wizard Posted September 15, 2008 Share #1 Posted September 15, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Digging a little deeper into the specs of these two lenses, it seems to me that the 2.8/24asph must be a landmark design. It employs only 7 elements, one of which is aspherical, while the new 3.8/24asph needs 8 elements, two of which are aspherical, yet the former has f2.8 instead of just f3.8. Even the overall length is similar, roughly 45mm for the former versus roughly 40mm for the new lens. It will be interesting to see how long the 2.8/24 stays in view of the two new 24mm lenses. My prediction is, not long. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 15, 2008 Posted September 15, 2008 Hi wizard, Take a look here Comparison 3.8/24 and 2.8/24 lenses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
leicar888 Posted September 15, 2008 Share #2 Posted September 15, 2008 I have and use the 24mm f/2.8 ASPH lens, and it produces film images that are so life-like that, every time I make prints from negatives exposed via it, I nearly have a heart attack!!! Yes, the quality it creates is both breathtaking and blood pressure reducing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted September 15, 2008 Share #3 Posted September 15, 2008 I also use the 24/2.8. It is an incredible lens and one you do not hear too much about on this forum. I sincerely hope that Leica don't discontinue it, and also to be honest don't really see the point of the new slower 24mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBA Posted September 16, 2008 Share #4 Posted September 16, 2008 At one of the largest dealers of used Leica equipment in Tokyo, the majority of the wides being sold used are 24/2.8 ASPHs, however you almost never see current 28s or 21s for sale used. Either this means that it doesn't suit Japanese tastes or that it is so popular that wives veto it at a higher rate than other lens purchases. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted September 16, 2008 Share #5 Posted September 16, 2008 I agree, the 2.8/24 Elmarit ASPH is a terrific lens. Detail is incredibly sharp, even when printed large. Especially good with Fuji Astia 100F. Faster would be useful, but pricey, and bigger. Likewise a fast 21. Always a balancing act between size, speed and cost. Tricky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 16, 2008 Share #6 Posted September 16, 2008 According to E. Puts' latest, covering the new stuff we've seen: The 24 f/2.8 is gone (as is the 135 f/3.4). He doesn't include either lens in his list of 18 M lenses and calls the f/3.8 the "succesor" to the f/2.8 ASPH... Photokina 2008 also has thumbnail reviews of image quality - the Nocti gets the biggest thumbs up, the luxes, moderate contrast wide open, the f/3.8 already at its best wide open. Get 'em while you can. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted September 16, 2008 Share #7 Posted September 16, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sadly, as a 24/2.8 user, I have to say that the 2.8 does seem a tad out of place given the ultrafast or marginally slower alternatives now offered. Superb as the 2.8 is, I wonder just how it might continue to sell given these alternatives, so Puts is probably suggesting a 'corrct' lens line up. I'm wondering when we will see wider offerings from Leica - and how will they prived them - 18/2 and 18/4 I wonder? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zapp Posted September 16, 2008 Share #8 Posted September 16, 2008 Sadly, as a 24/2.8 user, I have to say that the 2.8 does seem a tad out of place given the ultrafast or marginally slower alternatives now offered. Superb as the 2.8 is, I wonder just how it might continue to sell given these alternatives, so Puts is probably suggesting a 'corrct' lens line up. I'm wondering when we will see wider offerings from Leica - and how will they prived them - 18/2 and 18/4 I wonder? Obviously Leica will not discontinue the 2.8/24. They have introduced Summilux lenses only for the focal lengths that so far started at f 2.8. A 28 mm Summilux was not presented because it would be too close to the Summicron, although 28x1.33 = 37 mm which is closest to the old "standard" M lens of 35 mm - a focal length with a long tradition in Summiluxes. The 3.8/24 is in my opinion in line with the Summarit lenses, but ASph Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 16, 2008 Share #9 Posted September 16, 2008 Erwin's article was obviously written in a hurry, maybe even in a Solms hotel room There are still some typographical and grammatical errors. It may well be that he left the Elmarit 24 out by mistake. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 16, 2008 Share #10 Posted September 16, 2008 According to E. Puts' latest, covering the new stuff we've seen: The 24 f/2.8 is gone (as is the 135 f/3.4). He doesn't include either lens in his list of 18 M lenses and calls the f/3.8 the "succesor" to the f/2.8 ASPH... Photokina 2008 also has thumbnail reviews of image quality - the Nocti gets the biggest thumbs up, the luxes, moderate contrast wide open, the f/3.8 already at its best wide open. Get 'em while you can. Bah, isn't in Erwin Put's style to make such quick and "no-in-depth" articles... his usualy highly philosopical style cannot be appreciated by all, by I almost prefer it to this "magazine-like" report... . The assertion that 24 3,8 "kills" the 2,8 asph is given so squarely that I wonder if it's really so: for me would be a strange choice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted September 16, 2008 Share #11 Posted September 16, 2008 Bah, isn't in Erwin Put's style to make such quick and "no-in-depth" articles... his usualy highly philosopical style cannot be appreciated by all, by I almost prefer it to this "magazine-like" report... . The assertion that 24 3,8 "kills" the 2,8 asph is given so squarely that I wonder if it's really so: for me would be a strange choice. You have a point. I believe I have read Puts saying that the 2.8/24 ASPH is superb and can hardly be improved upon, and now suddenly there is something much better... I have the 2.8/24 and also know of other users who most definately have no complaints with this lens. I am also a bit surprised if Leica will really discontinue the 2.8/24. 1.4 and 3.8 is really quite far apart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted September 16, 2008 Share #12 Posted September 16, 2008 Maybe they will also come up with a 21mm f3.8 and discontinue the 21/2.8 Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted September 16, 2008 Share #13 Posted September 16, 2008 It really surprised me to read "3.8 as successor to the 2.8". I have to rethink my offer to sell that lens if Leica will discontinue it. No complaints, one of the best wideangles i ever used, if not THE best one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2-D2 Posted September 16, 2008 Share #14 Posted September 16, 2008 Digging a little deeper into the specs of these two lenses, it seems to me that the 2.8/24asph must be a landmark design. It employs only 7 elements, one of which is aspherical, while the new 3.8/24asph needs 8 elements, two of which are aspherical, yet the former has f2.8 instead of just f3.8. [...] The new 24mm Elmar has only one aspherical element... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephan_w Posted September 16, 2008 Share #15 Posted September 16, 2008 The 24/2.8 is really one of the best lenses from Leica, even if, sometimes, to wide or not wide enough on the M8. What I unerstand is, that Leica has not unlimited production and stocking capacities, so to have 3 24 mm lenses will not be useful. So they will sell what is left, and produce new lenses instead. For sure the 24/2.8 will be a collectible. The 24/1.4 will probably be as good as the 2.8 (at 2.8) or even better, with some extra aperture for some extra money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hakku Posted September 16, 2008 Share #16 Posted September 16, 2008 What I unerstand is, that Leica has not unlimited production and stocking capacities, so to have 3 24 mm lenses will not be useful. So they will sell what is left, and produce new lenses instead. For sure the 24/2.8 will be a collectible. From what I read in this forum, the 2,8/21 and 24 mm aspherics are built by Sigma, though to Leica specs. I consider buying a wider than my 28 'cron asph lens but feel the spread between f 1,4 and 3,8 is too much. Same goes for the price which for the new 'lux doubles that of the 2,8 Elmarit asph. H. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted September 16, 2008 Share #17 Posted September 16, 2008 From what I read in this forum, the 2,8/21 and 24 mm aspherics are built by Sigma, though to Leica specs. Sigma build them? Haven't heard that before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted September 16, 2008 Share #18 Posted September 16, 2008 On the factory tour I went on while in Solms in June they told us that Leica buys some of the aspherics ready made from other suppiers. The raw elements are finished by polishing etc in the factory before the lens is assembled. Sigma might be one of the suppiers, Shott defineatly is. On the 24/2.8 Puts says that no M user should be without one. Cheers, -Carl Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lotw Posted September 16, 2008 Share #19 Posted September 16, 2008 Isn't the 3.4 just a sort of Summarit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted September 16, 2008 Share #20 Posted September 16, 2008 On the 24/2.8 Puts says that no M user should be without one Agreed, it's an outstanding lens, Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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.