M8 but no leica lenses. Odd?

tbarker13

tbarker13

shooter of stuff
Local time
1:10 PM
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
1,677
I feel sort of silly even writing this. But I'm sitting here debating my lens lineup. And I find myself contemplating an M8 kit that wouldn't include a leica lens (other than a rarely used 35/3.5 summaron).

I wonder how many M8 users only use (primarily or exclusively) lenses made by other manufacturers.
Obviously, a person should use whatever lenses they want to use. And it seems pretty clear that there are plenty of great options out there. But do you or would you feel weird never putting a Leica lens on your Leica body?

Like I said, the logical part of my brain knows this is a silly question. But I find it popping around my mind right now. And I'm quite sure my wife won't have much interest in discussing it with me when I get home. So I toss it out here.
 
Wouldn't worry me, as long as I was happy with what I had.

But it's hard for me to imagine as in 2009 I'll have been using Leicas for 40 years.

Cheers,

R.
 
Two answers:

1) The rational one: Nah, Zeiss and Voigtlander have lines of lenses that are within reach/are as good as/are better than Leica lenses

2) The irrational one: Everybody should own at least one Leica lens (if they can afford to). It might be for the nerd appeal, or (as in my case) to prove to themself that those Zeiss/Voigtlander are more than equal to the Leica offerings.

As much as I love my Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH, I have no urge to get any other Leica lens. Actually, I've just sold off the rest of them (50mm Summicron/latest, 90mm APO-Summicron-ASPH and 21mm Elmarit). I did get the 50mm Planar, and already it is my favourite lens. Go figure.

I'm afraid this wasn't of much help. Oh, and don't underestimate the 35mm Summaron. I quite like the older Leica lenses.
 
tbarker13 said:
Like I said, the logical part of my brain knows this is a silly question.
Click to expand...
And the logical part of your brain is right :D

What matters is the lens, not the brand on the lens.

If you're into brands, then there's your answer. If you're into "sharpness", well, there's Zeiss or the new crop of Lee-inspired soul-less lenses. If you're into vintage look, there's the old crop of LTM lenses.

The possibilities are many.

Or, if you only buy that Ferrari only for the yellow shield, get yellow-shield-studded gloves and seat covers :)
 
I dont think it to be so strange. Leitz glass is pretty pricey and I think that if I were to buy an M8 I would not have the readies to be rushing out to buy a lens too. (Although to be honest my problem is the opposite.....I already have the lenses but can't prioritise an M8 at this stage of my life. One day maybe.) But the M8 is almost unique amongst digital cameras so I do not see anything inherently odd in owning one even if you do not have any Leica lenses- after all that is something you can buy some time down the track.But believe me that damn itch will always be there and one day you are going to have to scratch it!
 
Last edited:
I actually can't keep track any more of the number of lenses I've gone through. I've owned a couple dozen different Leica lenses at one point or another during the past couple years. (this followed a period of relative tranquility that lasted more than a decade, where I used three lenses)
Basically, life was much simpler before I bought an M8 and found this forum. I did not know of all the lens options out there.

I recently picked up a 28 elmarit apsh. Love the size of the thing. Then yesterday, I listed my 28 hexanon on the classifieds. But I sit here thinking: I don't really like this new Leica lens more than the older hexanon. So why am I making the change? It is simple lens lust.

I've generally stayed away from the newer asph lenses, just because I don't tend to prefer the way they render images. But if I sell this 28 elmarit (instead of the hexanon), none of my regular use lenses will be made by Leica.
(as someone who has used leica gear for nearly two decades, that just seems a little odd)

But as several rational people have pointed out, that's not a bad thing.
 
I own Leica lenses, Voigtlander lenses and a Canon FL converted to M. Overall (and I know this will start a howling) the Leica lenses are sharper across the frame and have a more 3 dimensional look to the images, however the Voigtlander 12mm and 15mm satisfy my lust for ultra wides at a price I can afford, and the 12 is a rectilinear with superb performance. The Canon FL lens is a F1.2 and satisfies my Noctilux craving at a price I can afford. Each lens gives me a different look and if there is one lens I keep going back to it is the Leica 28mm F2.8 asph. Elmarit. A gem of a lens that if given the choice of only one to keep that would be it.
 
The real reason anyone should buy a Leica lens is because they like the way the lens handles or renders images. If you like the way Zeiss lenses render then get Zeiss lenses, if you like the Canon's, get the canon's. No magic bullets here.
 
As others said, it is not about the brand, but about the focal length you need or prefer, a lens' performance, how it draws, size, weight, alternatives and their prices. My present wish list would include:

12mm CV
15mm CV
18mm ZM
21mm ZM (21/4.5)
24mm L (Elmarit asph)
25mm ZM
28mm don't know
35mm L (lux asph)
50mm L (lux asph)
75mm CV (rarely used)
90mm don't know, still undecided

As far as I'm concerned, there is no reason to buy Leica lenses which are "just or may be not even quite" as good as a ZM or CV (eg the new Summarits). Eventually the latter two brands offer much better value for the money.
 
But do you or would you feel weird never putting a Leica lens on your Leica body?
Click to expand...
Not at all, no - an M body is a great platform for whole load of different lenses - and if you want a top quality digital RF for, say, CV lenses, you don't really have a lot of choice. Very expensive body and cheap lenses? It really doesn't matter if you get the results you want and get pleasure from doing it.
 
tbarker13 said:
I wonder how many M8 users only use (primarily or exclusively) lenses made by other manufacturers.
Click to expand...

I figure that I purchased a Kodak sensor, Leica body packaging, so my lenses so far are exclusively Voigtlander.

I see no reason, other than snobbery, to say that the M8 "requires" Leica glass.

You make pictures with what you have. Will I ever get Leica glass? Maybe, depends on what is out there when I have a specific "need".

JohnS.
 
Leica glass

Leica glass

Snob purchasing of any item or service plays straight into the hands of profiteers, and clearly signals one's insecurities. These days, so many of us break our backs to play that game, that it's often assumed entire societies are out there, seeking to "big-up" individual social status.

I find that people are very quick to accuse Leica users of mere status seeking. I've tried enough CV, Kobalux, and Konica samples to know that I prefer the way the Leica glass draws for me. Don't I wish that the 40mm 1.4 CV I had matched the look produced with my 35mm f2 Aspherical? You bet. But it doesn't, and so I've had to step-up and pay the premium for what is, to me, the better and more useful product.

I don't own any Leica bodiies. My five, hard-to-fund Leica lenses get bolted, in turn, to 3 Epson RD-1 units. Zero status, but lovely files and great handling.

Crane
 
I have had my M8 since Nov. '06. I do have Leica lenses, but I also have 4 really good CV lenses that I use on my M8 all the time. If they were the only lenses that I had for my M8, I could get along fine. CV and Zeiss make some very fine lenses and they work great on the M8
 
I've had my M8 since last August and I own no Leica glass. 3 CV's and a ZM. Looking to add another ZM (21 mm/2.8) when the time is right (I just bought a Mac Pro). Nothing weird about it. I love the way all my lenses render. I am looking to replace my 25 mm CV with a 21 mm ZM because the 25 mm isn't wide enough for me.
 
Not odd at all. I had my M8 for two months and justed used the CV lens, I had gotten for my RD-1. But I've since made up for it starting with a Nocti.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom