Deciding on my M8 lens line up

[herbkell@shaw.c]

I have been deep in thought about reconfiguring my lens setup now I have an M8. Adding to the dilemma is the 30% discount offer from Leica on a new lens. I currently have three Crons 28 Asph, 50 and 90 APO Asph.
All the lenses have been coded


I really deliberated getting the new TE but have decided to simplify my lineup with three compact lenses only, sell both the 28 and the 50 and get a new 21 Elmarit with my discount and a 35 Cron I will have a very compact kit with effective focal lengths of 28, 50 (almost) and 120.

Anybody else going through lens reconfiguration issues. I hope this kit will suit my shooting and be the end of GAS

 

[Grober]

We're all doing the same mental tinkering. Of course, everything is further complicated by the fact that most of us will also continue to shoot film on occasion. (I'm shooting a gig this Thursday with film.)

I've already sent my M8 back to Leica for the "fix." Hope to see it before the calendar rolls into 2007. There's much hope for the potential of the M8 but I want to see the already-reported issues fully eliminated before it becomes my primary camera.

IF the 30% offer becomes real, I'll be tempted to sell an older lens or two and pick-up a Leica 28mm lens. The CV lenses are optically fine BUT they just lack that Leica mechanical feel and overall ruggedness. And then there's the extra hassle with them not being 6-bit coded. One or more of them will probably walk the plank if I decide to get the Leica 28mm lens.

-g

 

[paulhart]

I find my 28/2,8 ASPH has become my 'standard' lens instead of the 35. The 50 is now a nice portrait lens. I have the 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M, which is very capable and compact.

I could probably manage with those 3. However, if this talk of 30% off for early M8 buyers becomes real, it may be the ideal time to trade in my collection of 50s and get the 'lux ASPH.

Oh, and the 75...

 

[John Camp]

When I do air travel, lately, I've been taking a pocket camera, the Canon G7. But I'm thinking that the new Tri-Elmar, the old Tri-Elmar, and maybe a 90 would make a terrific travel kit (if only the battery charger wasn't so huge!) I may go to the new Tri-Elmar with the 30% coupon...

I think there is some serious territory to explore using the Noctilux as a portrait lens...

JC

 

[KJB]

I've planned a similar setup having already acquired the Zeiss 21 ZM. I was hoping to be able to estimate the framelines but that is proving more difficult than I had thought. I'm a total rangefinder newbie though so still practising and I'd rather not have to use an additional viewfinder. I was planning on getting a 35mm next but have since decided to satisfy my nocti lust by going with the CV 28/1.9 and noctilux. I will then have the CV15, ZM21, CV28, Nocti, and CV90 to round out my collection. From those I'd imagine my 3 lens kit would primarily be the 15, 28, and 50mm.

I have been deep in thought about reconfiguring my lens setup now I have an M8. Adding to the dilemma is the 30% discount offer from Leica on a new lens. I currently have three Crons 28 Asph, 50 and 90 APO Asph.
All the lenses have been coded


I really deliberated getting the new TE but have decided to simplify my lineup with three compact lenses only, sell both the 28 and the 50 and get a new 21 Elmarit with my discount and a 35 Cron I will have a very compact kit with effective focal lengths of 28, 50 (almost) and 120.

Anybody else going through lens reconfiguration issues. I hope this kit will suit my shooting and be the end of GAS

 

[blakley]

I'm using 28 (/2 Cron ASPH), 50 (/1.2 Noct ASPH), and 75 (/2 Cron ASPH), reverting occasionally to 35/1.4 Lux ASPH.

 

[Nemo]

I have a Summilux 35mm ASPH and am considering a 75mm. I have not decided yet if Summilux or Summicron ASPH.

 

[AShearer]

I have been deep in thought about reconfiguring my lens setup now I have an M8. Adding to the dilemma is the 30% discount offer from Leica on a new lens. I currently have three Crons 28 Asph, 50 and 90 APO Asph.
All the lenses have been coded
Anybody else going through lens reconfiguration issues. I hope this kit will suit my shooting and be the end of GAS

I certainly am. Since I heard today from a reliable source that the lens deal is real. I have 28 f2, 35/2 ASPH, 50 Lux, 50 Summi and 90 El. The 28 and the Lux are coded. I'm thinking sell the 50 summi and get the 21, but other lenses that are calling to me are the 75 APO and the Nocti!!.

 

[boilerdoc2]

Wait on the discount and get the new Tri Elmar. Add the old Tri Elmar and a 75 Summilux. You've got a lot of cash right?

 

[Robert]

I,m hoping when I am ready to buy an M8 it will be in a kit with the 28f2.8 lens for a reduced price. I would use my 50mm summicron also. A nice kit

 

[Hammam]

I've planned a similar setup having already acquired the Zeiss 21 ZM. I was hoping to be able to estimate the framelines but that is proving more difficult than I had thought. I'm a total rangefinder newbie though so still practising and I'd rather not have to use an additional viewfinder. I was planning on getting a 35mm next but have since decided to satisfy my nocti lust by going with the CV 28/1.9 and noctilux. I will then have the CV15, ZM21, CV28, Nocti, and CV90 to round out my collection. From those I'd imagine my 3 lens kit would primarily be the 15, 28, and 50mm.

Can't you just use the entire area of the M8 VF? I don't have my M8 yet but, from what I can gather, the 24 brightline (FOV 32) leaves a small area around it which should precisely (almost) correspond to 21 (FOV 28). I hope I'm correct because I just bought a CV 21, and I don't want to have to use an external VF either.

 

[KJB]

Can't you just use the entire area of the M8 VF? I don't have my M8 yet but, from what I can gather, the 24 brightline (FOV 32) leaves a small area around it which should precisely (almost) correspond to 21 (FOV 28). I hope I'm correct because I just bought a CV 21, and I don't want to have to use an external VF either.

I was hoping the same but for one the ZM21 does not bring up the 24 framelines. So the best you can do is select the 24 framelines manually and then approximate. But again on the horizontal edges the 21mm FOV extends past what is viewable. THe vertical framelines are closer but still the FOV is just outside what is viewable and depends on how close your eye is pressed to the viewfinder. So this may be acceptable framing for some and it still may be for me but I must admit that the thought of selling the 21ZM for a 24 ASPH has crossed my mind But that would be too close to the 28 summicron which is in my opinion is a must have focal length on the m8.

 

[Magnus]

Focal Length wise the 28mm is nice because it becomes somewhat of a 35mm, however what you miss is the out of focus area. I specifically like the Out of focus area's with leica lenses, the 28, and down of course miss this. Otherwise an excellent lens and relatively cheap for a Leica lens. I bought mine for the M8 especially but wouldn't buy it again.
Perhaps a 15 Zeiss for real wide angle work, a 35 and a 75 should cover most needs.
Tri-elmar's are nice, they are slow but don't forget 1600asa is a realistic possibility with the M8.

 

[summilux]

just dreaming:

Zeiss ZM 15mm (coming soon we will have the ultra wide tri-elmar from Leica, and the 18mm distagon and 21mm c biogon from Zeiss), Zeiss 25mm (or Summicron 28 ASPH), Cosina Nokton 35/1.2, Leica Summilux 50 ASPH

 

[J. Borger]

I use mainly 35 (cron asph) & 50mm lenses (lux asph & noctilux), occasional 75lux ........ thinking of selling my lnib 21mm elmarit asph ...... it is just too wide for me! So it sits on the shelf ....

 

[Sailor Ted]

I use mainly 35 (cron asph) & 50mm lenses (lux asph & noctilux), occasional 75lux ........ thinking of selling my lnib 21mm elmarit asph ...... it is just too wide for me! So it sits on the shelf ....

Too wide with the 1.3 crop factor or on a 35mm camera?

 

[MarcoS]

I have 12 and 15 CV, 21 Elmarit asph, 24 Elmarit asph, 28 Elmarit, 50 Noctilux, 75 Apo, 90 Apo and 135 Apo.
Not that I need all of them, indeed I'm deciding what to keep for my small setup as I don't like to deal with many lenses.

So far on the M8 I like the 28mm perspective and I'm also impressed by the 90 Apo, even more than the 75 Apo.
The 12 CV is a bit too wide for my taste and I'm not 100% convinced by the Noctilux.

I'm waiting for the 35 Summilux asph to better define what I'll keep, but I'm leaning toward this 4 lenses setup:

15 CV
28 Summicron asph
50 Summilux asph
90 Apo-Summicron

What I'd love is a 28 Summilux...

And maybe a faster wide prime, like an Elmarit 17 asph.

 

[KJB]

Marco, please tell us and show us more on the M8 and noctilux. The samples I've seen of this combo so far online have had a very pleasing and distinguishable fingerprint.

I have 12 and 15 CV, 21 Elmarit asph, 24 Elmarit asph, 28 Elmarit, 50 Noctilux, 75 Apo, 90 Apo and 135 Apo.
Not that I need all of them, indeed I'm deciding what to keep for my small setup as I don't like to deal with many lenses.

So far on the M8 I like the 28mm perspective and I'm also impressed by the 90 Apo, even more than the 75 Apo.
The 12 CV is a bit too wide for my taste and I'm not 100% convinced by the Noctilux.

I'm waiting for the 35 Summilux asph to better define what I'll keep, but I'm leaning toward this 4 lenses setup:

15 CV
28 Summicron asph
50 Summilux asph
90 Apo-Summicron

What I'd love is a 28 Summilux...

And maybe a faster wide prime, like an Elmarit 17 asph.

 

[J. Borger]

Too wide with the 1.3 crop factor or on a 35mm camera?

Even with the crop it is too wide for my personal taste..... i am not a wide angle shooter. I see no applications for it so far!

 

[J. Borger]

............and I'm not 100% convinced by the Noctilux.

I am also curious ,,,,,,,,,,,, because it is my favourite lens on the M8.
I just keep the 50 lux asph for when i want a smaller lens ....