28 vs 24 What am I missing?

[wag]

Everyone seems quite keen on the Elmarit 24, what about the Elmarit 28? They're
both f2.8 Asph, yet the 28 is seldom recommended. 4mm is not a huge difference in focal length, what am I missing?

[wparsonsgisnet]

Bradford, the 24 is a 'special' lens.

ReidReviews has numerous images from this lens -- and reading the first of two reviews on that site induced me to buy the lens.

Also, Puts thinks this lens walks on water. His phrase, I believe, is that it is the one lens for an M owner to have.

There is a real problem with buying Leica lenses: dealers don't have demo stock -- because the company is so small that they can't front lenses to dealers. And, at these prices, delaers don't buy the lenses fror demo purposes.

Are you near one of the Leica stores? Japan? NY (I think)?

Sorry for the black humor. I can highly recommend the solution that I have taken which is to subscribe to ReidReviews so I can SEE what these lenses do.

You might also do a google search on these lenses to see what others are saying about them on the web.

G'luck.

[sean_reid]

Both of the Leica 28s, which I tested recently, are very good as well. You won't go wrong with either of those three lenses.

Cheers,

Sean

[barjohn]

Sean,

What about type 4 of the 28 pre asph. How do you rate it. As far as I have seen (very limited at his point) appears to have good image qualities but it is longer and heavier than I would like.

John

[sean_reid]

Hi John,

I haven't used the older Leica 28s on the M8 yet. Perhaps sometime this year. <G>

Cheers,

Sean

[asfeir]

Choosing between 24 or 28 asph is very tough. Both are close to 35mm on full frame, both are fine lenses from what I read here and there.
I finally settled for the 28 for (cost and compactness)

[Olof]

The 2.0 28mm ASPH is one of the best lensen Leica have, go for it !

[wmspa]

Originally Posted by asfeir

Choosing between 24 or 28 asph is very tough. Both are close to 35mm on full frame, both are fine lenses from what I read here and there.
I finally settled for the 28 for (cost and compactness)

I would agree. Some additional reasons for the 28:

- The lens does not block the viewfinder (or only a little bit, if used with the hood).

- The 28 frame lines are easier to see.

- I like the 28 angle of view on the M8 better. It offers a somewhat more "natural" perspective than a 24 (32) mm lens, and if I want real wide-angle, I need at least a 21 (28) mm lens anyway (just my point of view).

Wolfgang

[macusque]

I agree with Wolfgang on the cleaner look of the 28/90 framelines, plus the better perspective of the 28mm (but this is a personal choice).

I would also add that with the 28mm you can use the 1.25x magnifier and still see the framelines. This is much useful if you have longer lenses more difficult to focus, because you can always keep the magnifier on.

[tom0511]

The FOV of 28mm images on the M8 just leads to a little more compressed look compared to that of the 24mm.

I think you can see that if you look at images from the 2 lenses.

I dont think that IQ should be the determing factor (boith are excellent) but the qanted FOV

[johnbuckley]

I think the determining factor is likely going to be: what other lenses do you have or are contemplating? I sold my 28 in order to buy a 24 for my M8. Why? Because I wanted to have a 35/1.4 as my new normal lens. Having a 24 and then the 35 is, for me, the ideal normal to medium wide kit. It doesn't make sense to have a 28 and a 35, if you are limited in the number of lenses you can have, which all of us are.

[wag]

Many thanks for the input.
Bill, I'm in the Berkshires and am planning to go to BH Photo next week. I have no idea if they have Leica lens to try or not. Sean's articles have been critically important to my learning curve even though my monitor doesn't make his points as clear as he expects. I'm a contented subscriber.
I'm going to try and find the "walks on water" Puts piece also.
The sense I get is that the real choice remains between the Elmarit f2.8 / 24mm for $2,031
and the Summicron f2 / 28mm for $2,266.
And the choice depends...well....
thanks everyone
bradford

[Brett Cambern]

Here is Erwin's review of the 24:

Leica Tests M Elmarit-M 1:2,8/24mm ASPH

[xjr]

[ 4mm is not a huge difference in focal length, what am I missing?[/quote]

You are missing 10 or so degrees !!!!

[grantray]

Originally Posted by wag

Many thanks for the input.
Bill, I'm in the Berkshires and am planning to go to BH Photo next week.

To be honest, B&H has been real hit-or-miss as far as dealing with something concerning new Leica or M-based glass. (I was just in there yesterday to pick my new used 90 'cron.) Your feedback entirely depends on who is working that day and how bad customer traffic has been for them. Sometimes everything is great, other times those guys are worn down by lunch because of the volume. Maybe you could consider Tamarkin or Photo Village?

-grant

[grantray]

Originally Posted by wag

Many thanks for the input.
Bill, I'm in the Berkshires and am planning to go to BH Photo next week.

To be honest, B&H has been real hit-or-miss as far as dealing with something concerning new Leica or M-based glass. (I was just in there yesterday to pick my new used 90 'cron.) Your feedback entirely depends on who is working that day and how bad customer traffic has been for them. Sometimes everything is great, other times those guys are worn down by lunch because of the volume. Maybe consider Tamarkin or Photo Village as a place to sink your teeth in on trying a new lens without the hassle of pushy soccer moms?

-grant