Lense choices for M8

[JCorp]

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All,

 

My first post, so please excuse a fairly basic question - I have tried to find an answer elsewhere on the forum but no luck so far.

 

First some context: I have ordered the M8 and look forward to receiving it in the next couple of weeks (my dealer tells me he expects to get the next – corrected – set at this point). I’m not sure if all issues will have been fixed but look forward to taking my first steps with a rangefinder – and I have confidence that Leica will make this work for me.

 

To go with the M8 I have ordered a couple of lenses:

 

Leica Elmarit 28/2.8 ASPH (Effectively 37 with crop) – as a standard, day-to-day (street photography) lense

Leica Summicron 75/2 APO ASPH (effectively 100 with crop) – as a portrait lense and to capture street scenes where I cannot / do not want to get too close

 

How important do you feel it is for me to get something between these? Is the gap so big as to be an issue? If so, from your experience is a 35 (effectively 46) or a 50 (effectively 67) more useful?

 

At the moment I am leaning towards the 50 since the progression 28-50-75 seems more obvious – but would welcome guidance!!

 

If I do go with a 50, I am thinking Zeiss as something about the colours & tonality in Sean’s 50 RF lens review draws me to them (Planar in the review I think). I would welcome your thoughts on the Zeiss 50s: Sonnar 50/1.5 vs. Planar 50/2 – or of course any pictures from Leica or CV that make me change my mind!

 

Finally – any recommendations on a dealer in Tokyo and/or Hong Kong would be appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Jonathan

[Eoin]

I'm taking a slightly different line up to you,

 

75mm for the short telephoto, more than likely the Summicron 75 Apo Asph, seeing as the Summilux is now out of production. I'm still waiting to see images taken on the M8 with both to get an idea of the bokeh, any I've seen todate there is little difference but the Summilux seems slightly smother. I'm really going to use this for portrait type stuff but am still undecided as of yet.

 

Summilux 35 Asph, I have already, effective 46.5mm on the M8, gets me close enough to a standard 50mm. Everyone seems to rave about this little beauty so we'll see how it fits with my type of shooting. I got a chrome one, a little more heavy, but I prefer the feel.

 

Zeiss Biogon 21mm, after reading Sean's review about this and the Leica 21 Asph, I'm thinking €900 for this lens is excellent value if it's 98% of what the leica 21 is. But I'm going to hold fire in this until I see what 'fix' is made to the M8 as some are having issues with CUT-IR filters turning the edges slightly cyan. The other reason for holding fire is it's a Zeiss and can not be coded. it's really down to the fix put in place and if it will require coded lenses. If coding is part of the fix then I may have to consider the Tri-Elmar 16-18-21 Asph. But again I'll wait and see what issues exist with this on the M8 with the corners. The wider end 21mm and wider is not really where I take many photos, but when a need arises I'd like to have something semi wide, I also don't want to drop a lot of cash for somthing that won't be used so much so the Zeiss still looks very tempting.

[abrewer]

Hi Jonathan.

 

Welcome to the Forum!

 

I can only answer your question in the context of the 35f2ASPH and 50f1.4ASPH on the film Leica MP (obviously without the magnification factor), but those two lenses are enough to keep anyone happy for a long, long time. As you've already ordered the new 28f2.8ASPH you should be set with a lineup of those three.

 

Take a look at this image from member Steve Pellerin using the 35f2ASPH:

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/people/9305-11-11-loneliness.html

 

Now, tell me you don't want to make images that look like that!

 

 

I'd encourage you, and others, to browse the Photo Forum as there are shots from the M8 and many different lenses beginning to appear there. It gives you the opportunity to query owners directly as you look at the shots in order to help form your opinions.

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

[sean_reid]

Zeiss Biogon 21mm, after reading Sean's review about this and the Leica 21 Asph, I'm thinking €900 for this lens is excellent value if it's 98% of what the leica 21 is. But I'm going to hold fire in this until I see what 'fix' is made to the M8 as some are having issues with CUT-IR filters turning the edges slightly cyan. The other reason for holding fire is it's a Zeiss and can not be coded. it's really down to the fix put in place and if it will require coded lenses.

 

That's good thinking. I'll be testing the 486 filters on various lenses for an article but I also need to test the Leica filters with the new firmware. My hunch so far is that the coding may be most important for 21 mm and wider lenses. I need to do tests to see to what extent the cyan corners are presents in the 24 and 25s using the 486. And, of course, one can't yet assume that the Leica filters will work in the same way as the 486 filters.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[tom0511]

If I were you I would first use these 2 lenses. For many years I got a long with ust a 35+90 kombo for my M6.

Today I own nearly each M focal length.

But why dodnt you first shooa while with 28/75 and then decide if you want 35 or 50 to add?

[JCorp]

Allan - thanks for the welcome, and the steer to the photo forum. Steve's photo speaks volume for the 35 ASPH!

 

Sean - I guess I should take this opportunity to thank you for the great work you are putting into your reviews: I could not have made the jump to a rangefinder without them...

 

Thomas - I gather from your post that I won't feel a "gap" too badly with just the two lenses to start off with.... I was just worried that starting off this way might be a bit frustrating

 

Jonathan

[ioriw]

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Well I really can't decide between a 50 and 35 lux... I have not gotten used to any crop factors yet... I'm leaning towards the 50 as I physically don't like to be too close. I could buy a pre-ASPH 50 Summilux right now or wait a little and pay a little more for the ASPH with 6bit, I'm probably going to do the latter... Any thoughts? Iori

[c6gowin]

I have been very impressed with the CV 15mm f4.5 on the M8. Especially, considering it is less than $400 with the M adapter. I am not normally a wide angle shooter, but the 15 is a fun little lens and provides impressive results.

[Zurenborger]

I bought the 28mm with the M8 and I like it.

 

With my film gear I seldomly used my 35, either the 50 or the 75.

 

I am looking into the zeiss 21 for this looks like an interesting lens to me.

 

I think the M8 with the 75, actually one of my old favorite lenses is a bit to much, petty really for it has such a good standard of imaging.

 

I have to get use to using the 50 as a stand in for my 75, the pictures shot with the 50 on the M8 are very much different to thos shot with the 75 on my MP.

 

Professionally I use my cameras shooting religious art objects, mostly in my studion, the 75 and film was perfect for that. But I reckon I will find the right lens for future digital art shootings.

[carstenw]

I am in the 50 camp. Berlin has space on the streets, and I often felt with my 5D that I would have liked just a tad more reach than the Summicron-R 50 gave me. Now I've got that. My initial lineup, once I get my ducks in a row, will be: CV15, Leica 28/2.8 Asph., 50/1.4 Asph., and Apo-75/2.0 Asph.