Best lens for M8

[hdrmd]

Given that any answer of the best is only my opinion, I lean to the 35mm Summicron for M7 and the 28mm Summicron for the M8. These lenses give the slightly wide angle view that I favor. Both are excellent in all technical aspects, and they are small and easy to carry and handle. And, they are fast. DR

 

[fotografr]

Anything less then the modern asph summilux is not worth your time.

🙂

For a 50mm lens, I would actually second that statement--particularly for doing portrait work. Not everyone likes to shoot wide, and I'm one of them. I generally prefer tighter shots for my own work.

My personal favorite all-around lens, and the one that is on my M8 whenever I go out with just one lens, is the 35 Summicron ASPH.

 

[jaapv]

Rubbish. Sorry but that is plain non-sense. When I bought my lens I had the opportunity of buying ( ie, funds wise ) a asph summilux. I did not.

Why ? I loved the Noctilux but that apart from being expensive, was BIG. and heavy. I loved the bokeh though.

So I searched and searched and settled for the Summilux V3 PRE-ASPH, with renders bokeh much nicer than the ASPH one. Yes indeed, the ASPH is a tad sharper and less contrasty ( I like the v3 better in this aspect actually ) but the bokeh transitions is much more noctilux alike and dreamy in the non-asph than in the asph. So having the possibility of buying a ASPH I actually opted for the non ASPH.

Since images are 1000's words and Im kinda lazy to type on, here's an illustration :

stop it down and its sharp

its great for portraits ( even non human ones )

BOKEHHHHHHHHHHHH

love this lens

I think the first two have been severely oversharpened in photoshop.

 

[zhang xk]

I would try to find the best cine primes, and modefy it to fit M8 for its smaller frame.😀 It seems many cine primes have been converted.

 

[Joe Mondello]

To the OP do yourself a huge favor and subscribe to Sean Reid's excellent website at www.reidreviews.com (no relation, just a hugely satisfied customer).

There you will see extensive photographic comparison tests between rangefinder lenses by various manufacturers at widely varying price points. Personally I went for a very nice collection of Voigtlander lenses rather than a single Leitz lens. I am very happy with that decision. YMMV!

BTW, don't forget that the M8 has a crop factor of 1.33x meaning if you want to have what you are used to as a 50mm field of view, you will be looking to buy a 35mm lens.

 

[zhang xk]

I would try to find the best cine primes, and modefy it to fit M8 for its smaller frame.😀 It seems many cine primes have been converted.

See how sharp a 35mm cine prime could be. The 2nd image is a 100% crop. They may have a different 'flavour' that your Leica or Zeiss optics, and you may like it. It is at least another choice.🙂

 

[Richard Marks]

See how sharp a 35mm cine prime could be. The 2nd image is a 100% crop. They may have a different 'flavour' that your Leica or Zeiss optics, and you may like it. It is at least another choice.🙂

Sharpness is pretty impossible to assess on a monitor, but im not exactly stunned by those examples of sharpness. Not especially high contrast either.

best wishes


Richard

 

[jaapv]

See how sharp a 35mm cine prime could be. The 2nd image is a 100% crop. They may have a different 'flavour' that your Leica or Zeiss optics, and you may like it. It is at least another choice.🙂

Yes, they are sharp. But I'm not overwhelmed by the way that lens draws.
Basically I have nothing against cine lenses, but as they look like this Arriflex lens on my M8, practicality does not enter into the equation.

 

[zhang xk]

Yes, they are sharp. But I'm not overwhelmed by the way that lens draws.
Basically I have nothing against cine lenses, but as they look like this Arriflex lens on my M8, practicality does not enter into the equation.

Hi,

Like it or not is a personal choice. I would not carry the camera with that lens around either.😀 There are cine primes that are compact, and with interesting features such as 12/2, 18/1.2,etc. that may cover M8's sensor size. 20/2 and 28/2 primes become suitable wideangle and normal lens on a M8 with a 1:1.3 crop factor. My 28/2 almost cover full 135 frame.

Here is another image shot with a 75/2 (300 grams). as I said it is another idea. It is not a serious test, but one gets some impression how these cine primes performs. the second is a 100% crop.

Let's play with a new toy.🙂

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Sorry, a 40/2 Zeiss Planar become a normal lens on a M8. A standard mount Distagon 14/1.8 is not that heavy, but could be very expensive.
Cheers.

 

[zhang xk]

Another image with the same lens without flash fill-in. PSed a bit of the 100% crop. The lens is a Changcheng(great wall) brand 85/2 cine prime made in 1979.

Cheers.