mailhans Posted July 24, 2007 Share #1 Posted July 24, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm about to buy a M8, and with that, i need to buy a lens. i'm quite a divers photographer. in the city i like to shoot (pictures of) people, in nature i like to shoot wide and macro's. so which will be the best lens to start with? i usually shoot when there's enough daylight, and this is my first range finder camera... which lens was your first one? and why? and maybe more important, which was the second lens you bought (because you found out what the first one wasn't suitable for) looking forward to your experiences Hans Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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marknorton Posted July 24, 2007 Share #2 Posted July 24, 2007 I think most here would suggest a 28 or 35 as a first lens; my choice would be a 28mm Summicron. Then, as a second lens, you might choose one which is double or half the focal length of the first, depending on what your priority is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mboerma Posted July 24, 2007 Share #3 Posted July 24, 2007 My favorite is the 24mm. I recently bought a CV 15mm to get more wide angle. I love that one lens and it is very cheap (compared to Leica lenses). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted July 24, 2007 Share #4 Posted July 24, 2007 I'm about to buy a M8, and with that, i need to buy a lens. i'm quite a divers photographer. in the city i like to shoot (pictures of) people, in nature i like to shoot wide and macro's. so which will be the best lens to start with? i usually shoot when there's enough daylight, and this is my first range finder camera... which lens was your first one? and why? and maybe more important, which was the second lens you bought (because you found out what the first one wasn't suitable for) looking forward to your experiences Hans My first lens was a 50 Summicron, but that was years ago and it came with my M3. I have since replaced that lens with a newer version 50. My first new lens with the M8 was the 35 Summicron. I now have a 21 CV, 24 Elmarit ASPH, 28 Elmarit ASPH, the 35 & 50, 75 Summicron APO-ASPH, 90 Tele-Elmarit and 135 f/2.8 Elmarit with eyes. The lenses I use the most are the 21CV, 35 Cron, 50 Cron and 75 Cron (but the 75 Cron backfocuses and will be going in for calibration soon). The all time starter lens is the 50mm, your choice as to Cron/Lux or Elmarit. It is a little telephoto on the M8 but still a very useful lens. With the M8 the 35mm might be a better choice as your first lens. Although with the 35 you really can't do much closeup work. Before you know it you too will have a varied lens selection and NO money in the bank. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted July 24, 2007 Share #5 Posted July 24, 2007 I started out with a 35 Summilux Asph as a standard lens and added a 75 summicron for portraits. I soon found the 35 not wide enough for given situations and added a 21 Elmarit asph for a bit of width. I then found the 35 still was just that little bit to restricting in the FOV and 21 was seldom used with it's expansive FOV. So I sold both of them and replaced them with a 28 Summicron Asph which I must say has become the lens cap on my M8. For portraits I'm still using the 75 Summicron but I'm not comfortable using it due to it's higher contrast and razor sharpness on subjects past the age of 20. My choices here are a Noctilux for slightly more "glow" and less critical sharpness when ever I get it as part of the 30% deal or the Summarex 85 1.5 which is out being cleaned at the moment. Time will tell on this choice. All the lenses I've used have preformed flawlessly and the quality was superb. It's more down to my choice to match my style / taste. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted July 24, 2007 Share #6 Posted July 24, 2007 I use 28mm and 50mm mostly. If you shoot a lot at daylight I strongly recommend the Trielmar 28-35-50 - you have threelenses in 1 and it might be all you need. If I had to go with just one lens and the TE wouldnt exist I would go for 28mm (I have the 28/2.0asph). 28 forces you to get close to the action images have a more dynamic look than those from longer focal length, you have some DOF, but still not too much wide-angle effect. 50 for portraits, but still you will be close to the action, IMO more interesting than 75 or 90mm. Cheers, Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth_c Posted July 24, 2007 Share #7 Posted July 24, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm pretty new to RF's so I haven't really tried much, but... My first lens was a Summaron 35/3.5. Bought it simply because it was cheap. Its nice but too slow for my liking and it has a 'look' which I love but not for everyday use. I bought a few others lenses just after that, a nokton 50/1,5 being the best of the bunch. I got rid of it recently though as I also picked up a Canon 50/1.2 and didn't want to keep both. Having said that I will be buying a Noctilux in a month or so. The lens that is on my M8 most of the time (and my R-D1 before that) is the Summircon 35mm (v4). Its an incredible lens for me. Fast focus, very compact and lovely rendering. People often say that with the crop factor its a bit 'long' for street shooting and i'm starting to understand that. Still, I don't want to get rid of it and though I would like a 28 too much else is on my wanted list as a higher priority! Of course, all this kit is way beyond my current skill but its so fun to use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_Flesher Posted July 24, 2007 Share #8 Posted July 24, 2007 You WILL prefer either the 28 OR the 35 as your main focal length on the M8 -- I guarantee it! ( ) That said, either of the current asph Crons are superb. Beyond those, it will be based on your style preferences. Personally I prefer the more classic lens look, so my main lens is a pre-asph 35 Lux, but that's me... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGeoJO Posted July 24, 2007 Share #9 Posted July 24, 2007 I agree with Jack, a 28 or 35mm lens will probably your best bet. I love the 28mm cron ASPH for street shooting on the M8. Jack, are you back using an M8 again now, huh? I remembered you sold yours earlier this year.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdrmd Posted July 24, 2007 Share #10 Posted July 24, 2007 I also agree with Jack, get a 28 or 35 and move in closer, or back away. The 35mm F2 is very hard to beat overall. DR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_Flesher Posted July 24, 2007 Share #11 Posted July 24, 2007 I agree with Jack, a 28 or 35mm lens will probably your best bet. I love the 28mm cron ASPH for street shooting on the M8. Jack, are you back using an M8 again now, huh? I remembered you sold yours earlier this year.... Yes and yes Joshua... I sold my first M8 because of the IR bleed defect, but I succumbed to the recent wave of M8 second-hand sales... That, and as I indicated above, I wanted to start using some classic glass again! ( ) A few FWIW IMHO's... When I shot film M's, the 28 Cron Asph and 35 Lux or Cron ASPH, were the only ASPH lenses that maintained some connection with the rendering/look/feel/fingerprint/signature of earlier non-asph Leica glass. (In case that is important to you.) Don't get me wrong, the other ASPH Lenses are superb, but almost too "clinically perfect" in their rendering (and thus not much character) for my tastes. My two favorite lenses with film were the 28 Cron ASPH and the 50 Lux Pre-ASPH, with the 35 Lux ASPH a close second (a bit more classic look with it than the 35 Cron ASPH). BUT! Now that I'm getting older and have come to appreciate the character of things, my tastes have learned to appreciate how certain "defects" can set something apart from the masses and actually be exploited as an asset. Certain uncorrected optical anomaly and admittedly, IR leak in digital sensors, are a few examples of "defects" I have come to appreciate and now wish to artistically exploit... All that said, if I wanted as "perfect" a set of images as possible with the M8 today while wanting to maintain a touch of character AND was going to restrict myself to one lens, I would mount a coded 28 Cron ASPH with IR filter and never remove it. End of discussion. However, for those who want something different -- a unique look to their work -- I think the trio of 21 SA 3.4, 35 Pre-ASPH Lux and 75 (or 50 Pre-ASPH) Lux will be hard to beat Cheers, Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwolf Posted July 24, 2007 Share #12 Posted July 24, 2007 Hans, I certainly wouldn't go longer than 35 (50 FOV). F2.0 seems fine for what you shoot. Beyond that, only you know whether you lean toward shorter or longer. Maybe review your recent work and a pattern will be evident. I like a little distance between me and people, so a 35 is just right. And with a 35, color vignetting isn't much of a concern if your lens isn't coded. I'm sure you're aware there are excellent less expensive alternatives to Leica glass. The Zeiss 35 Biogon is a good choice, at about half the price of Leica Summicron. Cosina Voigtlander also offers some great low cost options. My second lens choice was a 75 Summicron. Yikes, it's amazing. But again, I lean toward the long side because I'm attracted to details of scenes. Then I added a 21 CV. All the best with your decision. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted July 24, 2007 Share #13 Posted July 24, 2007 I bought a few others lenses just after that, a nokton 50/1,5 being the best of the bunch. I got rid of it recently though as I also picked up a Canon 50/1.2 and didn't want to keep both. Having said that I will be buying a Noctilux in a month or so. Hmm....be curious to see how the changes work out for you over time. The Canon 50/1.2 and CV 50/1.5 are, of course, very different lenses. The Noctilux, of course, isn't really very similar to either of them. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethC Posted July 24, 2007 Share #14 Posted July 24, 2007 My first lens was a 28/2.8 Elmarit Asph but that was because I bought the camera and needed a lens to put on the front of it and having only used a rangefinder for a brief period prior to that was at a bit of a loss. I don't think 28mm works for me so I think this lens will end up being sold, I'm leaning towards buying a 35mm of some kind (the question is asked in another thread). I'd have to say, I ahve two most used lenses, the VC 15/3.5 and Summicron 50/2. Love the lens and the focal length but hate the lens hood Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailhans Posted July 24, 2007 Author Share #15 Posted July 24, 2007 thanks for your visions all! hope to upload some images soon! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth_c Posted July 24, 2007 Share #16 Posted July 24, 2007 Hmm....be curious to see how the changes work out for you over time. The Canon 50/1.2 and CV 50/1.5 are, of course, very different lenses. The Noctilux, of course, isn't really very similar to either of them. Cheers, Sean Very true! The thing is that I found I didn't use a 50mm much and when I did it tended to be the Canon. In hindsight of course I should have kept the Nokton as the Canon is a beast and is a real pain to focus (quick focus? forget it). Also, it lacks contrast. Having said that I have yet to shoot it to any degree on the M8. I think that stopped down a bit it might be a good lens for Black and white shooting in daylight. The out of focus rendering (bokeh) can be problematic at times and sometimes just downright ugly. Sometimes its very good, all depends how the backlighting and highlights fall. The Noctilux has been on my mind since I first bought my R-D1 and I am determined to get one at some point. As and when I do the Canon may go...then again it has such a distinct look I may just keep it. Of course the Nokton is indeed entirely different and as a practical lens that can be handled fast it is tough to beat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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