lenses to start with leica m8

[eaturiano]

hi,

just want to know what is the cheapest but good quality lenses to start with a leica m8?. I know good lenses are way too expensive but the results are spot on. I just want a lens that will help me to familiarise the camera and to able shoot but with desirable results, upgrading the lens can consider later (my wallet needs to recover ;p).

i havent got the leica m8 yet..but with your help i could probably get one (hopefully) next month

thanks...cheers!

 

[gommy]

CV lenses are very good. CV50mmf1.5Asph in LTM is excellent.

 

[Srono]

hi,

just want to know what is the cheapest but good quality lenses to start with a leica m8?. I know good lenses are way too expensive but the results are spot on. I just want a lens that will help me to familiarise the camera and to able shoot but with desirable results, upgrading the lens can consider later (my wallet needs to recover ;p).

i havent got the leica m8 yet..but with your help i could probably get one (hopefully) next month

thanks...cheers!

Go to our friendly shop http://www.chiifcameras.com/ and you will find what you want.

You cannot go wrong with either Chiif or Voigtlander lenses.

:thumbsup:

 

[nex100]

28mm, 35mm, 50mm lenses are what some people swear by. Pick a focal length which you use the most previously

 

[raytoei]

let's go through this logically....

You mentioned cheap. I presume you want cheap and good too. Here are my top-5 cheap but good lens for the M8.

* Jupiter-8 50/f2 (cheapest, best bang for bucks for a Sonnar lens)
* Canon 50/f1.8 (one of the best 50mm ltm lens around)
* Any Canon 35mm lens (cheap and good)
* Summicron-c 40mm (Leica, and neglected 40mm) under 500SGD.

If I could choose from the above, I would choose either a Canon 35/1.8 or the Summicron-C 40mm. It would fit the m8 nicely and more importantly renders the images beautifully.

raytoei

ps, I did not recommend any CV lenses because I have yet to use one (though i have the 15mm ordered), but i hear good things about the CV, eg, color skopar LTM 35mm is cheap and good.

 

[xherion]

With M8's crop factor, the most versatile but affordable lens would be voigtlander 35mm f1.4.
If you want really cheap lenses under 500 then raytoei's suggestion is good.

 

[blacvios]

I find if you shoot full frame at 35mm to 40mm, the Voigtlander ultron 28mm f2 is a good choice. It translate to 37mm on the M8. For 1/4 for the price of a pre-owned M8, i think it is affordable.

 

[artspraken]

for M8 get a 35mm focal length

 

[chiif]

Used lenses are good, but do not expect them to work perfectly like the new ones. I often get requests to restore 50 year old lenses which got haze and fog and expect them to come back to live like new 50 years ago after some cleaning. Techically it is not possible due to the coating and element degradation after all these years. I also get complains that some lenses are mis align at infinity but close distance is still sharp. All these even the best and skilled could not do anything to make it perfect.

My advise is: buying used items is like gambling. Sometimes u win, sometimes u lose. If your appetite for risk is low, go for new and affordable lenses. Or even second hand current production is fine. At least u can find the spare parts for it. If u have slightly deeper pockets, and want to experiment with exotic old lenses, then u can go to eBay and hunt down all kinds of cheap and very nice lenses. But if u land on one that is not perfect, move on and find the next one. That's part of the fun hunting down a good copy. If you can't take such risk, buy a mint or new copy is better.

Hope that helps.

 

[raytoei]

+1 for Chiif's pearls of wisdom.

 

[oliprolli]

Another +1 for Chiff! He's right. Cant expect an old lens to perform as well as the new ones. Its really a gamble with old lenses. For the M8 I'd recommend the excellent CV 28mm f2. A friend of mine just got one last week from Chiff for his new M8 and is very happy with it. Drop by Chiff's place to give some lenses a go when u get ur M8 bro. Cheers!

 

[eaturiano]

thanks to all your advices!..now im getting really excited!..

i was also thinking of getting the CV lenses which all of you recommended. and must vist Chiif's someday.

 

[dankwan]

thanks to all your advices!..now im getting really excited!..

i was also thinking of getting the CV lenses which all of you recommended. and must vist Chiif's someday.

VC 21 f4

VC 35 f1.2

VC 50 f1.1

this is how good CV lenses are, you cant go wrong with them

 

[eaturiano]

VC 21 f4

VC 35 f1.2

VC 50 f1.1

this is how good CV lenses are, you cant go wrong with them

nice set of photos!..thanks for sharing them

are these taken with m8 or m6 or other camera?..

 

[Royale With Cheese]

CV or VC offers bang for the buck modern lenses with good optics.

Add some more poison here.
CV 35mm F1.2 Nokton

Fastest 35mm RF lens around so far
Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623947752176/

CV Color Helair 75mm F2.5

CV Nokton 40mm F1.4

Alot of peeps using this one on M4/3
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623823284513

CV Super Wide Helair 15mm F4.5 asph

Awesome small little gem if you use it right!
Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623947696866/

CV Nokton 35mm F1.4

imho, the most bang for the buck modern & fast performance lens available on the market now.
Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623823257717/


I know there is a lot of talk going on about CV quality & stuff.

I have to admit, the lenses do have the not so solid feel like vintage lenses made out of brass & leica lenses but at the price you are paying for, they seriously are value for $$$

Optically wise, the lenses are honestly good, have a really nice experience with them. You can view the sets I have up there. I used the 35mm F1.4 nokton most extensively until it got stolen..... #$%@

Sadly the 50mm F1.5 asph nokton is out of production, that was one highly rated lens.

Some people find that the lens is not sharp enough, resolution not high enough etc. At a fraction of what Leica offers, I cant argue much....
Just ask yourself, most of us are weekend warriors, do you really need the sharpness, 100% pixle peep resolutions to print orchard ion size billboards?

If you like tele stuff, should check out guru kupih stuff in share some RF shots 10, cv75mm F1.8 portraits are sweet!!!!!!!!!!!

Buy buy buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dankwan]

nice set of photos!..thanks for sharing them

are these taken with m8 or m6 or other camera?..

the first was an MP (i think, I dont quite remember what I used on that trip), the second was an M6 and the last M9, all shot wide open...CV very good performer at full aperture

 

[dankwan]

CV or VC offers bang for the buck modern lenses with good optics.

Add some more poison here.
CV 35mm F1.2 Nokton

Fastest 35mm RF lens around so far
Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623947752176/

CV Color Helair 75mm F2.5

CV Nokton 40mm F1.4

Alot of peeps using this one on M4/3
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623823284513

CV Super Wide Helair 15mm F4.5 asph

Awesome small little gem if you use it right!
Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623947696866/

CV Nokton 35mm F1.4

imho, the most bang for the buck modern & fast performance lens available on the market now.
Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623823257717/

+1 for the 40mm f1.4, one of the lenses with the best color rendition with a very natural POV. compact, a real gem

 

[Royale With Cheese]

+1 for the 40mm f1.4, one of the lenses with the best color rendition with a very natural POV. compact, a real gem

yep, +1 for Nokton 40mm F1.4. Check out these colors on consumer Fuji Superia 400 film without post processing:

Both shot wide open at F1.4

 

[NazgulKing]

Does the 40mm/f1.4 align well with most RF? I know only a few have the 40mm framelines, and the Voigtlander R3 is the only rangefinder in production with the frameline if I recall.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Does the 40mm/f1.4 align well with most RF? I know only a few have the 40mm framelines, and the Voigtlander R3 is the only rangefinder in production with the frameline if I recall.

You can actually use the 50mm lines? I think for most RF, the 50mm lines would come up when you mount the nokton 40mm F1.4 lens.

Or the other way, file the lens to make it show 35mm framlines