The biggest problem with the M8... [Archive]

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cmogi10

01-27-2009, 10:04

You can't use the 21/3.4 Super Angulon with it!
I just developed a couple roll's I shot with a great copy of the lens I got to borrow for a little while and I just love the results.
Are there any wide angles that are M8 friendly that have a similar vintage "look"? The Zeiss 21/2.8 sure is a workhorse but I'd love to find a wide with a lot less modern look.
Anyone got any suggestions?

Edit:Just to clarify this is not a thread complaining about the M8, it's a thread on Wides.

cjm

01-27-2009, 10:37

Not completely sure if it fits but you may want to look into the FSU Russar 20mm f5.6 lens.

There are two pictures taken with this lens on an M8 HERE (http://www.ykondo.com/photos/archives/russar_mr2_20mm_f56/index.html) so I would assume it does fit.

dof

01-27-2009, 10:41

Maybe the thread should be called the widest problem with the M8!

kbg32

01-27-2009, 10:57

Try the ZM 21/4.5.

rpsawin

01-27-2009, 11:07

I'm not an M8 user but I seem to recall that a few people we using the Konica Hexon 21/35 Combination lens with good results. They are a bit hard to come by but do show up from time to time.

Bob

MikeL

01-27-2009, 11:13

You can't use the 21/3.4 Super Angulon with it!

Hey Carl, it's posted here that you can use it on the M8, but the camera won't meter.
21mm angulon on M8 (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/47212-super-angulon-21mm-f-3-4-a.html)

edhohoho

01-27-2009, 11:20

Yes, I spoke with someone on another forum who uses the 21 SA on her M8 and gets very good results, except that the metering does not work properly with this lens. So it's just a metering issue as opposed to a fit/mechanical issue (like the shroud problem on some pre-asph 35 Summilux lenses).

cmogi10

01-27-2009, 11:21

Hey Carl, it's posted here that you can use it on the M8, but the camera won't meter.
21mm angulon on M8 (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/47212-super-angulon-21mm-f-3-4-a.html)

Ah wow! Thanks Mike.
That changes everything, no reason to fret about the Meter, it didn't work with my MP and the 21 either.

That changes everything indeed....:cool:

LeicaMSeattle

01-27-2009, 16:36

I've only had my M8 for a few weeks but I just bought the voigtlander 12mm f5.6 with the 15mm finder. I've been shooting with the 21 f2 .8 Elmarit, finding it to be a great street shooting lens, but wanted something wider for architectural work.

jaapv

01-28-2009, 00:26

oldoc

02-08-2009, 04:39

Light measurement is what Leica says...

Krosya

02-08-2009, 05:16

Here is a lens that has very similar look to it's images as SA, yet works great om M5, M8, etc. :

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3195710464_2098c4f1a3_o.jpg

If you didnt guess yet This is Avenon/Kobalux etc lens. You may want to read reviews of it on Dante Stella's site (http://www.dantestella.com/technical/kobalux2.html). To my eyes it has that same vintage look as SA, plus works on bodies that SA doesnt, plus is FASTER at 2.8 and can be used on LTM as well as M cameras. I also think it's sharper than SA. New ZM lenses are great but have very different look to thier images compared to SA or Avenon.

maddoc

02-08-2009, 05:22

That Kobalux (Avenon, Pasoptik,...) 21/2.8 looks great on the M5 ! :) That one should do the trick ! 2.8 is for sure an advantage over 3.4 of the Super-Angulon-M ...

cam

02-08-2009, 05:27

Here is a lens that has very similar look to it's images as SA, yet works great om M5, M8, etc. :

If you didnt guess yet This is Avenon/Kobalux etc lens. You may want to read reviews of it on Dante Stella's site (http://www.dantestella.com/technical/kobalux2.html). To my eyes it has that same vintage look as SA, plus works on bodies that SA doesnt, plus is FASTER at 2.8 and can be used on LTM as well as M cameras. I also think it's sharper than SA. New ZM lenses are great but have very different look to thier images compared to SA or Avenon.

interesting!

what is the closest focusing distance on this lens?

Krosya

02-08-2009, 05:28

mine is last version and it has 0.8m closest distance. Earlier silver ones have 1m.

maddoc

02-08-2009, 05:49

interesting!

what is the closest focusing distance on this lens?

cam, no ! .... :eek::eek:;)

Gabriel M.A.

02-08-2009, 06:19

Are there any wide angles that are M8 friendly that have a similar vintage "look"? The Zeiss 21/2.8 sure is a workhorse but I'd love to find a wide with a lot less modern look.

I actually read your post, so here it goes: what about the Canon 19mm f/3.5 LTM :)

SolaresLarrave

02-08-2009, 06:55

The 21 SA and the early versions of the Elmarit 28 have the same long, protruding back element that blocks the meter in all M bodies. That's why these lenses are more often used with meterless bodies. Not that they cannot be used with the metered ones (except the M5, because its meter is placed on an arm that swings to the back of the lens), but they defeat the purpose of TTL metering.

digitalintrigue

02-08-2009, 06:58

Look at the size of that rear element. :)

http://www.leicatime.com/SuperAngulon21-3.4blkCapsFin2522732rev.jpg

cam

02-08-2009, 07:33

cam, no ! .... :eek::eek:;)

LOL! just asking :angel:

rest assured, i have no $$$ left for anything!

fbf

02-08-2009, 07:39

I have tried the avenon 21/2.8 and i have to say i don't like it much. Don't get me wrong, it's a great wide-angle lens (performance wise I think it is superior to the SA 21/3.4). The pictures I got are too "plain" and the lens itself is huge comparing to SA 21/3.4 (doesn't look good on my m4p but it certainly looks much better on the M5!!!). So I sold the avenon in the end and got a SA 21/3.4 instead. It is still on the way from Italy. Can't wait...

Rob-F

02-08-2009, 08:02

I used to think the biggest problem with the M8 was the IR issue. Now I think the biggest problem is that I don't have one.

Krosya

02-08-2009, 08:05

"Plain" wouldnt be the way I describe Avenon. But than again - everyone sees things differently.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2861875823_1ae2521641_o.jpg

As far as size - it's a compromize - you get a faster, sharper lens that doesnt have huge rear element, but yes - larger front. I used mine on Hexar as well as M5 and size didnt seem to be a problem. But than again, one of my favorite lenses is a Nokton 35/1.2 that some think is huge! ;)

rickp

02-08-2009, 08:53

for sure, there are many interesting 21mm lenses for the leica m8 out there. the super-angulon has some advantages in terms of size, sharpness and special "look", but has all the issues (challenges?) mentioned in this post. i was using the lens this afternoon (still in a discovery phase) so here is my humble summary so far:

the lens mounts easily on the m8, just be a bit careful putting the two together because of the deepr rear element
i found that setting the camera to EV -3 was often pretty close to the right starting exposure. that might save you a few trial shots. i did end up buying the little sekonic twinmate l-208. you can mount it on the camera, or carry it with you easily
for the uv/ir cut filter, i use the b&w series 7 which fits in the 12501M lens shade
when the lens was in for cleaning etc, i asked the technician (reinhardt/hannover) to remove the rear flange. john milich milled the flange for 6-bit coding, and the technician remounted it before returning the lens to me
coding????? so far, i've coded the lens as a WATE, and am using mostly the 21mm setting. you have to turn the lens beyond zero during mounting to bring up the 90mm frame lines, otherwise the WATE coding will not appear. i'm a long way from done with this coding issue, but still have two other leica 21mm codes to try, as well as cornerfix software. the coding and cyan issues are almost certainly another reason why leica doesn't recommend the m8/SA 3.4 combination.
viewfinder? out of all those available, i found the ricoh gv-2 28mm finder first. it's very small, bright, with brightlines, and seems to be made by voigtlander.the attachments are all local from first tests using an m8. you'll find lots of super-angulon photos under flickr, where the full potential of the lens on film can be seen.

good luck with your decision

greetings from hamburg

rick

Cindy Flood

02-08-2009, 18:34

I have a 21mm SA that I bought from a member here. It makes beautiful photos on my M8.
BTW, I also use it on my M5 (my SA has the cutaway shroud. Using a 21 SA on the M5 without the cutaway can damage the arm. 21 SAs manufactured before the M5 came along did not have the cutout.)
Neither camera will meter with the lens, but who cares. It is easy to just chimp a little on the M8 and adjust the exposure if needed.
I was advised to not code the lens and I do not use an IR filter on it. I use a CV 28mm viewfinder with it.

maddoc

02-08-2009, 18:43

Cindy Flood

02-08-2009, 18:52

Cindy,

Since I also have the SA and the M5 I would be very interested to see how the cutaway mounting flange looks like. It might be not a to big problem for me to modify the flange of my lens myself. Do you happen to have a photo of the mounting flange of your modified SA ?

Gabor

Hi Gabor,
I will take a pic of it tomorrow and post it.
Mine actually did not have the cutout. I was able to get the flange with the cutout from DAG. I changed it out myself. You might want to check with him (or other repair-persons) before you try cutting it yourself. You might be able to find the part.
Cindy

maddoc

02-08-2009, 18:57

Hi Gabor,
I will take a pic of it tomorrow and post it.
Mine actually did not have the cutout. I was able to get the flange with the cutout from DAG. I changed it out myself. You might want to check with him (or other repair-persons) before you try cutting it yourself. You might be able to find the part.
Cindy

Cindy,

thanks a lot ! I didn't think about asking Don from DAG, so I will contact him later. That sounds much more easy than messing around with a Dremel ...

Gabor

Cindy Flood

02-08-2009, 19:02

Cindy,

...snip.... That sounds much more easy than messing around with a Dremel ...

Gabor

Those were my thoughts exactly! :angel:

Cindy Flood

02-09-2009, 15:48

http://www.pbase.com/image/109060157/original.jpghttp://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=101438&ppuser=6261

Cutout on 21 mm SuperAngulon for M5.

maddoc

02-09-2009, 15:54

Cindy,

thanks a lot for taking the time and posting the photo !! :) I will ask Don now if he has a spare mount for my lens !

Cheers,

Gabor

Cindy Flood

02-09-2009, 15:59

Cindy,

thanks a lot for taking the time and posting the photo !! :) I will ask Don now if he has a spare mount for my lens !

Cheers,

Gabor

Your welcome, Gabor. Good luck finding a mount.
Cindy

Symeon

02-11-2009, 11:36

Have been using the Super Angulon 3,4/21 on the M8 for 2 years now, no metering BUT playback of your shot in the LCD. Soon you'll get to learn how to read light without a meter... I've been doing it for more than 20 years. Good luck.
:cool: