28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film

CooperS · 11th June 2008

Hi there,

I have been thinking of getting a 28mm as I am missing a 35mm equivalent for the M8 lens line up.

However, looking at some 28mm pictures being used on the M8, I tend to suspect that subjects appear stretched or distorted. The 'feel' of a 35mm is merely due to the cropping of a 1.33 factor.

In a layman's term, does a picture from a 28mm on a M8 be any different from a 35mm on film?

Seeking answers from gurus out there. Thanks!

Hacker · 11th June 2008

In my mind, a 28mm is still a 28mm, used on an M8, MP or RD1s.

ckuang · 11th June 2008

Hey CooperS, that's part of the reason why I'm not too crazy about digi cameras with crop factors, because even though your angle of view is that of a 35mm, the background depth of field is like that of a 28mm, making it feel like a strange hybrid.

CooperS · 30th June 2008

I get what you mean CKuang.

However, the convenience of the digi do has its trade offs. That being said, I am still thinking of selling the M8. Haha.

Cactus jACK · 1st July 2008

nothing of the lens property changes, only the FOV. the 28 is still a 28, it's just that the picture has it's edges snipped/cropped off, such that it looks like a 35mm FOV.

crop factors does have its benefits... it can help you automatically eliminate corner distortion and vignetting, esp when shooting wide open (if that is what you want), and still give you good pixel density in the middle... of course, when you talk pixel density, the more dense, the less well it handles noise... but that's another discussion for another day...

CooperS · 1st July 2008

Yes, of course the lens properties do not change.

I am just wondering if anyone can spot the difference if I use a 28mm on an M8 and a 35mm on film. Both shots taken at the same distance from the subject.

Will the one from the M8 appear distorted, just cropped to a FOV equivalent of a 35mm?

Similarly 35mm on M8 vs 50mm on film.

Cactus jACK · 1st July 2008

it would make for an interesting test... but i think that the only tell-tale sign out be vignetting on the 35 if shot wide open, other than that, i think that it would be pretty hard to tell them apart.

as it is, distortion on the leica 28 and 35 are pretty well controlled. add to that, the edges (which are prone to distortion on the wider focal lengths) of the 28 would be cropped off. if anything, i would expect the cropped 28 to give a "cleaner" and "slightly neater" image... but that's not to say better. some would prefer the 35 DOF, likewise for the comparison between the 35 and the 50.

11th June 2008	#1
CooperS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 518	28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film Hi there, I have been thinking of getting a 28mm as I am missing a 35mm equivalent for the M8 lens line up. However, looking at some 28mm pictures being used on the M8, I tend to suspect that subjects appear stretched or distorted. The 'feel' of a 35mm is merely due to the cropping of a 1.33 factor. In a layman's term, does a picture from a 28mm on a M8 be any different from a 35mm on film? Seeking answers from gurus out there. Thanks!

11th June 2008	#2
Hacker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cyberspace Posts: 3,033	Re: 28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film In my mind, a 28mm is still a 28mm, used on an M8, MP or RD1s.

11th June 2008	#3
ckuang Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 355	Re: 28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film Hey CooperS, that's part of the reason why I'm not too crazy about digi cameras with crop factors, because even though your angle of view is that of a 35mm, the background depth of field is like that of a 28mm, making it feel like a strange hybrid. __________________ W: www.39eastimages.com B:http://39east.bigfolioblog.com Member of WPN: www.wpn.sg

30th June 2008	#4
CooperS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 518	Re: 28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film I get what you mean CKuang. However, the convenience of the digi do has its trade offs. That being said, I am still thinking of selling the M8. Haha.

1st July 2008	#5
Cactus jACK Contributor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Singapore (Kallang) Posts: 2,089	Re: 28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film nothing of the lens property changes, only the FOV. the 28 is still a 28, it's just that the picture has it's edges snipped/cropped off, such that it looks like a 35mm FOV. crop factors does have its benefits... it can help you automatically eliminate corner distortion and vignetting, esp when shooting wide open (if that is what you want), and still give you good pixel density in the middle... of course, when you talk pixel density, the more dense, the less well it handles noise... but that's another discussion for another day...

1st July 2008	#6
CooperS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 518	Re: 28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film Yes, of course the lens properties do not change. I am just wondering if anyone can spot the difference if I use a 28mm on an M8 and a 35mm on film. Both shots taken at the same distance from the subject. Will the one from the M8 appear distorted, just cropped to a FOV equivalent of a 35mm? Similarly 35mm on M8 vs 50mm on film.

1st July 2008	#7
Cactus jACK Contributor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Singapore (Kallang) Posts: 2,089	Re: 28mm on M8 vs 35mm on film it would make for an interesting test... but i think that the only tell-tale sign out be vignetting on the 35 if shot wide open, other than that, i think that it would be pretty hard to tell them apart. as it is, distortion on the leica 28 and 35 are pretty well controlled. add to that, the edges (which are prone to distortion on the wider focal lengths) of the 28 would be cropped off. if anything, i would expect the cropped 28 to give a "cleaner" and "slightly neater" image... but that's not to say better. some would prefer the 35 DOF, likewise for the comparison between the 35 and the 50.