M8 lens suggestions

[doolittle]

On a Leica film M my most used lens is a 50mm.

However on the M8 my most used lens is 28mm.

I find the 50mm frame on the M8 is too tight for general use. I do use the focal length, just would not be comfortable for it permanently mounted as I would on a film camera.

I don't use a 35mm lens much on the M8 as I find the combination of the 24mm and 35mm framelines very confusing. I have thought about getting the 24mm frameline removed, I find it that annoying! If one of the frame lines was more hatched instead of continuous it would help.

The 28mm frameline just have a nice balance.

I find I can get by using the whole viewfinder with a 21mm lens, which is useful.

Hope my meanderings make sense to others, it could just be me 🙄

 

[albygentle]

i use a 35 mm1.4 summilux fle and i am prettynsatisfied with the versility of the lens..i can do amazing background portraits and street shots.

 

[angelog]

I still have my M8 and my 35MM Summicron is still attached (glued on). I use the M8 now mainly for InfraRed and the Summicron is well color corrected and requires no IR shift.

Angelo

 

[kbg32]

I primarily used my ZM18 (24mm view), 21/2.8 Elmarit, CV 50/1.5 Nokton, and 90mm Elmar-c on my M8. All stellar performers!

 

[mls64]

I have accumulated a lot of focal lengths for my M8 but I really like 35mm, using the Summicron ASPH the most followed by the 35 Summaron 2.8 which is a great vintage lens.
Next on the go-to list are the CV Nokton 50 1.5 and the 50 Summicron Rigid.

 

[raid]

I had no problem getting used to 50s on the M8. A 50 feels slightly tele to me anyway. On an M8 just a bit more so 🙂 I liked a 24 or 28 on the M8 as my wide too. My real wide was a 15 or an 18. Once I settled into the camera, my kit was 18-28-50.

This is also my feeling. I use the 50 rigid Summicron as my M8 lens for portraits.

 

[tempest68]

The most enjoyable lens for me by far was the 28mm biogon. I agree with MCTuomey on that. I have recently bought that 50mm planar and the 28mm biogon is a perfect match for it.

Glad to hear the 28 Biogon works well for you. I already have that lens, and I believe my M8 will arrive on Monday. I like the Nokton 40 on my R3M FOV-wise, and I figured the Biogon will fit the bill as my primary lens on the M8. It's only used sparingly on my film body due to my preference for normal and telephoto FOV.

 

[Mcary]

Wasn't sure I'd like the focal length on the M8 so I got the 75mm F 2.5 rather then the Leica Summarit 75mm as a second lens to my Elmarit 28mm. But 75mm focal length seem to be growing on me, just need to improve my framing skills so that I can use as much of the frame as possible when shooting portraits.

 

[MCTuomey]

Further to *Scheelings* and *MCary* posts, I do think that 28mm and 75mm lenses are really sweet spots for the M8. Setting aside my C-Sonnar affliction, I could shoot very happily with a 28/75 kit.

 

[Kent]

The M8 does not necessarily need Leica lenses.
I use this set-up:

- Voigtländer Super-Wide Heliar 4.5/15 (with external viewfinder)
- Voigtländer Ultron 2.0/28
- Voigtländer Ultron 1.7/35
- Leitz Summitar 2/5cm (for the "classical" look)
- Voigtländer Color Heliar 2.5/75

Each of those lenses works really well togehter with the sensor of the M8.

If you are looking for the ONE lens for your M8 (and money is no issue), go and get a Leica Summicron-M 2/28. Probably the best lens I had on my M8 (borrowed), apart from the new APO-Summicron-M 2/50.

 

[Ronald M]

Just move one focal shorter and you get the same as a film Leica/RF. 35 becomes normal, 75 become 100, 50 becomes 68. Actual focal does not change, just the useable portion of the image.

You will need to open one stop to get the same shallow depth of field as in full frame.

Buy lenses for which you can purchase UV/IR filters. For color, the camera is worthless without.

I used mine a few days ago with 35/75 .

 

[pepeguitarra]

I am new to Leica, I got a Leica M8 last week. I purchased the Nokton 35/1.4 and I am extremely happy with it. I do have a question that i have not seen anywere: I have a bunch of great Super Takumar lenses (M42 mount) that I used with Pentax cameras. I purchased an adapter from M42-to Leica M mount. However, when I install the lens (I use the smallest 35/3.5) on the camera, I cannot focus. I can see the little parallelogram in the center, but I do not see the two images to merge them and get focus. I use the camera manually, or in Aperture Priority and still cannot focus. Has any one used any lens like this on a Leica? What am I doing wrong? THanks, Pepe

 

[pagpow]

Pepe,
If I am reading you right, you are doing nothing wrong. The M42 lenses are SLR lenses, so have no rangefinder cam to allow focusing with the rangefinder. The M42 to Leica M mount allows the lens to be mounted on the camera but does not provide for rangefinder focus. Some folks have successfully modified M42 lenses to operate the rangefinder but this involves more than buying an M42-Leica M converter.
A setup like yours is best when using wide angle lenses and zone focusing.
Good luck.
Giorgio

 

[pepeguitarra]

THank you. i guess that would be true for the Leica 50mm f2 Summicron-R Lens, or is there an exception for the Leica SLRs? I got this for my Canon, but I wanted to get an adapter from R-to M. THanks.

 

[adietrich]

I am using the Lux 1.4/50, mainly for portraits, and I have to admit it is a bit temperamental, as it isn't shy to point out the slightest focussing errors on my side. However, when everything is aligned well, the results are stunning.

 

[Lss]

THank you. i guess that would be true for the Leica 50mm f2 Summicron-R Lens

Yes, it is also an SLR lens that you can mount via an adapter but it won't allow rangefinder focusing.

You need to look into M mount and LTM mount lenses for your M8.

 

[pepeguitarra]

Yes, it is also an SLR lens that you can mount via an adapter but it won't allow rangefinder focusing.

You need to look into M mount and LTM mount lenses for your M8.

Thank you. That helps a lot.
Pepe

 

[k.a]

i'm mostly using my 28 mm elmarit asph for everyday use. it's small, light and superb image quality. as a compliment, i also use a 50 mm (hade a few, prefer the summilux pre asph) for portraits.

 

[albygentle]

are you using 50mm for portraits on m8? i mean, i can understand why...i used 100mm when i used Nikon.

 

[k.a]

are you using 50mm for portraits on m8? i mean, i can understand why...i used 100mm when i used Nikon.

yes. on the M8 the 50 mm is a short tele-lens (approx 68 mm ekv) and you get a shallow depth of field, but it's still easy to focus since you use a lot of the viewfinder. i've tried longer lenses on the M8 but i find lenses like the 90 mm's to be harder to focus correctly.