Which 28mm or 25mm with M8?

[lecycliste]

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I've been using an M8 with Leica 21mm f/2.8 ASPH, 35mm f/2 ASPH, 50mm f/1.4 non-ASPH and 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit.

 

I like the results with these lenses, but need something in the 25-28mm range (no external finder). I'm considering Voigtlander's 25mm f/4 and 28mm f/2. I'm also considering Zeiss' 25mm f/2.8 and 28mm f/2.8.

 

I suspect 28mm might be a little too narrow in its coverage for me, but I'm willing to try one.

 

Which 25/28 has:

1. low vignetting / corner darkening (2 stops or less wide open);

2. good corner sharpness / corner contrast wide open;

3. decent build quality and focusing accuracy?

 

I'm wondering if I'll be happy with a Voigtlander lens' image quality wide-open - I like their low prices.

 

Thanks for any reviews or example images.

[afineman]

Just curious, why not the Leica 24? $$$$?

PS> I am wondering the same thing as you right now. However, I do have the Leica 28f2.0 But it's just not wide enough and I don't like dealing with the external finder for my 21.

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[lars_bergquist]

The Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8/25mm ZM. Better than the Elmarit. Faster than the Elmar. Less expensive than either. Case closed.

 

But no way I'm going to divorce myself from my 28mm Summicron!

 

The old man from the Age of the Contax 21mm Biogon

[imported_reinierv]

I have the 28 elmarit...lovely small lens...superb

 

Don't bother about the Ultron I and others have bad expiriences with it as was recenlty discussed in this forum

 

I have further only expirience with the 15mm Heliar (which is nice)) but guys like Ken Rockwell are pretty cynical about the CV when it comes to comparing them with Leica glass. But with all lenses, even jupiters and the like you can make great shots if you know the limitations

[lecycliste]

I like images with Leica lenses, but after buying a used M8, I'm not feeling especially rich. So I'm looking for a wide angle that doesn't need a shoe-mount finder on the M8, and costs less than $1K.

 

I'll also be using whatever lens I get on my M6 TTL 0.85 and M3.

 

Sounds like I should look at the 25/2.8 ZM for best optical results. And I shouldn't be tempted by the 25/4 Ultron. Has anyone gotten good corner sharpness/contrast with it?

 

Or is the 25/4 Ultron good only on-axis / central?

[biglouis]

Since obtaining my 28/2.8 Elmarit asph I have rarely mounted my 24/2.8. Imho the little 28 produces just as sharp and wonderful results as the 24/2.8. If I need to, I can always step a few paces backwards to frame a shot! The one thing about the 28 is size - it is a very convenient companion for a M8 whereas the 24 is a lovely but large and heavy lens.

 

I am actually torn at the moment about keeping or selling the 24

 

LouisB

[sean_reid]

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I have further only expirience with the 15mm Heliar (which is nice)) but guys like Ken Rockwell are pretty cynical about the CV when it comes to comparing them with Leica glass.

 

Ken Rockwell likes to wind up his audience. I had no idea he was now writing about CV lenses but if he's sincerely cynical about them I imagine he may not yet have done much careful testing.

 

Speaking generally, here is a lot of misinformation about RF lenses on the web, much of it based on prejudices and preconceptions.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest]

I've been using an M8 with Leica 21mm f/2.8 ASPH, 35mm f/2 ASPH, 50mm f/1.4 non-ASPH and 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit.

 

I like the results with these lenses, but need something in the 25-28mm range (no external finder). I'm considering Voigtlander's 25mm f/4 and 28mm f/2. I'm also considering Zeiss' 25mm f/2.8 and 28mm f/2.8.

 

I suspect 28mm might be a little too narrow in its coverage for me, but I'm willing to try one.

 

Which 25/28 has:

1. low vignetting / corner darkening (2 stops or less wide open);

2. good corner sharpness / corner contrast wide open;

3. decent build quality and focusing accuracy?

 

I'm wondering if I'll be happy with a Voigtlander lens' image quality wide-open - I like their low prices.

 

Thanks for any reviews or example images.

 

At the price of any of these lenses as much information as possible is usefull .As a general rule I won`t buy an expensive lens without at least taking a few frames myself if pos. and checking if Sean Reed has reviewed it.Also some good reviews on The luminous landscape.

Brian

[Bo_Lorentzen]

I think you should look at the 28 2.8 - I just got a 25mm 4 CV and while its reasonable sharp, Im not sure Im terribly impressed with the look in general, particular I don't feel that f.4 is wide enough to selectively focus on anything. This is definately a issue with the 1.33 magnification of the M8 as wide lenses with shallow dof is hard to come by.

 

at wide open the 25mm f. 4.0 is really pretty much sharp all over... nice but not good for selective focusing.

[afineman]

LouisB,

you must not shoot in NYC. i can't count the times that it's impossible to step back even an inch. but outside of NYC, you are right, one can just step back.

That said, I tend to use my 15mm lens a lot - if only it were f2.8...

[4X5B&W]

The VC 25P (M mount) is an attractive little lens, is quite sharp on a M8 sensor, but is only f:4.0, and needs to be stopped down a bit for the best results.

 

For the money it is hard to beat, it really is a fine performer.

 

However, the 24 ASPH is just fabulous full frame or cropped, wide open or stopped down.

 

Not cheap, but the very best performers seldom are.

[imported_reinierv]

I would always prefer a good used 28/2.8 over any new VC lens in that range

 

As mentioned before, they are priceworth but require 2 stops-down before really performing. From the 28/1.9 ultron I know it is pretty soft, lacks overall sharpness and is sensitive to flare, certainly at f1.9-2.8. Above I hear a similar story about the 25.

In general stopped down and in normal daylight VCs will give excellent results. But when brought to their limits there is no way they can compete with the Leica glass. If you can live with that and now the limitations, by all means you will be happy with them.

 

The Heliar (15/4.5) is a nice lens indeed, again f5.6 and higher gives the best results, I actually used it for night and architecture shots with satisfying results. It is just that the f4.5 requires high iso quickly

[lecycliste]

Another question - does the Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Biogon bring up the 24mm frame in the Leica M8?

 

If it doesn't, is there any way to retrofit it with the mount that brings up the 24mm frame?

 

**************

In using an EOS 1D mk II and 24-70mm f/2.8L, I like the 24mm focal length, equivalent to 31.2mm with crop factor. Using the same lens on an EOS 20D gives 38.4mm with crop factor, a bit narrow for a wide angle.

 

So my preference might be for the 25mm on the M8.

[scho]

Another question - does the Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Biogon bring up the 24mm frame in the Leica M8?

 

If it doesn't, is there any way to retrofit it with the mount that brings up the 24mm frame?

 

**************

In using an EOS 1D mk II and 24-70mm f/2.8L, I like the 24mm focal length, equivalent to 31.2mm with crop factor. Using the same lens on an EOS 20D gives 38.4mm with crop factor, a bit narrow for a wide angle.

 

So my preference might be for the 25mm on the M8.

 

Tony sells this lens modified for the M8 so it brings up the correct frame.

Zeiss Biogon 25mm

[lecycliste]

Thanks, Carl. I see popflashphoto also sold a used 25mm f/2.8 ZM lens on ebay recently.

 

If I go the used route, I should ask him if he'll modify a used one.

[lars_bergquist]

I got mine directly from Zeiss in Oberkochen, with the proper mount for the M8, on specific order.

 

BTW this is a new style bayonet ring. The troublesome screw in the coding area has been moved out of the way! Also, the rim of the flange is slightly stepped down, so that marker pen coding won't wear off so rapidly ... still, my bayonet is now on the way to Mr Milich.

 

The old man from the Age When Lenses Stayed Screwed On

[earleygallery]

Whilst I'm sure you'd be more than happy with any of the Leica lenses, as I own a 25/4 Skopar I can tell you that it's one of my favourite lenses, very sharp, very compact, no vingetting that I've seen, and at the price an absolute bargain.

 

If you plump for a 28mm Leica lens, I'd buy one of these too - get the LTM 'snapshot' version, it's not rangefinder coupled but has 3 click stops over its focussing range which become 2nd nature to use after a while. Perfect for street photography as you can focus without holding the camera to your eye or looking at the lens.

 

Here's one of the examples I've posted in the photo forums http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/54628-rome.html

[Double Negative]

I have the Zeiss 2,8/25 Biogon ZM and it's probably the sharpest lens in the lineup. Unbelievably so. Contrasty, good saturation and colors. Nice bokeh. Sharp from wide open. Distortion is practically nonexistent.

 

On the M8, for best results you'll want to get the flange swapped via Zeiss and/or John Milich to bring up the proper framelines and also to code it. Finally, using a UV/IR filter.

 

However, mine has the original mount - though I am using a Leica UV/IR filter, it's not coded. I have no problems with the lens on the M8 and it delivers the goods every time. It's my favorite focal length on the M8, being around 33mm EFoV.

 

In fact, I missed the 25mm FoV from using this lens on a film camera with the M8 that I got the Zeiss 4/18 Distagon ZM as well!

 

You can get two lens shades for it from Zeiss; a rectangular one (21/25) and a round one (25/28). If you plan to get the other lens in addition to the 25 (e.g. 21 or 28) then get the appropriate hood; otherwise I'd recommend the round one as it's a little deeper.

 

Great lens - go for it. I LOVE mine.

 

EDIT: I might add that the 2,8/25 ZM isn't the smallest. If portability is your primary concern, consider the 4,5/21 ZM or the Leica 28/2,8.

[fursan]

ZM 25/2.8...sharp,minimal distortion, lovely results but inconvenient size for me.

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[photophile]

I recently needed to buy a semi wide lens quickly for an unexpected overseas trip as my 35 cron was out for cla and wanted more than my 21 elmarit. Bought a new cv 28 2.0. So far, a few hundred shots in the last week and it very much outperforms my expectations. Actually find it renders very well, controls contrast, sharp, smooth opertation and the price was right as compared to the Leica glass I am used to. Hard to tell on screen but this is a sample. 1/30, 320 iso, f2. I would buy it again. this is straight from the file. no post. no crop.

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