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Overcome M8 Resistance/ x Lens


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Hi Son,

Nice to see you here. The 28 summicron is wonderful on the M8 and would make a perfect first lens.

It would be a shame not to add a CV15, too. With the JM adapter, JM filter holder/hood and Leica filter.... you can't find anything better for about $700.

Cindy

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Son, you had a question about the pre-aspheric and the current 50mm Summiluxes, respectively. I have owned the first, and own the second.

 

First,as regards the pre-asph. lens, we should discuss the second version only (from 1962, # from 1,844,001). This is definitely a good lens. I quote E. Puts, Leica Taschenbuch, 7th ed.:

"Barely visible barrel distortion, vignetting of 2.2 f-stops. Generally medium to high contrast, becoming progressively softer towards the outer zones and corners. Wide open you see clean edges and good reproduction of fine detail. Very little astigmatism and coma. Stopping down delivers high contrast in the middle of the image field. The optimal f-stop is 8."

I would only add that the lens is more resistant to flare and stray light than the Summicron.

 

The current aspherical 50mm Summilux is quite simply a super lens. MTF values at 1.4 are as good as those of the Summicron at f:2. It has also inherited the good immunity to stray light and reflexes, a weak point with the Summicron. I have sold my Summicron. The new 'lux focuses down to .7m as against 1.0m for the oldtimer, and performs well at close range.

 

The 50mm focal length (actually closer to 52mm) makes for a near 70mm lens on the M8, a good 'people lens' and a valid complement to a 28mm lens in street photography. I top up the kit with a light 90mm.

 

The old man from the Age of the Box Camera

 

 

Lars, this is exactly what I need to clear my head. One of the reason that I cannot get away from Leica glass is its unique wide open resolving power. I am very pleased to hear the performance differences of these two lens at F1.4. Thus, I will pick up one but will not be my first M lens since the crop factor making this lens a luxury to have at this moment. I shall return to this lens at a later in time. Perhaps I can pick up the latest Pre-ASPH after I pick up one of the wide angle lens and it looks like the 28 or 24 at this moment.

 

Thanks,

-Son

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In order, I would say: 35 Summilux ASPH, 75 Summicron ASPH, 28 Summicron ASPH. Swap the 75 Summicron for the 75 Summilux if you prefer portraits. Swap the order of 35 and 28 if you prefer a slight wide angle view to a normal view. The 50 Summilux ASPH is fantastic in every way, except one: the focal length is a little awkward. It might be nice for portraits in crowds, such as at parties or weddings, but other than that, I just rarely put it on. Once the FF M9 comes out, it will live on my camera.

 

The Voigtlaender 15mm f/4.5 is also a great deal and on the M8, probably the match for almost every great 21mm SLR lens ever made, except the Contax 21 possibly. A really sweet little lens, and a showcase for how rangefinder technology and compromises can yield cheap and small, yet excellent lenses.

 

Carsten, you and some of the folks like Kurt and others think very highly of the 1.4/35 ASPH. I also believe this lens would be one of the great lens but I am covered in this focal length from my SLR system. However, the next question is how is the signature different between the Leica M 1.4/35 ASPH and the Leica R 1.4/35 ASPH? If the characteristics is unique to the Leica M 1.4/35 then I am in greater trouble than I first thought. If this is the case I will consider this lens but in the second round of acquistion.

 

Can you give me a little more details in comparisons between the 1.4/75 versus the 2.0/75 especially wide open performance at F2.0 and the close distance of focus. This is important since I like the versatility of close tight portrait and I even use these lens like semi macro lens. Do they make the tele-converter for these lens; probably not I am in a whole different whole now?

 

Thanks,

-Son

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Hi Son,

Nice to see you here. The 28 summicron is wonderful on the M8 and would make a perfect first lens.

It would be a shame not to add a CV15, too. With the JM adapter, JM filter holder/hood and Leica filter.... you can't find anything better for about $700.

Cindy

 

Cindy, I am glad to see you and all the folks from FM here; making the transition more like home again in which I really missing out. It is too bad I cannot bring LeSong over here he feels the same way after you folks moved here.

 

I believe you are right and my fascination with the 28 is growing even stronger. I have a friend here in Los Angeles is selling his 24 mm ASPH and I may consider taking it. However, I am most fascinated with the 28 mm ASPH. I may also end up with the CV15 like you and other suggested. It would be a great lens to have just when you need it since this focal length again is the strength of the RF over the SLR system. Do you or anyone ever experience with both the ZM 15 versus he CV15 especially vigneeting? I am sure the software can fix it but just purely from the optical performance perspective here. But as you mentioned for the price and the luxury focal length and compact size it is a winner on the M8.

 

Best Regards,

-Son

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Guest guy_mancuso
Safari is really catching on and on the iPhone it is really fast. Firefox is also a great web browser for MAC folks.

 

 

dooes thiss work right noww

 

 

Holy smokes it works. I have a spell checker now. Now everyone will think i hired a English major to write for me. LOL

 

Son I have the I phone , WOW love that thing. I'm all Mac now, sold out to Steve Jobs. LOL

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This looks more and more like FM all over again :D LOL.

 

I feel this forum is more like the old FM forum than the present FM forum. The folks who participate in the forum is the core content of the forum itself. It works much like the Democracy system and not ditatorship.

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dooes thiss work right noww

 

 

Holy smokes it works. I have a spell checker now. Now everyone will think i hired a English major to write for me. LOL

 

Son I have the I phone , WOW love that thing. I'm all Mac now, sold out to Steve Jobs. LOL

 

 

Guy, I love my iPhone too and I am like you all MAC out.

 

Despite folks like Lars red pencil your writing but when I read your writing I know it is from you and from the heart. I guess it is similar to the signatures of lenses and if that is the case your writing is to which lens that is ugly and yet has great performance from the core? LOL

 

I have to turn this computer off to fly back to the East Coast before I miss the flight.

 

Best Regards and many thanks for everyone great insights and knowledge of the RF optics.

 

-Son

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Guy, I love my iPhone too and I am like you all MAC out.

 

Despite folks like Lars red pencil your writing but when I read your writing I know it is from you and from the heart. I guess it is similar to the signatures of lenses and if that is the case your writing is to which lens that is ugly and yet has great performance from the core? LOL

 

I have to turn this computer off to fly back to the East Coast before I miss the flight.

 

Best Regards and many thanks for everyone great insights and knowledge of the RF optics.

 

-Son

 

Son

 

As you know I just returned from a 23 day trip to Europe visiting Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Krakow and then the 10 day photo tour with Leica/Porsche in Germany. As I processed the photos I found that I had shot about 50% with the 28 cron, 25% with the CV 15 and 25% with the three telephotos I had along, the 75 cron, 90 cron apo/asph and the 135 3.4 Apo Telyt. There were occasional shots with the 35 lux and the 50 lux (pre-asph) but the norm was the 28 cron. For my style it is just a remarkable lens. If I could only have one M lens, this would be it.

 

Woody

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Guest guy_mancuso

I agree with Woody the 28 cron is probably my most used lens. Than the WATE, 75,50,90,35,135 and the 12 mm its in there somewhere when I get the corner fix going

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Originally Posted by Pham Minh Son

Do you or anyone ever experience with both the ZM 15 versus he CV15 especially vigneeting? I am sure the software can fix it but just purely from the optical performance perspective here. But as you mentioned for the price and the luxury focal length and compact size it is a winner on the M8.

 

Son, someone else will have to respond about the CZ 15. I have not tried it.

The CV 15 with the John Milich adapter allows the lens to be coded as a WATE. When you turn on the M8, a menu pops-up and you choose 16mm WATE. (LensDetection must be set to On+UV/IR in the M8 Menu.) This causes the M8 to correct the vignette. The John Milich hood/lens holder (with a 39mm Leica brand IR cut filter) cuts out the IR and shades the lens.

Have you subscribed to Sean Reids web site. He has a wealth of information on the M8, M lenses, filters, adapters, etc.

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I feel this forum is more like the old FM forum than the present FM forum. The folks who participate in the forum is the core content of the forum itself. It works much like the Democracy system and not ditatorship.

 

Hi Son, good to see you here as well, It's amazing the amount of FM'rs who've found a new home here and without the baggage being a Leica user attracted.

 

As for lens choices, I've just parted with my chrome 35 Lux Asph to Carsten, truly a beautiful lens to use but just that little bit to tight in the FOV. I replaced it with the 28 Summicron Asph which does not have as much contrast or saturation as the 35, but is still IMO a better all round focal length for the M8. It's much nicer in B&W giving smoother transitions. I do regret letting the 35 Lux go, but I know the 28 is just a better fit. Bokeh with the 35 can be both beautiful and harsh, the odd time strong colours in the background can give unexpected or unusual results. But by in large it has to be one of the best 35's out there.

 

You know what "they" say..... go with your heart and not with the head. I made that mistake with the 75 Summicron over the 75 Summilux. This focal length is primarily my portrait choice and the Cron @ f:/2.8-f:/4 does not have the "glow", it has everything else in bucket loads, contrast, colour, sharpness, but it has it at all apertures. I choose it over the Summilux for it's size and "newer optics" but in hindsight I should have gone with the Summilux which seems slightly smoother.

 

Anyway no doubt you'll be a source of excellent information once you get your teeth into the M8 and I'll look forward to reading your findings. Welcome to our corner in cyberspace, you're amongst some of the nicest people I've come across on forums and yes the Mods are rather special too.;)

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Son,

Many fine suggestions here but if I know you (and I think I do) you will soon be looking for an adapter so that you can shoot alternative glass :)

 

David

 

It's interesting, though, that the "Alternative Lenses for EOS Movement" came from people's dissatisfactions with many SLR lenses. In the case of the M8, the lenses that are actually designed to fit the camera (M or LTM) are some of the best in the world. Sometimes, they even have some of the best price:performance ratios one can find.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Guest guy_mancuso

It's that what pushed many of us into the DMR's and than some into the M8's. it feels like a resting home. LOL

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Son

 

As you know I just returned from a 23 day trip to Europe visiting Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Krakow and then the 10 day photo tour with Leica/Porsche in Germany. As I processed the photos I found that I had shot about 50% with the 28 cron, 25% with the CV 15 and 25% with the three telephotos I had along, the 75 cron, 90 cron apo/asph and the 135 3.4 Apo Telyt. There were occasional shots with the 35 lux and the 50 lux (pre-asph) but the norm was the 28 cron. For my style it is just a remarkable lens. If I could only have one M lens, this would be it.

 

Woody

 

Dear Woody,

Also just came back from that part of the world, and the 28/2 was a really handy FOV (incl trekking on a glacier)

 

I too took the 15 as well as the 12.

 

For length I used the 135 tele elmar. A nice sharp lens and light.

 

Will you be posting shots? (We were in Vienna this yr. Last yr was Praha, BP, Bratislava and Kracow with the DMR)

 

'regards

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I feel this forum is more like the old FM forum than the present FM forum. The folks who participate in the forum is the core content of the forum itself. It works much like the Democracy system and not ditatorship.

It is. I hardly ever visit there any more...:)

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