@bumac Posted September 22, 2007 Share #21 Posted September 22, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I like the Zeiss 25 ZM. I have it cotified since yesterday. Great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 22, 2007 Posted September 22, 2007 Hi @bumac, Take a look here Lenses for What?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jager Posted September 22, 2007 Share #22 Posted September 22, 2007 15 CV - Like Jack, I don't use mine an awful lot, but it takes up so little space that I almost always have it with me. I look forward to the day Leica releases a rangefinder-coupled, kinda-sorta-fast WA prime. Until they do, the inexpensive and amazing CV 15 will always have a place in my bag. 28 Cron ASPH - One of the two lenses which get "lens cap" duty on my M8. Gets the call whenever I want environmental captures - shots showing a bit of context and space. Gives me the 35mm focal length I long loved on my film M's. Extraordinary lens. 35 Lux ASPH - For the few years leading up to the release of the M8, this was my favorite lens (on my M6 and M7). I love it on the M8, as well, but because I normally work with a two lens combo (28 and 50), this one doesn't get nearly the use it used to see on film. If I owned/worked with a single lens, this would be the one. 50 Lux ASPH - The second half of my "lens cap" duo. My primary people lens. An extraordinary optic. Noctilux - With the good fortune to have three fifties at hand, the Noct gets the call only in specialized, low-light situations. It spends most of its time at f1, where its nonpareil light-gathering qualities are most apparent. 50 Cron - A wonderful, terrific lens. Alas, since acquiring the 50 Lux ASPH, the Cron has sat on the bench. As good as it is, there's nothing it does that the Lux doesn't do as well or better (other than being a little bit smaller). 90 Elmarit - I loved this as a portrait lens on my film M's. Still works for that on the M8, but it has become just a tad long. Which points me to the lens I still need to get... the 75 Cron ASPH. In the meantime, the 28 and 50 are the ones I go to for almost everything... Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Ortego Posted September 22, 2007 Share #23 Posted September 22, 2007 I'm also new and I love this thread! I’m on the fence as I cough up the courage to order a silver/chrome M8. Just for the record, I’m no pro, just a guy who knows the basics and demands quality. Being a former soldier and tanker, I’m very familiar with coincidence rangefinders used in the tank weapon systems’. Anyway, now ya know. Back on topic, this thread is very helpful since my resources will only allow me to purchase the body at this time. I wanted to ask about lenses, but I figured it just bore members to death! Thanks a lot. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted September 22, 2007 Share #24 Posted September 22, 2007 ......If you don't mind using non-Leica lenses it's worth keeping an eye on the Voigtlander section of Ffordes........ John - Thank you, I'm aware of Ffordes, but alas the piggy bank really is empty. ................ Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted September 22, 2007 Share #25 Posted September 22, 2007 I'm also new and I love this thread! I’m on the fence as I cough up the courage to order a silver/chrome M8. Just for the record, I’m no pro, just a guy who knows the basics and demands quality. Being a former soldier and tanker, I’m very familiar with coincidence rangefinders used in the tank weapon systems’. Anyway, now ya know. Back on topic, this thread is very helpful since my resources will only allow me to purchase the body at this time. I wanted to ask about lenses, but I figured it just bore members to death! Thanks a lot.Regards, well you can always start with some of the CV lenses to get you going also .There is a lot of talk here on the forum on lenses that is for sure. Look around and ask some questions, most of us are very pleasant to talk with on the subject. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker Posted September 23, 2007 Share #26 Posted September 23, 2007 I'm very new to RF (< 1 month), so my experience is limited to 6 lenses that I have tried so far. Already, I am begininng to gravitate towards the 21 ASPH and the 50 Lux ASPH for my kind of photos, but I really think I need at least the 24mm (tried to order from Amazon, and it was US$400 shipping for some reason). 90AA is too large, and the 35 LUX seems to be neither here nor there focal length wise for me on the M8. Samples from yesterday's family outing at the museum: 21mm samples: 50mm samples: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted September 23, 2007 Share #27 Posted September 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Welcome to the forum, DD. Like Guy says, take a look at the CV line of M-mount and LTM lenses. You'll get 90% of the performance of Leica glass, at 10-20% of the cost. In addition to the numerous lens-related posts on the forum here, I'd recommend you take a look at Sean Reid's subscription site (http://www.reidreviews.com). The cost is nominal and Sean provides a lot of comparison information between lenses of like focal length. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted September 23, 2007 Share #28 Posted September 23, 2007 I've been trying to pare down my own collection of lenses. The first to go were all of my apsherical lenses - which just don't fit with my current vision of what I want from my photography. I'm primarily interested in B&W, documentary and some travel stuff. So I have focused on lenses that are 30 or more years old. I just love the way they draw. Less than perfect is good enough for me. This is what I've narrowed it down to: CV15 (ok, the one exception to the new lens rule. But it is just a great lens) 28 Canon f/2.8 35 Summicron V.4 35 Sumaron f/3.5 (This one may soon go as well) 50 Lux pre-asph (second version) 75 Lux 90 tele-elemarit If I am off hiking, I limit myself to 15, 35 summicron and 90 tele. If I want real old school glass, I stick with the 28 canon, 35 sumaron and 50 lux If i am documenting something (currently doing work on community theater), I grab the 15, 28, 35 cron and 75 lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. borger Posted September 23, 2007 Share #29 Posted September 23, 2007 I've been trying to pare down my own collection of lenses. The first to go were all of my apsherical lenses - which just don't fit with my current vision of what I want from my photography. I'm primarily interested in B&W............ Interesting ... i feel the same .... just not made the point of selling the asph lenses .... but did not use them at all for almost 3/4 of a year now .... My most used lenses are a 35 cron IV and a very early rigid 50 cron (my all time favourite Leica lens)..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted September 23, 2007 Share #30 Posted September 23, 2007 All this cooks down to one thing: There are as many ways to use lenses as there are photographers. It is useless to say that this is a landscape lens, this is a portrait lens, this is a lens for street photography ... The only question you can ask (NOT the answer you can give) is, which lens combo covers most of the commonly encountered situations? The old man from the Age of Roll Film Folders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSee Posted September 23, 2007 Share #31 Posted September 23, 2007 CV15+LTm8 isn't as much fun as the Contax 21 on the M6, but close CV 21 is one of those "party hugs": the gesture is there, but not felt (ZM 21 ?) ZM 25 for intimate--no hugs--people and participation v4 35 to document... ...and with 50/1,4 'lux preASPH details(+brush), and then 75/2,0 ASPH when it happens in 20cm square, wide open... ...otherwise the warmer 90/2,8 TE for another's party. The Pelican 1200 holds camera, 4 lenses, batteries and cards; the satchel fits the daily romp, and mood(15,21 or 35). The 28 and 40 get a lot less play on the M8, atm. Still do with film kit, however. rgds, Dave PS-Nice recap of the recent threads, re-cast Guy! 1 lens = v4 35 Summicron 2 lenses = ZM 25 + 50/1,4 preASPH 3 lenses = CV 21, ZM 25 & 50 pre-ASPH "Smoke 'em if you got 'em" --once said "Sell 'em if you don't" --she said Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted September 23, 2007 Share #32 Posted September 23, 2007 I came from the DSLR world and there I used to carry several lenses, including zooms, plus external flash. As I am an amateur, since I bought the M8 with 35mm f2, I am enjoying the low weight \ size and strangely lost the urge to buy more glass (it seems that now I can do almost everything with this lens when with the 5D I would need at least my 24mm - 105 L). Do you carry all those lenses with you when you go out shooting (i.e. the Leica lightness is gone) and keep changing lens accordingly to each photo subject or you just pick the one lens that will probably suit better the photography day and stick to it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted September 23, 2007 Share #33 Posted September 23, 2007 The fact is IMHO most people could get by most of the time with one, maybe two lenses. No in reflection make that one lens<grin>. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Olof Posted September 23, 2007 Share #34 Posted September 23, 2007 24mm my favourite lens 50mm Lux dont use it very often 90mm Macro nice to have if i only could have one lens i would go at the moment for the 24mm... when i was searching for an example picture i couldnt find a 50mm one, most where 24mm (yes there was a spot on the sensor) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/34084-lenses-for-what/?do=findComment&comment=360694'>More sharing options...
guy Posted September 23, 2007 Share #35 Posted September 23, 2007 21mm Elmarit – big cinematic scene-setting / picture-painting shots; indoor stuff where you want the whole room. This was the lens I bought with the camera and I used it exclusively for two months over the summer. About as wide as I'd care to go with people in the frame. DOF is huge even with the lens wide open, so I leave it pretty much permanently set to f2.8 and don't worry: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 50mm Summilux ASPH – portraits, wide open. At the moment, the only other lens I own. I'm absolutely loving the results I'm getting. Again, it stays set to f1.4 pretty much all the time: The 50mm again: Next will have to be either the 28mm or the 35mm; still dithering a bit about which. I like the field of view of the 28 but I like the f1.4 of the 35... Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 50mm Summilux ASPH – portraits, wide open. At the moment, the only other lens I own. I'm absolutely loving the results I'm getting. Again, it stays set to f1.4 pretty much all the time: The 50mm again: Next will have to be either the 28mm or the 35mm; still dithering a bit about which. I like the field of view of the 28 but I like the f1.4 of the 35... ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/34084-lenses-for-what/?do=findComment&comment=360712'>More sharing options...
jothiratnam Posted September 23, 2007 Share #36 Posted September 23, 2007 Hi, I use a combination of old and new lenses which gives me a polyvalent collection for my styles of shooting: 12/5,6 Ultra-Wide Heliar Asph Voigtländer. For really distorted wide-angle shots for a lot of my architectural and interiors interpretations (and because it's cheap and fun); 21/2,8 Elmarit Asph. I find that at this width, I like a really sharp lens; 35/2 Summicron Asph & 35/3,5 Elmar (1935) I really like the Elmar which is tiny and ancient-looking (& thus 'harmless-looking') for street shooting, but when I want something sharp, I find that the Summicron is just the trick; 50/2 Summar, 50/2 Summitar 50/2 Summicron DR (1958) & 50/1 Noctilux. The Summar is a soft lens, great for dreamy shots, the Summitar is a good all purpose lens for me, the Summicron DR is the sharpest lens I own as far as I can tell, and nothing beats the Noctilux for shallow depth of field/low-light photography (be careful w the retractable lenses on M8s though); 73/1,9 Hektor (1933) & 75/2 Apo-Summicron Asph. The Hektor yields remarkably dreamy images, which is perfect for one type of portraiture I do, and the Apo-Summicron is perfect for the really sharp portraits of old people which I also like to take; 90/4 Elmar (1936) & 90/2 Apo-Summicron Asph. Again, same as for my choice of 75's. I tend to use the 75's w my M8, and the 90's w my M6. 135/4 Tele-Elmar & 135/3,4 Apo-Telyt. The Tele-Elmar is more compact, and vignettes ever so slightly wide-open, which I like, but when I need absolute sharpness (and because I got a great deal on a slightly used one), I use the Apo-Telyt. Needless-to-say, I never lug all of my lenses around with me. Usually, I take a guess at the types of shooting I'm likely to do for the day, and pick the lenses I think I'll need. Hope this helps. Jothiratnam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted September 23, 2007 Share #37 Posted September 23, 2007 << Do you carry all those lenses with you when you go out shooting (i.e. the Leica lightness is gone) and keep changing lens accordingly to each photo subject or you just pick the one lens that will probably suit better the photography day and stick to it? >> That's a salient point and a good question. Professional shoots aside, I'm a big believer that less is more. Having a bunch of lenses doesn't mean you have to carry 'em all. The day bag I use normally carries my M8, 50 Lux, 28 Cron, and 15 CV; along with a spare battery. I'm reluctant to carry more simply because you quickly start to lose the M-system weight and bulk advantage when you do. I take my M8 to work with me every day and in that case it's only the body and one lens. YMMV. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted September 23, 2007 Share #38 Posted September 23, 2007 Yes I do the same thing reason for the three bags i can go as little as one body and a few lenses than move up to 2 bodies and 6 lenses or bring the whole load in a Think tank back pack which is actually pretty small. The days of roller bags are gone except for lighting. When i had canon I had a Lowe pro roller bag 2, you must realize how big that was and what a pain it was to lug everywhere. So having a bank of gear is nice but only on a heavy commercial shoot will i take it all. Nice to have these choices Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted September 23, 2007 Share #39 Posted September 23, 2007 John - Thank you, I'm aware of Ffordes, but alas the piggy bank really is empty. ................ Chris Sorry to hear that Chris! However, at least with the M8 you don't have any film costs... I wouldn't pine too much, just get out and take photos with the 24 - it's a great lens from what I hear and quite close to a 35 on an M6, which is a combination that I used quite extensively for general photography in the 1990s. Earlier, in the 1960s, I used an M2 with a 50 for several years and found it quite serviceable - until I took a job in Africa and wanted to photograph animals... Having just the one lens certainly leads one to get thoroughly familiar with its potential. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_Flesher Posted September 23, 2007 Share #40 Posted September 23, 2007 It is useless to say that this is a landscape lens, this is a portrait lens, this is a lens for street photography ... I agree that what I use for whatever subject is not necesarily relevant to what you'll use for the same subject, but I think there is benefit to these discussions... While it may not be the way I use that particular focal or lens, I do enjoy hearing how other folks use theirs; which focals for what purposes etc. It sometimes gives me insight to how other photographers see, think and work, and keeps me thinking about new possibilities. I also think it can be especially helpful to somebody new to the M8 getting them pointed in the right direction for a sound start. Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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