Jump to content

24 2.8 or 28 2.0?


jonathangraham

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I presently have 35 1.4; 50 asph; 50 elmar, 90 mem & 21 skopar. The 35 and 90 are my most used lenses.

 

The 21 I find is ok, but too specialized. I really need a wider lens than 35, but considering the M8 on the horizon, I want to be sure I get the most appropriate lens. External VFs do not bother me.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest leica_mage
I presently have 35 1.4; 50 asph; 50 elmar, 90 mem & 21 skopar. The 35 and 90 are my most used lenses.

 

The 21 I find is ok, but too specialized. I really need a wider lens than 35, but considering the M8 on the horizon, I want to be sure I get the most appropriate lens. External VFs do not bother me.

In my SLR days I found the 28mm FL uniquely beautiful: it was my indoor equivalent of the 35mm FL and certainly wasn't 'too close' to the 35 as some people claim (in fact it's a totally different focal length!). The 24mm FL never did anything for me - to my way of photographic perception, if was a wasteland between 21mm and 28mm and I never knew what to do with it. Others' way of seeing photographically may be totally different, obviously, and there's the 1.33x factor to consider if you go the M8 way. Then, the 21mm will "be" a 28 and the 28 roughly a 38 (and I've always also had a soft spot for the 40mm FL).

 

As far as Leica optics are concerned, I have no experience of either the 28, or the 24, or the 21. In fact I've been debating whether to go for the 21 (specialised, as you say, since I won't be going the M8 way) or the 28 - but the new 75mm 'cron has stolen my heart for now...

 

Best,

Link to post
Share on other sites

It's always an individual preference of course, but with the 28mm you will not need the optional viewfinder, and I think you will get a lot of use

with it as it seems a magical length for those that like modest wide angle,

and as a bonus, if you buy the current asph version you gain a highly regarded optics too, together with a wide aperture (f2.0).

 

Cheers, William

Link to post
Share on other sites

24 2.8 or 28 2.0?...The 35 and 90 are my most used lenses...I really need a wider lens than 35, but considering the M8 on the horizon, I want to be sure I get the most appropriate lens...

I agree with William as a digital shooter.

The 28/2 is a fantastic lens on the R-D1.

It will give you a 37 mm field of view on the M8 and at f/2 the lens is almost as good as at slower apertures.

Also we are almost sure to get 28mm frame lines in the M8 viewfinder, which is important of course as DoF at f/2 is not that wide as you know.

The only drawback is a bit of vignetting at fastest apertures but it is not disturbing on the R-D1 due to the crop factor and it is easy to correct by post processing anyway.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest leica_mage
I agree with William as a digital shooter.

The 28/2 is a fantastic lens on the R-D1. [...]

 

The only drawback is a bit of vignetting at fastest apertures but it is not disturbing on the R-D1 due to the crop factor and it is easy to correct by post processing anyway.

Speaking of which, are you digital shooters aware of this very interesting review: Epson RD-1 Lens Report ?

 

Best,

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jonathan,

 

I am thinking about a wide lens, myself. I am planning on getting an M8 and need something that will be equivalent to my current 35mm f1.4 asph.

 

A 24 will give me a 32mm equivalent and the 28 will give me a 35. I, too, am seduced by the extra stop on the 28, but after reading Edwin Puts on the 24mm lens, I am planning to buy that one. Puts calls the 24mm asph the single, must-have lens for an M shooter.

 

They are, of course, both fantastic lenses. Posters here have raved about both the 21 and the 28 mm lenses. If you go to Sean Reid's site (very reasonable subscription required) you can see images and a superb review of all the wide-angle Leica lenses, in comparison with others. Go to Welcome to ReidReviews

 

Regards, Bill

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

It's a trade-off between the angle of view and speed. 1 stop slower and a bit wider than your 35 or 2 stops slower an quite a bit wider.

 

The big unknown about the 21 and 24 is that we do not know how Leica will handle them in the M8 viewfinder. Even though the 21 is equivalent angle of view of a 28, the easiest implementation for them is to support 28, 35, 50, 75, 90 native in the viewfinder and 15-18-21-24 by a new aux finder so the choice of 28 or 24 will likely dictate whether or not you have to use an aux finder.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The 24mm provides an additional hidden factor - - due to its extensive DOF, you can zone focus and still be relatively sharp. If you focus a 24mm carefully, IMHO, it's the sharpest lens in the inventory; however, when you get older - - and the eyesight isn't so good - - - that DOF still permits you to shoot and to enjoy photography.

 

I threw caution to the winds and purchased the Zeiss 25/28 viewfinder, as it is, by far, the brightest and best one available, and the 25mm framelines essentially cover a mounted slide taken with the 24 ASPH.

 

Before you chuckle, I'm 83+ and suffering from macular degeneration. That 24mm has been, and is today, my prime lens, as it permits me to keep shooting.

 

George (The Old Fud)

Link to post
Share on other sites

"Before you chuckle, I'm 83+ and suffering from macular degeneration."

 

George, It's pleasing to know you can still enjoy the pleasures of Leica photography and participate on the forum.:)

 

Cheers, William

Link to post
Share on other sites

I also lust after the 28mm Summicron. The raging fire within may only increase when the M8 comes into my hands later this year. Sadly, others will also figure out that the 28 'Cron effectively becomes a 35, given the 1.3x factor already confirmed on the new Leica. So don't look for bargains on eBay any time soon for the 28 'Cron.

 

On a related note: check out the 25mm Biogon. It produces very good qulaity images and has a reasonable price point. It is nicely finished and handles well on any Leica body. It also has a reasonable 46mm filter size.

 

I also concur with the thought expressed on this thread that the Zeiss 25/28 viewfinder is worthy. I tried the Cosina-made one but sold it and stepped up to buy the more pricey Zeiss viewfinder. One look through the Zeiss v/f is enough to win you.

 

-g

Link to post
Share on other sites

They are both superb optics with the 24mm being the most used lense in my inventory.The M7 with the 24mm optic is the ultimate street camera.Depth of field pre-set plus aperture priority coupled with superb optical performance...

...what does one need an autofocus camera for ?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest leica_mage
[...] Depth of field pre-set plus aperture priority coupled with superb optical performance...

...what does one need an autofocus camera for ?

Absolutely! Plus, it would probably end up "autofocusing" (what a concept!!) on a pole!

 

Best,

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...