out! And the lens is so wonderfully compact that I can just barely find the aperture ring.

 

I can say the same thing for the second version (four element) 90 mm Tele-Elmarit. A 90 that's both pocketable and useable is a fine thing to have for an M8.

 

I am in fact going to endorse that old warhorse, the 1958 90 mm Elmarit. I bought it for use on a Visoflex III, where it is actually a better optic for close-ups than the 65 mm Elmar-V, and the rig is also useable as a regular 90 in a pinch, as it will focus to infinity. I found however that the lens is unexpectedly good at 2.8 and brilliant at 5.6. So I had the focusing mount renovated and I do occasionally use it as issued – on the M8! Speak of back-compatibility …

 

The old man from the Age of the M3

Link to post
Share on other sites

So Lars, how old are you anyway, and how many signatures do you have? ;)

 

Hi Carsten. a) I have turned seventy. Don't know how it happened. Feels more like thirty.

 

B) I make them up as I go … my basic generosity, I presume.

 

The old man … Is he in heaven, is he in hell, this damn elusive Pimpernel?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...