Opinions on Super-Elmar-R (15mm/3,5)

[dritz]

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Yes, a very general question. I have come across a mint condition example of this lens at a very reasonable price (US$1750). Comments on it's performance? I used to have a Hologon-M (16mm) and found the contrast too high and speed too slow (with filter on it). Howerver, it was very small, very flat field of view, and a gorgeous piece of jewelry.

 

Does Super-Elmar-R lens exhibit the Leica rendition of tones? Is corner performance reasonable (compared to the Voightlander 15 and the Hologon 16). Curvature?

 

Any example images out there?

 

Thank.s

[leicapages]

I was able to buy the lens for an interesting price a couple of years ago (ROM version) and use it on my R8/R9 cameras. A great piece of glass by Zeiss. Yes, the latest Schneider-made 15/2.8 ASPH has one f-stop more and it is said to have better performance in the field and corners, but its price simply puts it beyond the reach of most casual users of Leica gear.

Quality-wise the 15/3.5 won't disappoint you if you stop the lens down about 2 f-stops, say f/8 for best even performance across the image field. I enjoy the pictures I get but have to admit that the downside to this lens is its weight (less so its size which works well with the R9). Also, the typical use that one can make of such super wide-angle is obviously rather limited. So, the 19mm is the more universal wide-angle in this respect. Lastly, I find the 35mm film format to be rather limiting for such super wide-angle lens, especially since I have been using the Hasselblad Xpan II panorama format camera, which gives me a much better and more realistic wide-angle effect in this respect. The 35mm format simply is too limiting for this kind of photography I believe. But if you work with 35mm only, then the lens is a great tool if you need as much wide angle as you can get.

Hope this helps.

 

Pascal

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[troyfreund]

Hey Dritz,

If you don't go for the 15mm, would you mind telling me where you located it? I'd possibly be interested in it then!

Troy

[robsteve]

Dean:

 

If you are using it on a DMR, you should be happy with its performance. A few years ago we compared Guy Mancuso's 15mm f2.8 to the older 15mm f3.5 and the older lens still had very decent performance. We did this using a DMR, so it cropped out a bit. I think on full frame, the newer 15mm f2.8 will be much better across the frame.

 

Guy Mancuso had used his 15mm f2.8 a few times on a modded 5D and 1Ds MkII. You might want to post this question on the R section of his forums. I think there are a couple members there that have had both lenses.

 

Leica R - The GetDPI Workshop Forums

[psquared]

Dean,

 

I had both 15/3.5 and 15/2.8 at the same time for a short period. I think the 15/3.5 is a good lens, but 15/2.8 is the better lens pretty much on all accounts. I thought the colors of the 15/2.8 were more Leica like. The Zeiss-designed 15/3.5 had cooler colors. And, I agree with what was said above.

 

Here's a very quick test that I did comparing the two lenses on Canon 1DsII. The camera was not modified, so you see a dark stripe on the bottom with the 15/2.8 because of mirror intereference.

 

Peter Pak : photos : Leica 15/2.8 v. 15/3.5 : Whole Scene Canon 1DsII + Leica 15/2.8 at f/8, 1/60s, ISO 800- powered by SmugMug

 

Peter

[k_g_wolf ✝]

Great comparisonjob, Peter, thx for showing !

 

 

 

Best

[pascal_meheut]

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I also had both and I agree with what has been said here. The 15mm/2.8 is better but the 3.5 is a good value for money.

[dritz]

Thanks all, for the replies. I went back the very next day and it was already sold (and for $1000 more than it was offered to me... I'm well treated at this shop when purchasing used Leica items). Alas!