21mm Summilux f/1.4

[barnack]

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I am considering the purchase of this lens over the Elmarit. I enjoy using fast lenses, but would like to hear from other members on this forum who have used the 21mm Summilux and what your impressions are.

[Ecar]

I gave some first impressions a while ago in this thread:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/85137-lux-21-m8-impressions-some-pictures.html

 

These haven't fundamentally changed since then.

 

An additional point worth considering: I'm now using primarily my M9 and I find 21mm a tad too wide for frequent use on a full frame sensor camera. With hindsight, I should probably have purchased the Lux 24. But that's just me.

 

Hope this helps.

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[MaxFoto]

I used 21 Lux in Kombination with M9 a Lot dring our last vaccation in French Polynesia. 90 % of all pics I did with this combination. Pls have a look on my homepage - photomomente

I am very much pleased with the technical quality of the pictures.

 

Cheers, FotoMax

[vdb]

Michael, I have been using the 24 lux on my M9 more than any other lens...you can search the photo forum for some examples. The 21 is a bit wide for my taste on the M9....and I dont use an external finder. Are you considering the 21 for your M8?

[barnack]

Hi Virgil -

 

I am considering the 21 Summilux for my M8.

[Overgaard]

Auch, FotoMax. I love the 21mm on a fullframe but haven't been able to decide is the 24mm is in fact better. You'r pictures are really convincing.

[ldhrads]

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Max,

Your website is wünderbar!!!

Your Photos are truly a pleasure to view.

 

LDH

[vdb]

Michael, on the M8 I think I would go for the 21 lux. I think there is a thread here somewhere dedicated to this lens.

[glenerrolrd]

Desired FOV is most important (and keep in mind that this will change if you eventually go with a FF M ) . The 21 gives you a natural 28mm FOV on the M8 ..which I prefer as my most used wide angle.

 

I have both the summiluxes and prefer the 24/1.4 on the M9 . It pairs naturally with either the 35/1.4asph or the 50/1.4asph .

 

The speed can be critical if you do a lot of available light work ..but if I have enough light ..I still prefer the 21/2.8 asph elmarit. I find the rendering better balanced between color,contrast and sharpness..the summiluxes can look somewhat brittle in strong light. But you can t argue that 2 extra EV can mean getting the photograph or not. On the M9 I would rather be using the 28/2 summicron than any other lens. One advantage of the slower lenses beyond rendering differences is handling ..they are smaller and balance perfectly on an M body..

 

I would spend the $$$$ on an M9 before I would invest in a 21/1.4asph .....but the 21/1.4 is a great lens that you should be happy with and it pairs nicely with the M8 or the M9.