My first experience

[chrisli]

This is my first experience with a Rangefinder, and beginning to like it, started off when I bought the Fuji X100, being reading up on the Leica and was amazed by all that is written about it, wanted to feel how is it shooting with one, got myself a M8 with a Summicron-M 50mm f2.0 lens. Some photos taken recently, comments and critiques are welcome.

 

[magicianhisoka]

I like the first shot more than the second. But it seems to be cropped really tight. Would be great if you could have shown more of what he was writing

 

[chrisli]

I like the first shot more than the second. But it seems to be cropped really tight. Would be great if you could have shown more of what he was writing

I was a bit too close due to crowd blocking. Would a 24mm lens help in this instance.

 

[alantcs2010]

Hi, 50mm on a M8 would turn out to be more like a portrait lens. Of course u can still use it for streets photography. However if you want something more wider for environmental and people together, 24mmx1.33=32mm will be nice. You can even consider wider lenses like 21mm, 18mm or even the 15mm for B&W. These will depends on your shooting style already.

 

[magicianhisoka]

I personally felt 50mm on the 1.3 crop sensor was too long. I'd try a 28 or 35mm. You'll get an effective approximation of 35 or 50mm with those lenses. Considered the "norm" for streets. See which you're more comfortable with.

 

[chrisli]

Hi, 50mm on a M8 would turn out to be more like a portrait lens. Of course u can still use it for streets photography. However if you want something more wider for environmental and people together, 24mmx1.33=32mm will be nice. You can even consider wider lenses like 21mm, 18mm or even the 15mm for B&W. These will depends on your shooting style already.

I personally felt 50mm on the 1.3 crop sensor was too long. I'd try a 28 or 35mm. You'll get an effective approximation of 35 or 50mm with those lenses. Considered the "norm" for streets. See which you're more comfortable with.

Thanks guy for the advise, will definitely go for the 24 or 28mm any lens you would recommend. There are some many different model, even with the same focal length and I am not familiar with Leica Lenses.

 

[magicianhisoka]

There's a voigtlander 28mm 1.9 going for sale on the BnS section. Seems reasonably priced if you don't mind the looks. Sharp and doesn't suffer from the focus shift problems that the new ultron has. If you die die only want Leica lenses though, prepare to shell out 3 or 4k for a fast 28mm.

24mm seems to be a rare breed of lenses for the RF system. At least to me. So I can't comment much on them.

 

[New2digital]

Thanks guy for the advise, will definitely go for the 24 or 28mm any lens you would recommend. There are some many different model, even with the same focal length and I am not familiar with Leica Lenses.

Instead of marketing a 50mm f1.4 lens like most camera makers, Leica sells their lens with a name. For a 50mm f1.4, Leica sell it as a Summilux 50. An "M", "R" or "S" is added to the name as "Summilux-M" for respective range of cameras they sell, "-M" for the M series and "-R" for the "R" series SLR, which is now discontinued and the "-S" for the medium format SLR, the new "S" series as with S2.

The name normally tells you the "speed" of the Lens, ie. F-stop. Noctilux for f1.2 and less, Summilux for F1.4, Summicron for F2, Summarit for F2.5, Elmar for F3.5 to F4, while Elmarit for F2.8 and anything slower, (bigger F-stop), it's called Hektor. Just google for Leica lens names, and you'll get to learn what they are.

 

[alantcs2010]

24mm Leica is a legend. Especially the Elmarit F2.8. A good second hand copy u need around 4k man.

 

[NorthernLights]

I used the M8 with the Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM quite a bit. The 50mm perspective is still interesting.

 

[NorthernLights]

a 28mm perspective would be a 36mm FOV on an M8.

 

[rosewood1969]

bro, welcome to the world of rangefinders!
You have just started on a very slippery slope!
As mentioned by the bros here, u need to find your style and then decide if your effective focal length is 35 or 50mm.
Bearing in mind the crop factor, the lens u need to get a 28 or a 35mm to get the closest focal length for the above

Besides the Voigtlander brand,you can consider Zeiss and of course Leica glass
You can also get old glass by Canon,Nikon etc but make sure its LTM type

What brand you choose will depend how much you are willing to spend on this hobby.

This slope you have just got on is very slippery, the upgrade bug will hit you (just like me)
Your wallet will be lighter.

Anyway, keep shooting and have fun!

Cheers!

 

[chrisli]

Thanks all the bro here for their invalueable comments and advise.

I have been a SLR user for quite many years now, my main genre is Bird Photography and Portraits [or XMM] have always been interested in Street Photography but does know where to start felt the DSLR was a little too big and intrusive when you intend to shoot epsecially people, afraid they might get upset or chase after me.

Started trying with the Sony NEX 3, then the Fuji X100, this is when I really got the hang of if it, because it is small not that obvious. Prefer the View Finder type but problem fixed lens, so decide to look around and found the Leica and Wow I am loving it now.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

hi welcome to the RF community.

We've set up our own RF community webpage on RFSG , its an RF resource page with articles contributed by the RF community.
We're on FB as well!

Welcome to the slippery slope

 

[chrisli]

hi welcome to the RF community.

We've set up our own RF community webpage on RFSG , its an RF resource page with articles contributed by the RF community.
We're on FB as well!

Welcome to the slippery slope

Thanks will definitely visit the site more often hopefully can learn a lot more and improve.

 

[Benji77]

Welcome welcome
You are also invited to partake in our monthly competitions and outings.

The current month (November) is themed as 'Nine'.

Shoot more

 

[aomoon]

Welcome to Rangefinder world

M8 x 50mm is a really a good start to this slippery slope.
To me, it's neither too wide or too narrow for most of kind RF shots.
Using it to your advantage rather than limitation . Cheers!

 

[nightwolf75]

ooooo... another one. ;p

have fun shooting... and collecting lenses. i too just started after giving up my DSLR. as much as i lust after the leica lenses, i find the old LTM lenses more pleasing to my eye. the fun part of RF for me is collecting and using the old canon LTM lenses that were produced when my dad was my age.... heh...

 

[NazgulKing]

Interesting pictures. Great that you can join this little community.

 

[artspraken]

For M8, get 24mm, 28mm or 35mm.

F2.8 is enough generally.