Best Lenses for M8

[johnastovall]

Given my shooting style and that I'm going to go with all new lenses for my M8 here's what I've decided on.

The SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH and the APO-SUMMICRON-M 75 mm f/2 ASPH
and I'll round out my kit with the 21mm ZM and a Noctilux.

 

[Grober]

My five current Leica lenses will get lots of time on the M8 but
l'll also be eager to mount my 25mm Biogon and see what it can do.

(Kudus to the first service organization that can offer me a reliable 6-bit conversion AND at the same time, modify the Biogon's mount so it invokes the 24mm frame on the M8.)

-g

 

[rsh]

My present lenses will do fine. I would like a 35 Summilux instead of the Summicron for the Normal lens, but I do not feel it is worth the extra expense. Besides, I am covered on fast lenses. The Tri Elmar would be my only addition, but that may or may not be sometime down the road.

 

[Andy Aitken]

Man, with the price of the M8 my current lenses will HAVE to do. Still, I think my CV 21/4 will make a nice "28" and my 35mm cron or 40mm Summicron C will make a nice "50". I've a gut feeling that I'm gonna like my 50mm Hexanon and 50mm rigid cron as short portrait lenses.

I'm a bit miffed that my Kobalux 28mm f3.5 M mount will be kind of useless on the M8 as it (for some strange reason) brings up 35mm framelines.

I forsee used 21mm prices going through the roof - especially the f2.8's. I'm wondering if CV might step in soon with some handy "MD" lenses; 21mm f2.3 perhaps? Their 35mm f1.2 and f1.7 should already do well with the M8.

 

[Tom Diaz]

I currently have an MP with a 50 Summilux Asph and have signed up for an M8. I can afford one more lens and would like some advise on what that should be. My typical photography is family and travel shots and close-ups of stuff I plan to sell on auction sites. Any suggestions from users out there?

I have an M8 on order, and I expect the 28mm Summicron to be my most frequently used lens, since right now the 35mm Summicron is my most frequent, and the 1.33 crop factor will make it about the same. Since you shoot family and travel, the 28mm would be a nice moderate wide angle, the equivalent of a 37mm.

Congratulations on getting the 50mm ASPH, which I don't have but which evidently is the best 50mm ever made! It will be a fabulous portrait lens on an M8. If I were starting over that is the 50mm I would buy.

I agree with other posts here that the new 28mm f/2.8 ASPH might be an even better choice than my f/2. It is more compact and less expensive. The superior low-light performance of the M8 might mean you would not miss the extra stop of speed too badly. I like as much speed as I can get but it's not worth it for everyone.

If you buy even shorter lenses (like 15mm or 21mm) I recommend the less expensive CV lenses, at least till you see whether you like them and use them often. I really like my CV 21mm f/4 but do not use that extreme a wide angle often enough to justify a Leica lens.

If you have small children running around, you might consider going the other direction and buying a short telephoto. For instance, a 75mm would be a 100mm equivalent. Scenes with kids running around are likely to be outside, so you could buy a CV 75mm f/2.5 for $300.

Happy shooting with both the MP and M8!

 

[sgy1962]

If you anticipate geeting an M8 and want another lens, then something wider may be approppriate. The 28mm focal length will be popular with the M8 and that's why I beleive they redesigned their Elmarit.

As far as speed, I think the need for a super fast lens in the digital world is somewhat less compellling then film, because in digital you can always change ISO settings "mid-roll." And one of the casualties of the M8, may be summilux sales, because many folks will conclude that a Summicron is fast enough with the ability to change ISO settings.

I just parted with the 35mm Summilux ASPH for a variety of reasons, among which, was this one.

 

[gloec]

Does anyone know, where I could buy CV lenses in Europe?
Thanks!

 

[jaapv]

Welcome. Just order them with cameraquest, link on this site. fast,not expensive, reliable,friendly.

 

[B&W Norway]

Does anyone know, where I could buy CV lenses in Europe?
Thanks!

http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/voigtlander.htm#LCC

 

[sgy1962]

I currently have an MP with a 50 Summilux Asph and have signed up for an M8. I can afford one more lens and would like some advise on what that should be. My typical photography is family and travel shots and close-ups of stuff I plan to sell on auction sites. Any suggestions from users out there?

Ask yourself -- what scenes have I missed because of the MP/50mm combo? You probably want something wider. In your situation I would be inclined to go with a 28mm lens giving me a FOV of about 35 and 65 with the 50mm lens.

If I went to an M8, then I would stick with the 50mm Summilux ASPH and use it for awhile and see how that shakes out. In my case, it may result in better pics, because it would force me to pac that frame.

But I'm starting to view the 35mm focal length ideal, for me, in light of the 1.33 crop factor.

 

[sgy1962]

Given my shooting style and that I'm going to go with all new lenses for my M8 here's what I've decided on.

The SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH and the APO-SUMMICRON-M 75 mm f/2 ASPH
and I'll round out my kit with the 21mm ZM and a Noctilux.

I'm kicking myself for just selling my 35mm Summilux ASPH. It would have been ideal for the M8.

 

[Rayt]

I have an RD-1 and like it very much so don't know if I'll put up the $5k for an M8. If I did then I would have the tri-elmar on it full time.

 

[gloec]

Welcome. Just order them with cameraquest, link on this site. fast,not expensive, reliable,friendly.

Thank you for the welcome! 🙂
The problem with the shops located in the States is that I have to pay probably twice the price in the Greek customs 🙁

 

[gloec]

http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/voigtlander.htm#LCC

Unfortunately, they do not sell any wide angle lenses for Leica M.
Thanks anyway!

 

[jaapv]

Thank you for the welcome! 🙂
The problem with the shops located in the States is that I have to pay probably twice the price in the Greek customs 🙁

Are they that alert? My little packages slipped through without being noticed 🙂

In that case you can use this very reliable shop:
http://www.fotokonijnenberg.nl

just write "voigtlander" in the zoeken box and go!

 

[gloec]

Are they that alert? My little packages slipped through without being noticed 🙂

Yes, they are when they are about to collect money. When they have to give money back then they forget how to do it ! 🙂

 

[jaapv]

Sorry, edited to late. Read my previous post again please.

 

[sreidvt]

I've done a series of articles about rangefinder lenses on the R-D1. The results won't apply completely to the M8 (especially with respect to vignetting) but they might be interesting starting points. Two are on the free site Luminous-Landscape:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/rd-1-lens.shtml
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/fastlensreview.shtml

And others are on my subscription site: (21s, 24/25, 50s as well as the M8 itself). I will be starting a series of articles about various lenses on the M8 over the next few weeks. The planned tests are:

1. 24/2.8 (compared with Zeiss 25)

2. 28/2.8, 28/2.0 (comp. with Zeiss 28/2.8, CV 28/1.9, CV 28/3.5)

3. 35/1.4 and 35/2.0 (comp. with Zeiss 35/2.0, CV 35/1.7, CV 35/2.5)

4. 16-18-21 Tri-Elmar and 21/2.8 (comp. with Zeiss 21, Zeiss 15, CV 15)

5. 75/1.4 and 75/2.0 (comp. CV 75/2.5)

6. 50/1.4, 50/2.0, 50/2.8 Elmar and Noctilux 50/1.0 (comp. with Zeiss 50/2.0, Zeiss 50/1.5, CV 50/1.5)

7. Tri-Elmar 28-35-50

Cheers,

Sean

 

[jaapv]

Now I am looking forward to that Sean ! 🙂

 

[mgrayson]

I was inadvertantly sent a 50 Summilux instead of a 50 Summilux ASPH. Is there any advantage for the M8 of the older model (such as lower contrast), or should I return it for the refund as the seller suggests? I have a Summicron already and don't know how much I'll miss the extra stop.

Thanks,

Matt