M8 interim lens

G

grdglass

Member
Local time
11:40 AM
Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
43
View My Gallery
I just ordered an M8 and none of the Leica lenses I would want are in stock. I want to order an interim lens so that I can check out how the camera is functioning. The requirements of this lens would be not too expensive but good, in a focal length I rarely use so I don't have to replace it, small, compact, and lightweight.

I do landscape work and rarely use normal lenses. I think a lens with an effective focal length around 50mm is what I should buy till Leica gets re-stocked. I was looking at the CV 35/2.5-C (nice compact hood), the CV 35/2.5-PII (wide, vented hood), and the CV 40/1.4 Nokton.

Does anyone have experience with any of those lenses on an M8? Would they have to manually coded? Would the CV 40/1.4 require guessing at the framelines?

I'm leaning towards the CV 35/2.5 Classic because it is the least expensive and makes the smallest footprint in a camera bag. I would be interested if there were any negatives to that lens on an M8 (chromatic aberration, focus, edge softness, contrast, color, etc.)

Thanks very much.

Helene
 
For landscape I like to go a bit wider & use a 28mm. I've got a vc 28mm f/1.9 that I really like. I just ordered the highly rated vc 28mm f/3.5 from http://www.leicaboutique.com in Canada, although cameraquest.com if you are in the US is great. I "run" and take my camera so, being closer to a scrawny geek than a he-man, I will appreciate the lighter lens. The 28mm as I'm sure you know is 35mm equivalent, 35mm on the M8.

robert

I have a cv 40 that I got used (private) that was never any good on my M8 because it has to be out of alignment because despite my other lenses all working on the rangefinder, this one doesn't. I have to send it out some-time, as soon as I get over the regret of getting a lens that doesn't work. Then I can deal with the adjustment cost mentally, funny eh? I've never heard anyone but myself have trouble with this lens on an M8.

p.s. I can't think of a more beautiful city on this continent to "have to" go pick up a lens than Montreal 😉
 
Last edited:
If you are doing Landscape work I would assume you are stopping down so no need of a fast lens. I'd look at the CV 28 3.5 or the 21mm f4. Both are small will do nicely. For myself I would find either of those focal lengths preferable to the 35 or 40 for landscape work. The Nokton though is a really nice lens in quality and size.
David
 
I used one of the 35 2.5s for a while. Loved it. Compact and very nice performance.
If I didn't need a faster lens, this is probably one I'd have stuck with for a while.
 
All three of those are nice lenses- why not keep an open mind about which you choose and pick up the first one that comes up on the classifieds for a good price? If you're looking to be frugal on the lens then used glass is the best answer: a low price is one thing but it is more valuable to have something that you can get your money back out of (should you wish to sell)!
 
the 35 2.5 will do you well to make sure everything is functioning well, the lens is great, a little gem. Problems with this and that will be void since you will not really use the lens
 
For a shoe-in lens, why not consider a CV 15 Heliar; it is relatively inexpensive (I got mine for about $375 with adapter and finder), it is a little specialised (being as wide as it is), and it won't be redundant with anything Leica that you would be likely to buy (save for the new tri-elmar). On the m8 it works out to be the equivalent of a 21mm, a noticeable wide angle.

I would suggest waiting then for a Leica 28mm or 35mm, or whatever else you were contemplating. For my part, I will be picking up my long awaited 28mm elmarit from camera west next week, despite having had my m8 since early december.

Hope this helps.
 
vrgard said:
Umm, gee, is she still looking for an "interim" lens almost a year later? (notice the posting date of the original post on this thread)
Click to expand...
you guys from silicon valley are so smart 🙂 . I guess I had brain freeze up here in the GWN (great white north, it's -30 & heading for -36 tonight). Sheesh, I thought it was a fresh post because there were no responses, oops. Isn't it a sin for bumping posts this far forward?

r
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom