18 on M8/24 on M9

[ramosa]

Hello All:

I am wondering when you all normally use a lens such as an 18 on an M8 or (per cropping) a 24 on an M9.

Using an M8, I have an SE 18, but it never seems to get used and, thus, normally stays at home. Not too long ago, I listed it for sale, but changed my mind, intent to use it more. Well, months later, it remained unused, until a recent trip when I told myself I must take it. The result? It normally remained in the hotel room.

Thus, I'm wondering why I need this lens (per the way I see and shoot)--and think getting some input may be helpful. I realize some will say they use such lenses for landscape or for architecture, but I am wondering if folks--often--use such lenses for other purposes.

Thanks--and Happy Holidays,

R

 

[The Meaness]

Sounds like it is simply not a good fit for you. My 15mm has become more or less my primary lens - not by choice but by how much more often I use it over any other. I have used my 15 on the R-D1 (~23mm), and now more recently on the M8 (~20mm). As you say, I've used it for landscape and architecture (see my flickr), but also people and street shots:

R-D1/15:


R-D1/15:


M8/15:


M8/15:


Maybe there is another lens that would suit you better? You could sell the super elmar to buy a lens you enjoy more, and possibly still have money left over for the cv 12 or 15 to have "in case"!

 

[Renzsu]

Check out Nate's photo's with his 18mm Distagon. He uses film, so it's even wider than on your M8, but you can see how it can be a nice lens for street and reportage style shooting as well as landscape work. On the M8 it's tighter, which makes it perhaps a bit more useful for general use. Maybe you're not a wide-angle kind of shooter, which lens do you use most often?

link: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=distagon&w=23093243@N03#page=0

 

[ramosa]

Zak: Thank you very much. Nice images, well done and well using the 15mm. I, too, have wondered if I just don't see in a way that benefits the use of an 18. Some great photographers love wides (e.g., Rangar Axelsson), and some don't (e.g., Cartier-Bresson). Anyway, my problem is that I don't like having things (especially expensive things) that I don't use.

Renzu: Thank you! Great links to photos. My most used lens? If I'm in a big city, definitely 28mm Elmarit. When not in a big city, definitely 50mm Lux. In regards to total use, the ranking of most common use would be: 1) 28 Elmarit and 50 Lux (tie); 3) 80 Planar; and 4) 18 SE (in a distant, distant last place). I do not have a 35mm lens, but would likely get one if I ever purchased an M9.

 

[Renzsu]

It sounds to me like you should just sell the 18... 🙂
A 35mm sounds like a logical next, but you may find it too similar to a 28mm lens. To be honest, it sounds like you have everything you need really.. 28, 50 and 80 is a great setup.

 

[ramosa]

Renzsu: Thanks again for your input. I, too, have wondered if a 35 would make sense--or if it'd be too close in between the 28 and 50. Getting input has been helpful--to help me question my thoughts on this all. Happy Holidays 🙂

 

[beewee]

Ramosa, I have a pretty similar kit: M8.2 + 18/3.8, 28/2.8, 50/2, 90/2.8

If I had to rank the lens by the number of keepers, it would be:
1) 28/2.8 ~40% of keepers shot with the M8.2
2) 18/3.8 ~35%
3) 90/2.8 ~10%
4) 50/2 ~5%

I find that depending on what I'm shooting, I tend to gravitate either towards the 18/3.8 or the 28/2.8. For big open landscapes in the backcountry, I tend to stick with the 18/3.8 while I lean towards 28/2.8 for urban/street photography.

 

[ramosa]

Beewee: Thanks for your input.

Our kits are, indeed, quite similar. What's cool is how differently we use the lenses. While you tend to use the wider lenses, I seem to end up in the middle. I think I need to really give the 18 an extended try in a crowded urban environment. Such tight work may show me that I, too, can use this lens.

Thanks--and Happy Holidays ...

 

[The Meaness]

Just a thought - perhaps you could sell the 18 SE and 28 Elmarit and put the funds toward a 28mm Summicron? You may prefer the Elmarit for it's size, though.

I agree that it seems you have everything you need. Especially after looking through your Flickr stream - you've put together a fantastic set of images! Maybe you should sell the 18 and go on vacation to take some more great photos.

Good luck!

 

[Gary B]

ZM 25 on M8

ZM 25 on M8

I find that the ZM 25 is my most used lens on my M8. On my last long photo trip I found that 85% of my shots were made with the 25 mm. A Canon 19 mm and a CV 15 are my standard wides. The 25 feels like using a 35 mm on my "old" film cameras. 3 lens kits usually include the 15, 25 and a fast 35 or 50 on the M8.

 

[ramosa]

Just a thought - perhaps you could sell the 18 SE and 28 Elmarit and put the funds toward a 28mm Summicron? You may prefer the Elmarit for it's size, though.

I agree that it seems you have everything you need. Especially after looking through your Flickr stream - you've put together a fantastic set of images! Maybe you should sell the 18 and go on vacation to take some more great photos.

Good luck!

Zak:

First, thank you for your kind words. It means a lot--as I don't have any in-person photography contacts, which makes my online interactions all the more significant--and supportive.

Second, I like your idea--and I am going to look into it. I had not pondered selling my 18 and 28 to get a faster 28--but that may be a good idea, as I would really benefit from the extra stop.

Thank you--and Happy Holidays ...

 

[RobertB]

Zak:

First, thank you for your kind words. It means a lot--as I don't have any in-person photography contacts, which makes my online interactions all the more significant--and supportive.

Second, I like your idea--and I am going to look into it. I had not pondered selling my 18 and 28 to get a faster 28--but that may be a good idea, as I would really benefit from the extra stop.

Thank you--and Happy Holidays ...

Be aware!

I had a 18 SE and 28/2.8 biogon. Thought the 18 was to wide for me and sold it together with the 28 biogon to buy the 28 summicron. The summicron absolutely is a fantastic lens.

But than I got remorse and bought my 18 SE back from the store. Now I only have the 28 and 18 and they both got used.
I really like the detail and contrast the 18 gives.

With the M8 I use it indeed for landscape and architecture, but also with streetshots.

 

[The Meaness]

Ramosa: I'm happy to be helpful!

Robert: Great pictures! Your examples make me want to search for a thread focused on portraits/people shots with super wides. If there isn't one already - there should be!

 

[Mister E]

Renzsu, thanks for the mention. I've been shooting with an 18mm on my SLRs for a while, but I find it can be more difficult to frame on my RF. I love 18mm and shot it probably 40-50% of the time on my D700/FE2, but I'd guess I only use it 10-20% of the time on my rangefinders. I'm not sure why that is, but it's certainly harder to compose on a wider lens.

I'd sell any lens I wasn't using. I only have 4 m-mount lenses: 18/35/50/90.

 

[Doug]

...Thus, I'm wondering why I need this lens (per the way I see and shoot)--and think getting some input may be helpful. I realize some will say they use such lenses for landscape or for architecture, but I am wondering if folks--often--use such lenses for other purposes.

Thanks--and Happy Holidays

Hi - Here are a couple of "other" uses. This is the 18 Distagon coded as a SE on an M8. I just put the lens on the camera, adjust my visual expectation to its field of view and go looking for pics. I don't like to change lenses in the field, so may occasionally carry another camera too with a different lens.

 

[ramosa]

Thank you ...

Thank you ...

Well, my SE 18 is history. Sold it and sent it off today. It's a great lens, but I just wasn't using it--and that drives me crazy. It will be in better hands now.

So I now have three lenses, each a good focal length for my use on my M8. It was recommended that I could sell my Elmarit 28 and upgrade to a Cron 28. It's a tempting idea, as I would enjoy the extra stop and it seems that the Cron has a more creamy, less critical rendering. Not sure what I'll do, but not in a rush ...

Alas, thanks for your input on this. It provided a useful soundboard for my ideas--and was very helpful.