New to the M

[sunghei]

Hey guys,

I have waiting to jump into Rf for a year and I finally cant help myself and get a M8.2. I have done some SLR before but RF is completely. new to me. Very excited to get started. So i have a few questions that I hope you guys can help with.

1) I am getting a hand me down leica collapsible 50mm, I heard that the glass is soft, so I shouldnt clean it at all? or other general advise for handling this lens?

2) Since i spend most of my money on the M8.2. What should i get for a starter glass?

Thanks

 

[Vics]

The collapsible (Summicron?) should be fine for starters. The lens is only too soft for improper cleaning. You'll have to clean it occasionally, just learn to do it properly.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

What FOV do you normally shoot? Remember you have a 1.33 cropped sensor in the M8. So that 50 is going to act a third longer.

It's why the 28mm and 35mm Leica M Mount lenses became even more popular and hard to find as they come close to 35mm and 50mm FOVs.

 

[sunghei]

You'll have to clean it occasionally, just learn to do it properly.

So what is your cleaning technique?

I usually use spectra grad methanol, i think that may be too harsh for this lens

 

[sunghei]

I shot the 50mm a lot on both FF and APSC. So i can both ways is fine. if i get a 35mm, any good recommendations (not costing an arm and a leg)?

 

[Godfrey]

Hey guys,

I have waiting to jump into Rf for a year and I finally cant help myself and get a M8.2. I have done some SLR before but RF is completely. new to me. Very excited to get started. So i have a few questions that I hope you guys can help with.

1) I am getting a hand me down leica collapsible 50mm, I heard that the glass is soft, so I shouldnt clean it at all? or other general advise for handling this lens?

2) Since i spend most of my money on the M8.2. What should i get for a starter glass?

Thanks

- The glass isn't soft, but the older lenses (1950s, early 1960s) have relatively fragile antireflection coatings that scratch easily. Clean with care: dust them off and only wipe them with a clean microfiber lens cloth when they need it.

Be very very careful with collapsible lenses on the M8/M9 digital bodies. Only a few can be collapsed without damaging the shutter or sensor. It's best to wind a piece of tape on the extended portion of the lens barrel so you cannot collapse it. The film cameras have a lot more space in their interior for collapsible lenses.

- You cannot go wrong with a Voigtländer Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5 lens (the M-mount version might be named differently), and it sells for about $410 (plus $60 for the matching bayonet vented lens hood). It's a real bargain and a brilliant performer, also very small and light weight for great portability.

G

 

[Vics]

So what is your cleaning technique?

I usually use spectra grad methanol, i think that may be too harsh for this lens

I don't use cleaning fluid (no particular reason), I just use a little brush to remove most of the dust then, if need be, I fog the glass with my breath and wipe the glass gently in circles with a micro-fiber lens-cleaning cloth. I've never scratched one yet.

 

[garygraphy]

best bang for buck is CV 35mm f1.4 SC

that was my first m mount lens when i got my M8 4 years ago. simple basic compact lens but suffers from focus shift. i

 

[Ronald M]

Whatever lens you pick, get one that takes the uv/ir filters. Just buy one for every lens and leave it on. Cleaning will not be a problem.

Colors are distorted without them, not just blacks.

Then when you add the filters, the corners go cyan. So the fix is to 6 bit code the lens flange so the camera can identify the lens and make proper corrections.

There is a wealth of info in the Leica Forum.

The cameras are a money pit so be sure you have reserves.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/international-user-forum/

M8 section is second one down. Spend a lot of time reading.

If you do monochrome, then none of the color issues will bother you.

 

[sunghei]

Thanks Everyone! I think i will hunt for a cv 35mm 1.4 and some filters. you guys are very helpful

 

[theno23]

I really like the Voigtlander 35/1.7 Ultron, it's small and has a good focus action. I don't think they make it anymore, but there's a reasonable number available used.

I found the 1.4 a bit too soft.

- Steve

 

[kshapero]

best bang for buck is CV 35mm f1.4 SC

that was my first m mount lens when i got my M8 4 years ago. simple basic compact lens but suffers from focus shift. i

agree, was going to post this

 

[froyd]

I really like the Voigtlander 35/1.7 Ultron, it's small and has a good focus action. I don't think they make it anymore, but there's a reasonable number available used.

I found the 1.4 a bit too soft.

- Steve

To each his won, but I found the Ultron too big for a 35 and it's heavy. Also the long minimum focusing of 0.9m is less than ideal and the focus throw not the quickest.... so my advice would be to try before you buy, if you can.