I'm on the hunt for a 28mm lens to serve as my primary street photography / ghost town optic. I've owned and been through M8's, M9's, 240's, 246's, and M10's. I find that I want my Leica to be a placebo for film photography and while the M9 is the best for this, I've decided to stick with an M8. Leica has so many 35mm and 50mm lenses, but I find these to have too narrow a view on the M8, and have decided to buy a 28mm lens to approximate a 35mm POV.
I am not looking for the sharpest lens on the planet, as I use other gear (Hasselblads and Nikons) for this type of critical work. I am looking for something with a bit of character that can optimize the M8's attributes... notably chrome-like colors and contrasty black and whites. I'm not willing pay the asking prices for the 28mm Sumillux, but would definitely consider an Elmarit or Summicron if the price is right. I also am aware that Voigtlander has a few smaller 28's (ultrons --> color-skopar) and Zeiss has the Biogons.
I am wondering which of these (or other) lenses might be a good "One Lens" for an M8 that will be used for the next few years.... I'm thinking "Character" over "Optical Perfection."
Any thoughts on the: Mitakon Zhongyi Creator 28mm f/5.6 Lens
I know tiny is in, but I'm not wild about the design of the flatter TTA or Leica f/5.6 28mm lenses. For street photography, I could live with a maximum f5.6 aperture, as it will compensate for my less than fast capacity to be quick with focus accuracy... to be honest, the 10MP sensor is forgiving when it comes to focus when you compare this to a 40+ MP sensor
Picture This! wrote:
Have you looked at the Thypoch 28 ?
Which one... It's hard to keep up with all of the "new" cloned lenses from China.
I thought LLL was the best of the bunch, but it seems that others are now producing competent lenses. I bought a 7-Artisans 35mm f2 and have been pretty shocked by how good that lens performed on the M8. I just find that the field a view is a bit narrow on the M8 for a "daily" street lens.
I had to return an M8 last week that I bought from Adorama due to a faulty shutter... I loved the files from the camera, so looked for a "refurbished" one in a Leica store. I found one with a 12 month warranty for the L.S. in the Meat Packing Plant, NY. It was at Leica NJ and also received a new sensor. The body is on its way.
I currently have a Voight 40mm Nokton SC and the 35 7Artisans, but will likely sell both and buy a 28mm lens. As I said, I'm looking for a one lens set up for this camera.
I am using the CV 28/2.0 Ultron Version I most often for 28 mm FL on my M full-frame and 35 mm film based cameras. I also have the Leica 28/2.8 Elmarit pre-ASPH M-lens which delivers in direct comparison the same image quality as the Ultron lens. The Elmarit lens has a bulkier rectangular lens hood than the Ultron with small screw-in round hood.
My first lens dedicated to use on my M8 was a Konica 28/2.8 mount lens and I still have that lens today (but not the M8). It's very close related to the Leica Elmarit 28/2.8 pre-ASPH lens (I sold the Leica copy). If you would like to have speed and don't mind the size, take a look at the new Thypoch 28/1.4 - it's a very nice lens with a lot of 'characters.' I find the color rendering of this lens suited CCD sensor (M9 in my use case) M body well. I also have the LLL 28/2.8 9-element - 'improved copy' of the Leica Elmarit 28/2.8 V1/V2 - very nice characters with more modern color in terms saturation and contrast. Then, there is also Leica Summation 28/2 ASPH V1 - a classic Leica 28mm lens in the film days but can work very well with the M8 sensor. Many users like the CV 28/2.0 Ultron for its size and modern characters but I have no experience with that lens.
I used the Elmarit on my CL (digital) ... made a sweet 42mm FOV crop factor. It was a dandy combo of size / weight / IQ, with the APS-C (1.5x) form factor staying in the sweet spot of zone A / B for the little gem of a lens, in a pocket rocket setup.
Since moving off the CL > FF, I went with the Q2 (still have) and added the 24/2.8 Elmarit ... but, have been watching most all of the 28mm FF lenses since then. There are plenty of recent releases to choose from VM's in the Ultron, APO, Vintage flavors. Chinese brands in the larger body flavors. Leica in the Cron / Elmarit or Lux flavors ... or the slower /5.6 variants.
I've not shot the M8, but as an older sensor, I'm wondering if the Summicron's faster f/2 lens (or Ultron) lets in more light for ya, yet still not a huge carry. As to drawing style, I think the Cron is well designed to be a "jack of all trades" utilitarian lens (a really nice one), albeit nothing special like a Lux. To that point, if your objective is ONE lens to LIVE on it ... I'd use the Cron as your Goldilocks benchmark, and decide which aspects / attributes of the others are strong enough to sway you AWAY from the Cron. Size > Elmarit, Sharper > APO, etc.
Always a quid pro quo involved, so sometimes it is easier to "pick your poison(s)", than to pick your fav (especially when plenty of good choices exist) ... i.e. assessing what you DON'T want can be highly valuable. Again, for LIVE on it lens ... you don't want it to do thing that PI$$ you off (e.g. flare monster, CA, bulk, etc.).
OwlsEyes wrote:
Any thoughts on the: Mitakon Zhongyi Creator 28mm f/5.6 Lens
I know tiny is in, but I'm not wild about the design of the flatter TTA or Leica f/5.6 28mm lenses. For street photography, I could live with a maximum f5.6 aperture, as it will compensate for my less than fast capacity to be quick with focus accuracy... to be honest, the 10MP sensor is forgiving when it comes to focus when you compare this to a 40+ MP sensor
bruce
Sorry, no idea.
I happen to love the handling of TTA for street as a daily driver. The focus lever is smooth and solid, the travel is long enough to be able to set the distance by feel, button size and the lever are generously sized, making it easy to find. The total depth of the body + lens is super pocketable. The only minor gripe I have is the aperture "wings" take more time to get used to.
Got mine used for £200.
No idea how the optics would perform on M8 though, I'm a film shooter.
I also like the CV Ultron, but I like the 28 1.5 Nokton better. I sold the Ultron after using the Nokton for a bit. The Nokton is still relatively small and the faster lens would be a benefit with the M8 crop sensor.
