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Super-Elmar 18mm

Coach Rosie

By Coach Rosie
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Coach Rosie

Coach Rosie

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Hi, guys.

 

I am thinking about picking up an 18mm Super-Elmar, but unsure about a couple of things, as there are limited articles written about the lens.

 

It has an unusual filter format (very large and needs and adapter at more cost). In addition, while I take lots of real estate shots (including interiors where space is at a premium), I am wondering if 18mm will be a little to wide (and distorted) for my needs. I currently have a 25mm Zeiss ZM, which I like, but I am sometimes limited by its angle of view. Might a 21mm Leica choice be a better option? I have an M240, so the live-view makes using lenses of this type a little more practical without an external viewer.

 

Open to all points of view on this one as I have never had anything approaching an 18mm lens.

 

Thanks!

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Jennifer

Jennifer

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Hi, guys.

 

I am thinking about picking up an 18mm Super-Elmar, but unsure about a couple of things, as there are limited articles written about the lens.

 

It has an unusual filter format (very large and needs and adapter at more cost). In addition, while I take lots of real estate shots (including interiors where space is at a premium), I am wondering if 18mm will be a little to wide (and distorted) for my needs. I currently have a 25mm Zeiss ZM, which I like, but I am sometimes limited by its angle of view. Might a 21mm Leica choice be a better option? I have an M240, so the live-view makes using lenses of this type a little more practical without an external viewer.

 

Open to all points of view on this one as I have never had anything approaching an 18mm lens.

 

Thanks!

 

Not tried the 18, but I have the 21 and love it. For my purposes, I find it wide enough for internal/external architectural shots. Distortion is not too great even when shooting close in. I tend to use the EVF with the 21 as out of habit and preference I'm wedded to using a viewfinder rather than the rear display.

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jaapv

jaapv

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It is my favorite wideangle lens. Quality is impeccable (I prefer it over the equivalent Zeiss) and distortion not an issue, unless you want to do straightline architecture - but in that case I would recommend a T/S setup....

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

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Peter Branch

Peter Branch

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Hi, guys.

 

I am thinking about picking up an 18mm Super-Elmar, but unsure about a couple of things, as there are limited articles written about the lens.

 

It has an unusual filter format (very large and needs and adapter at more cost). In addition, while I take lots of real estate shots (including interiors where space is at a premium), I am wondering if 18mm will be a little to wide (and distorted) for my needs. I currently have a 25mm Zeiss ZM, which I like, but I am sometimes limited by its angle of view. Might a 21mm Leica choice be a better option? I have an M240, so the live-view makes using lenses of this type a little more practical without an external viewer.

 

Open to all points of view on this one as I have never had anything approaching an 18mm lens.

 

Thanks!

 

Recently I came to the conclusion that I needed something wider than 28mm. About 40 years ago I had a 21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon - M so I thought another 21mm would be perfect. However after doing some test shots for a project I'm working on I came to the conclusion that in fact 21mm was not wide enough, so with some trepidation I bought the Leica 18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar-M ASPH. I have not regretted it for a moment. It is a superb lens and being so good cropping is a realistic rather than a theoretical option.

 

Distortion is minimal but using the Profiles in PS ACR 8.7 it can be totally eliminated which can be very useful.

 

Jaapv's pictures of HMS Belfast give a good Idea of its capabilities.

Edited by Peter Branch
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Leicakillen

Leicakillen

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A most lovely lens that complement my 24 Elmar very well - I recommend the 18mm.

/Anders

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Mijo

Mijo

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I've had the SEM 18mm for several months now and I use it mainly for shooting graffitti in tight alleys with an M-E. The only time I get distortion is due to operator error, the camera is tilted when I take the shot. I do use the SEM 18mm on a M6 with the adapter and a polarizer or orange fitler, and aside from the cost of each of those things I don't have any compliants. I have the Heliopan version of the polarizer and orange filter and they are very pricey, but I'm a firm believer in using those things particularly for landscapes on B&W film.

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IWC Doppel

IWC Doppel

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Hi

 

I had a similar journey earlier this year http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/276332-18mm-super-elmar.html

 

I am very impressed with the 18mm a stunning lens, for interiors I am happy to handhold 1/12th so the f3.8 isn't so bad. I personally find it requires thought close up. But I couldn't live only with my 21 or 24 and wish Leica did a 15 or 16 stand alone lens

 

If they did an f2.8 18mm I'd probably buy it. It is interesting how perspective plays a role and I like my 12mm VC for breadth but the 'suck out' with perspective is a trade, your never close to anything ! The 15mm VC is poor for colours and I will be selling mine as I haven't the patience to deal with the magenta colour shift.

 

My perfect wider than 21mm would be 16-17mm view on 35mm film but 21mm perspective in terms of depth :cool:

 

Ultimately the 18mm is an amazing lens for architecture and interiors and small and affordable. But you will ned an 18mm viewfinder. I wish VC did one, I prefer their viewfinders to the best of Leica's metal brightline

 

Oh and you need the 21 as well :o to bridge 24 to 18 IMO. I love my 24 Elmarit-M as the perspective is as you already know quite wide but still immersive, so when wide enough a great choice

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thighslapper

thighslapper

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If You use the M240 then try the WATE. With the EVF it works great. The 18SEM and the 21SEM are a little bit better (distorsion !), but the WATE us also a wonderfull lens.

 

Ditto ...... I have had all 3 and eventually dumped the 18 as superfluous. A second hand WATE would be a good option .... it is one of my most used lenses.

 

The latest 21 is in a different league ...... contrast and colour rendition seem to be superior and it gives a very different look ...... excels outdoors ..... whereas the WATE, despite it's f4 aperture is handier indoors as you have 3 focal lengths to play with....

 

As said above ...... the VC 12/5.6 is a fun lens that I also would never be without ..... produces very unusual and often stunning images ....

 

...... oh .... and apart from the odd ND filter on my Noctilux I have never had reason to use any filters in recent years ...... almost anything can be done in post processing these days on digital images .....

Edited by thighslapper
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otto.f

otto.f

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Very nice lens. I sold mine. The wider you go you'll meet several problems:

- photographing without spirit level becomes more and more error prone, which is highly correlated to working without tripod ( I'm a handheld guy like most M photographers)

- composing without separate viewfinder becomes less and less possible, I draw my line below 24mm. I hate separate viewfinders. (You can't put all aspects of photography into the M style of photography)

- oblique lines become more and more disturbing unless you want to make it an artistic trait of your work, which is not what you always want I assume

 

I bought the Elmarit 24 to replace my 18. I still own the VC 15mm for jokes and artistic effects that sometimes work out nice, it has a special touch in B&W and it has a price that is in line with the fact that the wider you go the less often you use that lens

Edited by otto.f
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Peter Branch

Peter Branch

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Well, that is what the artificial horizon is for.

 

It most certainly is! The combination of 18mm f/3.8 SEM, artificial horizon switched on and the EVF2 is a very capable bit of kit.

 

Regarding distortion there seems to be some confusion. The type of distortion that ACR / Lightroom profiles can correct is the optical distortion inherent in the design of the lens details of which are published by Leica. The distortion due to not having the camera level is a matter of technique though again ACR 8.7 offers some powerful adjustments for all three axis. Perspective distortion is a fact of life with any wide-angle lens used close to objects or with objects at the edges of the field of view. I find the EVF2 invaluable for keeping this under control.

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HeinzX

HeinzX

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I like the 18mm very much, which I use since some years. At the beginning with the M 9 ,since about one year with the M 240. This combination is perfect and it is possible to make pictures with it , which are not possible with other M Leica lenses without stitching-whereas cropping is allways possible . Filters I do not use with it.

My next wide angle lens is the 28 mm.

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