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28mm Summicron ASPH -- what to expect?


jrp

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I have a number of different modern Leica wide angles, fast and slow, on the M240. The one that I struggle with most is a new 28mm Summicron Asph. It has a lovely soft rendering, but often, used wide open or even stopped down, nothing much appears to be sharp, has the micro contrast or bite of the other lenses. I have no doubt that some of this is operator error, camera shake, etc. But it is noticeable in live view that the peaking shows less red than I am accustomed to with other lenses.

 

Is this normal? Any suggestions for testing whether I have a lemon / Friday pm lenses? I know, I should have done some tests, but I am always distracted by something more interesting.

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http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-type-240/296144-tim-ashley-m240-28-cron.html#post2480143

 

I don't have any issues with mine….it's a superb lens. It was my most used lens on the M8.2, and gets less use on the M240 only because I now use a 35 for a similar FOV.

 

Do some tests on a tripod comparing EVF/LV and RF….you have the tools and you know you should. ;)

 

Jeff

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Expect ultra-sharp and saturated photographs, but also high contrast. If it isn't bitingly sharp, it needs to be fixed. I have heard this before on the forum, and I can tell you that this lens should be bitingly sharp.

Edited by BerndReini
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You'll hear people say that it is their very most favorite lens of all time. I don't disbelieve them. But the few that I've had haven't been tack sharp when focused wide open at close range. Perhaps this is a freakish coincidence and I should have kept trying. But I settled for now on a pre-ash elmarit (4th version) for my film photography and have been happy.

 

Having said this, I do think that there is something very special to the cron. I just didn't get a good enough example to justify the price and I quite trying.

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It really is one of Leica's very best lenses, so perhaps expectations need to be managed in a realistic way. Many people love the fact that micro contrast isn't bitingly high, but you can add it yourself in pp, or that it does vignette wide open, but you can adjust this yourself in pp. But it should be sharp, it should have 'some' contrast. It is really down to perception in the same way a 50mm Summilux alters expectations, and the 28mm Summicron is definitely in the same league as the Summilux for gentle smooth and rich image quality.

 

 

Steve

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Expect ultra-sharp and saturated photographs, but also high contrast. If it isn't bitingly sharp, it needs to be fixed. I have heard this before on the forum, and I can tell you that this lens should be bitingly sharp.

+1. I have had no problems with my 28 'cron ASPH.

 

I took a workshop with a well known Magnum photographer who had high praise for the 28 'cron. He called it one of the best lenses in the world.

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[...] often, used wide open or even stopped down, nothing much appears to be sharp [...] Is this normal? [...]

No it is not. The 28/2 asph is one of the sharpest Leica lenses, in the center of the frame at least. Can be soft in the corners at f/2 but hardly more than the 50/2 non apo anyway. Seems like your lens needs some check up.

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If it isn't bitingly sharp, it needs to be fixed.

 

I second this. On my monochrom this is probably the highest-resolving of all six of my leica lenses. And it is almost equally sharp all the way into the corners. It is very contrasty and fairly resistant to flare. The only drawback is that it has heaps and loads of vignetting, but that was not the topic here and also something that is easily fixed in PP.

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A few shots in 2012 at f4, no LR sharpening using M9 at ISO 160. Uncropped and cropped to show the resolution. It's anything but soft...

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I have the Cron, and now a pair of v4 28 2.8 Elmarits for the MM and M9. I much prefer the Elmarits for colour -- they give a more pleasing rendering and less vignetting. On the MM I can use either the Cron or the Elmarit. Frankly I can't really tell the difference -- with the Elmarit I can get a really good 36 inch print. You can save a few bucks with the Elmarits, too. I don't as much gear as your average amateur poster. If you want ridiculously sharp, try the 35 @.8 Biogon. It creates artefacts with the M9, which is a drag, but it is an amazing technical performer.

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This is my most used lens on the M240 (as it was on the M9) and I would agree i with Tim Ashley's review of the lens when it comes to edge falloff on the M in that it needs to be stopped down to get full edge sharpness. That being said it renders in the most beautiful way with lovely colour and detail rendition. It has amazing resistance to flare so much so that you don't really need to use the hood. This lens is the only real reason that I still use the M240.

If you are not getting good sharpness on centre wide-open I would say that your lens needs to be looked at.

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This is my most used lens for nature and outdoors. It is sharp wide open in the center and by f5.6 biting sharp in the center and sharp all the way to the corners.

 

Following is an example at f5.6. Full size and 100% crop.

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Forgot to add the sample

(btw, this pic was using M9 but I have tested it with M240 and sharpness is the same).

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I have had three of the Summicron-M 28mm ASPH since it was first introduced in the old emulsion days. I have found that each of the lenses performed differently, and it appeared that was the case across different bodies too. :confused:

 

My current 28mm f/2 is utterly fantastic on both M240 and MM. Even at f/2, it is very sharp and shows 3D. It is the silver model, but I doubt that improves the rendering. Colors are not as saturated as newer M lenses, but if you want the Velvia look ACR gives you sliders to arrange things :rolleyes:.

 

Here is a web-res @ f/2.4... if you realize that the stylist's hair dryer is nearly 10m farther than the marquee, the capabilities of this lens at fast aperture is obvious.

 

My conclusion is that there is something in the construction of the lens that is susceptible to falling out of adjustment with use. Have Leica bring your lens up to spec.

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If you are using the standard square hood, be very careful not to be mounting or unmounting the lens with the hood. It takes a conscious effort not to do this. The front section of the lens is only held in place by three tiny grub screws, which tend to come loose anyway. Many of us long term users of this wonderful lens, have found it separating into two pieces :(

 

This is one of Leica's less robust bits of engineering design. I have changed to a different hood (Contax GG1 46mm threaded fitting), which is much neater, provides just about enough shading and makes it much easier to mount and unmount the lens by holding the body not the hood.

 

Wilson

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