Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/02/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I guess I did a poor job of explaining myself.... The M8 has a small sensor, therefore the angle of view is more "telephoto" than on a fill frame sensor. Therefore, to get a real wide, wide angle lens, Leica needed to produce a real wide lens. IMO, that response was the WATE. ( yes, I know it covers full frame as well.....). Now assume that the WATE is not wide enough for your kind of photography.......on an M8. Will you get a wider lens from Leica on your M8? Now that Leica is on the path of a full frame sensor, and the WATE will cover that sensor as well, there is no reason for them to create a new single focal length lens that is as wide or wider than the WATE. Too small a market. The market would be for M8 users ( that do not want to upgrade to the FF sensor when/if that ever happens). The ZI 18 is a big honking piece of glass. Rather pricey as well. Leica already has a 21 ASPH. The difference? 18mm = 90 degrees horizontal angle of view. 21mm = 81.2 degrees. Not a significant difference ( unless the wall behind you just will not move...)....and the 21 ASPH is pretty big already. So I doubt a single FL 18 is in the works. ( May need to eat those words...) My point it that the market for that extra 9 degrees is pretty small. Is it worth the R+D? I doubt it.....and I would not put my R+D funds into it.... It is highly unlikely there ever will be a lens wider than 21mm for an M anything camera, other than the WATE.... BTW.. the 16-18-21 WATE would have angle of view of...... 96.7 (16mm) / 90 (18mm) / and 81.2 (21mm) on a 24x36 frame 80.5 / 73.9 / 65.6 degrees horizontally on an M8. ( basically the 16 on an M8 = a 21 on an M6). Frank Filippone red735i@earthlink.net -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+red735i=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+red735i=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of G Hopkinson Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:15 PM To: 'Leica Users Group' Subject: RE: [Leica] lens rumors Frank, lots of Leica folks out there hoping for new wide primes. Do you think that people are looking for wider than 16 (21 equiv) for the current M8 sensor? I do not believe that Leica will produce any lenses that are not equally suitable for film and digital M's.