Still on M 28 mm

[Annibale G.]

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Hi,

as I was thinking a month ago I'm going to buy a M 28 mm lenses, to add with my 35mm.

Does anyone know something more about the f/2 one and the f/2,8? Is it one better in quality, dimension ... than the other?

I appreciate any suggestion.

Thanks.

Annibale

[lars_bergquist]

The Summicron-M 1:2/28mm ASPH is one of the very best Leica M lenses. Its image quality is extremely high. Its 'drawing' is nevertheless very pleasant, with moderately high contrast. I love this lens, and I can recommend it without any reservations.

 

The Elmarit-M 1:2.8/28mm ASPH is a very compact lens, and the image quality is high, with high contrast. Some people find it a bit too high for their tastes. I should emphasize that I have little personal experience of this lens, as it appeared after I had bought the Summicron.

 

The Elmarit should be a fine lens for general photography. If you think you will do much low light photography, the Summicron is of course the first choice. A 28mm is of course a lens that is often used indoors.

 

The old man from the Age of the 2.8cm Hektor

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[Marty]

One more difference, the 2/28mm ASPH costs twice as much as a 2.8/28 ASPH.

[mongrelnomad]

I own an Elmarit 28mm ASPH. I'd trade it in a heartbeat for a 'Cron.

 

Read into that what you will...

[tgray]

The 28/2 is a great lens. I love mine. It's twice as fast and twice as expensive. If you don't need f/2.0, I'd think about getting something else. If you will make use of f/2.0, or 28 is your main focal length, look for a used 28/2 and be happy.

[Ed_K]

I own an Elmarit 28mm ASPH. I'd trade it in a heartbeat for a 'Cron.

 

Read into that what you will...

 

wow .... is it really that bad?

[lars_bergquist]

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One more difference, the 2/28mm ASPH costs twice as much as a 2.8/28 ASPH.

I presumed that Annibale had already discovered that. Most of us do before we make our purchase decision.

 

The old man from the Age of the 2.8cm Hektor

[palec]

I've owned Elmarit 28 ASPH (v5) and exchanged it for Elmarit 28 v4 (nearly the same size as Summicron). Both are high resolution and high contrast lenses but the perception of ASPH pictures bend towards sharper while pre-ASPH towards softer world. Sometimes I felt the design of ASPH is overcorrected leading to double-lines in out of focus areas. I've choosed v4 to match my other lens from 70ties, but it's not there, it's more match to current Summicron 50 and latest Elmarit 90.

 

Elmarit 28 ASPH is great for it's compactness as it does not block viewfinder with hood that much as Summicron 28 ASPH (it has same hood as my Elmarit, but I use Summilux 35 hood which is more compact). IMO Summicron with the huge hood is usable only with external viewfinder, without hood it's ok. Compactness of Elmarit 28 ASPH might be problem for people with larger hands.

 

If the Summicron 28 ASPH contains the best of both Elmarits then it must be exceptional lens.

[jplomley]

Sometimes I felt the design of ASPH is overcorrected leading to double-lines in out of focus areas

.

 

Spot on. I have a love-hate relationship with this lens.

[Annibale G.]

I was worried about quality and dimension. About dimension I've seen there alre in lenght a difference of 6,3 mm ith my 35 f/2 and a diameter 7mm more. It's seems to much, no? Don't know :-( :-(

[lars_bergquist]

The Summicron is actually the same size as the preceding pre-aspherical Elmarit. It is an amazingly compact lens. Admittedly, the hood can be used for brewing a cup of filter coffee ...

 

The lens may in fact be a bit too compact. On the M9, it vignettes perceptibly in the corners, more than for instance my old version 4 35mm Summicron does, though the 35mm actually has more vignetting on film (2.5 f-stops versus 2.1). This does not matter terribly much in actual picture-taking, but it is there. How the Elmarit ASPH does in this respect is not known to me.

 

The old man from the Age of the 2.8cm Hektor

[Jeff S]

I use a 35 Summilux asph hood on my 28 Summicron asph. Smaller, but does the job. And, I agree with Lars' assessment of the lens...a favorite along with the 50 Summilux asph.

 

If you don't already, you should subscribe to Sean's site...Welcome to ReidReviews It summarizes all of these issues, and a lot more on loads of other equipment, plus some great essays.

 

Jeff

[farnz]

Since the Summicron has a reputation for being as close to flare-free as it gets - and mine bears that out - why do you need to use a hood at all (unless its for protection when there are other less intrusive methods imho)?

 

Pete.

[plasticman]

wow .... is it really that bad?

 

I recently bought a v4 pre-ASPH Elmarit and I find it an amazing lens - at least on the cropped M8 sensor. I see no barrel or pincushion distortion, and it really is sharp edge to edge - but not over-clinical, as some of the ASPH lenses tend to be imo. The build quality of the lens is also incredible - compact and solid.

 

I'd probably exchange it for a Summicron too, if I felt the extra stop was worth the money, but so far I have no complaints, whatsoever. Certainly not in any way an inferior lens.

[Jeff S]

Since the Summicron has a reputation for being as close to flare-free as it gets - and mine bears that out - why do you need to use a hood at all (unless its for protection when there are other less intrusive methods imho)?

 

Pete.

 

It's what I've done for several decades with all lenses, with no problems, and protection can't hurt. Don't have to think about which lens needs what.

 

The 28 Summicron hood was just a bit overkill IMO. I could have used it just fine, but I had a 35 Summilux hood around.

 

Besides, Leica lenses are relatively tiny even with a hood, after having used everything else from slr to MF to 8x10.

 

Jeff

[Ed_K]

Hmm .... good to know about the difference; i was also considering the Elmarit in the distant future as i don't do a lot of wide-angle to justify the Summicron version.

[Annibale G.]

what about distorsion and quality in results between the f/2 and the f/2,8?

Edited March 20, 2010 by Annibale G.

[Jeff S]

what about distorsion and quality in results between the f/2 and the f/2,8?

 

See link in post #12.

 

Jeff

[Annibale G.]

it required a subscription

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Jeff S]

Inexpensive for what you get, as many veteran members of the forum will attest (do a search).

 

Sean is a practicing photographer with excellent reviews and practical guidance on Leica and other equipment. Every question you've asked here, and hundreds you haven't, are covered...with evidence to back up the answers. Beyond the reviews, his essays alone are worth the price of admission.

 

I have no vested interest; just an enthusiastic supporter.

 

Jeff