1) just visited The CV website and have to say its really tempting to check out the 28/1.9 and the 15.
2) For those planning to work with 15 and 21mm: Ricoh offers a viewfinder for the GR which has 21 and 28mm framelines.
Its not bad at all, I think its about 160 Euros. Should work for 15/21 on the M8. just an idea
Tom:
The ZM 28mm will bring up the correct frames. It's the 25mm ZM, that, unfortunately, brings up the 28 frames and not the 24 frames. This is a BIG disadvantage, in my opinion. Perhaps someone will offer a service to those that own the very magnificant 25mm Zeiss, to modify the mount. I have not personally tried the 25mm but Sean Reid reviews it on his site, and that's where I got the Info. Sean: can you verify please?
Thanks
Dave
t_streng wrote:
Woody,
how would you say do the 50lux and cron compare? Do you have the lux_asph or the older version?
I am close to sell my 50 crons and my noktilux to get the 50 lux-asph
The local camera store will have one for me to look at next week....and I am afraid that I might not leave it at the store.
Tom
I was a perfectly happy camper with the 50 cron until I got the chance to use the Lux Asph. In my (and many others) opinion the 50 lux may be the best lens ever produced by Leica. If you have budget, get the lux. I also have the Noctilux but I may end up selling it. It is a great lens but very specialized and very expensive. Now that I have the lux asph I just don't use it anymore. And given the M8 noise at higher ISO levels the need for that extra stop is no longer so great as it was on the M6TTL using 100-400 iso films.
carstenw wrote:
I ought to be punished for thinking this, but I am considering a switch from 5D + Leica glass to M8... I don't want to make a mistake here though, because the financial penalty would be so large. My camera bag is just so heavy, and I am frustrated with the Canon colour and low-pass filter...
I think you are reasoning straight! If I were you, I would keep the 5D with your Macro lens for moments when it is needed!
I would have to start with one lens, and I am not sure, but I might start with the new 28mm, and add a 50 Lux ASPH as soon thereafter as I can. I wanted to get the 35 Lux ASPH, but starting with that lens and building up a range I end up with more lenses than starting with a 28 and a 50... Has anyone else tried to figure out a lens set without the 35 Lux?
That's what I suggested some pages ago! It might be interesting to find out (as susggested by Robert) if the M8 handles highlights better than film and RD-1 for the 28 Cron. If yes, it makes sense to me to start with that setup.
Guy Mancuso wrote:
I don't have a copyright on the Bible thread if that is what you are asking.
I would prefer a black M8
Okay so the big question is since I am selling one DMR R/9 is how many are going to sell gear to buy M8 gear and are you just looking at the wides or do a combination.
I'm not selling any of my Canon gear for an M8. I am selling a bunch of my safe queen trap and sporting clays shotguns for it and my SIG 550.
My wife knows I'm getting one an only comment so far has been, "I guess you're getting one, aren't you?"
As for lenses:
I'm in a flux about 'Cron's or 'Lux's for a 35 and 75. At 21mm I'm going with the Zeiss 21 ZM. A Noctilux is a given because of my love of low light.
I don't see needing more than 4 lenses for an M8 and the way I plan to use it.
sreidvt wrote:
I was fairly sure on that but wanted to check with Germany to confirm.
Hi Sean, while you at it, could you check the availability of the M8 again with them, please? I know you mentioned that the official word is by the end of November. But there are words out there saying that it would be later on in October or maybe the early part of November.
sreidvt wrote:
and one certainly can zoom a Metz head easily enough, esp. with a camera that doesn't use zooms.
Indeed !
Not to mention that it's often better to manually set the flash at wider setting than the lens' FL for more uniform and slightly softer light, subject's distance allowing.
Agreed with Guy, can't recommend enough Sean's reviews.
Different, wonderful approach in testing gear for what it really is, tools we need to understand to better draw our pictures.
Btw folks,
after about 23 hours this thread has reached 13 pages, 100 posts and over 2500 views.
And this is even before anyone actually used an M8 !! Sean apart
ClubShooter wrote:
Take comfort that you're not alone... I bought a CV 28/1.9 and am now on the hunt for a good condition 1950's Summitar 5cm f2 and was about to post that someone please stop me!!!.
Seriously, I will pay for this by thinning my R lenses a bit, especially on the wide end. I really prefer shooting range finders with wide angles, SLRs with telephotos. I will probably still get a Summilux 75 before this little spree is over.
I'm really loving the fact that experienced pros are discussing various M mount lenses: Leicas, CVs and ZMs. I especially like Sean's reviews over on his site. It appears that the differences/choices may boil down to preferences and "look" of each lens. For the last 4 years or so I have been using full frame DSLRs (1Ds,and 1DSII). What I will be comparing is the results of some of the world's best PRIMEs against my Canon wide ZOOMs. My most used lenses are the 17~40 L, and 24~105 L IS. I make my bread & butter with those two zooms often making 20"x30" prints. It's as good as I have. There is no doubt in my mind that the results of the M8 and prime lenses wil be superior to wide zoom lens results. I have used Leica M2, M3 and M4's in my film days, but have not used an M in a while. My point is that we are probably splitting hairs as to Leica vs ZM vs CV lenses when the real eye opener will be photographers who have only (or mostly used) zooms all their lives, and suddenly see what a first rate senser and world class primes can do. (If Canon had world class wides I would try them---I use also now a Zeiss 28 f2.8 with adapter on my DSLRs).
Just another "food for thought". Thanks all for this thread.
BTW: question: how have the users of the DMR been sharpening? I presently use Fred's 1DsII plug in, or PK sharpener. I will need to learn a proper sharpening routine for the non-AA filter M files.
Thanks again
Dave G.
Guy,
Didn't know you're part Rocky Mountains territory. Linda has Denver which where i live, NM, AZ, IDAHO. I've dealt with Linda for years she is a excellent rep for leica . her and her husband jim make an excellent team. By the way she sells more DMRs than any other regions in the US. I'm sort of holding off on the DMR and will be looking at the M8 more and more since I still have all my M lenses. i sold my last Canon 1D body. So I'm Canon less now. I might replace my whole R line with the 4/3rd Oly/Pana/Leica - they're much lighter to lug around. i predict Leica will selling more M8 bodies than the DMR countepart all due to portability and supreme imaging for the M design. Enjoy your foray to the new M system !
The one I have, I've borrowed from Victor (which I need to return soon). It is a version that is uncoupled to the rangefinder...so it means zone focusing (which I am bad at), guessing (which I am even worse at) or setting it at infinity (which I can master). At infinity and f5.6 for landscapes I didn't notice any softness in the corners of the 15, 19 or 28. So, it is a viable option for some R lenses. You do lose a little bit of the viewfinder with the bigger lenses, but at infinity focus, that really isn't a problem either.
