Potential buyer

Hi All

I am coming from the DSLR world mainly using Nikon and Sigma, I have been bit by the Leica bug,

I know this can become a expensive love affair. At this time I am selling some of my gear to help fund this venture (and maybe all of my gear)

My questions for now

1)For us mature shooters are you having any trouble with the manual focus, I am speaking of your eyes, I know that I can buy a diopter correction and have read about the bright viewfinder. Does it really help?

2)What lens(es) to start with, I mainly shoot my grandkid playing and will also use it for everything else in life. I would like to use it in doors also with available light so a fast lens would be best, I was thinking around a 70 or 90mm for portrait type shots and a 24mm for everything else. Any lens recommendation would be helpful, please keep in mind that I need to try and keep the cost down right know.

Thanks Allen

Hi Allen,

Welcome to the forum!

Considering your use and your desire to keep the combo reasonably priced, I would recommend the M8 and the CV 28 ASPH Ultron. At f1.9, the lens will be fast enough for most indoor lighting situations. The other benefit is that is comes in the LTM (screw) mount, so you can add a John Millich adapter and have it coded for about $150. You are looking at a total of about $650 for the package. The 28 1.9 is a better lens than the newer 28 f2. Its sharper, is LTM mount instead of the M mount of the newer version. All 35mm lenses and wider need to be coded for the M8, if you plan to use color. And coding for these non-Leica M mount lenses are not really worth the effort, and in many cases don't even work. Unless you have the actual mount machined by someone then painted.

Once you get more familiar with the combo, I would save up for a 28 Summicron. Probably could pick up a clean used copy for about $2400-2600. The 28 Elmarit is half the price but f2.8 is too slow for natural light shooting indoors. Unless you want to dwell around ISO 1250-2500 (not recommended)

As for your portrait lens, I would recommend the CV 50 1.5 Nokton (if you want a bang for the buck lens) at under $400, or the 50 Summilux pre ASPH ( about 1400-1700 depending on the condition), and if you want to do more head shots then perhaps a 75 Summarit or the 90 Elmarit-M might fit your needs. Neither of these however would be fast enough for true low-light situations. For that you should consider the more bulky but superb 75 Summilux (about 2200-2500) or the 90 Summicron pre AA (about 500-800).

I hope that helps. I wish you the best in your purchase.

allen Bock said:

Hi All

I am coming from the DSLR world mainly using Nikon and Sigma, I have
been bit by the Leica bug,
I know this can become a expensive love affair. At this time I am
selling some of my gear to help fund this venture (and maybe all of
my gear)

My questions for now
1)For us mature shooters are you having any trouble with the manual
focus, I am speaking of your eyes, I know that I can buy a diopter
correction and have read about the bright viewfinder. Does it really
help?

2)What lens(es) to start with, I mainly shoot my grandkid playing and
will also use it for everything else in life. I would like to use it
in doors also with available light so a fast lens would be best, I
was thinking around a 70 or 90mm for portrait type shots and a 24mm
for everything else. Any lens recommendation would be helpful, please
keep in mind that I need to try and keep the cost down right know.

Thanks Allen

Click to expand...

--
Mark Won
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22910881@N08/

Hi Allen, well im a bit like you used nikons f5s d2h and the likes all with pro lenses and auto focus.

but for years i have had an older leica m6 and a few lens i loved it but stopped using it since digital came in. i always threatened to buy an m6, but really had too much money involved in all the other cameras and lens. on the odd day i would take the m6 out and my love affair with it always came out in a flash.

well to cut a story short a few weeks ago i bought myself an m8..... well i cant put the bloody thing down and have not touched the SLRs.

but like you im an old bugger and had a little trouble with slow focus because of not too clear in viewfinder well i went to the local shop and tried a few pairs of reading glasses 1 1.25 1.5 etc on and then tried the view finder wooooohooo 1 was perfect crystal clear and the rangefinder sparkled focus just snapped into line what a pleasure. well as 1 was perfect a bought a +1 diopter and its the same wooohoo not only am i seeing beautifully but all my old skills are returning, skills those dirty automatic SLRs stole off me... as you see its a pleasure to use my friend and i love it.

i have a few lenses but the two i love are 28X 2.8 and the 50x 1.4 i dont think i need others

has that answered your questions allen i hope so
regards
hayden from new zealand

Mark

Your knowledge of lenses for the M8 is very helpful; I would like to be able asks you more questions as I get closer to the purchase of my new gear; for now can you recommend other web site for reading up on lenses for the M8.

Thanks

hayden

Thank you for your input, I am right now reading and trying learning, I don’t want to make a thousand (s) dollar mistakes,

Allen

it will take a while to get comfortable focusing with a view finder. Some subjects are easy and other are more difficult to focus on.

I wear reading glasses and have tried the diopter and mag eyepieces and removed them as I could see much better just looking thru the view finder.

Viewfinder photography is a big change from your DSLR and will take adjustment.

--
Greg Gebhardt in
Jacksonville, Florida

One of the best sites for Leica shooters is Sean Reid's:

http://www.reidreviews.com/reidreviews/

This is a pay site, but you'll likely find it worth the cost. Sean does comparative reviews of lenses, and isn't hung up about only using Leica lenses on your Leica camera.

The Voigtlander lenses recommended to you are a good way to start. You can always upgrade as experience, need, and finances allow. A 28 (or 24/25) and a 50 are good starters. (I have an M8 and an M6 -- and about 12 lenses. 1 Leica (pre-ASPH Summilux 50mm) in hand, and a 35mm ASPH Summicron on the way...3 Zeiss lenses...and the rest are Cosina/Voigtlander.

allen Bock said:

Your knowledge of lenses for the M8 is very helpful; I would like to
be able asks you more questions as I get closer to the purchase of my
new gear; for now can you recommend other web site for reading up on
lenses for the M8.

Click to expand...

Thank you, I will take a look

Greg Gebhardt said:

Viewfinder photography is a big change from your DSLR and will take
adjustment.

Click to expand...

This is what I am worried about can I make the change

Allen

Maybe Howie Feller will chime in. I believe he wears glasses and he also just bought an M8. If you do get one, you will be hooked after a few days. BUT I do not wear glasses so I have no idea how easy it is to focus with glasses. I'm sure more will chime in.

--
My New Digital Reviews! M8, D-Lux 4, D700, & more!
http://www.stevehuffphotos.com

My Ongoing M8 Gallery
http://www.pbase.com/stevehuff/leica_m8_images

My Homeless Project
http://www.pbase.com/stevehuff/the_homeless

allen Bock said:

Greg Gebhardt said:

Viewfinder photography is a big change from your DSLR and will take
adjustment.

Click to expand...

This is what I am worried about can I make the change

Allen

Click to expand...

Allen, I wear glasses, but with the correct diopter screwed into the eyepiece I have no trouble focussing. If you have a dealer near you, go and give it a try with the different strength diopters.

Mike

--



http://mikepics.zenfolio.com/

Old & Distressed gallery:
http://mikepics.zenfolio.com/p856162474

I wouldn't switch if I were you.

I'd start with a cheap M2 or Voigtlander in film and get used to RF-style photography and learn all its advantages and disadvantages. Then, I'd consider dRF.