Wide lens next...Zeiss, Voigt, Lecia?

[jeffnesh]

I've been using my M9 with a 50 summicron for the last two months and love it. I like the 50mm FOV, and am planning on a 90mm Leica of some sort. I need something wide, too. I won't use it as much but do have some need to do wider landscapes and, in particular, some group shots.

I'm looking at the Zeiss Biogon 35, 25, and 28. Also, I'm considering the Voigtlander 35 and 28s. Maybe a Summimart?

Knowing I prefer 50 and 90mm, what recommendations do you have for a wider angle lens for groups. First question is probably 35 or 28 (love the Zeiss 25mm though, but maybe too wide for people??), then Zeiss or Voigtlander (or Leica).

Thanks for any help/insight/suggestions!
Jeff

 

[Tim Gray]

I think 28mm is a nice match up with 50mm. Some people prefer 35mm though. The Zeiss lenses are good. So are the Voigtlander ones. Pick your focal length, pick your price, and then you'll know what lens to buy 🙂

People seem to like the Zeiss 28. The Voigtlander 28/3.5 is great and tiny if you can find one. For 35, people love the Zeiss 35/2.8. I had the ZM 35/2 and really liked it, and I've also heard good things about the Voigtlander 35/1.2 and 35/2.5.

 

[mooge]

12mm heliar.

too wide is never wide enough.







okay, 12 is a little ridiculous but it's a barrel of fun, this lens. or any superwide I guess.

 

[semilog]

Given that you've already got a 50, get the 25. One of the very best lenses in the ZM lineup.

 

[umcelinho]

goind ultrasuperduperwide i'd actually recommend the 15mm heliar. i find it easier to tame than the 12mm. got one when i only had a 50mm and it worked fantastically as a pair. it's a very nice lens to play with.

focal length is complicated to suggest, i think, because it really comes down to personal preference. i'd say get a 21mm and see if it pleases you, it's an interesting focal length to pair with 50mm. i first had a 50mm, then got a 35mm but still would use both equally as my main lens, but nowadays i am comfortable with just one lens in the camera, a 35mm, and not switching lenses at all. i've realised i see the world in 35mm, it is my actual field of view, how i perceive things. i do sometimes use other focal lengths but it feels a bit odd. maybe a 35mm lens would be worth trying...

 

[KarlG]

I have a similar decision on my hands, actually, and have been doing a stack of reading on this very subject (although I already have the 35/2 Biogon, so I'm more considering which of the 21/25 Zeiss lenses + either the Planar or Nokton 1.1 as options for the 50mm focal length).

Everything I've come across indicates that the Zeiss 25/2.8 is one of the best wide-angle lenses available and, given you already have a 50, I would say the combination of 25 & 50 would cover you in most situations!

 

[The Meaness]

There are pretty pronounced differences between 21, 24/25, and 28mm lenses. Each one is going to dictate a certain distance from your subject and different levels of edge control. A 35 gives you more width than a 50 without having to worry about edge control, but it is not as easy to get the dramatic look many shots with a 28 or wider have. I'd figure out which FL best works for you, because you can't go wrong with any of the lens options.

The slower and smaller Voigtlander 21 and 25mm f4 lenses are good choices too.

 

[250swb]

Consider that some wide lenses will give you red edge when used with an M9 whether they are coded or not. So you have to decide if you want to do a bit more post processing using Cornerfix to remove it, or just use a lens that works.

Generally speaking the slower lenses f/4, f/4.5, are the culprits, so for instance a 21mm Biogon f4.5 will produce the red edge effect even coded, but a coded 21mm Biogon f/2.8 is fine.

Steve

 

[Roger Hicks]

12mm heliar.

too wide is never wide enough.

okay, 12 is a little ridiculous but it's a barrel of fun, this lens. or any superwide I guess.

I always thought that, until I got a 12/5.6, and found that to my surprise I preferred my 14mm (Sigma) and 15mm (Voigtländer) lenses. I also have quite a weakness for my wife's 18/4.

Cheers,

R.

 

[thegman]

I used to have a 15mm Heliar, great lens, but obviously it's a bit "niche". I traded for a 21mm, which is on my camera a lot more.

 

[ChrisC]

You are asking about lenses, but I think you should first sort out the focal length which is workable for you. I suggest practising with the frame-line lever and see how you get on with the viewfinder framing. For example; does the particular twinning of framelines for a particular focal length distract your image making? I hate the twinning of framelines and some are much worse for me than others. I once had a 24mm lens on the M8, but the 24mm framelines had the perpetual distraction for me of twinned 35mm framelines which had a detrimental effect on my picture construction. For that reason; the framelines of a 28mm lens has a cleaner field of view for me than a 24mm lens, so I'd choose 28mm over 24mm on the M8, despite having experienced working with one of Leica's most celebrated lenses [24 f2.8].

You also need to determine [if, say you chose a Zeiss 25mm lens] how you would use it. Does it absolutely require a hot-shoe mounted viewfinder, and would you be confident using one [not everyone is]?

I hope this helps.

.............. Chris

 

[jamato8]

I have the 25mm Biogon and it is every bit as good as my 35 ASPH, which I really like. The 25 is amazing and especially considering the cost compared to a similar Leitz lens.

 

[Krosya]

goind ultrasuperduperwide i'd actually recommend the 15mm heliar. i find it easier to tame than the 12mm. got one when i only had a 50mm and it worked fantastically as a pair. it's a very nice lens to play with.

focal length is complicated to suggest, i think, because it really comes down to personal preference. i'd say get a 21mm and see if it pleases you, it's an interesting focal length to pair with 50mm. i first had a 50mm, then got a 35mm but still would use both equally as my main lens, but nowadays i am comfortable with just one lens in the camera, a 35mm, and not switching lenses at all. i've realised i see the world in 35mm, it is my actual field of view, how i perceive things. i do sometimes use other focal lengths but it feels a bit odd. maybe a 35mm lens would be worth trying...

Agreed 100%. I like 21mm, 35mm and even 15mm. Never a huge fan of 28mm, even though I have one. 25mm is not bad and one from Zeiss is superb, yet I still prefer 21m to it.

 

[hausen]

ZM 21/2.8 is superb on the M9.