Newbie to M8 - Help with Lenses

DRabbit · 06-19-2007

I ordered my M8 today. I'd like to get some lenses now to go with it

I did subscribe to Reid Reviews but I found it a bit confusing.

Here's what I'm considering..

A 35mm. Either the Zeiss Biogon f/2 or the CV 35mm f/1.7.

I'd like something longer and maybe wider. Maybe a 21mm and a 75mm.

What can you recommend in Zeiss or CV?

And please help a newbie... do I need adaptors?
Where do I get them if I need them? Where do I buy the LT-M8?
What's with the "barcoding" - is that something I'll have to do?
Where do I find out how?
How do I know what lenses need coding and what lenses don't?

Thanks!

Amy

grduprey · 06-19-2007

Amy, Ifyou can find a used one i would go with a used 35/2 Summicron. However, i have the cv 35/1.7 and it is a god lens to start, it requires the sm to m adapter, but they are cheap. If you decide on the cv then give me a email (grduprey@mchsi.com) as i am not using mine anymore. For a longer lens there are the 90mm elmarits at decent prices and the cv 75 has a good reputation, again it requires the adapter. the 50 summicron used would make a excelent choice as on the m8 it it approx 68mm. enjoy the m8 when it comes.

Xmas · 06-19-2007

You can make do with one adapter until you are confident you will keep the lenses.

Noel

furcafe · 06-19-2007

Lenses: If you're already a photographer, then you should have a general idea of what focal lengths you prefer, so just remember that the M8 has a 1.3x crop factor (multiply focal length by 1.3 to get the effective field of view) & does not have built-in framelines for anything shorter than 24mm or longer than 90mm.

Adapters: Only needed if you're using (mostly) older lenses made in the Leica thread mount (LTM, a.k.a. Leica screw mount). Adapters come in 3 types that bring up different framelines (35/135mm, 50/75mm, 28/90mm). Leica made them in the old days, Cosina Voigtlander still makes them, & there are ones made by generic manufacturers, too. John Milich, who is posts on Rangefinder Forum (do a search) makes the LT-M8 adapters ($150 each) that have been milled so that you can do your own coding.

Coding: Is explained on Leica's site:

http://www.leica-camera.us/news/news/1/801.html

The coding is not necessary, but may be useful for some of the wider lenses as it allows the camera to recognize the lens & make certain adjustments for vignetting, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRabbit

I ordered my M8 today. I'd like to get some lenses now to go with it

I did subscribe to Reid Reviews but I found it a bit confusing.

Here's what I'm considering..

A 35mm. Either the Zeiss Biogon f/2 or the CV 35mm f/1.7.

I'd like something longer and maybe wider. Maybe a 21mm and a 75mm.

What can you recommend in Zeiss or CV?

And please help a newbie... do I need adaptors?
Where do I get them if I need them? Where do I buy the LT-M8?
What's with the "barcoding" - is that something I'll have to do?
Where do I find out how?
How do I know what lenses need coding and what lenses don't?

Thanks!

Amy

DRabbit · 06-19-2007

Thanks for the info...

I do know about the 1.3 multiplier and have been keeping that in mind...

I have my choices somewhat narrowed down I think...

One of these...
Zeiss 21mm or 25mm f/2.8 Biogon or CV 21mm f/4 Skopar

Favorite focal length...
Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon

and a little longer reach...
Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar

Do those sound like good choices to start off with? Which would you prefer on the wider side... or should I just stick with the 35 and 50 for now (I rarely shoot wide angle).

As I understand it, I won't need adaptors for the Zeiss lenses, correct?

What about coding?

Amy

furcafe · 06-19-2007

IMHO, only go wider if you think that's a direction you're going to go or want to experiment with (also remember that you're probably going to want an accessory finder for a 21mm because the M8 only has framelines for 24mm @ the widest). So if 35mm is wide enough for you now, then why not stick w/28mm (accounting for the crop)?

Yes, the new Zeiss ZM lenses don't require any adapters (nor do most of the newer Cosina Voigtlander lenses). You can manually code the ZM lenses (or other non-Leica lenses or old non-coded Leitz/Leica lenses), either temporarily w/a sharpie pen/paint or more permanently by having the focus mount milled by someone like John Milich (or by Leica if they're Leica lenses).

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRabbit

Thanks for the info...

I do know about the 1.3 multiplier and have been keeping that in mind...

I have my choices somewhat narrowed down I think...

One of these...
Zeiss 21mm or 25mm f/2.8 Biogon or CV 21mm f/4 Skopar

Favorite focal length...
Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon

and a little longer reach...
Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar

Do those sound like good choices to start off with? Which would you prefer on the wider side... or should I just stick with the 35 and 50 for now (I rarely shoot wide angle).

As I understand it, I won't need adaptors for the Zeiss lenses, correct?

What about coding?

Amy

DRabbit · 06-19-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by furcafe

IMHO, only go wider if you think that's a direction you're going to go or want to experiment with (also remember that you're probably going to want an accessory finder for a 21mm because the M8 only has framelines for 24mm @ the widest). So if 35mm is wide enough for you now, then why not stick w/28mm (accounting for the crop)?

Well I love 50mm on full-frame, so in getting the 35mm I figured I was getting close to that (45.5mm with multiplier).

The 21mm CV comes with an accessory finder as I understood it... I'll have to double check that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by furcafe

Yes, the new Zeiss ZM lenses don't require any adapters (nor do most of the newer Cosina Voigtlander lenses). You can manually code the ZM lenses (or other non-Leica lenses or old non-coded Leitz/Leica lenses), either temporarily w/a sharpie pen/paint or more permanently by having the focus mount milled by someone like John Milich (or by Leica if they're Leica lenses).

I'm getting "mixed signals" about the coding - hehehe - is it 100% necessary? I'm a wiz with a sharpie, so is coding them myself easy to do? Where's the best place for instructions on that?

Amy

Joe Mondello · 06-19-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRabbit

Well I love 50mm on full-frame, so in getting the 35mm I figured I was getting close to that (45.5mm with multiplier).

The 21mm CV comes with an accessory finder as I understood it... I'll have to double check that.

I'm getting "mixed signals" about the coding - hehehe - is it 100% necessary? I'm a wiz with a sharpie, so is coding them myself easy to do? Where's the best place for instructions on that?

Amy

Hi Amy, The 21CV LTM does come with a viewfinder, but it's not the right one for an M8. For that you need a 28mm finder.

If you want the widest on the M8 without using an accessory finder then a 24 or 25 will do that. Check out CameraQuest (link on the left of every page) the owner now owns this forum and has a great selection of CV lenses.

I don't code anything and I don't use IR filters and I haven't had it be a big problem at all -- but others will likely disagree!

Zeiss have just reduced their prices quite a bit so they are always worth a look. You can't go wrong with Leica glass, but you pay for it.

DRabbit · 06-19-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Mondello

Hi Amy, The 21CV LTM does come with a viewfinder, but it's not the right one for an M8. For that you need a 28mm finder.

Well, I ended up buying the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 so I'll certainly need that external viewfinder... but I'm having a hard time finding one... who carries it and what's it called (because "external viewfinder" pulls up nothing on B&H)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Mondello

I don't code anything and I don't use IR filters and I haven't had it be a big problem at all -- but others will likely disagree!

Well it's good to know that I can use the lenses without coding them... whether that's preferred or not, time will tell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Mondello

Zeiss have just reduced their prices quite a bit so they are always worth a look. You can't go wrong with Leica glass, but you pay for it.

I have always wanted to get into Zeiss glass, so it's a no-brainer for me...

morgan · 06-19-2007

You can get a 28mm cv viewfinder from CameraQuest: http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

He's a site sponsor and very reputable. His price is $145 for the 28mm vf.

Enjoy the M8, I'm jealous :-)

DRabbit · 06-19-2007

I'm confused... why do I need a 28mm viewfinder with a 21mm lens? It's not that I doubt any of you, I just want it explained to me.... I'm like that

important: I didn't get the 21mm CV lens... I got the 21mm Zeiss f/2.8...

Amy

morgan · 06-19-2007

You need the 28mm vf for the 21mm lens because of the crop factor of the M8. If you used a 21mm vf, it'd show wider than what you'll actually capture.

I don't think the brand matters for the vf.

Eric T · 06-19-2007

Amy,
I just purchased an M8 a week ago and bought a 25mm f/4 CV Skopar lens. I am very happy with that choice. It is my only M-mount lens. All others I also use on a Leica IIIf (CV: 50mm f/1.5 Nokton and 35mm f/1.7 Ultron; Leica: 35mm f/3.5, 90mm f/4.0, and 135mm f/4.5 LTM lenses).
The real test will be a trip to Hawaii I am taking in early July. I expect most of my photos will be with the 25mm Skopar. I will post on Flickr after the trip.
Good luck!
Eric

Joe Mondello · 06-19-2007

Congrats on the Zeiss 21. I hear it's quite a piece of glass!

And if it helps at all with the math, the 1.33 crop factor of the M8 means you add 1/3 the FL of the lens (which doesn't change a 21mm lens is a 21mm lens regardless of what camera you put it on) to the FL to get the FOV. In this case 1/3 of 21 is 7 so 21+7=28 which is why you need a "28mm" viewfinder since it shows the FOV of a 28mm lens on a camera (like the other Ms) which has no crop factor.

Did that help?

OK to be clear, FOV = Field Of View and FL = Focal Length. HTH

DRabbit · 06-19-2007

Thanks...

I do understand the 1.3 crop factor... and DUH, I should have realized it would apply to the external viewfinder too.

Now, I have to go find one...

I'm anxious to get my new "toy" and share some photos

Amy

Joe Mondello · 06-19-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRabbit

Thanks...

I do understand the 1.3 crop factor... and DUH, I should have realized it would apply to the external viewfinder too.

Now, I have to go find one...

I'm anxious to get my new "toy" and share some photos

Amy

I bought the leica 21-24-28 zoom finder ($400), but thats because I also have the CV 15 lens which needs the 21 finder so for me it's one finder for 2 lenses.

CameraQuest is a good place to look for your finder. Stephen Gandy who owns CameraQuest is also the new owner of this Forum.

HankBar · 06-20-2007

I use the elmarit 21 on the M8 without a viewfinder. I'm just using the whole of the picture in the M8 VF, disregarding the framelines. For me it works.

grduprey · 06-21-2007

The entire view through the m8 viewfinder is almost perfect for the 21. I tried this with a Leica 21 2 months ago, and it was just about perfect. the down side is you need to take extra time check what is there before you shoot, where the external vf is quicker to see the whole area the 21 sees.

gene

patrickho777 · 06-24-2007

Hi Amy,

I am about to order a M8 and Ziess 21/f2.8. How has your experience been without the VF as Gene has indicated. Any distortion with the 21mm on the M8? I just do not like to carry the VF, part of the purpose with Leica purchase is being discreet.