28mm lens on a 0.72 Leica body?

ericdan · May 12, 2016

I've been shooting with a 35mm lens on my 0.72 viewfinder Leica for a few years now.
From the frame line perspective I think it's just right.

In terms of final picture I do like the 28mm better. I settled on 35mm because it's between 28mm and 50mm but for some reason though it just seems to always look wrong. It's not wide enough to feel you're in the scene and it's not long enough to get the compressed look. So I'm thinking to try a 28mm for a while and if I like it swap it for the 35mm lens.

Would the 0.58 Leica viewfinder be better for this or can a 28mm be comfortably shot on a 0.72 body?

bence8810 · May 12, 2016

Hey Eric,

I am debating the same and what I heard / read so far is that the "full VF" of the 0.72 is about the same as what you'll get on the film. If you don't wear glasses it is okay. In the M7 (also 0.72) there's a 28mm frameline, really hard to see as it's all the way around the edge. If you don't mind the exact edges of your photo, you'll be good with the 0.72.

I'll do that also as I'd rather give up on absolute accuracy for the 0.72 finder. The 0.58 is very different and if you shoot 50 too, you won't like the smaller framelines.

Ben

John Koehrer · May 12, 2016

I found the .58 with a 28 to to be really disconcerting(opinion) to use The entire field is a bit smaller
and harder to see.
There are some comparisons of the same scene seen through both finders maybe in Leica catalogs or
instruction manuals.
I also found the .72 with a 28mm viewfinder in the shoe easy to use, others hate having to move their eye.
For candids I never had a problem guesstimating distance and just used the view finder. Dof on
the 28 gives a lot of wiggle room.

*Duck! Theorists will now come out of the woodwork with formulas proving that's impossible

Ai Print · May 13, 2016

I have no issues in using a tiny 28mm Elmarit Aspheric with my .72 M6TTL, it hardly protrudes into the framelines and I appreciate the more usable magnification for focusing all my lenses which are 28, 35 & 50.

I think a .58 would be a no go for me, I use a 35 as my main lens and it would just be too small for me anyway. A 50 and .58 would just be a waste, way too small.

ericdan · May 13, 2016

Is the 28mm Elmarit Asph really that much smaller?
I have the 35mm Summicron pre ASPH and that seems to be really really small too.

Xmas · May 13, 2016

Yes the 28mm asp is small compared with the other Leica /2.8 28mms.
The Cosina Voightlander /3.5 is also small but more difficult to get.
Both are small lenses if you have big fingers...
The M2 .72 finder is ok for a 28mm if you don't use specs.
A bright line shoe viewfinder may be a better compromise, if you only have a /2.8 even with a M6.

Ai Print · May 13, 2016

ericdan said:
Is the 28mm Elmarit Asph really that much smaller?
I have the 35mm Summicron pre ASPH and that seems to be really really small too.

In having both lenses, I find the 35 Summicron version 4 to be the smallest. The 28 Elmarit is only slightly bigger.

NJH · May 13, 2016

Its not just whether you can see to the edges of the frame though, I didn't get on with a 28 or wider via Leica's built in VF as principally they don't give a perspective like the wide angle lenses and its just to easy to end up with much worse perspective distortion effects than seen in the VF. External VF in the hot shoe made for wide angles though no problem, CV 21 and CV metal external VF hits all the right buttons for me, makes for a fantastic tiny light weight and cheap wide angle setup.

ericdan · May 15, 2016

I feel the same way about it. At 28mm you get into the territory where perspective really changes. Kind of difficult with the Leica viewfinder on the M.

NortheastPhotographic · May 26, 2016

For a dang near perfect 28mm finder, you should try the Zeiss Ikon first, and the R4m/a second. I have a Zeiss Ikon and I can clearly compose with the 28. It's marvelous.

ericdan · May 26, 2016

I wish I could find one. They are somehow not available here in Japan. Are they still in production?

NortheastPhotographic · Jun 1, 2016

No, they are not in production, but also not hard to find. I just got a LN one on KEH. I wouldn't say they're PLENTIFUL like M6s, but easy enough with patience.

Ko.Fe. · Jun 1, 2016

To me 28 on 0.72 is similar to 35 on 0.85. Not so much outer space to be able to see if something is coming into the frame. But it isn't big deal. External VF is big deal for me. Camera is bulky with it and as archaic as LTM Leica for framing and focusing. I even tried 28mm lens with 0.85 and it was fine for accurate framing, to be honest. Would it be pinhole lens and camera on the tripod or regular 28mm lens and busy street with fast action. But I'm coming from FED-2 without any frame lines
I went with Kobalux 28 3.5, because 28 Skopar is reported by some to be as flat in rendering as 35 Skopar is. Sold 28 shortly after purchasing it because I'm not so often on busy streets and 35 is more universal. If I ever dare to use 28mm again, I'll look at Ultron 28/2 as solid alternative to Leica made or Orion-15 which is very good lens, but slow one.

Ronald Moravec · Jun 14, 2016

Pics are exaxtly the same regardless of .58, .72, or .85.

28 lines are harder to see with .72

28mm lens on a 0.72 Leica body?

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