Double Negative Posted June 28, 2009 Share #41 Posted June 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'd go for the Zeiss 2,8/25 Biogon ZM. I have one, and it's probably my favorite lens. All the standard measures are top notch; build quality, flare resistance, contrast/saturation, sharpness, field flatness and practically non-existent distortion. If you're looking for a softer, lower-contrast lens for B&W shooting this lens might not be for you though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 28, 2009 Posted June 28, 2009 Hi Double Negative, Take a look here Which 28mm or 25mm with M8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Printmaker Posted June 29, 2009 Share #42 Posted June 29, 2009 Tom, every manufacturer does produce lemons. The question is, how often? And, as you point out, what do they do about them? The old man from the Age When Lenses Stayed Screwed On Lars Perhaps I was not patient enough to send the lens back a second time since I knew that DAG could fix the focus for a minimal charge (less than international shipping/insurance etc. to Oberkochen). My point is: the Cosina factory should be testing all of the lenses they make and reject/rebuild the ones with problems. Consumers and dealers should not have to test lenses regardless if they cost $500 or $5,000. The solution: let Cosina charge 10% more and hire QC personnel to test every lens and reject the lemons. Zeiss should be the ones pressuring Cosina to do so, after all its their name on the lens and their reputation on the line. Tom A teenager when lenses stayed screwed on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Printmaker Posted June 29, 2009 Share #43 Posted June 29, 2009 To get back to the original post, I'd get a 28 Elmarit - either ASPH version if you like the super sharp look and small size or the older version 4 (E 46 filters) if you like more of a Summicron look for 1/3 of the cost. Why? I find the 25mm frame to be hard to see with glasses and the Zeiss 25 and the Elmarit 24 are big/long lenses. Of course, that's just my reasons. Your naked eye ball my be perfectly comfortable pressed up close to the viewfinder and you may not mind a portion of your frame being blocked by a big lens. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted June 30, 2009 Share #44 Posted June 30, 2009 Tom, I agree completely with you. The question is, how much custom would they lose? Lots of people have got it drubbed into their heads that cheapness is the only criterion -- that's after all part of our capitalist ethos. Do people understand that QC costs money? Do any experts on 'consumer rights' care to tell them that? You and I know that the benefit from greater assurance of quality (whatever the level) is disproportionately larger than the cost it carries. But we may well be in a minority. The old man from the Age of Tessar Lenses in Compur Rapid Shutters Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted June 30, 2009 Share #45 Posted June 30, 2009 Tom -- as for your second post, I always preferred to use 28mm lenses with an accessory finder on my M4. Also, Leica does offer a 24mm accessory finder with an inner frame for use on the M8. But, neither can be used with a flash in the hot shoe (and the M8 has, to its shame, NO other option for flash). And the new 24mm finder does cost an arm and a leg, with value added tax. The old man from the Age of non-Interchangeable Lenses Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Printmaker Posted June 30, 2009 Share #46 Posted June 30, 2009 Tom -- as for your second post, I always preferred to use 28mm lenses with an accessory finder on my M4. Also, Leica does offer a 24mm accessory finder with an inner frame for use on the M8. But, neither can be used with a flash in the hot shoe (and the M8 has, to its shame, NO other option for flash). And the new 24mm finder does cost an arm and a leg, with value added tax. The old man from the Age of non-Interchangeable Lenses Lars - That is exactly how I use my 21 Zeiss on my M8. I pre focus the lens a little past 2 meters, set the F stop at 5.6 or 8 and compose through the accessory CV 28 finder. I only change the focus when I'm working close to my subject. Flash is for the Nikons and catalog work. Overhead softbox on a boom, 120º umbrella fill, a few reflectors. Test exposure, click, change set... etc. Kinda boring after 30 years or so. I do, however, mix up the shooting with some design work and a lot of art repro to keep things interesting. When I'm using the M8 in the studio, I tend to use my North Light HID banks or my Lowel Caselights (5500ºk) when I need to blend with daylight. Most of the time the Leicas are for available light and traveling light. And, of course, personal work, which I never find boring. The point being that flash equals work; shooting in available light with a Leica equals fun. But you're right though, if the M8 had a socket for my sync cords, I'd probably use it in the studio more often. I know I could use an IR trigger on the hot shoe but I haven't gotten around to getting one yet. Tom Kauai's Printmaker Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
footnoteblog Posted August 30, 2009 Share #47 Posted August 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) So wait, you can get a recessed-groove mount from Zeiss? Really? How much more/cost? Thanks, lars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdubois Posted August 30, 2009 Share #48 Posted August 30, 2009 The 24mm has become by favorite focal length on the M8 by a wide margin. I also have a 21ASPH and 28 Summicron, but I rarely use them and instead the 24 is pretty much glued on to one of my M8 bodies. I've heard great things about the Zeiss 25mm but never used one. Obviously the 24 Elmarit is wonderful but I'm sure you won't find one for under $1k. But some say the Zeiss is better, so if I were you I'd give it a look. It's not a tiny lens but not huge either. The 24 is for me also the primary lens for the M8. Only I had the ZM25 first then more recently acquired the 24 Lux because I often photograph in less than ideal light. The Lux is an amazing lens but I've kept the Zeiss as well because it is much smaller. In my view the Zeiss is as sharp if not sharper than the Lux but, as Sean Reid would say the lenses DRAW differently. In my view the Zeiss is more clinical and the Lux creamier. The Lux is also a very expensive lens and if you don't need the speed then it would be difficult to justify the additional cost over the Zeiss which is really first rate. As an aside, Noah,: I've very much enjoyed viewing the photos on your website. You're very talented! IF there is a FF M9 will you replace the 24 with a 28 or 35? Dubois Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 30, 2009 Share #49 Posted August 30, 2009 So wait, you can get a recessed-groove mount from Zeiss? Really? How much more/cost? Thanks, lars. Zeiss, like Cosina, are phasing in the new type of mount, so it does not cost extra. Just check with your dealer what type mount the lens has. And hope that the dealer, or the person who answers the mail, does know the difference. And is honest. The old man from the Age of the Cemented Triplet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jockele Posted August 30, 2009 Share #50 Posted August 30, 2009 28 mm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted August 30, 2009 Share #51 Posted August 30, 2009 Concerning 25mm CV and Zeiss there's a thread here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
footnoteblog Posted August 30, 2009 Share #52 Posted August 30, 2009 Zeiss, like Cosina, are phasing in the new type of mount, so it does not cost extra. Just check with your dealer what type mount the lens has. And hope that the dealer, or the person who answers the mail, does know the difference. And is honest. The old man from the Age of the Cemented Triplet Really? What dealers in the U.S. does everyone recommend? To stay on topic, I'm selling my 28 on the 'Bay for a 25/24. 28 is just not wide enough (after my trusty 35). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted August 31, 2009 Share #53 Posted August 31, 2009 Really? What dealers in the U.S. does everyone recommend? For Zeiss (& Leica) you can do no better than Tony Rose at PopFlash Photo. There are other dealers I trust such as B&H and Adorama but if you want advice as well as service then I find Tony & crew excellent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 31, 2009 Share #54 Posted August 31, 2009 In Europe, I have been a satisfied customer of both Leicashop in Vienna and Robert White in the UK. Zeiss' own web shop has been OK too. The old man from the Age of the Mom and Pop Shop Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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