Three lens combo for M8

[harmsr]

Rog,

I think your 28/50 combo is a good start. I have 28/35/50/75 lenses and expect that the two lens combo of 28/50 will get the most use.

Once again, try rangefinder photography and see what works for you and your style of photography before going wild on lenses. It is also very fun and informative to master one lens well before moving onto other lenses.

I haven't used the Zeiss lenses to make any comments on how they compare to the Leica glass. Hopefully someone else with actual experience on both can chime in.

I will have to disagree with jaapv about the 24 frame lines. I wear glasses and can not see the 24 frame lines in the M8 (with the 1.33 crop and .68x VF). For comparison, I can not see the 28 lines but I can see the 35 frame lines in the .72x VF of a film M. The 28 lines in the M8 are easier for me to see than the 35 frame lines are in an M7.

Best,

Ray

 

[jaapv]

I will have to disagree with jaapv about the 24 frame lines. I wear glasses and can not see the 24 frame lines in the M8 (with the 1.33 crop and .68x VF). For comparison, I can not see the 28 lines but I can see the 35 frame lines in the .72x VF of a film M. The 28 lines in the M8 are easier for me to see than the 35 frame lines are in an M7.

Best,

Ray

I suppose it depends on the glasses one wears. However, Leica does sell compensating lenses for the viewfinder that will solve the problem and if you need a complicated correction there is even an "empty"adapter for the optician to put a compensating lens in.

 

[sgy1962]

I use a rangefinder now with the traditional 35-50-90 lineup. Most of my best pictures are taken with the 50mm focal length. If I were to go to an M8 (fortunately or unfortunately, depending how you look at it, the waiting lists are so long that I won't have to face that question for 6 months to a year or more) I would just keep the 35mm and 50mm lens, giving me a FOV of approximately 45 and 65. Then I would shoot for a bunch and see which of the two results in best pics. Speed wouldn't be an issue, because of the ability to change iso settings "mid-roll", although in my case the 50mm lens is a Summilux.

If I were an eyeglass wearer, which I am, then I would wait until I could demo the camera to determine which framelines I could see. You could probably see at least the framellines for the 28mm lens, given it's FOV and the viewfinder mag.

Three lenses? 28-35-50 or maybe 28-50-75/90. I doubt I could see anything below a 28. To me the 35mm lens on the M8 may be perfect lens. I'm kicking myself because I just sold my 35mm Summilux thinking it was superfluous. But now that I read more about the M8 I see that may have been a desirable lens to keep. Live and learn.

 

[J. Borger]

If i had to choose 3 lenses all would be 35 or 50mm. So i would prefer a 2nd 35 or 2nd 50 (with different fingerprint) above another focal length.
My 21mm & 75mm get little to none serious use!

 

[boilerdoc2]

Easy! 1.) 28-35-50 Tele-Elmarit, 2.) the new 16-18-21 Tele-Elmarit, and 3.) 75 Color Skopar. Now paying for it.....?
Steve

 

[Ben Z]

Currently I have focal lengths 12mm (purchased opportunisticly in anticipation of the M8), 15, 21, 28, 35, 50, 90 and 135. My "standard" travel outfit is 21-35-50-90-135, so my M8 version would be 15-28-35-75-90, except that I have no intention of paying for either of Leica's 75s (or carrying around the Lux) so it'll still be the 90 and 135. I always found 90 a tad short, so the "new" focal length of 120mm will be just right, plus I've been longing for a 180 ever since I abandoned my SLR, and the 135 TE (with or without the Visoflex, will have to see about that) just fits the bill. The 12 will substitute the 15 for those rare ultra-wide shots. So basically I have no need for any new lenses.

 

[gdewitt]

I wish I wish I wish for more choices in VF mag and available framelines.

My ideal three lenses would be 18/35/75. But the 18 would require an accessory finder so that's out. Second best would be 21, but there are no framelines. 24 just isn't wide enough for me, but at least there are framelines, though I won't be able to see them with glasses.

Hey, I thought RF cameras were supposed to be good for wide angles! I guess we all have different definitions of wide angles.

And, jaapv, diopter lenses for the VF don't solve the problem. The problem isn't that the VF is out of focus, the problem has having to take off my glasses for every shot. And contact lenses don't cut it, for those who might suggest that. The solution is lower mag VF and appropriate framelines.

 

[jaapv]

And, jaapv, diopter lenses for the VF don't solve the problem. The problem isn't that the VF is out of focus, the problem has having to take off my glasses for every shot. And contact lenses don't cut it, for those who might suggest that. The solution is lower mag VF and appropriate framelines.

I can symphatize with that problem; after you have taken your glasses of you cannot read the speed dial or aperture ring. I have the same. A chain on the glasses helps a lot though.

 

[ERV]

I decided to start very slowly by buying one lens that I can also use with my current M bodies- a zeiss biogon 28m.
A 28/ 37mm on an M8 will suit me just fine and my existing 35, 40, and 50's can fill in until I decide I need something wider.

 

[gogopix]

Since low lite and range are important to me, I started with 21/2.8, 50/1 and 75/1.4
for some a bit extreme, but it covers the waterfront of 28, 65 and 100mm equivalent.

I find the 35 marginal and 50mm often a bit dull (FOV, not the lens)

In filling in I will go 28/2 to cover the 'meat and poattoes, walkaround (would likely give up the 75 for it if you forced me to 3 lenses)

But all great choices

I noticed a split between the 'cover the center FL, and the 'span the gamut' I guess I am in the latter group. (I also do not need studio portrait in the RF so happy to give up longer FL)

Victor

 

[Ben Z]

diopter lenses for the VF don't solve the problem. The problem isn't that the VF is out of focus, the problem has having to take off my glasses for every shot. And contact lenses don't cut it, for those who might suggest that.

Agreed...in addition, because unlike an SLR where the focusing is all on one plane (the screen) with a direct-view finder the dioptric requirement changes with subject distance. I can see a 20-foot away subject tack-sharp with my glasses but a 3 foot awary subject I need to switch to the bifocal part. A single diopter won't correct for all distances on a rangefinder camera. Agree too that contact lenses aren't for everyone, but I've even read people suggesting to get Lasiked! Yeah, uh huh, sure I'm gonna get eye surgery so I can use a Leica camera :bang:

 

[newyorkone]

Yeah, uh huh, sure I'm gonna get eye surgery so I can use a Leica camera :bang:

I just heard an NPR story today about a new all laser Lasik. It will only cost you about $3500 an eye!

Let's see:

$7000 for lasik
$4800 for the M8
$6-10000 for lenses

Ouch!!!

 

[Grober]

Of course, it depends what your intend to shoot but here's my put for a versatile 3-lens outfit:

25 Biogon
35 Summicron-Asph
75 AA Summicron

(I'm assuming I'll find someone to modify the Biogon's mount so it invokes the 24mm frame on the M8.)

 

[Ben Z]

I just heard an NPR story today about a new all laser Lasik. It will only cost you about $3500 an eye!

Let's see:

$7000 for lasik

Yes but just so you can use a Leica you'd only need to do one eye 😀

 

[Kim]

These would be my 3 lens selection (depends on have fast a lens you want):

1. Zeiss 18mm f4 (24mm on M8)
2. Leica 28mm f2 or f2.8 (37mm on M8)
3. Leica 75mm f2 or f1.4 (100mm on M8)

I have difficulty seeing the 24mm framelines on the M8. If I didn't wear glasses I would choose:

1. Zeiss 18mm f4 (24mm on M8)
1. Leica 24mm 2.8 (32mm on M8)
2. Leica 75mm f2 or f1.4 (100mm on M8)

My main interests would be travel photography and I would use the M8 with another film body as backup. I chose the Zeiss f4 instead of a tri elmar for my super wide angle because it appears more compact; however, it depends on how well it performs. 😀

 

[t_streng]

15-28-50

15-28-50

I allready own more lenses, but if I had to reduce for 3 lenses for the M8 I would probably (pretty sure) go for:

15 - 28/2.0 - 50/1.4

If one likes a little more compressed look maybe 75 instead of 50 (15-28-75)

Actually I think 28 will be my most used lens, followed by 50 followed by 15 (or 16 if I would get the Tri-Elmar)