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Will we see a choice of wider lenses in the near future?


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I have the 21mm SEM and I'm very happy with this focal length and the performance of the lens.

 

I would like to to go a good step wider, like 15 mm. What do you thing are the chances, and is there a market for, a wider fixed focal length from LEICA in the near future? Are there reasons against? Do you think, with EVF technology there is more interest. I seem to see more WA pictures around, in general. I think is is becoming more "visually acceptable", what WA does to a picture. Id love to hear your opinions.

 

Personally, I would like to shoot as wide as 15 mm for architectural interiors in color. I am aware of both the Voightlander and Zeiss options for the . IMO LEICA should offer something in the quality of the 21 and 18 mm SEM lenses. I am also considering the Tri-Elmar, but it seems like a very expensive addition to me and the size of the lens is also an issue. I am also aware that there used to be a 16mm lens in the M lineup back in the day (produced by Zeiss, I believe)

 

Will we see a choice of wider lenses in the near future?

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A15/4 lens would duplicate the WATE and a 15/2.8 would be probably more expensive than the Zeiss Distagon 15/2.8 i'm afraid but i may be wrong. Aside from the CV 15/4.5 and 12/5.6, you could try to find out a Super-Elmarit-R 15/2.8 or a Super-Elmar-R 15/3.5 on the second hand market but they won't be cheap anyway.

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I am aware of both the Voightlander and Zeiss options for the . IMO LEICA should offer something in the quality of the 21 and 18 mm SEM lenses.

 

If you want 15mm and are aware of the Zeiss option why don't you go for it? Your post doesn't spell this out. Do you want Leica because ... it's Leica?

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A15/4 lens would duplicate the WATE and a 15/2.8 would be probably more expensive than the Zeiss Distagon 15/2.8 i'm afraid but i may be wrong. Aside from the CV 15/4.5 and 12/5.6, you could try to find out a Super-Elmarit-R 15/2.8 or a Super-Elmar-R 15/3.5 on the second hand market but they won't be cheap anyway.

 

Interesting idea, I havnt thought of. Do you have any experience with the 15/3.5 on the M. I read vey good things about the 2.8, but I understand it is quite hard to find.

 

thank you.

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The R 15/2.8 + Leica R-M adapter has no corner sharpness from my experiences with the M240. They are not cheap at around US$8k.

 

Do not know your main interests for image making, but why get a super wide anyway when one can easily just stitch a few images together unless one is after a special effect with a fisheye lens.

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I doubt a super-wide for the M would be a top priority for Leica, unless it enabled them to show some kind of extraordinary technical achievement (in which case, it won't come cheap...). But who knows?

In any event, the WATE is not that large - and a joy to use with the EVF (did I just write this?...). But expensive it is.

The CV 15 with Cornerfix or LR Flat Field is good enough for me (and, really, just one click away in post once you have your reference shots/profiles set up), but perhaps not for critical color work.

I have never used the Zeiss, so can't comment on it. But it's not exactly cheap either.

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Still, small 15mm in a size of CV, and corrected in camera would be preferable and convenient option for some.

If you asked me, in-camera correction for CV 15 would be enough, but noone did. ;-)

 

I have only tried this lens very briefly,and while sharp, discoloration was very bad, so that about 20-25% of the image would have to be cropped away, so thats why i disregarded this option.

 

Am I understanding you correctly? Are you saying its possible to get totally rid of the discoloration with the correct profile? If so, do you have samples?

thank you.

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Am I understanding you correctly? Are you saying its possible to get totally rid of the discoloration with the correct profile? If so, do you have samples?

 

thank you.

 

 

It's just my wish Leica would create such a profile, but this will never happen. ;-)

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I doubt a super-wide for the M would be a top priority for Leica, unless it enabled them to show some kind of extraordinary technical achievement (in which case, it won't come cheap...). But who knows?

In any event, the WATE is not that large - and a joy to use with the EVF (did I just write this?...). But expensive it is.

The CV 15 with Cornerfix or LR Flat Field is good enough for me (and, really, just one click away in post once you have your reference shots/profiles set up), but perhaps not for critical color work.

I have never used the Zeiss, so can't comment on it. But it's not exactly cheap either.

 

Well, I think if Leica did a 15mm WA with similar optical qualities such as minimum distortion, across sharpness and vibrant colors as the 21 and 18 SEM, it would in deed be an extraordinary technical achievement :-) I would prefer something less pricey than the WATE also. My dealer even advised me against bying a WATE, as he said I would be dissapointed with it when I was used to the 21mm SEM. He didnt have an alternative to offer.

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I have only tried this lens very briefly,and while sharp, discoloration was very bad, so that about 20-25% of the image would have to be cropped away, so thats why i disregarded this option.

 

Am I understanding you correctly? Are you saying its possible to get totally rid of the discoloration with the correct profile? If so, do you have samples?

thank you.

If you use flat field correction in your postprocessing the whole problem is solved with one mouseclick.
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If you use flat field correction in your postprocessing the whole problem is solved with one mouseclick.

 

thank you, Jaap. I wasnt aware of the plugin, but have just installed it now. Have you, or anyone reading this post, used this? how well does it work? Is it a reliable solution that works well and every time? input and experience is much appreciated. Thank you.

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Ultra wide lenses are a specialty and most would not take more than 2-3 out of 100 pictures with this focal length. For Leica to make them, it's cost/volume would be prohibitive and it would probably only sell to collectors.

 

Anyway we already have a very good lens with the Voigtlander 12mm which works very well with the Leica M9 and possibly also with the M. It requires minimal correction for red edges.

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Been there, done that.

Skip the CV15 and get the CV12.

 

Agreed.

 

I had the 15, but coloured edges were a problem and it was nothing special elsewhere either.

 

Not so with the 12, which is a delightful lens if you want something extreme. It is a remarkable achievement and excels where the 15 disappoints.

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thank you, Jaap. I wasnt aware of the plugin, but have just installed it now. Have you, or anyone reading this post, used this? how well does it work? Is it a reliable solution that works well and every time? input and experience is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

Christian - I think the Super-Wide Heliar works very well together with M9. On some of the images I get a red left side (see first image), but mostly not. If I get this - I correct it with the Lightroom plugin - see the images below (all done with the CT 15). But most of the time it just works wonderful well, I do not have to make corrections (see last image). However I know that the CT 15 works less well on the M (a friend of mine have this + CT), but better on the M9, which I have. It is a very good lens and very fun to use.

Regards from warm Stockholm,

/Anders

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

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Thank you, Anders. It looks like the correction works very well, in deed. Im surprised that it works better on the M9 than the M?!! What profile do you use? very nice pictures BTW. There is definitely a need for 15mm IMO.

 

best from Denmark where it is too hot to stay outside

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