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Hi everyone,

I'm the happy owner of a Leica M8 which is my first step in the Leica world.
I've read a few 35mm threads and I'm looking for a recommandation with my criterias:

- 35mm (so I can have the equivalent of a 50mm on my M8)
- modern look: I tend to use more and more my 28mm Zeiss Biogon which I've come to enjoy more than I thought
- fast: 2.0 would be good, 1.4 a plus
- less than 1000€ used

I'd probably would go for one of the  Summicron 35mm pre ASPH if I could afford it but it's over budget...

I'm considering some of the following:

Zeiss ZM Distagon 35mm f1.4 (which is said to be excellent but BIG)
- Zeiss ZM Biogon 35mm f2 (maybe too similar to what I have in 28mm)
- Voigtlander 35mm f2 Ultron
- Voigtlander 35mm f1.7 Ultron
- Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar
- Leica Summicron-C 40mm f2

Happy to hear any thoughts or feedback if you have some of these or others you'd recommend!

Thanks,

Vincent
 

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39 minutes ago, vincentim said:

Hi everyone,

I'm the happy owner of a Leica M8 which is my first step in the Leica world.
I've read a few 35mm threads and I'm looking for a recommandation with my criterias:

- 35mm (so I can have the equivalent of a 50mm on my M8)
- modern look: I tend to use more and more my 28mm Zeiss Biogon which I've come to enjoy more than I thought
- fast: 2.0 would be good, 1.4 a plus
- less than 1000€ used

I'd probably would go for one of the  Summicron 35mm pre ASPH if I could afford it but it's over budget...

I'm considering some of the following:

Zeiss ZM Distagon 35mm f1.4 (which is said to be excellent but BIG)
- Zeiss ZM Biogon 35mm f2 (maybe too similar to what I have in 28mm)

- Voigtlander 35mm f2 Ultron
- Voigtlander 35mm f1.7 Ultron
- Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar
- Leica Summicron-C 40mm f2

Happy to hear any thoughts or feedback if you have some of these or others you'd recommend!

Thanks,

Vincent
 

Hi, I have the Distagon and the Biogon of your candidates ... The Distagon is my best 35mm M mount lens (out of 5),  but it is bulky and heavy.

"No pain, no gain" Arnold Schwarzeneger said, however.

The Biogon is very good, too. - Current used prices I do not know ... ---

My 35s. Biogon and Distagon 3rd and 4th from left :

 

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(Sizes look a little misleading, because lenses are not sitting on identical rear caps.)

 

Edited by crony
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I would recommend a ZM 35/2.8 or a CV 35/2 but the 7artisans 35/2 is one of my favorite affordable 35's on M8.2, and digital CL. Distortion is not disturbing on crop cameras but my copy is 6-bit coded and i don't know if current ones are still coded as well. Beware that the 7a 35/2 can flare a lot when strong light sources are outside (no inside) the frame though. For a couple test pics on CL, see: 

https://lctphot.smugmug.com/Diverse/7-artisans-352-on-Leica-digital-CL/n-nJBCXF/i-3gX4kQB

 

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I'm in phase with @Capuccino-Muffin

As years of using M8, the best 35mm for it, in cost/ergonomic/results/etc., is indeed the Summicron version II

like this one mine has aperture lever and "Made in Germany" (not important anyway)

Nothing special, but I like the 'balance' with M8 ...

discussions here

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303205-which-summicron-35mm/?do=findComment&comment=3850517

However, I don't know if it's sharp enough or how expensive this lens is by now.

Years ago, it was about 800-900€ second hand

 

 

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M8, Summicron 35mm vII

...

About Summarit-M 2.5/35, here nicely said/wrote

 

Edited by a.noctilux
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3 hours ago, charles tay said:

Is Leica 75mm f2.5 summarit worth the buy ? 

Charles, of course yes.

 

I need to relate my 2.5/75 history.

I do have other 75mm as my favorite focal length, the Summilux 75mm, a bit heavy but I use it since 1980's, then my wife bought  Apo-Summicron, this is superlative lens

but always heavy.

I wanted the 2.4/75 new Summarit-M for it's closer focus at 70cm for 90cm on the 2.5/75.

Life gives sometimes surprise : I had opportunity to buy cheap used Summarit-M 2.5/75, so I gave it a try.

Some months later, this 2.5/75 became my favorite 75mm as I've discovered that when I need closer range, I can (must) use Elpro + LV.

Needless to say that the trio of Summarit-M 2.5/35/50/75 is my most used lenses, now.

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10 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

Charles, of course yes.

 

I need to relate my 2.5/75 history.

I do have other 75mm as my favorite focal length, the Summilux 75mm, a bit heavy but I use it since 1980's, then my wife bought  Apo-Summicron, this is superlative lens

but always heavy.

I wanted the 2.4/75 new Summarit-M for it's closer focus at 70cm for 90cm on the 2.5/75.

Life gives sometimes surprise : I had opportunity to buy cheap used Summarit-M 2.5/75, so I gave it a try.

Some months later, this 2.5/75 became my favorite 75mm as I've discovered that when I need closer range, I can (must) use Elpro + LV.

Needless to say that the trio of Summarit-M 2.5/35/50/75 is my most used lenses, now.

Thanks for sharing as I am deciding on the next lens 75mm I am considering for m10. Now I only have 50mm lens. 
 

i saw a new summarit 75mm f2.5 on discount and I looking at voigtlander 75mm F1.8 . 
 

Edited by charles tay
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Though they are sharp, the 10mp in the M8 are not that demanding on lenses, particularly as you are cropping off the edges as well. Most modern 35mm lenses are going to do a good job. If you are planning to transition to a high resolution body like the M10R, then prioritize something like the APO Lanthar, which will have the resolution and edge to edge performance to keep up. Otherwise, the 35mm Summarit is a great choice...nearly as sharp as the Summilux ASPH FLE, and in a tiny package. The biggest mistake Leica made in this line was talking about how they were a "budget" line. Most of them are 95% as good as the most modern APO ASPH lens lines, only in a smaller, cheaper package. They telegraphed that these lenses are a compromise, when in reality they are just a different set of trade-offs.

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