Noctilux and Super Wide Heliar combo with M8

[eleskin]

As of late, I have been using my Noctilux and new 15mm Super Wide Heliar in the same bag with my M8 only. The Heliar I am using alot by scale focusing and holding the camera at lower angles, or just below my chin. On the other extreme, the Noctilux has been demanding of exact focus, but has yealded the rewards I have been after since I bought it 3 months ago (I just received it in the mail from Allendale NJ. It was in Germany for over a month for readjustment under a repair warrenty which came with the lens under an Ebay purchase. The did one hell of a job on it! Absolute perfection! A++++!!! for Leica!!!). What is striking to me is I am being drawn to two extreme focal lengths that behave very differently, but yet comlement each other. By using th Heliar in the way I am, I am using instinct and feel by not looking through the viewfinder (a friend of mine said I was taking photos with my eyes, not the camera). With the Noct, extreme use of the viewfinder (very critical focus). Later today I will post pics. I just wonder who else here is attracted to these two beasts, and would consider going out with them as their only two lenses in the camera bag?

 

[eleskin]

Luke Skywalker and the 15mm Heliar

Luke Skywalker and the 15mm Heliar

I just remembered a scene from Star Wars where Luke was wearing a helmet with a blindfold and using "The Force" to see rather than his eyes. I thought of this in relation to what I just wrote here about the use of these two lenses. When I was at Pratt Institute in 1991, my Professor Phil Perkis said I would use lenses so much, I would not need to hold the camera to my eye, and compose perfectly, kind of like a third eye for photograhy. Just my 10 1/2 cents here!

 

[__hh]

I am moving to "just" the 35 and 75 Summilux pair. If I want wider, the CV21 will come along mounted on a film body.

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

Two of my favorites with the M8. The 15 currently is my ultra WA of choice, and I alternate among the Nocti, the Millennium Nikkor 50 1.4 (with adapter), or the 50/3.5 Heliar as my 50 depending on need.

A full kit now is the 15, the early Tri Elmar, one or two of the 50's, the 85 Apo Lanthar, and the 135/2.8 Elmarit with goggles.