What do you think makes a better wide standard lens for the M8, 24/25 or 28?

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StuartR

Guest
I was wondering what people preferred on the M8, the 24/25mm lenses or 28mm. It seems like the 24/25 is closer to 35mm field of view (at least it is a bit wider), while the 28mm lenses fall closer to a 40mm lens. I know that these things are marginal, but I was curious if any people preferred one way or the other. The 28mm lenses have the speed advantage with the 28mm f/2 and 28mm f/1.9, while the 28/2.8 ASPH is the most compact.

But anyway, I mostly shoot with a 35mm f/1.4 on film M's, and I find that I am mostly using it on the M8 as well, but I miss the wider lenses. I have 28 and 25mm lenses, but they are not coded and the cyan fringing is too significant for my taste to ignore. I have tried self-coding, but it does not work with the 25mm because the lens mount is wrong. So, I am thinking of selling some stuff and just getting a Leica 28 or 24..but I am still unsure. I don't like 28mm lenses on film very much...the angle of view just does not work for me, but I would miss the speed if I went for the 24mm...f/2 is slow to me for a standard lens, so I am a bit in a conundrum. Well, sorry for the rambling post.
 
StuartR said:
I was wondering what people preferred on the M8, the 24/25mm lenses or 28mm. It seems like the 24/25 is closer to 35mm field of view (at least it is a bit wider), while the 28mm lenses fall closer to a 40mm lens. I know that these things are marginal, but I was curious if any people preferred one way or the other. The 28mm lenses have the speed advantage with the 28mm f/2 and 28mm f/1.9, while the 28/2.8 ASPH is the most compact.

But anyway, I mostly shoot with a 35mm f/1.4 on film M's, and I find that I am mostly using it on the M8 as well, but I miss the wider lenses. I have 28 and 25mm lenses, but they are not coded and the cyan fringing is too significant for my taste to ignore. I have tried self-coding, but it does not work with the 25mm because the lens mount is wrong. So, I am thinking of selling some stuff and just getting a Leica 28 or 24..but I am still unsure. I don't like 28mm lenses on film very much...the angle of view just does not work for me, but I would miss the speed if I went for the 24mm...f/2 is slow to me for a standard lens, so I am a bit in a conundrum. Well, sorry for the rambling post.
Click to expand...


I've noticed that I seem to like more "normal" lenses on my M8 than I do on my Canon 20D. And Im not talking about the difference in magnification factors either. For some reason I like my 35mm F2.5 (nearly 50mm equiv on the M8) where on my 20D I like a 24mm lens (35mm equivent). This doesn't really make any sense but that is what I prefer. Does anyone else have this experience? I could generalize this experience to say that with rangefinders I am generally content with a more limited focal range than I am with a DSLR. It's a good thing too because that is a natural limitations of a RF camera.

Rex
 
First, I have no experience with any digital camera with interchangeable lenses, but the field of view is just one side of the coin, right? Perspective-characteristics or depth of field may be just as important.
For portraits a 35mm focal distance is often too wide in perspective exaggeration.
So then what is standard? Perspective characteristics or field of view?
With any smaller sensor the depth of field is bigger. Another characteristic difference.
 
I have 24, 35, 50, 75 and 90 mm lenses for my M system. When I took delivery of my M8, I found the 24mm (eqiv 32mm) gave a nice wide view, but it was sometimes difficult to see the frame-lines. I now have settled on 35mm and 75mm (eqiv 46mm and 98mm), as constituting the ideal small outfit for me
 
With any smaller sensor the depth of field is bigger.


Not so, depth of field changes with magnification, not sensor size. In reality, smaller sensors mean shorter focal length lenses, resulting in greater depth of field due to lower magnification.
 
I'd love for someone to make and sell a 24/2.0. Failing that minor miracle, I'm very happy with my 28/1.9 now that I've been able to correctly code its adapter ring and have also found a B+W 486 filter for it. Yes, the 28 is a wee bit large but you can minimize that annoying problem by shooting sans the lens hood when working inside.

(Leica's superb 24/2.8 is just too slow for me.)

-g
 
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my preferred "normal lens" for the M8 would be the 35/1.4 (50mm eqiv). 50mm is just an all around good focal length for anything, for me. so if i had to give everything up and keep one lens, the 35/1.4 would be it.

but with that said. I am really digging the 75/1.4 these days. i'm not really a telephoto person and thought i would never go longer than 50mm on a rangefinder, but i recently bought a 75/1.4 and it has opened up new doors for me. but i wouldn't say its a good 'normal lens' assuming i'm taking 'normal' lens as an all-arounder type lens.

when i'm traveling, though, my prefered lens is the 28/2.8 (35mm equiv). the angle of view on the 35/1.4 is a little too narrow for me to do touristy shots of buildings and scenic places i end up taking when doing the touristy thing. the 28/2.8 is just wide enough and narrow enough to do those things very well and its really small and easy to carry around. and surprisingly i find the 2.8 not as slow as i thought it would be on the M8.

so 'normal' i guess for me just depends on where i'm going with my camera at that time. if its around my neighborhood and i've already killed the touristy shots to death, its my 35/1.4 mostly (and the 75 these days) so i can work more on composition rather than the plain vanilla touristy shots. when traveling to places i haven't been to, my safe bet on a 'normal' lens is the 28/2.8.

😉
 
I also have a 35mm f/1.4 and a 75mm f/1.4 on my M8. It is like the classic combo 50/90. I don't need wide-angles, but a 24mm would be the more reasonable complement.
 
I have a 24mm Elmarit and 35mm ASPH Summicron. I probably use the Elmarit a little more, but it depends on what I'm shooting. Both are superb pieces of glass.

I normally also have a 50mm in the bag - Summicron or Nocti - but I like the idea of getting a 75mm to complete the set and use as part of a 24/35/75 3 lens outfit.
 
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