Which Voigtlander Lenses for an M8?

L

leicamode

Newbie
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Mar 11, 2007
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Greetings RRF'ers!

I am finally coming close to getting an M8 and am thinking of getting 2 lenses, specifically from the Voigtlander range.

Here's where your advise and help will greatly help me in deciding.

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ColorSkopar35mmF2.5C
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ColorSkopar35mmF2.5PII
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Ultron35mmF1.7Asp.
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Nokton35mmF1.2Asp.
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ColorSkopar50mmF2.5
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Nokton50mmF1.5Asp.

Narrowing it down to a 35mm and a 50mm for now. Any advise based on experience/usage will be kindly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for helping out a newbie entering in an oncoming digital RF world.

Greetz,
leicamode
 
The Noktons are fantastic. The 50 IMO is a no-brainer unless you want an ultra-compact lens. The 35 Nokton is good as well but I think it lacks character alongside, for example, an older Summilux. Its also huge for an RF lens. If you need fast I would actually go for the 28mm f/1.9 Ultron, fabulous lens for the money and an M8-owning friend's favourite lens. He normally buys Leica glass but chose it ahead of both the Leica 28s...
 
I'm a huge fan of the Nokton 35 1.2. It's a large lens but I feel it balances well on my M8. I disagree that the lens lacks character; at wide open it produces it's own signature look which I like. Speed-wise it's obviously fast and can go places and shoot along side the Noctilux. With the crop factor it becomes a near 50mm field of view. I think it is probably not the best choice for your sole 35mm lens though; as it's pretty heavy for all-around 35mm needs. I pair mine up with a 35 summicron but the C/V 35 2.5 pancake would make a nice combo with the 35 Nokton.
 
While I've been waiting for the Leica IR-cut filter in size E60 to show its face (for my 21mm non-Asph Elmarit) I have found myself using the 28mm Ultron quite a bit. Yes, it is a little large, but the results satisfy immensely. (I have hand-coded the Ultron.)

The other "natural" CV pairing with the Ultron may be the 50mm Nokton. (I also have the 50mm Heliar but really appreciate the extra speed of the Nokton.)

A third must-have CV lens? Easy pick: their very affordable 15mm Heliar.

-g
 
i have a 15mm heliar and 40 Nokton. the 40 nokton is a great small and fast lens. the 15mm is a must. very fun wide lens :)
 
35 Nokton @ f1.2. The fastest 35 standard production lens ever made for 35mm rangefinder cameras. Can't get it elsewhere, not even Leica. Fantastic on M8.
 
im one of the fans of the 35 color skopar p2, mine has been good to me, and if you like the 50mm range then it will fit you well as a very small general purpose lens, but it is only a f2.5 but for the most part fits the bill.

Only a f2.5....thats funny, in my photo class not including me (I got f1.4's) the fasted lens that anyone has is a 3.5 zoom on the end of their dslr, we rangefinder peeps are pretty lucky to consider 2.5 slow.
 
usccharles said:
i have a 15mm heliar and 40 Nokton. the 40 nokton is a great small and fast lens. the 15mm is a must. very fun wide lens :)
Click to expand...

Here's a question for all of you: If you'd code the 40 Nokton ... what would you go with?
Would you code it like 35/2 or rather a 50 (cron, lux or Nocti)????
 
weser said:
Here's a question for all of you: If you'd code the 40 Nokton ... what would you go with?
Would you code it like 35/2 or rather a 50 (cron, lux or Nocti)????
Click to expand...

Well, assuming you are using an IR cut filter, you should code it as a 50mm as you don't want to overcorrect for the cyan vignetting. However, you should notch the frameline indicator to call up the 35mm framelines as they are almost perfect for the 40mm Nokton's angle of view. The 50mm frameline is just way to tight on the M8.

Rex
 
Ay. The 40mm Nokton modified to bring up the 35mm frames is a killer on the M8. Framing is bang on as long as you don't frame too tightly under 1m. BUT you then also have to code it as a 35mm lens or it won't be recognised (the M8 reads the code AND the frame position and if they don't tie up it doesn't apply the corrections or tag the EXIF file.)

Just to mess you up more I think the combo of CV25mm Skopar and CV40mm Nokton is just great on the M8 - can't wait 'til my new coupled version of the 25mm arrives.
 
Andy Aitken said:
Ay. The 40mm Nokton modified to bring up the 35mm frames is a killer on the M8.
Click to expand...

How -- or where -- does one accomplish this feat? I have the 40 Nokton and find manually engaging the 35 frame lines gets old fast.
 
if you only have one then id say the 15mm heliar

there is no real alternative at a sensible price and its a stonking lens from what i can see and a lot of fun
 
No question about the 15mm Heliar. I'm trying to code it using an old Leiz adapter that has a full flange--it's between coding that one or the 21/2.8 Kobalux, or erasing and recoding each... I've just been having too much fun the with Leica 24/2.8 ASPH to get into it. I've had six CV lenses and kept only the 15--not to say that the others aren't terrific. I just only NEEDED the 15 in the end.
 
james, how do you find the 24 ?
ive just bought a 21 APSH on ebay but sort of wanted a 24 really
mind you i gather the 21 still has an older school look for an APSH, not too harsh on contrasty which might suit me
 
Joe; it just requires a little bit of careful filing. There is an explaination here for a 40mm Summicron but it is the same for the Nokton: http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CcwG although I have to say it looks like that guy filed a bit more off than he needed to - you really only need to remove about 1mm from the end of that flange rather than the diagonal way he did it. Having said that even if you file off too much it doesn't matter at the 35mm frame is the default position anyway. DO NOT get any filings into the lens workings!!!

There is also a picture of the bit to file on this thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/21909-m8-leitz-summicron-c-40mm-f.html

again on a 40mm Summicron.
 
Andy Aitken said:
Joe; it just requires a little bit of careful filing. There is an explaination here for a 40mm Summicron but it is the same for the Nokton: http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CcwG although I have to say it looks like that guy filed a bit more off than he needed to - you really only need to remove about 1mm from the end of that flange rather than the diagonal way he did it. Having said that even if you file off too much it doesn't matter at the 35mm frame is the default position anyway. DO NOT get any filings into the lens workings!!!

There is also a picture of the bit to file on this thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/21909-m8-leitz-summicron-c-40mm-f.html

again on a 40mm Summicron.
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Thanks Andy!
 
Joe Mondello said:
Thanks Andy!
Click to expand...

As one of the proponents of filing the 40mm Nokton to briing up the 35mm framelines, I must admit that I haven't done it myself:eek: .

But what's this bit about the M8 getting mixed messages from a self coded lens? I realize that the M8 reads both the frameline position AND the coding for the WATE but I thought that was the only lens. Why couldn't you code the 40mm Nokton as a 50mm and notch it as a 35mm? Would that be too schizophrenic for the M8?

Rex
 
rvaubel said:
As one of the proponents of filing the 40mm Nokton to briing up the 35mm framelines, I must admit that I haven't done it myself:eek: .

But what's this bit about the M8 getting mixed messages from a self coded lens? I realize that the M8 reads both the frameline position AND the coding for the WATE but I thought that was the only lens. Why couldn't you code the 40mm Nokton as a 50mm and notch it as a 35mm? Would that be too schizophrenic for the M8?

Rex
Click to expand...

rvaubel youre giving me a headache... if that is true, i'm going to try and talk to my M8 and maybe it will talk back... its like a living Thing!

but i highly doubt it :p

going to file my nokton over the weekend :)
 
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