M8 lens wishlist

[Robin Harrison]

Considering the Tri-Elmar, and the Konica 21-35, it occurred to me that a lens of huge utility on the M8 would be a Bi-Elmarit 25-35 f2.8. Feasible?

Next on my list would be a compact (think 35mm pre-ASPH summilux or 40mm summicron-C) 28/f2 or 28mm/f1.4, built for the reduced 1.3 crop in the interests of price and size. Feasible?

Thirdly, as a nice compact tele, how about a collapsible 75mm f2.8 with a build in hood? Feasible?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Considering the Tri-Elmar, and the Konica 21-35, it occurred to me that a lens of huge utility on the M8 would be a Bi-Elmarit 25-35 f2.8. Feasible?

Next on my list would be a compact (think 35mm pre-ASPH summilux or 40mm summicron-C) 28/f2 or 28mm/f1.4, built for the reduced 1.3 crop in the interests of price and size. Feasible?

Thirdly, as a nice compact tele, how about a collapsible 75mm f2.8 with a build in hood? Feasible?

(A) Possibly, though f/2.8 might be pushing it.

(B) Better still a 24/2.8 or 24/2, but making digi-only lenses is something everyone is nervous about. Perhaps an opportunity for a third-party maker (think Kobalux).

(C) No. The mount is too restrictive for the speed and the cost of building a collapsible is too high. But have you tried the 75/2.5 Summarit-M?

I could be wrong about all of the above but several decades' observation and reasonable familiarity with several manufacturers leads me to suspect otherwise.

Cheers,

R.

 

[cmogi10]

My wishlist...
35/2.0 ASPH 35/1.4 ASPH
50/20 and 50/1.4 ASPH
and maybe a MATE and a WATE

Pocket change eh?

 

[hdrmd]

My wish would be for a 21mm F2.0 and a 15mm F 2.8. Both of manageable size and cost. DR

 

[etrigan63]

I dream of CV 50mm Nokton f/1.0 in M-mount. I cannot afford a Noctilux.

 

[Paul Kay]

18mm f/2 or 2.8

 

[Andy Aitken]

How about a 60mm f1.4 - then it would match the "50mm" framelines on the M8 and, with the crop factor, make a nice 80mm portrait lens.

 

[Robin Harrison]

(A) Possibly, though f/2.8 might be pushing it.

(B) Better still a 24/2.8 or 24/2, but making digi-only lenses is something everyone is nervous about. Perhaps an opportunity for a third-party maker (think Kobalux).

(C) No. The mount is too restrictive for the speed and the cost of building a collapsible is too high. But have you tried the 75/2.5 Summarit-M?

I could be wrong about all of the above but several decades' observation and reasonable familiarity with several manufacturers leads me to suspect otherwise.

Cheers,

R.

A) I figure if f3.4 is possible at 21 end of a 21-35, f2.8 should be possible at the short end of a 25-35. But then again f2.8 zooms in the DLR sphere are considerable bigger than their prime cousins. Does the retrofocus design put even more demands on vari-focal lenses?

B) Maybe if the M8 had been a 1.5x crop, or an R-D2/Bessa-D had shown itself, we might have seen Voigtlander step up on this front, but I suppose 1.3x crop is that much closer to full frame. Additionally, with the restiction on certain distinct framelines in rangefinder cameras, making classic focal length equivalant lenses would not sit well with providing backward compatability.

C) Could you expand on "The mount is too restrictive for the speed"? As you've probably already realised, I'm only assuming extensions of proven possibilities. My thinking here: 75mm f2 - possible. 50mm f2 collapsible - possible. 90mm f4 collapsible - possible. 75mm f2.8 collapsible - ?

 

[Robin Harrison]

How about a 60mm f1.4 - then it would match the "50mm" framelines on the M8 and, with the crop factor, make a nice 80mm portrait lens.

You feel the framelines are that far out? I happily use a 40mm with the 35 framlines, but 50-60mm seems like too big a jump.