sharpness of 24 Asph elmarit vs 28 Asph Summicron

[Scott Root]

Does anyone know if the 24 Asph Elmarit is less sharp than the 28 Asph Summicron, or otherwise?

[jaapv]

Sharp is not the issue here. I think microdetail and microcontrast might be slightly more enhanced on the 24. But it would take very careful exposing, a tripod and extremely large enlargements to make it apparent.

[tom0511]

In my experience (have both) they are both pretty sharp even wide open.
Regards, Tom

[Roderik]

it is defenetly not less sharp.
both rather good

[pascal_meheut]

I have both and I agree with the others: they are as sharp as it gets.

[guy_mancuso]

There really both screamer lenses and either one you will be more than happy width. But if your using it on the M8 than the framelines with a 1.25 magnifier will be very hard to see the 24mm framelines . I leave my magnifer on all the time and works nice from 28 up without glases. When I use the 21mm i leave the magnifier on for focusing but use a external viewer. So depend on your needs and also if the magnifer is a big part of what you will use. i don't like taking things on and off just like the IR filters i leave them on for everything and same with the magnifier but that is how i work, obviously we all work differently

[macusque]

From my experience the 28 Summicron is only very slightly sharper in the corners at f/2.8.
I also prefer the 28mm focal length on the M8, but this is very personal.

Having said that the 24 Elmarit is really great, with low distortion, excellent sharpness and very high contrast (higher than the 21 Asph for instance).

Indeed I kept the 28 Summicron only because of focal lenght and max aperture, not because of any sharpness issue with the 24.
Both are outstanding sharpness wise.

[Scott Root]

Thank you fall for your informative feedback.

[ChrisC]

Originally Posted by macusque

....... the 24 Elmarit is really great, with low distortion, excellent sharpness and very high contrast (higher than the 21 Asph for instance)

Marco - high contrast? Are you referring to macro contrast or micro contrast? If it's the former, that's contrary to my expectations and bad news for me, if it's the latter it is good news. Can you please clarify.

.................Chris

[jaapv]

I think it is about microcontrast Although it is a "modern" Leica lens, which some , as they would all asph lenses, call "harsh" (I don't agree), it is imo the most subtle of the asph's

[macusque]

Chris, I mean microcontrast, but referring to the 21 Asph I mean also macrocontrast.
The 21 Asph is amazing because it has slightly less macrocontrast than both the 24 and 28 which helps in keeping slightly more dynamic range in bright contrasty days.
It has also more Leica signature IMO, it's only that I didn't use it much, preferring to keep the system simple with 15 CV, 28, 50 and 90.

But seriously you can't go wrong with ANY of the 21, 24 and 28s. Choose only by focal lenght or aperture and be happy.

[ChrisC]

Jaap, and Marco - Thank you. 'Micro', as I hoped; is good.

...................Chris