M8 Starter kit suggestions

[lostproperty]

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Hi, I'm about to buy my first rangefinder and as a complete beginner I really would like some advice regarding lense choice. I use a Nikon D200 and shoot wide 12-24, so taking crop factor of M8 into account, I was thinking 28/2 'cron or would the 35/2 'cron be a better all round lense to start with? Any advice would be really great as I start out on this adventure without preconcieved ideas of good or bad, just alot of enthusiasm and a very understanding girl friend:) Thanks in anticipation.

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[stunsworth]

Hi Peter, welcome to the forum.

 

If you are getting what is essentially a one lens system (for the moment at least :-), and are a 'wider' shooter, of the two lenses you mention I'd go for the 28mm. I've never heard anything other than glowing reviews.

 

Another lens to consider would be the 24mm Elmarit. This is the widest lens that can be used without an external viewfinder on an M8 and is a superb lens.

[Shootist]

Actually the 24mm Elmarit ASPH would suit you better. Seeing as you now shoot 12-24 with the D200 the 24 end on a D200 is like a 36mm lens on a 35mm film camera. With the Leica 24mm on the M8 it is around 32mm on film, which equates to about 21mm on the D200.

All Leica lenses are great, I don't think there are any DOGS.

 

For my first new lens with the M8 I went with the 35 Cron (F/2) but I normally used a 50 Cron on my film M's. For you maybe the 28 Cron or the 24 Elmarit would be better as a first lens.

 

Don't worry before you know it you'll have a 21, 24, 28, 35, 50, 75 and maybe a 90 and more then likely a WATE or CV 15. Then you'll wonder where all your money has gone.

[lostproperty]

Thanks for the advice guys, will look at the 24 and hope Classic camera in London has one in stock that I can test.

 

Apologises if this is a dumb question but do the frame lines on the M8 take into account the crop factor? Or are the frame lines for the 28 actually the 35?

 

Girl friend is already looking for "partners of Leica users support groups" in anticipation of this becoming a full blown obession:)

[stunsworth]

Peter, yes the frame lines take the crop factor into account - you have a PM.

[lars_bergquist]

Peter, yes the frame lines take the crop factor into account - you have a PM.

 

Peter, the frames cover the image you get at close focus. At infinity the image takes in stuff a bit outside the frames too, because image magnification (actually reproduction ratio) is smaller at infinity, so more gets in. There is no way the finder system could take that into account without being as large as the rest of the camera – it is already probably as expensive!

 

The old man from the Age of the Brilliant Finder

[Shootist]

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Thanks for the advice guys, will look at the 24 and hope Classic camera in London has one in stock that I can test.

 

Apologises if this is a dumb question but do the frame lines on the M8 take into account the crop factor? Or are the frame lines for the 28 actually the 35?

 

Girl friend is already looking for "partners of Leica users support groups" in anticipation of this becoming a full blown obession:)

 

 

Yes the frame lines on the M8 are set to reflect the crop factor. BUT make sure you do some extensive testing of just what the FOV for each lens actually is. The frame lines do not reflect the actual FOV, it is usually greater then what is inside the lines.

 

Your girl friend is a smart one. She will need either a support group or a new boy friend that doesn't own Leica gear and thus has a lot more money and time to spend on her.

 

Good luck with your M8.

[rosuna]

Peter, yes the frame lines take the crop factor into account -

 

Right, but the magnification of the viewfinder has change too (from 0.76 to 0.68), reducing the absolute size of the framelines. In fact, the 35mm FoV on the M8 has framelines with a similar relative size (in the viewfinder) than the 35mm FoV on the M7/MP.

[Eoin]

I'm surprised no one has suggested the wide angle tri-elmar 16-18-21 f/4.0. By all accounts here it's a super lens and seems a better choice as it's closer to the zoom you've been using on the Nikon.

 

Expensive for sure, in very limited supply and requires the optional finder for proper composition along with the std viewfinder for focus. Perhaps not the best lens for a first time foray into rangefinders but taking the long term view it might be prudent.

 

Failing that, the 28 summicron would be a useful 1 lens setup to begin with. Welcome to the forum BTW.

[Joe Mondello]

Hi, I'm about to buy my first rangefinder and as a complete beginner I really would like some advice regarding lense choice. I use a Nikon D200 and shoot wide 12-24, so taking crop factor of M8 into account, I was thinking 28/2 'cron or would the 35/2 'cron be a better all round lense to start with? Any advice would be really great as I start out on this adventure without preconcieved ideas of good or bad, just alot of enthusiasm and a very understanding girl friend:) Thanks in anticipation.

 

Give a look at Sean Reid's subscription website (http://www.reidreviews.com) for a ton of outstanding information on RF lenses from various manufacturers.

 

Crop facto with the D200 is 1.5 and with the M8 is 1.33 so your 12-24 has equivalent FOV of an 18-36 which on the M8 would require lenses in the 15-28 range.

 

You might want the new WATE (Wide Angle Tri Elmar) which with its finder runs just under $4000 US, but I would also recommend a simpler less expensive kit with a Voigtlander 15mm 4.5, 21mm 4.0 and 28mm 1.9 for about 1/3 the cost.

 

Check out this thread by Jono Slack comparing his WATE and CV (Cosina Voigtlander) 15/4.5 . . .

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/22071-another-wate-vs-15cv-comparison.html

 

HTH

[nryn]

I think that's why some people aren't recommending the WATE or the CV15, Eoin...the extra finder. From my point of view, it's a great thing to grow into.

 

The other lenses mentioned here, the 24 and the 28, are great starter lenses which help one learn their camera and provide excellent results. Once that door is open, there's no shortage of lenses to choose from (just ask some of us... )

[jimowers]

My first lens was the 28/2 and I used this full-time until my others arrived. It is an excellent optic and it works without any additional viewfinders. I have since added a 50/1.4 and 75/2 which gives me a good spread with about 30mm between each lens. This all fits in the M-Series Billingham bag and is a perfect kit to take around as it fits on my left hip and lens changing is very quick and easy. I sold my Canon 1D MkII and lenses because they were too heavy as I am disabled. The M8 has proved a godsend as it is so small and light in comparison. The results I am getting out of these lenses is to say the least stunning. If I had to opt for one lens then the 28/2 would be my choice.

[gwelland]

I would concur with Jim on the choice of the 28/2 as a single starting lens. I use mine the vast majority of the time as it almost ideal as a walk about lens (~38mm). Remember there's also the Elmarit 28/2.8 or Zeiss/CV lenses if you want something a little less expensive to leave funds to grow the system.

 

If you want to go wide, just add a CV 15/4.5. It's a great lens for the money. I'm waiting for my WATE 16-18-21 right now which is somewhat more convenient but it's a tough call. I shoot also a Zeiss 21 which is a fabulous lens but you have to jump through some hoops to get the best from this on the M8 with UV/IR filters (replacement 28/90 mount ring / hand coding etc).

 

Going longer, I also went with the 75/2 Summicron although I did go via an experimental route of CV 75 & CV 90 lenses. They are also excellent btw although I'm extremely happy with the 75/2 as the build & image quality is everything I wanted from a 'keeper' lens.

[lostproperty]

Thanks for all the informed opinions and for making a beginner feel at home in the forum. Sean Reid's reviews are excellent and already essential reading. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the 24 or 28 'cron and will get to test both on Tuesday when I pick up my M8 before making my choice. It's a close call, do I go for the extra width of the 24 or the extra stop of the 28. I've never liked using flash, so the extra stop may sway me...the WATE is tempting but its out of my price range and I suspect the learning curve is going to be tough enough without having to get to grips with the wide angle viewfinder:)

 

Talking of which, I prefer to keep my googles on when shooting so are there any spectacle wearers out there who have an opinion on the viewfinder?

[lostproperty]

Thanks for all the informed opinions and for making a beginner feel at home in the forum. Sean Reid's reviews are excellent and already essential reading. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the 24 or 28 'cron and will get to test both on Tuesday when I pick up my M8 before making my choice. It's a close call, do I go for the extra width of the 24 or the extra stop of the 28. I've never liked using flash, so the extra stop may sway me...the WATE is tempting but its out of my price range and I suspect the learning curve is going to be tough enough without having to get to grips with the wide angle viewfinder:)

 

Talking of which, I prefer to keep my googles on when shooting so are there any spectacle wearers out there who have an opinion on the viewfinder?

[Eoin]

I ware glasses but to be honest getting a diopter and foregoing shooting with glasses is really the only option when using wide angles. The 35 frame is about all I can see with glasses where as I can just about see the 24 frame with a +3 diopter. Don't forget there is a -.5 built into the viewfinder and that shold be taken into consideration in the calculation.

 

Good luck with your choice of lens, both are rated very highly.