Leica M8, 28mm, 50mm and a 40mm?

bherman · 04-30-2012

All;

I have a Leica M8 with a 28mm F/2.8 Elmarit ASPH, (37mm on the M8) and a 50mm F2 Summicron (67mm on the M8) . I now have an opportunity to get a beautiful 40mm F2 Rokkor-M, which should equate to a nice 53mm 'Normal' lens.

Do you think that it is a good fit, or too much overlap? I will probably either get the 40mm now, or a 75mm Summarit sometime soon.

Any comments?

Thanks!

-Brad

rxmd · 04-30-2012

Too much overlap and no frameline, I wouldn't get it.

Instead of the Summarit, you could spend the money on a 75mm Heliar, the older f2.5 is a beautiful sleeper and the new f1.8 version is nice and fast.

Phil_F_NM · 04-30-2012

What he said.

Phil Forrest

noimmunity · 04-30-2012

If you have an M8, not an M8.u or M8.2, the 40 will match the 35 framelines at distances of greater than 2 meters out much better than a 35 would. I often use a 40/2.8 in this way. However, if you are shooting closer than that, you would have to account for a crop.

The two lenses you have make a great pair on the M8. What's not working? You hanker after an equivalent focal length nearer to 50? If you can answer that question, then you will know what FL you need. Otherwise, it might just be a GAS itch.

MCTuomey · 04-30-2012

Get a ZM 18/4. Or one of the VC 75's as mentioned above. Or a 90 Elmarit. Not a 40, no, unless you really love its rendering or some other quality other than focal length. --Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by bherman

All;

I have a Leica M8 with a 28mm F/2.8 Elmarit ASPH, (37mm on the M8) and a 50mm F2 Summicron (67mm on the M8) . I now have an opportunity to get a beautiful 40mm F2 Rokkor-M, which should equate to a nice 53mm 'Normal' lens.

Do you think that it is a good fit, or too much overlap? I will probably either get the 40mm now, or a 75mm Summarit sometime soon.

Any comments?

Thanks!

-Brad

jaapv · 04-30-2012

Just get that 40 - it cannot be that expensive, and it is a lovely little lens, one of the best-matched lenses to the M8.

LCT · 04-30-2012

Yes and file the flange to bring up the 35mm frame lines. This way you'll have the most accurate framing at medium to long distance if your body is not an M8.2. For 40.5mm IR-cut filters, see http://tinyurl.com/829cgk7.

ramosa · 05-03-2012

Depends on how many lenses you plan to have. If just three, I would recommend against 28/40/50. Instead, I'd go with 28/50 and something shorter or longer, depending on how you see/shoot. I'm a 35/50/90 guy, but that approach certainly won't work for many others.

jsrockit · 05-03-2012

It's not too much overlap at all for the M8.

A 28mm lens is a 37mm lens and the 50mm is a 67mm lens. A 53mm lens will come in very handy... even a 35mm becomes a 47mm which would work. Remember, a 75mm lens becomes a 100mm lens and the framelines are sort of lame for 75mm on digital Ms.

jarski · 05-03-2012

Summarit 75 is nice lens as well, no reason to dismis that. used 75 a lot when having M8, so would choose it also, over 40.

crispy12 · 05-03-2012

I'm using the CV 25, 35 1.4 and 75mm 2.5. This is on M8 only.

Sometimes I swap the 25 for 15. I also occasionally use a Nikkor 5cm f2 but mainly keep it for my film RF.

elmer3.5 · 05-03-2012

Hi, the 40mm lens works great on your m8, i used to have an m8 with a rollei sonnar lens.

The framelines for 35mm lens will appear as you set a 40mm lens on the m8.

In my experience this 5mm extras on the 40 mm focal length in comparison to a 35 mm one, give you more control on dof.

The 53mm fov is exactly the fov you get on a apsc camera with a 35mm lens set on it.

Also to get a fast 35mm lens you have to expend more money than a rokkor super sharp lens.

So go for it you won´t be disapointed.

Bye!

jsrockit · 05-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmer3.5

The framelines for 35mm lens will appear as you set a 40mm lens on the m8.

Only if you've modified the lens.

Quote:

The 53mm fov is exactly the fov you get on a apsc camera with a 35mm lens set on it.

Well that depends on the crop factor. The M8 is 1.33, the Nikon / Sony / Fuji stuff is 1.5, and some Canon stuff is 1.6.

semordnilap · 05-03-2012

Get it, absolutely... 40 on an M8 is great. I shoot 28/40/50 on mine and it's perfect. 2 lens day = 28/50, one lens = 40. As said above, file it to bring up the 35 lines, and you will be happy.