28 Summicron - Size vs. 35 Lux ASPH?

[Jager]

One of the disadvantages of coming to own a camera which you deeply like - which after only a few days with my new M8 is exactly how I feel - is that you're of a sudden compelled to look at the rest of your kit. Having owned an M6 and M7 for some years, I'm fortunate to have already slowly invested in most of the glass I want - 35 Lux ASPH, 35 CV Color Skopar (the CV was my "cheap" entre into that focal length - one which I liked so much that it prompted me to purchase the Lux), 50 Cron, Noctilux, and 90 Elmarit. But ever since the 1.3 crop factor in the M8 was announced I knew I'd be getting a 28 to get back that 35 focal length that I like so much. My plan had been to get the new 28 Elmarit. However, given the general lack of availability of that lens, along with my reconsidering what it would mean to lose that one stop of speed, I'm now coming back to the thought that maybe the 28 Cron would be better. I hate the thought of dropping another 3K right after spending 5K on the M8, but I also believe in investing one time in getting what you ultimately need rather than buying something lesser (like I did with the CV 35), and then upgrading later.

I went back and read Sean's article on the 28's, along with some other reviews. Most everyone talks about Cron intruding into the viewfinder. I'm not especially bothered by that, as long as it's not too bad. My question is what is the size difference between the 28 Cron and the 35 Lux ASPH I already have? I've pulled up photos of both but it's hard to tell without them being side by side. The lens hood of the 28 Cron looks very similar to the one on my 35 Lux and so I'm thinking (hoping!) they're maybe about the same size?

TIA.

Jeff

[gesper]

You can get the exact sizes of all the current lenses (and sometimes the hoods) on the Leica website under Technical Data

[mat_mcdermott]

The hood for the 28 'Cron intrudes into the viewfinder much more than the 35 'Lux, but in my experience you can swap the hood 35 for the 28 without any problem. Without the hood the 28 doesn't really get into the viewfinder to any significant degree.

[geoffreyg]

I was able to get my 28/2.8 from Harry's Pro Shop (Brian) without waiting...and while I want that extra stop, I sure like the smaller lens - the camera fits in a briefcase and under a coat just that much easier.

Geoff

[Jager]

Gesper, that was a great idea to just get the sizes from Leica's web site. According to the tech details there the 28 Cron is actually a little bit smaller than the 35 Lux (a little over 5mm shorter; diameter is about the same). Matt, you mention that the hood for the 28 is noticeably larger than the one for the 35. Anyone have any idea why two lenses of approximately the same size would have different size hoods?

And Geoff, yeah, the modest size of the Elmarit is certainly a major part of its attraction.

Thanks for the replys, guys.

Jeff

[gdewitt]

Leses of the same size would have different size hoods because they have different fields of view. But the hoods are designed for 35mm. On the M8 the 28 has the EFOV of a 35, hence the ability to use a 35 hood.

[sean_reid]

Even without a hood it blocks the frame line area a bit (I can't recall the est. percentage but its in my article) but otherwise it is an outstanding lens on the M8 and I certainly recommend it.

Cheers,

Sean

[carstenw]

Gary, I am not sure that you are right about that. The optics of the 28 are still there, even if the edges aren't used, and stray light can still cause flare which enters the main picture area. Anyway, I mostly shoot without hoods myself.

[scott kirkpatrick]

Originally Posted by carstenw

Gary, I am not sure that you are right about that. The optics of the 28 are still there, even if the edges aren't used, and stray light can still cause flare which enters the main picture area..

I think Gary's argument is right. If you are using the 28 only on the M8's sensor, blocking a little of the image that would only be seen in a full frame won't cause flare because it is not letting extra light in.

scott

[marknorton]

The 28 Summicron and 35 Summilux are pretty much the same diameter and the 28 is 6mm shorter than the 35. It is the 28's hood which spoils things though.

[brunom]

I have to say I'm with Carsten on this one, especially as the new 28mm Elmarit Asph can be used on a film camera as well, where of course it will have a 28mm lens field of view, and the hood would have to accommodate that fact ?

Bruno

[khun_k]

Originally Posted by brunom

I have to say I'm with Carsten on this one, especially as the new 28mm Elmarit Asph can be used on a film camera as well, where of course it will have a 28mm lens field of view, and the hood would have to accommodate that fact ?

Bruno

I use both often on M8, that the 35 although is a bit shorter physically than the 28 cron but it is a lot heaveir. To me, since M8 has already added some thickness into its body than the regular M, with 28 Summicron as a package is in fact fit into hand very well, while the 35 Summilux has better balance on previous M body, it felt a bit heavier on M8, although M8 is about the same weigth as previous M. I think the thickness of M body plays some role here, at least it is to me. I was not too bother by the lens hood come into view because eventually you get use to it since there are other objetives also come into viewfinder.

[marknorton]

Leica's specifications list the 28mm/2 as 20g HEAVIER than the 35mm/1.4 which surprised me so I went and weighed them - 342g for the 35/1.4, 302g for the 28/2, both with hoods and caps.

[gdewitt]

Originally Posted by carstenw

Gary, I am not sure that you are right about that. The optics of the 28 are still there, even if the edges aren't used, and stray light can still cause flare which enters the main picture area. Anyway, I mostly shoot without hoods myself.

But the 35 hood block more light than the hood for the 28. You are better off, from a flare perspective, using the tightest hood you can. But the problem with using a tighter hood is vignetting. By lopping off the edges (with a smaller sensor) the vignetting problem goes away.

[lct]

I always use the 35/1.4asph hood on the 'cron 28/2.
No problem at all with the R-D1 so far.

[mat_mcdermott]

I've been using the 28 lens/35 hood combination on an M6 for the past few weeks (still a couple of weeks until my M8 number comes up...) and haven't noticed a problem with additional flare. I did vignetting tests as well and there was none.

[tom0511]

I use them both with the relating hoods and do find the size and weight comparable
(subjective).
If you are interested I could take an image of both and post it. The 28 feels maybe a bit lighter , but if -than it is not much.
I dont find the 28 hood a problem.

If you like shooting available light IMO f2.0 is a big advantage compared to f2.8, specially since I find ISO 640 on the M8 perfect while I find 1250 ISO kind of critical sometimes.

I also have to say that I find the FOV of the 24asph nice.

I have been shooting the M8 a lot during the past 10 days on a vacation trip and while I was using the 28 a lot in the beginning I was using the 24 more during the last days.

[Jager]

I agree on the ISO, Tom - 640 still gives very good files with fairly low noise but going to 1250 seems to cross that border where noise starts to become noticeable. And so that extra stop on the Cron seems more and more desirable, the more I think about it.

I'm leaning towards the Cron, even though I haven't pulled the trigger yet. I suppose it helps that none of my local dealers have it in stock and it's a special order item at B&H. (It seems harder to defer a major purchase when it's easily and quickly available!)

[woodyspedden]

I use the 28 cron and am not particularly bothered by the intrusion of the lens into the finder. However when composition is critical I use my 21-24-28 accessory finder which takes care of the entire issue. My view is that the 28 cron is such an exceptional lens that it is worth some extra effort if you feel uncomfortable with the finder intrusion.

That said, I have never seen, let alone shot with the elmarit so factor that into my view.

Woody Spedden

[Bill Sievers]

Its great with the M8. Get one

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captainvideo/345655449/