sm23221 Posted October 31, 2006 Share #1 Posted October 31, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the opinion of past M Leica users, what is the one best focal length to purchase for street photography and landscapes. I realize there isn't one lens that will satisfy all situations, but if you could only buy one lens which would it be? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 31, 2006 Posted October 31, 2006 Hi sm23221, Take a look here Best M8 lens focal length?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
PeterJWhite Posted October 31, 2006 Share #2 Posted October 31, 2006 35 Summicron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_Flesher Posted October 31, 2006 Share #3 Posted October 31, 2006 Tough call... For me, probably the 28 (equivalent to 37mm FoV), but the 24 (eff 32mm) would also be very good. If you like a more normal look, then the 35 (47mm) is a great choice. The 50 (67mm) becomes a bit tight for landscape IMO and the 21 (28mm) is getting a bit wide for all-around landscape; add the fact it needs an auxillary finder and it is ruled out totally for me. My own personal three-lens short list is the 24 Asph, 35 Cron Asph and 50 Cron, but if I could only have one lens it would probably be the 28 (Cron Asph)... My .02, YMMV Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Olof Posted October 31, 2006 Share #4 Posted October 31, 2006 I will go for the Summicron 28 ASPH. Ist the best lens Leica produces (better than the 50mm Summicron!) and its the widest lens whoes frame you still can see in the viewer. At the M8 it will have the classical 35mm. The second one would be a Summilux 50mm... for portraits Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
renambot Posted October 31, 2006 Share #5 Posted October 31, 2006 Probably the 28mm (scaled to a 35mm) for me. By the way, I have a Voitlander 21mm/4 with an external finder. I guess the finder won't be appropriate anymore with 1.33 factor, right ? Will I be able to use the 28mm frames instead in the camera viewfinder ? Thanks, Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Raucher Posted October 31, 2006 Share #6 Posted October 31, 2006 Probably the 28mm (scaled to a 35mm) for me. By the way, I have a Voitlander 21mm/4 with an external finder. I guess the finder won't be appropriate anymore with 1.33 factor, right ? Will I be able to use the 28mm frames instead in the camera viewfinder ? Thanks, Luc No, you'll need to get a 28mm external finder for the 21mm lens. Cheers, Stan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morten Grathe Posted October 31, 2006 Share #7 Posted October 31, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I will start out with the 35 summilux asph. as I like the aperture and the perspective. My 2. lens on the list will be the 24mm asph. If I ever get rich, then I will add the 50 summilux asph. With this setup I will be a happy man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted October 31, 2006 Share #8 Posted October 31, 2006 To supplement some older lens that will undoubtedly be soft and dreamy, I now have the CV50/1.5 and, on order, the new 28/2.8 ASPH. That done, it will be time to take some pictures before I consider anything else. scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter41951 Posted October 31, 2006 Share #9 Posted October 31, 2006 No, you'll need to get a 28mm external finder for the 21mm lens. Cheers, Stan Please forgive what may be a silly question... Can you not select the 28mm frames as on the M6? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 31, 2006 Share #10 Posted October 31, 2006 Please forgive what may be a silly question... Can you not select the 28mm frames? No, the "28mm" framelines on the M8 provide an effective field of view of around 37mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted October 31, 2006 Share #11 Posted October 31, 2006 Please forgive what may be a silly question... Can you not select the 28mm frames? Not silly; it is confusing. The 28mm frame will show what a 28mm lens will cover given the 1.33 crop factor - they are not the same as the 28mm frame on an M7. In other words, the M8 28mm frame will show roughly the same field of view as 35mm frame on a full frame camera. This means the 21mm lens will have a larger field of view than that shown by the M8's 28mm frame. Now I have confused myself......! But it is all true to the best of my understanding. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter41951 Posted October 31, 2006 Share #12 Posted October 31, 2006 Not silly; it is confusing. The 28mm frame will show what a 28mm lens will cover given the 1.33 crop factor - they are not the same as the 28mm frame on an M7. In other words, the M8 28mm frame will show roughly the same field of view as 35mm frame on a full frame camera. This means the 21mm lens will have a larger field of view than that shown by the M8's 28mm frame. Now I have confused myself......! But it is all true to the best of my understanding. Chris Thanks for your reply. I think I've got it now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M'Ate Posted October 31, 2006 Share #13 Posted October 31, 2006 Just bought the 24mm in anticipation of the M8. Line up is now: 24mm Elmarit Asph / 35mm Summicron Asph / 50mm Summilux / 90 Tele Elmarit M With M8 / MP / M3 bodies that goes from very wide (24mm) to very long (eff 119mm) and from 0.7 metres to infinity using an outfit that will fit in a small case !!. It also provides capture via from slide film, through B&W film to digital capture. For one best lens, it would need to be a 35mm Summilux IMO. For what I want to do, a Summilux is required somewhere in the kit because it helps stay at lower ISO ratings and maintains the Leica wide aperture advantage over the competition. Be interesting for Sean to compare wide open performance with regard to using the M8 v 5D at lower ISO ratings because of lens quality. Transaction ID:0LD.......498...J 1-year ReidReviews.com subscription Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grober Posted October 31, 2006 Share #14 Posted October 31, 2006 The best focal length to use on any camera is what "paints" a field of view most closely corresponding to what your eyes are seeing at the moment. We gravitate to the Leica M because we can't do otherwise: it's viewfinder places the least amount of annoying machinery between me and what my eyes are seeing. I give flowers to my love because I can't help myself; I can't do otherwise. -g Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 31, 2006 Share #15 Posted October 31, 2006 I wish I knew the answer to this preplexing question what focal length. I bought them all to find out. 15,21,24,35,50,75,90,135. Okay i went WAY overboard but it will be fun figuring out what works and what don't . Just don't tell my wife:D :D Feel like i am cheating here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm23221 Posted October 31, 2006 Author Share #16 Posted October 31, 2006 WOW, now that's radical!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
osera Posted October 31, 2006 Share #17 Posted October 31, 2006 I wish I knew the answer to this preplexing question what focal length. I bought them all to find out. 15,21,24,35,50,75,90,135. Okay i went WAY overboard but it will be fun figuring out what works and what don't . Just don't tell my wife:D :D Feel like i am cheating here What, no 28? How can you stand it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertwang Posted October 31, 2006 Share #18 Posted October 31, 2006 Stick to the 24mm... 28mm is good but kinda narrow with the crop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertwang Posted October 31, 2006 Share #19 Posted October 31, 2006 Actually the Zeiss 25mm M mount is another good choice... I prefer that one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted October 31, 2006 Share #20 Posted October 31, 2006 Transaction ID:0LD.......498...J 1-year ReidReviews.com subscription Why is that info in your post? Everything OK with your subscription? Please e-mail me off-list. BTW, my favorite focal length lens on the M8 so far is 28 mm but we're all different, of course. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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