First lenses for M8

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monktown

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I'm sure this has been asked and answered before but I can't locate the threads so I'll ask again.

I've just got a used M8.u and now need some lenses. I've decided, after lots of reading and a sub to Sean Reids reviews, to go for a VC 35/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II as my first lens for the M8. I'm still trying to decide on a second lens, maybe a VC 28/2 Ultron or should I be looking at a 25mm lens to give me more of a range. I've also been looking at the 75mm VC Helier but can't make up my mind. I suppose I'm looking for lens to give me maximum range on a minimum budget. Any comments or advice welcome.

Thanks
 
One cheap and very good lens is the Summicron-C 40mm 2.0 from the Leica CL (or the nearly identical M-Rokkor) it gives you a 50mm equivalent on the M8. If you modify it a little bit you get the 35mm frame lines on the M8 which work great for this lens.

The Ultron 28mm is a "sharpy", but it suffers from a harsh bokeh.

My current setup (it came used and cheap)

CV Ultron 2.0/28
Summicron-C 2.0/40
Summicron rigid 2.0/50 (from 1962)
M-Rokkor 4.0 90 (will be replaced with a faster Elmarit 2.8/90)
 
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For me 28mm is a sweet spot on the M8 - cleaner framelines - and it approximates 35mm on full frame. I've tried a 25mm and it feels more like 28mm on FF than 35mm. When I want wider than an effective 35, I prefer the efov range 21-24 (15-18mm FF) at the 1.3x crop.

I also use a 35mm on my M8, slightly wide-ish approximation of a 50mm. I haven't used the CV 35/2.5 but it has a lot of positive press here.

I use a 50 for my (very) short tele on the M8 rather than a 75, so I can't speak to the Heliar.
 
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I've been thinking about another lens for my M8 I have my old 35mm summilux but sometimes would like something wider had thought about the Zeiss 25mm or 28 Elmarit for the cleaner framelines or maybe a 21mm 3.4 to keep it retro!
 
If you're looking for classic character, don't forget to take into account the Leica screwmount lenses. You haven't mentioned any 50s, but I've found the Summitar and the Summar to be excellent companions to my M8; the optical rendering gives a more film-like quality to the digital files.
 
monktown said:
..... I've decided.... to go for a VC 35/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II as my first lens for the M8........
Click to expand...

Hi. I took a similar route and regretted it.

My recommendation now is to get a 35mm Zeiss C-Biogon f2.8, work it, and discover whether or not another focal length giving equivalent quality files is even necessary. You might find yourself, as I have, loving the C-Biogon files so much that no other focal length lens ever goes on the camera. As you are a subscriber to Sean's site, re-read his '35mm lenses on M9' article and pay attention to the C-Biogon's delivery. Afterwards you could take a look at Erwin Puts' slightly different emphasis on the C-Biogon's resistance to flare :

http://www.imx.nl/photo/zeiss/page116/page116.html

I use a Megapearls 1.15 variable dioptre magnifier on the M8 and this works perfectly for me with a 35mm lens.

............ Chris
 
If you want maximum range, get a 28 or 35 and a 75 or 90. With a two lens combo, you should be able to handle a lot of shooting needs.
When I travel light, it's currently with a 35 UC hexanon and CV 75/1.8. I love the pairing.

Of course, if you do a lot of low-light shooting, you'll want a fast lens that gets you at least to f/2.

If you are going to get two lenses, I'd strongly suggest not getting both a 28 and 35. There's just not that much difference between those two focal lengths.
 
I have the CV 35 f2.5 Color Scopar and it works well for me , but I also have a really clean Summitar and an amazing Fed 50 f3.5 collapsible which stands out among many I22 / I 50 for a kind of sparkle .
I much prefer the nom 67mm of a 50mm on the M8 , which came as somthing of a surprise to equal that Fed lens .
Rather than spend more upon a decent modern Leica lens , I am going retro with a Contax RF adapter for my Sonnar , Helios , J3 and several J8s from my Contax / Kiev collection - there must be one great one among them !
 
i would say a 28 and 50 combo. 28 & 35 is to simular in my opinion, no need for both of them. 35 and 75 is also a good combo, or 21 and 35 if one feels a bit widish.
 
You did not mention a budget. If you are trying to stay frugal go for the skopar. It is at pixel peep levels at least 80% of the Biogon c f2.8/35mm. At pictorial levels it's an equal. The 40mm M Rokkor/ Summicron is best if you are a natural 50mm shooter or the f1.4/40mm nokton which is a stop faster but maybe a bit more "Agressive" in it's overall look.
 
The M8 really needs a fast lens, so if "maximum range" includes avoiding high ISO, then I'd suggest putting your coin towards a fast 35. If you had an M8 classic, I'd suggest the CV 40/1.4 as a good match for the 35 framelines, but you have an upgraded version, so a 35 is in order.

For one lens only, I think the CV 35/1.2 (coded as a summicron) can't be beat on the M8, given the inevitable need for speed with the poor high ISO performance.

The CV 35/1.4 is also quite pleasing, and more of a budget lens, but may exhibit focus shift at middle apertures. Not a deal breaker, either. I think the 40/1.4 doesn't have any.
 
It will take some time to figure out which FOVs work best for you. The traditional 28/50 or well regarded 35/75 combo don't suit me well. The best fit for me are a 21-24 and a 50-60.

Shoot with the 35 and figure out if you want to go wider or longer first, then think about sinking more money into glass!
 
monktown said:
I've just got a used M8.u and now need some lenses. I've decided, after lots of reading and a sub to Sean Reids reviews, to go for a VC 35/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II as my first lens for the M8. I'm still trying to decide on a second lens I suppose I'm looking for lens to give me maximum range on a minimum budget. Any comments or advice welcome.

Thanks
Click to expand...

As you can tell from all the previous answers, all we can do is tell you what our own choices would be, based on our own preferences and biases.

When I got my M8 I already had an assortment of lenses, but 2 focal lengths I did not have were 28 and 75, both of which I found little need for with full-frame. But on the M8 those lenses are the closest equivalent to the 2 focal lengths I use most on full-frame: 35 and 90. My first 28 was the Voitlander Ultron f/1.9, which is screwmount and uses an adaptor, which I coded as a 28 Summicron. The 1.9 also is reported to not suffer from the focus shift of the f/2 Ultron. Later I acquired a Voitlander 75/2.5, also a screwmount, but no need to code the adapter. Both lenses were KEH "Bargain" and together cost me $400.

I can recommend those 2 lenses highly for the M8, along with the 15mm (screwmount version) which approximates a 21mm on the M. Those three lenses will give you a wide range, and not torpedo your bank account.
 
My typical 2-lens M8 kit is a 35 pre-asph Summilux and a 75 Summilux. No focusing problems with either and they produce wonderful results wide open. If you want to expand the kit, a CV 15 for the wide end and a 135 2.8 for the telephoto.
 
if you're going to have two lenses, i would not recommend having a 28 and a 35. they're too close IMHO. when i started with my M8, i got a 28 and then added a 50. (that, for me, is better, as it covers more focal range.)
 
Having owned my M8 for a while now I would second RAMOSA's opinion.
I have a 28/2.8 that is fine in bright light but not so useful in low light. The relatively poor high ISO performance of the M8 really cries for a fast lens in low light conditions.

If I could do it again, I would go for a 28/2 and 50/1.4. That would be nice combination and allow some low-light shooting.
 
If I could only keep two lenses for my M8, I'd probably keep the Zeiss 25mm and 35mm Biogons and live with higher ISOs. The Biogons aren't the fastest, but they are the best, lenses I have.
 
if i only had 2 lenses i would want either a 24mm/25mm and a 50mm.
the 28mm biogon is great on the m8 but the 25mm biogon is better. the FOV is sweeter. i would then plump for the 50mm ultron which is a beautiful portrait/short tele lens on an m8. if i had cash to burn i would consider the 24mm elmarit and 50mm summilux but while they are 3X the price of each lens respectively they are certainly not 3X better.
 
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