which lenses for the M8?

[TonyG44]

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I have my new M8, with a 24mm f2.8 lens

 

Which other lenses are ideally suited to the M8? Is the 28mm a better option as

I find with the 24 the crop guides in the rangefinder too close to the edge, does the 28 have a significant improvement.

I'm also looking for an equivalent 50mm lens

any advice

I have an option to buy a s/h M6 with a 50mm f2 lens summicron

this is not a 6 bit lens, is it a good option to keep this and use it with the M8

or leave it and buy a dedicted M8 lens?

 

many thanksfor your help

[rwfreund]

I have been trying to work this out, but unfortunately the answer is hard to find.

I have seven and I am still counting :-)

 

Seriously though, I really like the 28mm cron as a great "every-day" lens

-bob

[stunsworth]

Hi Tony, since you already have the 24mm I'd keep that. I often use a 24/35/75 combination - or use a 50 in place of the 75mm. Leica to the best of my knowledge have never made a bad 50mm Summicron - so I wouldn't worry about it unless is one of the dual range ones that can't be used on an M8. I have no experience of that particular lens. Another useful focal length is 28mm, but that is a little close to the 24mm. But most importantly remember that we are different, some prefer wider lenses, some longer. Don't rush into a purchasing-fest until you are sure that you need a particular lens. Fortunately Leica have thought of this themselves and set their prices to discourage that from happening

[tbarker13]

This is almost like asking what car you should drive. There are just too many factors that come into play.

 

One of the first things you need to do is figure out what your budget is.

And then your favorite focal lengths.

Then go from there.

The thing is, you really have to work at it to buy truly bad lenses. There are just so many nice options out there by Leica, Zeiss, Cosina-Voigtlander and others.

 

Personally, I've settled on a seven lens kit:

CV15, 28/2.8 hexanon, 35 Summicron V4, 35/1.2 Nokton, 35/3.5 Summaron 75/1.4 Summilux and 90/28 tele-elmarit.

The kit lets me deal with low-light (35 nokton and 75 lux) but also lets me travel very light when I want to (CV15, 35 summicron, 90 tele-elmarit)

[Daniel Ortego]

Perhaps from one newbie’ to another, I struggled with the same issue and opted for a 28-cron’ although it was an expensive date. I learned a boatload from Reid’s Reviews about all things’ Lecia M8 and associated lenses. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the articles first, so I just flipped a coin and bought the 28mm along with the Leica IR filter. Of course, now I don’t have any coins left! In the end, you will likely second guess your decision either way.

http://www.reidreviews.com

Regards,

[gwelland]

Daniel,

 

Look on the bright side, you flipped a coin and pretty much hit one of the best Leica lenses that just needs a longer partner to give you a fabulous outfit. Now I am biased in so far as I started with the M8 & 28 'cron and then added a 75 'cron shortly after. Those two lenses were a fabulous pairing and they should last a life time. I did a number of foreign trips with them and seldom needed anything else.

 

I've added other lenses since then, (way too many in fact ) but if I'm honest to myself then they've all been nice to haves - but not essentials.

[TonyG44]

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Thanks

Can anyone conclude anything from this

If you buy a leica you have to have a way of paying for it, like a business!

I might try the 28mm as it has the extra viewfinder area

Tony

[gwelland]

Now I've never had one, but I'm inclined to believe that a class A drug habit is probably less expensive.

[KM-25]

28/2

[cometsoft]

Well I've bought way too many lenses. But in a way I still like the one I bought with the camera best, which is the 35 cron. Seeing as you have a 24 (IMHO, a great lens) a 35 cron complements it. The thing I like about the 35 is the frame lines. Very comfortable to see and you've got all of that open area around the frame. Very un-SLR like.

 

I've got both of the 28 asphericals. They're both wonderful lenses, I was going to sell the 2.8, but have decided to keep it because of the high contrast and exteme compactness. They're a little too full frame for my taste for "universal" use.

 

I've got a Nocti, a 50 Summilux and a 75 cron. Of the the 3 I think the 50 Summilux would be the best option even if you went with the 24 and 35. It's smaller and easier to focus that the 75. The 75 does have the close focus over the 50, but you could get a 90 macro down the road which is cheaper and focuses closer than the 75 (even without the macro kit).

 

The CV 15 is a no-brainer.

[don_panko]

I'll add my vote to a three lens combination. I have 21mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses which suit my purposes. Besides, a rangefinder is easiest to use when the depth of feed is greatest, in my opinion, which is why a wider angle lens is the most useful.

 

I done searching and spending money on lenses for this toy.

[norm_snyder]

Tony--

 

I think I know how you feel. At the outset, I convinced myself that I could just sell a couple of extra camera bodies, buy an M8, and use my existing lenses [my traveling kit was M6's with 24 Elmarit, 35 Summicron V4 and 90 Pre-Asph Summicron]. Now, the 24 has been sold [neither fish nor fowl--too long on the M8], and the 90 has not been used, instead replaced on the M8 with a V1 75mm Summilux [it was a good deal]. Since then I've also added a 35mm C-V Nokton [told myself I couldn't afford a 35mm Summilux ASPH] and now a 28mm Summicorn, as well as a 15mm C-V lens.

 

The Nokton is great, and if you need a low light lens, it's a bargain--I really can't fault it. If you might not like the weight, or need the speed, it is hard to beat the 35mm f2 V4 Summicron, although I suspect the new Summarit will probably be excellent. This focal length gives you a "normal' [i.e. 40-50mm focal length equivalent on 35mm full-frame] focal length.

 

If, on the other hand, you prefer the 35mm full-frame focal length as your "standard" lens, it is hard to beat the 28mm Summicron. I would, were I building a new arsenal of lenses [which I obviously am not, given the above], consider coupling it with a 75mm focal length, or if you tend to shoot wide, I echo others' view of any 50mm Summicron. While I own and use it, I never really liked that focal length on full frame 35mm, and find it much more usable to the M8.

 

Enjoy--

Norm

[LichMD]

Tony,

 

First of all, welcome to the club. I'm sure you're going to find

the M8 a fascinating tool. Secondly,invest in Sean Reid's excellent review

site. Best money I ever spent for photography.

After reading Sean's articles I opted for the 28/2.0, followed by the Noctulux, the 35/2.0 version 4, and most recently the 75 lux. All great lenses, your needs and pros experience

will help guide you.

Don't forget to post once you've decided on a lens(es)

good luck

[rwchisholm]

I am enjoying both the CV 28 ultron and the 28 Elmarit. And effective range of 35 mm seems to be great on the M8. I recently picked up a CV 50 Nokton and just love it. I thought that maybe it would be too much for me, as I tend to like 50mm and wider focal lengths (this one being about 65mm), but it is really useful. -rob

[sean_reid]

I have my new M8, with a 24mm f2.8 lens

 

Which other lenses are ideally suited to the M8? Is the 28mm a better option as

I find with the 24 the crop guides in the rangefinder too close to the edge, does the 28 have a significant improvement.

many thanksfor your help

 

Move the frame line preview lever to the 28/90 position and you'll be able to see the difference for yourself. It isn't necessary to mount a 28 mm lens to see those frame lines.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Pointcolville]

If I had one lens it would be the 24mm. Yes, the frame lines are jammed right up against the perimeter of the viewfinder, but it is a great "up close and personal" lens, without introducing a lot of distortion.

 

If I had only two lenses, the second would be the 75MM Summicron. It is a great way to reach out and grab a headhot or interesting detail, and F2 at that focal length gives a nice shallow DOF.

 

I also have 35 and 50, but seldom use them. 50 is great on film M's but is neither here nor there on the M8. Which reflects more what I am used to (35 and 135 on full frame) than what is intrinsically good.

[Philippe D.]

I have my new M8, with a 24mm f2.8 lens

...

I'm also looking for an equivalent 50mm lens

any advice

I would say: Summilux 35

Great, very great lens !

If too exp., then the Summicron 35 pre-asph (the king of bokeh).

 

As tele, look for a the Summicron 75 asph.

 

I can't tell about the brand new "Summarit".

[dseelig]

If money is not a \n issue get the wate if it is get the zeiss 18 . the 35 mm 1.4 aspherical of f2 if low light is not a concern a 50 mm summilux if money is an issue or speed not needed. the zeiss 50 f2 planar 75 lux is wonderful .

[sean_reid]

Perhaps from one newbie’ to another, I struggled with the same issue and opted for a 28-cron’ although it was an expensive date. I learned a boatload from Reid’s Reviews about all things’ Lecia M8 and associated lenses.

Regards,

 

Cool, glad to hear that.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Venkman]

I have an option to buy a s/h M6 with a 50mm f2 lens summicron

this is not a 6 bit lens, is it a good option to keep this and use it with the M8

or leave it and buy a dedicted M8 lens?

 

Coding is IMO not required for 35mm and up - so the lens would be fine.

If you want to have an idea about which width will suit you, buy some Voigtländer glass.

It's good (maybe not excellent), it's cheap (28, 35 and 50 for less than a used 50 lux) and they are fun to use.

 

Sooner or later you will figure out which one you like and then you could go and compare the characteristics of the Zeiss or Leica lenses in that particular width.

 

Dirk