Best lens for M8

[silbo]

Hi all you Leica experts can you help,im after optimum quality from my M8,what is the best lens, around 50mm, ive heard the summicron is good can anyone give me some feedback, thanks

[Cranialstrain]

I think you'll get the age-old (and sensibly correct) reply that it depends what you want to use it for, or what qualities you like to see out of lens.

That said, I will say I love both my summicron and summilux lenses, but when I'm after reproductive quality I will go for the summilux everytime; when on the street snapping away I will no doubt use the summicron - if only because it's lighter and feels quicker.

Ian

[cmogi10]

Anything less then the modern asph summilux is not worth your time.

:)

[Olsen]

You have asked two questions; what is the best lense for M8 and what is the best lense 'around 50 mm'. The last question I don't find interesting at all, but the first is very interesting.

Leica went to great lengths to make their first digital M8 work well with wide angle lenses and have succeeded very well with this. The M8/WATE combo is one of the very best wide angle combos in the business. So, I will say that the WATE is the best lense for the M8.

[johnastovall]

I find the traditional 50mm too long on the M8 and would look more at one of the 28mm's or 35mm's if I want the FOV of a 50.

The only 50 I'm looking at getting for the my M8 is the Nocti but that's for the speed and very thin DOF and its Bokeh.

[JWW]

For 50mm lens on a M8 I have both a 50mm 1.4 last pre asph and the 50mm Summicron rigid. I like the 1.4 due to the smoothness and bokeh, mainly for portrait type shots. I had the Noctilux but comparing side by side with the 1.4, it was too close and sold it.

[dougiec29]

50mm lens on an M8 is not your dad's 50mm. The field of view is tighter because the sensor is not as big as film. It sounds like you bought an M8 without being an RF expert (if so, great you'll start learning now), but that leads me to think that money isn't an issue. So look at the 35mm summilux ASPH and 35mm summicron ASPH. Modern, sharp.

[chuckcars]

35mm cron ASPH hands down

[Artorius]

For my type of shooting, I've been comparing the 50/2 Collapsible Heliar, the 21/4P Color Skopar, 28/1.9Aspherical Ultron, and the 35mm Summaron f/3.5. For tele I'm trying the 90 Elmar f/4, and the 90 Elmar Collapsible, to get a smaller kit. Dependent shooting on B&W or Color, there is definately a contributing factor as to keeping ALL my CV/or Leica Glass.
For everything else, it's the Summicron-c 40mm, 40/1.4 Nokton, and the 135mm f/4 Elmar.
Everything works on ALL my M's(M3, M4-P, including the M8), so I won't be selling any glass soon.

[proenca]

Anything less then the modern asph summilux is not worth your time.

:)

Rubbish. Sorry but that is plain non-sense. When I bought my lens I had the opportunity of buying ( ie, funds wise ) a asph summilux. I did not.

Why ? I loved the Noctilux but that apart from being expensive, was BIG. and heavy. I loved the bokeh though.

So I searched and searched and settled for the Summilux V3 PRE-ASPH, with renders bokeh much nicer than the ASPH one. Yes indeed, the ASPH is a tad sharper and less contrasty ( I like the v3 better in this aspect actually ) but the bokeh transitions is much more noctilux alike and dreamy in the non-asph than in the asph. So having the possibility of buying a ASPH I actually opted for the non ASPH.

Since images are 1000's words and Im kinda lazy to type on, here's an illustration :

stop it down and its sharp
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/1717444094_8562d3d610.jpg

its great for portraits ( even non human ones )
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/1717437674_53be10a1fc.jpg?v=0

BOKEHHHHHHHHHHHH
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/1716587533_3c5898554e.jpg?v=0


love this lens
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/2054153300_719a033c64.jpg?v=0

[cmogi10]

You missed the blatent sarcasm.

[infocusf8@earthlink.]

I prefer two lenses on my M8 the 28mm F2.8 Elmarit aspheric which renders 36.4 mm and the 21mm F2.8 Elmarit which is 27.3 mm. The 28 is a gem of a lens and is a bargain for its price, it is my primary shooter as I do scenic and landscape and not a lot of people photography, so a 50 is not wide enough. When I do use a 50 I own the 50mm F2.8 Elmar which, although slower than the 50 cron or lux, can more than keep up with the trees, rocks and water I photograph. It is also a bargain lens and has its own look that I prefer. The overall build quality is not up to the cron or lux but here again I don't use it much.
Hope this helps.

[Richard Marks]

I prefer two lenses on my M8 the 28mm F2.8 Elmarit aspheric which renders 36.4 mm and the 21mm F2.8 Elmarit which is 27.3 mm. The 28 is a gem of a lens and is a bargain for its price, it is my primary shooter as I do scenic and landscape and not a lot of people photography, so a 50 is not wide enough. When I do use a 50 I own the 50mm F2.8 Elmar which, although slower than the 50 cron or lux, can more than keep up with the trees, rocks and water I photograph. It is also a bargain lens and has its own look that I prefer. The overall build quality is not up to the cron or lux but here again I don't use it much.
Hope this helps.

The 28 2.8 is pretty much glued to my M8. As well as being a superb performer, its very compact and light and has a lovelly short throw for focussing. My lux 75 should be here newxt week though!

best wishes

Richard

[usccharles]

Hi all you Leica experts can you help,im after optimum quality from my M8,what is the best lens, around 50mm, ive heard the summicron is good can anyone give me some feedback, thanks

i think all 50mm lens current and past have their own pluses and minuses, but if your 'optimum quality' includes sharpness and available light shootworty, yo u really can't get any better than the current 50 summilux asph. extrememly sharp wide open.

[silbo]

Thanks for all the replies guys, yes i am new to rangefinder cameras, but with your help ill soon learn, thanks again, silbo

[DaveB]

The 35mm ASPH Summicron is pretty sweet on the M8. Focal length splits the difference between WA and 50mm. They're priced nice too second hand.

If I could only own one lens it would be the 35mm ASPH and the 15mm CV.

[waileong]

Give up the idea of a best lens! C'mon!

[M. Valdemar]

Why did you buy an M8 in the first place? Just on a whim? Someone told you it was the "best"? What did you use before?

Just curious what caused this purchase decision.

PS: You already asked this question in July. Still haven't bought a lens for your M8?

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44095

[maddoc]

For 50mm lens on a M8 I have both a 50mm 1.4 last pre asph and the 50mm Summicron rigid. I like the 1.4 due to the smoothness and bokeh, mainly for portrait type shots. I had the Noctilux but comparing side by side with the 1.4, it was too close and sold it.

Interesting observation. I have the latest Summilux 50mm pre-ASPH (E46) and was thinking of trading it for the Noctilux. Only hesitated due to the high price of the Noctilux but at the moment I am thinking more and more of keeping the Summilux ... :)

[usccharles]

If I could only own one lens it would be the 35mm ASPH and the 15mm CV.

that would be two lenses :p

[hdrmd]

Given that any answer of the best is only my opinion, I lean to the 35mm Summicron for M7 and the 28mm Summicron for the M8. These lenses give the slightly wide angle view that I favor. Both are excellent in all technical aspects, and they are small and easy to carry and handle. And, they are fast. DR

[fotografr]

Anything less then the modern asph summilux is not worth your time.

:)

For a 50mm lens, I would actually second that statement--particularly for doing portrait work. Not everyone likes to shoot wide, and I'm one of them. I generally prefer tighter shots for my own work.

My personal favorite all-around lens, and the one that is on my M8 whenever I go out with just one lens, is the 35 Summicron ASPH.

[jaapv]

Rubbish. Sorry but that is plain non-sense. When I bought my lens I had the opportunity of buying ( ie, funds wise ) a asph summilux. I did not.

Why ? I loved the Noctilux but that apart from being expensive, was BIG. and heavy. I loved the bokeh though.

So I searched and searched and settled for the Summilux V3 PRE-ASPH, with renders bokeh much nicer than the ASPH one. Yes indeed, the ASPH is a tad sharper and less contrasty ( I like the v3 better in this aspect actually ) but the bokeh transitions is much more noctilux alike and dreamy in the non-asph than in the asph. So having the possibility of buying a ASPH I actually opted for the non ASPH.

Since images are 1000's words and Im kinda lazy to type on, here's an illustration :

stop it down and its sharp
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/1717444094_8562d3d610.jpg

its great for portraits ( even non human ones )
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/1717437674_53be10a1fc.jpg?v=0

BOKEHHHHHHHHHHHH
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/1716587533_3c5898554e.jpg?v=0


love this lens
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/2054153300_719a033c64.jpg?v=0


I think the first two have been severely oversharpened in photoshop.

[zhang xk]

I would try to find the best cine primes, and modefy it to fit M8 for its smaller frame.:D It seems many cine primes have been converted.

[Joe Mondello]

To the OP do yourself a huge favor and subscribe to Sean Reid's excellent website at www.reidreviews.com (no relation, just a hugely satisfied customer).

There you will see extensive photographic comparison tests between rangefinder lenses by various manufacturers at widely varying price points. Personally I went for a very nice collection of Voigtlander lenses rather than a single Leitz lens. I am very happy with that decision. YMMV!

BTW, don't forget that the M8 has a crop factor of 1.33x meaning if you want to have what you are used to as a 50mm field of view, you will be looking to buy a 35mm lens.

[zhang xk]

I would try to find the best cine primes, and modefy it to fit M8 for its smaller frame.:D It seems many cine primes have been converted.


See how sharp a 35mm cine prime could be. The 2nd image is a 100% crop. They may have a different 'flavour' that your Leica or Zeiss optics, and you may like it. It is at least another choice.:)

[Richard Marks]

See how sharp a 35mm cine prime could be. The 2nd image is a 100% crop. They may have a different 'flavour' that your Leica or Zeiss optics, and you may like it. It is at least another choice.:)

Sharpness is pretty impossible to assess on a monitor, but im not exactly stunned by those examples of sharpness. Not especially high contrast either.

best wishes


Richard

[jaapv]

See how sharp a 35mm cine prime could be. The 2nd image is a 100% crop. They may have a different 'flavour' that your Leica or Zeiss optics, and you may like it. It is at least another choice.:)

Yes, they are sharp. But I'm not overwhelmed by the way that lens draws.
Basically I have nothing against cine lenses, but as they look like this Arriflex lens on my M8, practicality does not enter into the equation.


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e32/jaapv/IMG_1589.jpg

[zhang xk]

Yes, they are sharp. But I'm not overwhelmed by the way that lens draws.
Basically I have nothing against cine lenses, but as they look like this Arriflex lens on my M8, practicality does not enter into the equation.


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e32/jaapv/IMG_1589.jpg

Hi,

Like it or not is a personal choice. I would not carry the camera with that lens around either.:D There are cine primes that are compact, and with interesting features such as 12/2, 18/1.2,etc. that may cover M8's sensor size. 20/2 and 28/2 primes become suitable wideangle and normal lens on a M8 with a 1:1.3 crop factor. My 28/2 almost cover full 135 frame.

Here is another image shot with a 75/2 (300 grams). as I said it is another idea. It is not a serious test, but one gets some impression how these cine primes performs. the second is a 100% crop.

Let's play with a new toy.:)

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Sorry, a 40/2 Zeiss Planar become a normal lens on a M8. A standard mount Distagon 14/1.8 is not that heavy, but could be very expensive.
Cheers.

[zhang xk]

Another image with the same lens without flash fill-in. PSed a bit of the 100% crop. The lens is a Changcheng(great wall) brand 85/2 cine prime made in 1979.

Cheers.