yanidel
Well-known
Two years after the introduction of the M8 and the switch from 24x36 to the 1.33 crop sensor, the lens kit of many must have gone through a long period of trial and lens swapping to adapt to the new system.
I myself went from the R-D1 to the M8 and changed most of my lenses and it took only a few months. This partly because of focal lengths equivalents, M8 specifics, but also because of curiosity, or sometimes, simple GAS.
The question is : what is your current "core" lens kit (the ones you mostly use) and what was it before ?
So here I start :
CV15mm had it previously on R-D1
CV25mm M new, to match the widest framelines of the M8
Industar 69 new, the George Lucas special effects lens
35mm Summicron IV replaced the CV28 to have same FOV than RD1's.
90mm Tele-Elmarit. new, light and low cost tele with framlelines in M8.
Sold or mostly unused : 5 CV's, 1 Leica, 5 Jupiter's
This has been quite a ride (a fun one though) to in the end come to the conclusion that the 35mm Summicron IV is the lens that stays 90% of the time on the M8 and fits the way I see the world ...
What is your experience ?
I myself went from the R-D1 to the M8 and changed most of my lenses and it took only a few months. This partly because of focal lengths equivalents, M8 specifics, but also because of curiosity, or sometimes, simple GAS.
The question is : what is your current "core" lens kit (the ones you mostly use) and what was it before ?
So here I start :
CV15mm had it previously on R-D1
CV25mm M new, to match the widest framelines of the M8
Industar 69 new, the George Lucas special effects lens
35mm Summicron IV replaced the CV28 to have same FOV than RD1's.
90mm Tele-Elmarit. new, light and low cost tele with framlelines in M8.
Sold or mostly unused : 5 CV's, 1 Leica, 5 Jupiter's
This has been quite a ride (a fun one though) to in the end come to the conclusion that the 35mm Summicron IV is the lens that stays 90% of the time on the M8 and fits the way I see the world ...
What is your experience ?
J. Borger
Well-known
My experience is that the search for the ultimate setup costs a lot of money.
My most expensive lenses at the moment are the 28mm summicron and 50 summilux asph. Some people call this a dream pair. But it are my least used lenses.
I went through all the available 35mm Leica lenses to finaly end-up with my first love (the 35 summilux pre-asph), which was my prefered lens on the R-D1.
I made the fault to sell this lens after buying the M8 and spent a lot of money buying, selling trying and dumping 35mm lenses to endup with another 35 summilux pre-asph LOL
A 35mm lens is 60% on my camera and 40% a 50mm (in my case preferable a type1 rigid summicron or the Zeiss Sonnar 1,5) .
My cv 15 and 28mm summicron do only get used very seldom.
My most expensive lenses at the moment are the 28mm summicron and 50 summilux asph. Some people call this a dream pair. But it are my least used lenses.
I went through all the available 35mm Leica lenses to finaly end-up with my first love (the 35 summilux pre-asph), which was my prefered lens on the R-D1.
I made the fault to sell this lens after buying the M8 and spent a lot of money buying, selling trying and dumping 35mm lenses to endup with another 35 summilux pre-asph LOL
A 35mm lens is 60% on my camera and 40% a 50mm (in my case preferable a type1 rigid summicron or the Zeiss Sonnar 1,5) .
My cv 15 and 28mm summicron do only get used very seldom.
figfoto
figfoto
24mm elmarit 75 % of the time (35mm cron IV when traveling lite). 50 1.4 Lux for portraits.
Just sold 90 mm cron (old ver.) for 75 mm cron, so far very pleased with results,will post soon.
Just sold 90 mm cron (old ver.) for 75 mm cron, so far very pleased with results,will post soon.
Ken Shipman
Well-known
For film: 24, 35, 50, 75. For the M8 I just added an 18mm ZM.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
I see the M8 as a transition to a 24x36 M9. so I'm not keen on unloading FF-coverage lenses.
The M8 seems more 'lens specific' to me than film, i.e. I see bigger differences between favourites and others. Favourite lenses on M8: 15/4.5 Voigtländer, 21/2.8 Kobalux, 50/1.5 C-Sonnar, 90/2.2 Thambar, 135/2.8 Elmarit. Favourite for MP (still in use) 35/1.4 pre-aspheric, 75/2 Summicron.
Cheers,
R.
The M8 seems more 'lens specific' to me than film, i.e. I see bigger differences between favourites and others. Favourite lenses on M8: 15/4.5 Voigtländer, 21/2.8 Kobalux, 50/1.5 C-Sonnar, 90/2.2 Thambar, 135/2.8 Elmarit. Favourite for MP (still in use) 35/1.4 pre-aspheric, 75/2 Summicron.
Cheers,
R.
icebear
Veteran
eleskin
Well-known
George Lucas?
George Lucas?
Where did George Lucas come from?
I am ignorant of this. What is his relation to the Industar 69?
George Lucas?
Where did George Lucas come from?
I am ignorant of this. What is his relation to the Industar 69?
yanidel
Well-known
It's an analogy between the drawing of the lens and George Lucas movies ... the soft corners and vignetting really give the pictures an impression of acceleration into the past or future, just like his space ships ...
Roger Hicks
Veteran
FF M9, he he, that would be tempting ....
I'm reasonably confident it will happen (so are Leica) and although it's a guess on my part that they will save the M9 name until then, it seems likely. Just not in the next 2-3 years, maybe not even the next 5; but I'd be surprised if it were 10 (and so would Leica). Hence the desirability of the M8/M8.2 as intermediate steps.
Cheers,
Roger
jky
Well-known
film: 35mm & 50mm (50 has been sold)
M8: 28mm & 35mm
FF drf w/ mount: add another 50mm (shouldn't have sold the old one in the first place )
M8: 28mm & 35mm
FF drf w/ mount: add another 50mm (shouldn't have sold the old one in the first place
)
furcafe
Veteran
Since I'm mainly a 50mm guy in the film world, w/35mm a close 2nd, 35mm (mostly the 35 'lux ASPH) has become my "core" focal length on the M8. The only changes I've made were acquiring some 28mm's to recapture the 35-40mm field of view. I was disappointed to see that Leica doesn't plan to introduce a 28/1.4 (@ Leica prices, the 24/1.4 & 21/1.4 are too wide for me to use often enough on my film bodies).
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
For me its been a long & FUN road
i went in one year:
from the GRD1 to the GRD2
to an RD1s
to an M4
at present I own only the M4 (& borrow Eric's RD1)
With lenses I have gone from :
CV 35 /2.5
CV 15
Industar 61
Jupiter 3
Elmar / 35/2.5 uncoated 1928
Canon 35/1.8
Canon 28/2.8
Elmar 90/4.
Summicron /90
Lux /50/1.4 pre asph
DR Summicron/50/2
Biogon35/2
The only lenses I plan to keep & ADORE:
Lux /50
DR Cron /50
elmar 35/3.5
If anyone is interested, Please PM me:
I will sell what I haven't traded or sold already:
Industar 61, Jupiter 3, Canon 35/1.8
BEST TO ALL, H
i went in one year:
from the GRD1 to the GRD2
to an RD1s
to an M4
at present I own only the M4 (& borrow Eric's RD1)
With lenses I have gone from :
CV 35 /2.5
CV 15
Industar 61
Jupiter 3
Elmar / 35/2.5 uncoated 1928
Canon 35/1.8
Canon 28/2.8
Elmar 90/4.
Summicron /90
Lux /50/1.4 pre asph
DR Summicron/50/2
Biogon35/2
The only lenses I plan to keep & ADORE:
Lux /50
DR Cron /50
elmar 35/3.5
If anyone is interested, Please PM me:
I will sell what I haven't traded or sold already:
Industar 61, Jupiter 3, Canon 35/1.8
BEST TO ALL, H
Last edited:
cmogi10
Bodhisattva
Eventually it will be.
24/2.8 Asph
35/2 Cron
50/2 Cron
50/1 Noctilux
Perfect. Biogon's in the classifieds soon.
24/2.8 Asph
35/2 Cron
50/2 Cron
50/1 Noctilux
Perfect. Biogon's in the classifieds soon.
Tom Niblick
Well-known
Right now I'm using:
M8 with 35 V4 Summicron, 21/2.8 ZM Biogon, 90/2.8 Elmarit M
M4 with 35/2.5 CV (latest M style), 50 DR Summicron, 90 TeleElmarit
I plan to add a 28 Elmarit to my M8 kit but if anyone had a nice black 28/3.5 CV that they wanted to trade for my mint 35/2.5 CV, I'd be happy to talk to them.
Tom
M8 with 35 V4 Summicron, 21/2.8 ZM Biogon, 90/2.8 Elmarit M
M4 with 35/2.5 CV (latest M style), 50 DR Summicron, 90 TeleElmarit
I plan to add a 28 Elmarit to my M8 kit but if anyone had a nice black 28/3.5 CV that they wanted to trade for my mint 35/2.5 CV, I'd be happy to talk to them.
Tom
GrahamWelland
Well-known
I've found that picking the 'core' lens is important for building out a system. On my M7 that's a 35 summicron. On the M8 it's been the 28 summicron to which I've ended up with almost the dream team combo now for me:
VC 12
WATE
28/2 'cron
35/2 'cron
50/1.4 'lux
75/2 'cron
135/3.4 APO Telyt
If I'm only using a single lens/camera combo on a trip then I actually like the M8/35 'cron over the 28 'cron. If I could justify it I'd probably stretch for a 35 'lux but that's a tough call at the moment.
Least used on the M8: CV 12 & 135/3.4. Both however have their uses and when you need wide/long they are super useful. I used to have a Noctilux but it's value to use ratio made it turn into a new M8.2
Most used on the M8: 28 'cron followed by the 75 'cron.
The 50 'lux is new to me so it remains to be seen how much I'll use it. So far I LOVE it.
The one area where I do sometimes think about rounding out the system is 90mm. I had the CV 90 and it was a fine lens. I moved to a 90/2 summicron pre-asph which was a nice portrait lens with it's wide open 'glow' but actually a little long for that purpose. I prefer the hyper-sharp ASPH crons but I'm not sure on the M8 that I'd go for the 90/2 ASPH - the recently discontinued 90/2.8 Elmarit seems a better compromise for landscape/travel work for me and doesn't cause my bank account to quiver in fear either (compared to the 90/2 nose bleed pricing these days).
If the world came to a crashing end and I had to buy an outfit again on a more modest budget (it's what I started with), then an M8 with the new CV 28/2 Ultron (my buddy has one of these and rates it) and CV 75/2.5 (ditto) would be a great combo.
It's a great time to be shooting M lenses these days. The choice of Leica, Voigtlander and Zeiss is fabulous! The more Leica push up the prices to stupid levels the more business must be going CV & Zeiss's way. If you consider that the majority of activity with Leica glass seems to be with USED glass (no benefit to Leica!) vs NEW glass with CV/Zeiss, the impact on Leica must be significant.
Note to self: NEVER sell Leica lenses ... you'll only end up buying them again sometime later!
VC 12
WATE
28/2 'cron
35/2 'cron
50/1.4 'lux
75/2 'cron
135/3.4 APO Telyt
If I'm only using a single lens/camera combo on a trip then I actually like the M8/35 'cron over the 28 'cron. If I could justify it I'd probably stretch for a 35 'lux but that's a tough call at the moment.
Least used on the M8: CV 12 & 135/3.4. Both however have their uses and when you need wide/long they are super useful. I used to have a Noctilux but it's value to use ratio made it turn into a new M8.2
Most used on the M8: 28 'cron followed by the 75 'cron.
The 50 'lux is new to me so it remains to be seen how much I'll use it. So far I LOVE it.
The one area where I do sometimes think about rounding out the system is 90mm. I had the CV 90 and it was a fine lens. I moved to a 90/2 summicron pre-asph which was a nice portrait lens with it's wide open 'glow' but actually a little long for that purpose. I prefer the hyper-sharp ASPH crons but I'm not sure on the M8 that I'd go for the 90/2 ASPH - the recently discontinued 90/2.8 Elmarit seems a better compromise for landscape/travel work for me and doesn't cause my bank account to quiver in fear either (compared to the 90/2 nose bleed pricing these days).
If the world came to a crashing end and I had to buy an outfit again on a more modest budget (it's what I started with), then an M8 with the new CV 28/2 Ultron (my buddy has one of these and rates it) and CV 75/2.5 (ditto) would be a great combo.
It's a great time to be shooting M lenses these days. The choice of Leica, Voigtlander and Zeiss is fabulous! The more Leica push up the prices to stupid levels the more business must be going CV & Zeiss's way. If you consider that the majority of activity with Leica glass seems to be with USED glass (no benefit to Leica!) vs NEW glass with CV/Zeiss, the impact on Leica must be significant.
Note to self: NEVER sell Leica lenses ... you'll only end up buying them again sometime later!
meven
Well-known
How about your C-Sonnar 50/1.5? Want to sell it (to me)?
Dingo
Well-known
meven
Well-known
GAS GAS GAS
You got me here!!:bang:
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
My kit is a 35mm v.4 Cron and CZ Planar on my film bodies and the same again with a 28mm Ultron 1.9 added for the M8.
I don't bother having loads of lenses and tend to stick with the Cron on the M8 and the Planar on one of the film bodies. The Ultron doesn't get that much use more because its a little sticky on the focus and it doesn't quite do it for me as much as the Cron.
I don't bother having loads of lenses and tend to stick with the Cron on the M8 and the Planar on one of the film bodies. The Ultron doesn't get that much use more because its a little sticky on the focus and it doesn't quite do it for me as much as the Cron.
akiralx
Established
My main kit consists of the 28 and 75 Summicrons. The latter is my favourite lens on the M8. Both are indispensible if you can afford them.
I am trying to sell a 24 Elmarit as I don't like the focal length.
Another lens I will keep is the Zeiss 21 f/4.5 - I love the pictures I get from this compact lens, and the build is better than any Leica lens I own.
One lens I do regret buying a bit is an old 50 Summicron, with all in one cap/hood. I've mounted it now on the M8 to use it a bit.
I'm thinking of upgrading to a 50 Summilux ASPH - but veering off to the Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar - may be more interesting, cheaper, and as the 50 Summilux draws similarly tio the 75 Summicron, it could give a different look for me. But I'd like it optimized for f/1.5 not f/2.8 - are they all like that now?
I am trying to sell a 24 Elmarit as I don't like the focal length.
Another lens I will keep is the Zeiss 21 f/4.5 - I love the pictures I get from this compact lens, and the build is better than any Leica lens I own.
One lens I do regret buying a bit is an old 50 Summicron, with all in one cap/hood. I've mounted it now on the M8 to use it a bit.
I'm thinking of upgrading to a 50 Summilux ASPH - but veering off to the Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar - may be more interesting, cheaper, and as the 50 Summilux draws similarly tio the 75 Summicron, it could give a different look for me. But I'd like it optimized for f/1.5 not f/2.8 - are they all like that now?