Which 28mm would you suggest for the M8?

the 28mm elmarit asph is a great little lens. i've got one and really like it. image quality is superb as it is contrasty and supersharp. Tried a secondhand minolta rokkor 28mm (with white spots) at a local store and was not impressed at all, it does not come close in sharpness, contrast or color. the only 28mm lens thats better is probably only the cron, but that's an expensive one.

some images with m8 + 28mm elmarit asph

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Nice pics, K.A. I like the toning and the vignetting on the first one too.

My 28 choices for the M8 would be:

1. Cron ASPH
2. Elmarit ASPH
3. Elmar 24 f3.8 (for more width and very small size)
4. Zeiss (either the 28 or the 25 - the 28 for the framelines and the 25 for just a bit more width and performance)
5. Hexanon

The last three choices don't reflect any priority but #1-#2 would be my preference, cost not being an issue. I love Zeiss and Hexanon lenses, but Leica's 28's make the M8 sing, imho. And the 28 framelines on the M8 are a pleasure to use.
 
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Thanks for all the considered replies, opinions and advice. Having had the Ultron before I don't think I'll be going back, a fine enough lens but having one fall apart as mine did is too much.

Perhaps I might get to try another 28mm Hex if someone has one at this years EuroMeet in London, I'd be very intrigued to see if my one is just a duffer! The reason I went with the Hex in the first place was the praise that has been lavished on it over the years, of course it could still just be my eyes rather than the lens?!

I think I will have to look into the Elmarit ASPH, check out the Flickr lens gallery and then check out prices if I like the look. If I do end up with an Elmarit that would mean all three focal lengths I use would be covered by Leica glass....would that mean I'm finally a 'proper' photographer;):D
 
No one has mentioned the 28mm f2 ultron which works very well on the M8 or at least mine did. Some complain of focus shift but I never saw it. The build quality of the later generation voigtlander m fit lenses is very good.
 
I recently picked up a copy of the Voigtlander 28/1.9 . . . . .

I have had good luck with the VC lens that I have purchased to date and I am very happy with the build and the output of the Ultron in the short time I have used the lens.

Boy and Black Sun
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The Bike Race
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M9 with CV Ultron 28/1.9

Life is Grand!

Dan
 
I use a ZM 28/2.8 Biogon on my M8. I have a VC 28/1.9 aspherical Ultron but I have never tried it on my M8. It's a very nice lens. Jim
 
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I'm perfectly happy with my Elmarit 28/2.8 version III. All of the the qualities of all 28 Elmarits, but a bit more gentle than the asph :)
 
Sold mine after a few months. Its a great lens but I did not get the results I was hoping for. Happy as a clamp with Zeiss!
 
You can get a cheap M-Rokkor 28/2.8 as long as it's filled with milk... but you know what? It can still be interesting:
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+1 for the f2 28mm Voigtlander. I've had an older Elmarit and the current Asph Elmarit and prefer the Voigtlander. No qualms about build quality or focus shift. Looks great on the M8.

I'm off to Singapore later today for a week and it's the only lens I'm taking - fast, light, versatile. It is a business trip so I won't have much time to myself, otherwise I'd be taking others, but given a choice this is the one I keep returning to.
 
+1 for the 28 Biogon, which really is the only option. If you dig the Zeiss look, that is :)
 
Ive used the Rokkor 28/2.8 (good lens but white spots) and the CV 28/2 (good lens but focus shift) but my all time favorites are Summicron 28/2 and Elmarit 28/2.8 asph. The former is the best 28 i've ever used but is not that small a lens, fits better my Epsons which are bigger than the M8. The Elmarit asph is less bulky and a real bargain given its image quality. Specially on the M8. Vignettes a bit on the R-D1 but adjusting it is not difficult in PP.
 
OurManInTangier said:
Does anyone have any suggestions for a punchy 28mm? Does Zeiss have anything worth considering or perhaps there's a cheap unknown gem out there?
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M8 + ZM 28/2.8


The ZM 25/2.8 usually overshadows the 28 when it's brought up on the internet, but I always seem to get a little more out of it than I expect (never used the 25, perhaps ignorance is bliss). Especially now that I've switched from the R-D1 to the M8, the resolution sings.
 
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