Mudman
Well-known
Hi Folks,
I've done quite a bit of searching, but I would still like to know your thoughts. I'm in need of a wide angle lens for my M8, as my 35mm has now turned into a slightly wide normal. I'd like to have something I can use on my m6 as well, though even a 28 would require me to just use the whole viewfinder as I have an .85 TTL.
I've narrowed my search down to two lenses; the Zeiss 25mm f2.8 Biogon and the Elmarit V.3 28mm f2.8. I can get both for about the same amount of money. I've thought about the Ultron 1.9 or 2.0, but (and I know this is silly) I would still have that little nagging voice inside of me wanting the Leica or the Zeiss. Even though I do love my little CV 35mm f2.5 (I'm still waiting until I find a well priced 35mm summicron, which again is silly. The CV is super sharp and tiny).
Thoughts? I've been fine with 35mm being my widest lens on film, but I'm worried that the 28mm is too close in FL to make that big of a difference. I also want something that matches the characteristic of the rest of my lenses in terms of rendering. The 35 that I have is nice, but it does render differently from the rest of my leica glass.
Setup: M3, M6 TTL .85, M8
Lenses: CV 35mm f2.5, 50mm Collapisble Summicron, 90mm Summicron, 135 elmar
I want something for journalism. My current set up is my Nikon D3, which I use with a variety of lenses that range from 17-200mm. I generally just stick with a f2.8 zoom that goes from 28-75.
Thank you in advance.
I've done quite a bit of searching, but I would still like to know your thoughts. I'm in need of a wide angle lens for my M8, as my 35mm has now turned into a slightly wide normal. I'd like to have something I can use on my m6 as well, though even a 28 would require me to just use the whole viewfinder as I have an .85 TTL.
I've narrowed my search down to two lenses; the Zeiss 25mm f2.8 Biogon and the Elmarit V.3 28mm f2.8. I can get both for about the same amount of money. I've thought about the Ultron 1.9 or 2.0, but (and I know this is silly) I would still have that little nagging voice inside of me wanting the Leica or the Zeiss. Even though I do love my little CV 35mm f2.5 (I'm still waiting until I find a well priced 35mm summicron, which again is silly. The CV is super sharp and tiny).
Thoughts? I've been fine with 35mm being my widest lens on film, but I'm worried that the 28mm is too close in FL to make that big of a difference. I also want something that matches the characteristic of the rest of my lenses in terms of rendering. The 35 that I have is nice, but it does render differently from the rest of my leica glass.
Setup: M3, M6 TTL .85, M8
Lenses: CV 35mm f2.5, 50mm Collapisble Summicron, 90mm Summicron, 135 elmar
I want something for journalism. My current set up is my Nikon D3, which I use with a variety of lenses that range from 17-200mm. I generally just stick with a f2.8 zoom that goes from 28-75.
Thank you in advance.
L Collins
Well-known
My 28mm 3.5 VC was my standard lens on my M8. Equates to a 35mm FOV on a FF sensor.
28mm = 37.24 on the M8 and 35mm = 46.55 on the M8. Closer than 35mm and 50mm that many feel are too close. The 25mm = 33.25, but the framelines may piss you off.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
A 28mm is equivalent to 37mm on the M8. I don't always find that wide enough, but since you find 35mm FF adequate, I think you will be OK with the 28. If you find a 35mm equivalent as indispensable as I do, you will want the 28 even if you later add something wider.
I tried my 24mm on my M8.2. The resulting 32mm equivalent would be very useful, but only if I could see the 24mm framelines in the finder--which I can't! Don't know why they bothered to add them. The 21mm, however, is another story: it gives a perfect 28mm equivalent. I use a 28mm finder in the top shoe to see what I'm getting.
Finally, I added the CV 15mm. It makes a perfect 20mm, using the 21mm aux finder.
I tried my 24mm on my M8.2. The resulting 32mm equivalent would be very useful, but only if I could see the 24mm framelines in the finder--which I can't! Don't know why they bothered to add them. The 21mm, however, is another story: it gives a perfect 28mm equivalent. I use a 28mm finder in the top shoe to see what I'm getting.
Finally, I added the CV 15mm. It makes a perfect 20mm, using the 21mm aux finder.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Here's a quick M9 vs M8 Angle of View chart. I've color coded the close matches for focal length:
G
G
Oren Grad
Well-known
It really depends on you, on how strongly you feel yourself drawn to a particular field of view. I'm most comfortable with something in the 35-40mm-equivalent range as my standard lens. I use a 35 as a standard lens on my film Leicas; I use 50 and 28 occasionally for special purposes. If I were to get an M8 I'd go for a 28, without hesitation.
Kent
Finally at home...
It not wide enough for real wide shots. 
But it pretty close to a (36x24mm film) 35mm lens.
The lens I use the most on my M8 is the Voigtländer Ultron 2/28.
But it pretty close to a (36x24mm film) 35mm lens.
The lens I use the most on my M8 is the Voigtländer Ultron 2/28.
doolittle
Well-known
28mm is really the sweet spot on the M8. The frame lines for 28mm are the nicest, with a nice amount of separation from the edge of the frame and to the 90mm frame.
Personally I find the 24mm/35mm frame lines a total mess, to my eyes they are jarring. I always thought Leica could have done a better job marking them out.
If I wanted wider I would go for a 21mm lens. I got the CV 21mm f4 in ltm mount, as it comes with an external finder. At a push using the whole frame is a close enough approximation. It's a very small pocketable lens.
Personally I find the 24mm/35mm frame lines a total mess, to my eyes they are jarring. I always thought Leica could have done a better job marking them out.
If I wanted wider I would go for a 21mm lens. I got the CV 21mm f4 in ltm mount, as it comes with an external finder. At a push using the whole frame is a close enough approximation. It's a very small pocketable lens.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
For a two-lens pairing, I find myself using 50 and 28 mm quite often with the M9.
If I had the M8, I'd be using 40 and 21 mm most of the time; those are my favorites for the Ricoh GXR as well.
G
If I had the M8, I'd be using 40 and 21 mm most of the time; those are my favorites for the Ricoh GXR as well.
G
jvan01
Established
Not so wide on an M8. But my 21 Elmarit is too heavy so a 28 sits on my M8 for "wide" shots. Maybe a CV 15 would be perfect in wideness and weight.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I really enjoyed using my ZM 18/4 and my 21/2.8 Elmarit on my M8.
pgk
Well-known
I really like the 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon on my M8-2. Good usable copies seem to be available at fairly reasonable prices at the moment. Its sharp across the image on the M8-2, has just a little colour variation, which can be dealt with in post, and is quite small. I think it make a good combination with the M8 and I don't bother with a vewfinder. I've tried 28mm lenses but they just aren't wide enough for me.
Mudman
Well-known
Thank you for the thoughts so far! Pgk, you find the built in viewfinder enough for the 21mm?
Ronald M
Veteran
My 25 4.0 CV is a junk lens with de-centering & soft edges. It worked on film so I never complained, digital is a different bag. I had it from introduction.
pgk
Well-known
Sort of. I estimate to be honest and its not really all that difficult - an auxiliary finder would be useful but I don't feel that its essential.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Wide enough for what?
Two of my favourite lenses on the M8 & M8.2 were/are 21mm and 50mm. I found 28mm just a fraction too long: that trivial difference, when I was used to 35mm, was uncomfortable. And yet, although I don't like 28mm on full-frame, I was/am perfectly happy with 21mm (28mm equivalent) on the M8/M8.2. All very odd.
Cheers,
R.
Two of my favourite lenses on the M8 & M8.2 were/are 21mm and 50mm. I found 28mm just a fraction too long: that trivial difference, when I was used to 35mm, was uncomfortable. And yet, although I don't like 28mm on full-frame, I was/am perfectly happy with 21mm (28mm equivalent) on the M8/M8.2. All very odd.
Cheers,
R.
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
(Pun intended) -- let's zoom out a moment. I think the main reason to have different lenses in your kit is to change the way you see through the camera. Incremental changes in focal length can really be covered by stepping back or forward a half dozen steps. What you really want, if you are going to spend some money, is different capabilities. My advice would be to take Roger's question seriously. If I had one normal lens (e.g. a 35mm) and wanted to add another, I would go as wide as I felt I could find a use for or as long for a next lens. In your case, that would be a 15mm or a 21 on the wide side or a 90 on the long side. You can fill in the gaps later (and you will). My favorite affordable 21 is the Zeiss 21/2.8 Biogon. Just a corker of a lens.
But if the 35 is just a liiiitle too confining? You don't really need to spend any money. I would just take six steps back and call it good. Not a satisfying answer is is?
OK. Get the 21.
Edit: {FWIW: I use the 21 (first used on an M8, now on the M9) without an external finder. You just learn what the lens sees, point and shoot. The beauty of digital is that you can check your intuition right away.}
But if the 35 is just a liiiitle too confining? You don't really need to spend any money. I would just take six steps back and call it good. Not a satisfying answer is is?
OK. Get the 21.
Edit: {FWIW: I use the 21 (first used on an M8, now on the M9) without an external finder. You just learn what the lens sees, point and shoot. The beauty of digital is that you can check your intuition right away.}
Mudman
Well-known
Well you hit the nail on the head; is 28 enough of a difference from the 35mm to make a difference. I found the 35mm confining while doing some pj work for the newspaper the other day, and didn't have the room to back up 6 steps.
Kent
Finally at home...
My "perfect" set for the M8:
Heliar 4.5/15
Ultron 2/28
Heliar 2.5/75
That's all I need, basically.
Heliar 4.5/15
Ultron 2/28
Heliar 2.5/75
That's all I need, basically.
Personal preferences rule, of course. I too like the 21 (f/4.5 Biogon) with an external 28mm finder on the M8 for a 28 equivalent. I like the 28mm view so that's fine. But a 25mm (Biogon again) is a great companion for a 50. I am not comfortable with the 75 or 90 lenses on the M8 as being too long and the framelines too small to compose in.
But the 28mm lens is a golden spot, just a perfect one-lens choice for walking about... that's me, though, not necessarily you. I lucked onto a killer deal for a new old-stock 28 Summicron at the old dusty box on the shelf price. Love it.
But the 28mm lens is a golden spot, just a perfect one-lens choice for walking about... that's me, though, not necessarily you. I lucked onto a killer deal for a new old-stock 28 Summicron at the old dusty box on the shelf price. Love it.