Please help me choose lens for first M8.2

[bullshark]

I have limited budget, please help me choose two lens, or even one for my upcoming M8.2. I will do 80% portrait and street shot, sometimes landscape.

1, Get the Leica 28mm/2.8 Asph, can this be a one lens for landscape and street shot?

2, CV 15mm/4.5 M + CV 40mm/1.4 SC, I think 40mm has better reputation than the new 35mm/1.4.

3, CV 15MM/4.5 M + Zeiss 28m/2.8.

4, better idea?

Thanks for any suggestion.

 

[axiom]

get for the Leica 28/2.8 asph
why? coz it's Leica
it's compact

On an R-D1, I use a Zeiss 21 c-biogon as a walkaround
so the angle of view would be about the same for a 28mm on M8

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Don't go for reputation. What are your needs? What is it you photograph? Pick a focal length and remember that, to get it to work, you must apply the cropping factor (which I cannot recall).

If I were in your shoes, I'd pick the Leica 28mm for the simple reason that I like the 35mm FOV. Given the cropping factor in this camera, IIRC, the 28mm lens will give me an FOV similar to that of the 35mm.

How about you? What's your preferred focal length in film?

 

[35mmdelux]

Id go with the Leica 28/2.8 ASPH. Makes for a compact rig of the highest quality.

 

[bullshark]

Thanks folks.
I just wondering will 28mm be to long for landscape? will a 15mm+40mm be better combination?

 

[Traut]

Heresy for certain, but why would one, on a budget, choose an 8.2 if they weren't migrating from Leica film? Don't misunderstand me - I love my Leica's like hunting dogs- they do a great job and please me for their aesthetical beauty. There are better digital choices out there and the list is growing.

Thanks.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Don't go for reputation. What are your needs? What is it you photograph? Pick a focal length and remember that, to get it to work, you must apply the cropping factor (which I cannot recall).

I concur. Reputation on the Intertoobes is as reliable for objectivity as it is using it as a model for spelling and grammar. :angel:


If you are looking for a wide angle and have the money, get the Zeiss 15mm f/2.8 (and a 21mm viewfinder). I'm sure the lens will work for "street" just as well.

It's all about your needs and your means!

 

[bullshark]

Heresy for certain, but why would one, on a budget, choose an 8.2 if they weren't migrating from Leica film? Don't misunderstand me - I love my Leica's like hunting dogs- they do a great job and please me for their aesthetical beauty. There are better digital choices out there and the list is growing.

Thanks.

I can afford, however need to use money on a new car as well. So I don't want to spend over $1200 on the lens, for now. 😛

 

[johannielscom]

Get an M-Hexanon 28mm f.28 and a 50mm f2.0. They will not set you back as much as the Leica 28mm for the two of them, and they are very capable and extremely well built lenses.

The 50mm f.20 is a 66mm on the M8.2 and it is a brilliant portrait lens when used wide open, it focusses down to 0.7 mtrs too.

B&W makes a Leica-identical IR-filter for it, it has a 40.5mm thread. The 28mm is a 46mm thread, Leica-available.

Using a 40mm as a portrait lens does not make a lot of sense to me, it's a 52mm equivalent, you need more 'tele' than that, just that little bit more!


EDIT: Heck, have a look at the Dante Stella 'write-up' of the 90mm too!

 

[spikey]

I find the 28mm the best allround lens for my M8 - I use the 28/f2 ASPH.

And re M8.2 vs other digital - I am very happy to mave bought it, even though I had no leica equipment before. Different way of shooting to DSLR or digital p&s. Small enough (and light) to be taken with you....

 

[bullshark]

Thanks guys.

Any vote for VC 40+15? Seems no one like this combination.

 

[Ben Z]

I can afford, however need to use money on a new car as well. So I don't want to spend over $1200 on the lens, for now. 😛

First, look for used lenses. Second, go for immediate-prior-generation Leica lenses or Voitlanders. For $1200 you could get a 21 Elmarit pre-ASPH and a '69-73 50 Summicron. OR you could get (used) Voitlander 15+28/1.9+50/1.5 (or 75/2.5)+90/3.5. All superlative lenses.

 

[johannielscom]

First, look for used lenses.

I agree, save yourself some bucks.

Second, go for immediate-prior-generation Leica lenses or Voitlanders. For $1200 you could get a 21 Elmarit pre-ASPH and a '69-73 50 Summicron.

Now I don't know about the Elmarit, but I would take the earlier mentioned M-Hexanon 50mm f2.0 over the older Summicron, the M-Hexanon is a modern lens, on par with the immediate-prior-generation Leica lenses, I got mine for as little as EUR 300.00, New in Box. Most Summicrons will cost you more! Wanna see what it looks like? It's in my avatar!

OR you could get (used) Voitlander 15+28/1.9+50/1.5 (or 75/2.5)+90/3.5. All superlative lenses.

In a recent thread quite a few (former) owners dismissed the Voigtlander 28mm f1.9 for its harshness. I think it was a 'dissapointed in which gear' thread started by Roger Hicks. I have never owned the 75mm Heliar, but from looking at the shots from others, I thinks it's an underrated lens and it would make a nice 100mm portrait lens on the M8, too!

Still, I'd go with the M-Hexanon 90mm f2.8, suggested above.😎

Guess I'm a bit narrow-minded when it comes to the M-Hexanons...😀

 

[Ben Z]

Now I don't know about the Elmarit, but I would take the earlier mentioned M-Hexanon 50mm f2.0 over the older Summicron, the M-Hexanon is a modern lens, on par with the immediate-prior-generation Leica lenses,

Back when the Hexar RF was still in production there was a big deal (scandal?) revolving around the M-Hexanon lenses not having exactly the same exit-pupil-to-image-plane standard as Leica lenses. E. Puts wrote quite a bit about it. It was controversial to be sure, one reason being the suggestion that film flatness/curvature/emulsion thickness played into the issue. Since the M8's image plane is not curved, and focus issues seem to be more critical, I would ask: do you use these lenses on an M8, or are you opining based on using them on film?

In a recent thread quite a few (former) owners dismissed the Voigtlander 28mm f1.9 for its harshness.

I can't speak for the esthetic taste of others, but I own that lens as well as a 4th-gen 28 Elmarit and I have no idea what anyone could be seeing as "harshness" with the Ultron. I would be the first to admit it is no 28 Summicron @ f/1.9-2 in terms of corner sharpness or contrast (not that it matters to me for the type of shots I make with it at that aperture), but otherwise it's a splendid lens in every way I can think of.

I have never owned the 75mm Heliar, but from looking at the shots from others, I thinks it's an underrated lens

I don't know who underrated it. Sean Reid compares it favorably to the 75 Summarit, and it holds its own to the 75 Summicron and Summilux at least by f/4-5.6. I've never read a bad review of it. I think that the 75mm focal length generates more interest now with the M8, because the crop factor makes it the closest effective 1.33x length to the ever-popular 90 on full-frame.

 

[oldoc]

If you like landscape and portrait, you can't forget the crop factor, to remind you of the perfectly obvious. The first generation summilux 50 can often be had reasonably, but I vote for the M-hexanon 50 used with the hex 28. The combo, used, is probably a little more than 1200, unless you can get a gokd deal on the 28, which can be tough to find, much less deal on. A good deal on the Zeiss 21/50 pairing my be more likely, since they are more plentiful. You still stand to spend 1400 there, though, but they are both great pieces. Their build quality is below the Hex, though. They are superior to the CV pairing, at least in my hands. My bias is to go quality, and get one lens: 35 mm cron version 4 if you can.

 

[Ben Z]

A good deal on the Zeiss 21/50 pairing my be more likely, since they are more plentiful. You still stand to spend 1400 there, though, but they are both great pieces. Their build quality is below the Hex, though. They are superior to the CV pairing, at least in my hands. My bias is to go quality, and get one lens: 35 mm cron version 4 if you can.

I've got a mixture of older and newer Leica lenses as well as several Voitlanders, and while maybe the Leica lenses would hold up better if I played handball with them, for use in photography the build quality of the Voitlander lenses is well up to the task. And the fact you can replace one for less than the cost of repairing a drop-damaged Leica lens pretty much takes the bite out of any economic argument 😀 BTW the version 4 35mm Cron (which I own) build-quality is nothing to crow about. It's a tiny lens and the tendency is to grab it by the hood when mounting and dismounting, and the front half of the lens is fixed with superglue, not grubscrews, and it will eventually loosen. The Version III (which I also have) is head and shoulders better built. As are (I know some may disagree) pretty much all the prior generations compared to the latest one.

 

[Photon42]

I'd go for a 28/50 combo. The 2.8/28 Elmarit is great plus no issues with coding for newbies. There is the Nokton CV 1.5/50, which can be had at a very attractive price point. You will need a Screw Mount to M adapter for that lens. As I don't have the lens, maybe someone else can comment on it from first hand experience.

That pair of lenses gives you some low light capabilities plus one very slick 28mm configuration.

Regards
Ivo

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I've always contemplated a 25mm or 28mm Biogon for the M8. I loved the 35mm f/2 Biogon's images, even wide open, so I'm sure I wouldn't be disappointed.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

... Any vote for VC 40+15? Seems no one like this combination.

It seems to me you already have your mind made up. It makes me wonder why you bothered to post the question at all.

 

[johannielscom]

Back when the Hexar RF was still in production there was a big deal (scandal?) revolving around the M-Hexanon lenses not having exactly the same exit-pupil-to-image-plane standard as Leica lenses. E. Puts wrote quite a bit about it. It was controversial to be sure, one reason being the suggestion that film flatness/curvature/emulsion thickness played into the issue. Since the M8's image plane is not curved, and focus issues seem to be more critical, I would ask: do you use these lenses on an M8, or are you opining based on using them on film?

I use them on an M3, an M5 and the M8, I have not ever seen any focus shift on either of them. Used the 50mm f2.0 on Minolta CLE, no trouble either. I shoot the 50mm f1.2 on M5 and M8 currently (the M3 is sick, it needs to have a CLA) and it's doing fine on both. About focus issues being more critical, I do not agree with you, the 1.33x crop factor on the M8 slightly increases DOF, so focus is less critical, albeit marginally.
Erwin Puts is putting off anything non-Leica all the time, IMHO. Personally I put no faith in his reviews. According to fellow RFF-er Maddoc, Tommy Oshima shoots a Noctilux on the Hexar RF, if there were any truth in the story he'd have trouble with that combo. I put no faith in the film curvature story either, film does not curve differently when a Leica lens is mounted.

I can't speak for the esthetic taste of others, but I own that lens as well as a 4th-gen 28 Elmarit and I have no idea what anyone could be seeing as "harshness" with the Ultron. I would be the first to admit it is no 28 Summicron @ f/1.9-2 in terms of corner sharpness or contrast (not that it matters to me for the type of shots I make with it at that aperture), but otherwise it's a splendid lens in every way I can think of.

Like said, I have no hands on experience with the lens. Not trying to put the Ultron down here, just pointing out the existence of a thread were several people stated disappointment with the lens. The OP might wanna get in touch with them and ask for shots while orientating.

I don't know who underrated it. Sean Reid compares it favorably to the 75 Summarit, and it holds its own to the 75 Summicron and Summilux at least by f/4-5.6. I've never read a bad review of it. I think that the 75mm focal length generates more interest now with the M8, because the crop factor makes it the closest effective 1.33x length to the ever-popular 90 on full-frame.

I say, it's underrated here on the forum. I see a lot more shots with the Summilux 75mm than with the Heliar 75mm on this forum. Nobody ever mentions it in threads.

Anyone wanna throw in some Heliar 75mm shots, for good measure?😉