Leica M8 with Voigtlander 15mm and 21mm finder

The Voigtlander 15mm was bought to use with the  Ricoh GXR. Never really been a wide angle user but liked the idea of this one.
Due to the cropping effect that you get from non full frame sensors, if you want wide, you have to go very wide. Hence the 15mm.
I bought mine from www.robertwhite.co.uk. I went for the LTM version as it was cheaper and smaller than the M mount version. Slap on a LTM to M adapter ring and away you go. As it was going to be used on the GXR it did not matter about matching up frame lines, so you can use whatever ring you have or can get.

Well now it is being used on the M8 as well, so how does that work regards frame lines?
I'm glad you asked.
Again, doesn't really matter. The M8 does not have 15mm frame lines to bring up, so does not matter which ring you use. Also, this lens is not rangefinder coupled. Might have been nice if it was, but it isn't.
Anyway 15mm and F4.5 focus is a non issue for the vast majority of the time.

What is really nice about this lens is Voigtlander include a 21mm hotshoe finder.
15mm lens and 21mm finder "shom mishtake shirley" Not when you take into account the crop factor.

M8 crop factor 1.33.
15 x 1.33 = 19.95. 21 is close enough. You wold have to be really anal to quibble about a millimeter.

Have to say it is a lovely piece of kit. Clear  and bright. It is a nice way of working.
I appreciate some do not take to finders, but I have, especially this one.

M8 set to A, 15mm simply zone focused. You need not set anything again and shoot to yours hearts content. As point and shoot as you could hope for.

If you have been here before, usual rules of engagement apply. Images are straight out the the cam with no fiddling.

So this is what the combo looks like. (Taken with Ricoh GR)

And this is the results it produces.
For reference I was standing approx 1.5m - 2m from the cars.

If anyone does happen to read this and you have a burning need to ask a question. Feel free.

Leica M8 with Summar

Hello all.

Ever since I had the Ricoh GXR M module, always had a sneeky susspicion I would ultimateltly end up with a Leica M8. Christmas or not I found one, so had it.

As with the GXR, I now have that great combination of being able to use some great glass from the past with the convenience of today's digital bodies.

Always liked the look of the old world Leica glass. Even prefer it o the ultra sharp stuff of today.

The oldest piece of glass I own dates from around 1936 (I believe) The Leica Summar 5cm F2.
Yes it can flare, yes it has odd F numbers but so what? It's the end image that matters. With the centre weighted metering of the M8 in automatic (aperture priority) The F numbers on the lens become much less important. Small number limited depth of field, larger number big depth of field. Nothing complicated there then.

So here we are on boxing day, on a very misty, low contrast day with a low contrast lens.
What do you end up with? Low contrast images, but with a very pleasing, peacfull serenity about them.
As with the vast majority of  the images here, these are the jpegs straight out of the M8. No fiddling about.
Suspect these were shot wide open. F2.2 or F3.2 maybe. Very low light levels so auto iso probably bumped things up a notch or two.

For those that may be interested, I collapse my Summar without issue.

Anyway. These are what I came home with,

Like this one alot.

Lonesome at the the Harpa

Recently visited Iceland and the new Harpa concert hall. You could photograph this building all day. An optical assault on the senses which will be revealed in the forthcoming posts.  The light was nice so burnt some pixels whilst inside. The Sun Voyager sculpture is not far from here and will also be making an appearance shortly. If life presents the opportunity to visit Iceland. Do.