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adan · 11/19/06, 02:57 AM

Roger and Kai - the 28/35/50 Tri-Elmars communicate the focal length actually used via the frame-selector mechanics (in order to shift the frame from 28 to 50 to 35).

While I have not seen anything definitive about the 16/18/21 (none have been released even for review yet), I expect Leica used the same system. No useful framing information (since there are no built-in frames for those focal lengths), but electronic info, in combination with the zebra coding, to ID the chosen focal length for corrections and EXIF.

On the original question: I'm sure there are some differences between the Zeiss and Leica 21s. But not necessarily better vs. worse - just different. Zeiss designs tend to be pinker and contrastier than Leica, on average. I have a Cosina "Voigtlander" 15mm that works quite nicely on the M8, and Cosina also builds the Zeiss 21 f/2.8, as well as their own 21 f/4 design.

I had the Zeiss/Kyocera 21 f/2.8 for the Contax G line, and it is/was probably THE best lens I ever used in that focal length range (and I've used almost all of them at one point or another). The current Biogon is a somewhat different design, but I expect it is still quite good.

11/19/06, 02:57 AM	#13 (permalink)
adan Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 03/04/04 Location: Denver Posts: 1,141	Re: Wide Angles on an M8 Roger and Kai - the 28/35/50 Tri-Elmars communicate the focal length actually used via the frame-selector mechanics (in order to shift the frame from 28 to 50 to 35). While I have not seen anything definitive about the 16/18/21 (none have been released even for review yet), I expect Leica used the same system. No useful framing information (since there are no built-in frames for those focal lengths), but electronic info, in combination with the zebra coding, to ID the chosen focal length for corrections and EXIF. On the original question: I'm sure there are some differences between the Zeiss and Leica 21s. But not necessarily better vs. worse - just different. Zeiss designs tend to be pinker and contrastier than Leica, on average. I have a Cosina "Voigtlander" 15mm that works quite nicely on the M8, and Cosina also builds the Zeiss 21 f/2.8, as well as their own 21 f/4 design. I had the Zeiss/Kyocera 21 f/2.8 for the Contax G line, and it is/was probably THE best lens I ever used in that focal length range (and I've used almost all of them at one point or another). The current Biogon is a somewhat different design, but I expect it is still quite good.