Lens selction Decision..Opinion?

[D&A]

Hi Everyone,


Of course lens selections with the use of the M8 is subjective and depends on lots of factors. I had my favorites with previous film Leicas.
Here is the question and my delema. Starting with the VC 15mm (20mm on the M8) at the wide end...I am vacilating back and forth with the remaining focal lengths up to 50mm (66mm on M8). I've shot with all focal lengths in-between.

Here are two possibilities (effective focal length in paraenthesis)

a) 15mm (20); 21mm (28); 35mm (47); 50mm (67)

b) 15mm (20); 25mm (33); 35mm (47); 50mm (67)

Having the 21mm (28) is something I'm used to for landscape
Having the 25mm (33) instead is what I am used to for reportage.

Decisions, decisions...I already find if I have both the 15mm and 21mm then I rarely use the 15mm (a bit too close). If I have the 15mm and 25mm..the spacing is better but I find I occasionally find the 15mm too wide for some lanscape shots and the 25mm a bit too narrow.


I'm soliciting opinions and appreciate what others might think. Thanks!

Dave

 

[Tony C.]

Hi Dave,

I'm hardly an expert, as the M8 is my first RF experience. However, I have experimented with quite a few lenses, and, while obviously subjective, find the 24mm perspective to be preferable to both 21mm and 28mm.

I also have a CV15mm, and like it very much. But after having tried a Zeiss 21mm (excellent lens) and Leica 28mm 'cron (also first-rate), I've found that I prefer the 24mm perspective to either of those. There are, of course, many who feel differently. I also have a 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm, and feel well-covered in terms of focal lengths.

One of the interesting points raised by many of those who have used other Leicas in the past, is that one (apparently) cannot assume that the (roughly) equivalent focal length on the M8 will be as pleasing as it was on a film M. Some who loved using a 35mm lens on film have, for example, found that the 28mm on the M8 doesn't work quite as well for them.

I know that I haven't helped much with these thoughts, but the point that I'm trying to get across is that you really need to try out some of the different focal lengths in order to make an informed decision.

Good luck!

 

[D&A]

Hi Tony,

Very much appreciate your reply and opinion. I agree with what you sday about the transition from film to the M8 with the 1.3x and even a 28mm on the M8 doesn't quite translate to the 35mm on film. I've actually tried all the focal lengths on the M8 and what I still am faced with is what I decribed in my first post.. I like the 21mm for landscapes on the M8 (effectivge 28mm) but then find the 15mm doesn't really get used much. I like the 25mm zeiss (eff. 33mm) for reportage) and then the 15mm gets used but I find a hole for landscapes between the two (between using the 15mm and 25mm). I cannot keep them all so it hardd between choice "a'" in my post above and "b".

I'll see what yourself and others think. Many thanks again!

Dave

 

[Richard Marks]

This is a real problem as none of the lenses feel quite the same. I have 28 , 35, 50 shared between a film M and the M8
This allows both units to simultaneously have 35mm and 50mm focal lenghts
(also 28 on M6 and 67 on M8!!)
If I had the cash id love a 75mm!
Enjoy
Richard

 

[Ronald M]

I am holding out for full frame so the lenses can be used as designed.

In the meantime, Nikon D200 with 18/70 and 55/200.

Maybe they will come up with a ff R model as in R10 so I can use my collection of R glass.

Film still lives for me.

 

[Tony C.]

a) 15mm (20); 21mm (28); 35mm (47); 50mm (67)

b) 15mm (20); 25mm (33); 35mm (47); 50mm (67)

Hi Dave,

I would lean towards your option "b", the reason being that 21mm is, to my eye, too wide for "reportage" style shooting. I think that with the 25mm and 35mm lenses, you'd have that end well covered, and for landscapes you won't be able to go quite as wide as you would apparently like. Again, this is purely personal, but if I had to choose between the two options, I'd prefer to compromise on the landscape end of the spectrum (as that is not a strong interest of mine).

Now, given that my preferences are irrelevant, you might be able to refine your thoughts by asking yourself the following questions:

"Where would I prefer to compromise, reportage or landscape?" and "Would I be be more comfortable using the 35mm for reportage work, or the 15mm for landscape?"

Keep us posted!

 

[Keith]

To be honest I find the M8's frame lines to be innacurate enough that there's a pretty grey area in lens selections.

I finished up with 15 ~ 28 ~ 35 ~ 40 and 50 and it seems usable. A 21 would be nice but I supect I would only use it on the M8 and at the moment I shoot film more than digital by far!

As Ronald said a full frame sensor would solve all this need for recalculating focal lengths by crop factor ... and true lens signatures would be recorded correctly! 🙂

 

[Bill Blackwell]

... I like the 21mm for landscapes on the M8 (effective 28mm), but then find the 15mm doesn't really get used much.

You're putting too much thought into this. IMHO, this one sentence (noted in two of your posts) says it all. It seems to me you have answered your own dilemma.

 

[D&A]

Hi Everone,

I posted this question both here and on another forum to receive as many possible suggestions and responses and alfter carefully thinking things out decided to respond to all in a similar fashion.

First I'd like to thank everyone for their valuable suggestions and feedback. I knew up front there is no one right answer as it's very subjective and dependent on the type of photography and images one shoots. The responses though did give me pause for thought and actually made me re-think my choices and come up with one I didn't anticipate.

Most often I shoot with DSLR's as I have done for years and the 1.5x crop factor was never much of an issue and compensated for it as best as one could hope for.
With the M8 it's a bit different and I find even taking into account the 1.3x factor, lenses don't always translate into their expected focal legths for shooting purposes...such as a 28mm lens on an M8 still isn't quite a 35mm (actually a 37mm) when compared to a 35mm lens on an M7. That is part of the issue for me. Using a film M camera such as the M7, I was quite comfortable shooting with a 21mm, 35mm, 50mm, & a 90mm. The lenses that make up the equivalant focal lengths on an M8 don't quite give me the framing (and ease of it) that I am used to. Some of this may be due to the M8 viewfinder itself.

I may have to try using a 28mm lens (effective 37mm) on the M8 for reportage as opposed to trying to get the 21mm (effective 28mm) to do double duty as both a landscape and reportage lens. I was going to fill my gap between the 21mm lens (28mm) and 35mm lens (47mm) with a 25mm lens (33mm)....but something tells me this will still be too wide for my pesonal tastes and a 28mm (37) may be what I am looking for.
It's like loosing a pair of comfortable shoes and now trying to find another that fits just right. Again many thanks again for all your feedback.

Dave