Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/11/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Since this is a Leica list, I expect people will be pleased to learn that I have decided that M8 prices have fallen sufficiently to buy one some time during the next few months. So I am thinking of lenses to use with it. Clearly, a 35mm will serve as a standard lens, but what to use for wide angle? The various 21mm offerings are not wide enough for me; they translate into 28mm in film terms, and that is a focal length I never got comfortable with. To me, it is neither fish nor fowl: not wide enough to really capture the big expanse but too wide to use for, say, se?orita photos, without getting so close that you get slapped in the face. Leica's own WATE or whatever is called is too expensive and I have no need for all 3 focal lengths. The 15mm lenses from Voigtlander and Zeiss are not rangefinder coupled. I know that they have great DOF so focusing is not critical, but still I want rangefinder coupling. From what I see out there, the 4/18mm Zeiss M lens seems to fit the bill, both in terms of focal length (corresponds to 24mm, one of my favorite focal lengths when I was shooting film) and in terms of reasonable price (KEH has one at the moment for just under $1000). But is it any good? I have read Erwin's write up on the ZM lenses, and it is quite positive. But when he wrote it, he did not have this particular lens. Anybody out there using the 18mm? Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.nathanfoto.com Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0 PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog