Tri-elmar 16-18-21

[Daniel Leung]

Hi,

Whoever owns the Tr-elmar 16-18-21 how do you guys like it and how practical is this lens?

what filter are you using?

David

[boilerdoc]

It's a stunning lens. Superb FOV and sharp. I have the Milich filter adapter on it for the IR filter (55mm i think). Klunky VF but it does the job and is very versatile. If you can afford it then it is one great lens!
Steve

[Daniel Leung]

what do you use this lens mostly for - landscape?

[tom0511]

I like it but rather use the ricoh 21-28mm viewfinder.
Its allready enough to have to change the vignetting correction each time you change the focal length-so no need to switch around with the viewfinder.
I use it for landscape and for "fun".

[Olsen]

Daniel,

I bought my WATE, as the Tri-Elmar 16-16-21 is called, together with the M8, for which it is ideal since the M8 has this 1,33 crop factor. I regard the M8/WATE combo as 'the best digital wide angle on the market' today. It is far better than Canon's 16-36 mm 2,8L/1Ds II/III alternative regarding corner softness and light fall off. Light fall off is sevral aparture lick stops on the latter. Look around and you will see that 'everybody' in the business have problems providing excellent digital solutions with 90 degrees diagonal FOV and beond.

The downside with the Tri Elmar 16-18-21 curved lines, - but this is easy to fix with software today (I haven't tried it yet, though). Some will say 'the price'. But notice that the M8/WATE compares to be equally expensive as 1Ds III/16-35 mm 2,8L. Nor is it fast, but larger aparture can only be traded for smaller DOF which is meaningless on such a lense. To my view. I use the WATE for interiors, family gathering as well as landscapes.

The WATE/Tri Elmar 16-18-21 performs very 'Leica' by finding light in the shaddows where other lenses, like Voigtländer 15 mm, finds nothing. It has this amazing high res/high contrast typical of Leica lenses (and Zeiss) that makes the scene look 3D.

I bought mine together with my M8 in a sort of favourable deal with the Frankenfinder included. That's not needed. It is bulky, ugly and expensive. Nor is it reliable. On mine, the oil in the water pas went dry and I had to send it to Solms. Try to get hold of a Voigtländer 21 mm viewfinder instead. It works OK, is far cheaper, lighter and compact. I also bought this very expensive Leica filter holder w/UV/IR filter. I use it in some family gathering situations. Just to asure that my brother-in-law do not look like a hotel doorman in his elegant black blazer. Otherwise I use it 60% of the time, at least, without any filter whatsoever. In this mode it produces some amazingly sharp and contrasty pictures. Like when using it together with several flashes, - with which all leica lenses prosper with their ability to produce high contrast.

[Olsen]

I post here some pictures - some of which I might have posted earlier, taken with M8/WATE. Like ordinary family situations taken with several flashes; one on the camera and two others as slaves reflected towards the camera to prevent the usual amateur looking 'flat flash light'.

[Olsen]

Ah, these were not the ones I ment. Here are some further examples.

[ArtZ]

Originally Posted by Daniel Leung

Hi,

Whoever owns the Tr-elmar 16-18-21 how do you guys like it and how practical is this lens?

what filter are you using?

David

Daniel,

I love this lens. I bought the lens kit (WATE + "Frankenfinder") but I prefer to use it with the Ricoh 21-28 viewfinder. However, at 21mm, if you move your eye around the M8 viewfinder, you don't need an external viewfinder. Many times, even at 16 and 18 mm, I use the WATE without external viewfinder because I "know" now what will be inside the frame.

I use it for landscape, city shooting, architechure and... I love it with a flash for taking indoors B&W pictures of people. Very good for parties, cocktails and celebrations.

I've been using John Milich adapter with this lens but, at the end of last year, I have switched to the official Leica 67 mm IR filter. It's not very sexy and it's big... but it corrects better cyan cast. With Milich adapter, you will get some red corners. The 67mm IR filter has a different formula. I'd like to find an optician to cut a 67 mm to use the glass together with Milich adapter. No sucess for the moment. All opticians I've met (3) says that the coating may get damaged at cutting.
.

[Daniel Leung]

Hi Artz,

So, will you choose this Tri-elmar rather than the 28mm lense?

DL

[ArtZ]

Originally Posted by Daniel Leung

Hi Artz,

So, will you choose this Tri-elmar rather than the 28mm lense?

DL

Difficult question but if I had to chose, I'll get the WATE first.

I love the Summicron 28 but it can be easily replaced by a CV 28/1.9 ULTRON ASPH for less than $ 500. I don't have the ULTRON but I heard here very positive opinions.

Remember, 21 mm is 28 mm on the M8 and 28 mm is 37 mm.
.

[Daniel Leung]

Originally Posted by ArtZ

Difficult question but if I had to chose, I'll get the WATE first.

I love the Summicron 28 but it can be easily replaced by a CV 28/1.9 ULTRON ASPH for less than $ 500. I don't have the ULTRON but I heard here very positive opinions.

Remember, 21 mm is 28 mm on the M8 and 28 mm is 37 mm.
.

I own the 28mm now but I have been thinking about the Tri-Elmar. I tried the Tri-Elmar b4 in a camera store and I love it. I just have a little hesitation that once I have the Tri-Elmar, the 28mm will be sitting in the closet

[ArtZ]

Originally Posted by Daniel Leung

I own the 28mm now but I have been thinking about the Tri-Elmar. I tried the Tri-Elmar b4 in a camera store and I love it. I just have a little hesitation that once I have the Tri-Elmar, the 28mm will be sitting in the closet

No, it won't be sitting in the closet. They're different lenses for different purposes. The 28 mm is an excellent lens for walking around and don't forget f/2! I think the WATE is the perfect complement for the cron 28 or the other way round.
.

[Daniel Leung]

Originally Posted by ArtZ

No, it won't be sitting in the closet. They're different lenses for different purposes. The 28 mm is an excellent lens for walking around and don't forget f/2! I think the WATE is the perfect complement for the cron 28 or the other way round.
.

thanks again for your opinion

[Arif]

I use my WATE primarily for travel and especially in Europe where the streets are narrow and if one does not want to take a whole set of lenses. I use the Ricoh 21-28 viewfinder when I travel (still have not used the bigger "frankenfinder" that came with it). I notice that you are buying a few lenses so was wondering if you have visited Sean's reviews. They have helped me "try" to balance the mind versus the heart in the desire to buy more leica lenses adn the money is definitely worth spending.

best wishes,
Arif

[Daniel Leung]

Originally Posted by Arif

I use my WATE primarily for travel and especially in Europe where the streets are narrow and if one does not want to take a whole set of lenses. I use the Ricoh 21-28 viewfinder when I travel (still have not used the bigger "frankenfinder" that came with it). I notice that you are buying a few lenses so was wondering if you have visited Sean's reviews. They have helped me "try" to balance the mind versus the heart in the desire to buy more leica lenses adn the money is definitely worth spending.

best wishes,
Arif

Hi Arif,

tks for your comments. what is the web address for Sean's review. I used to love taking pictures but kind of dropped this hobby for 10 year. recently, I am back into it and just bought the M8 and quite a few lenses, to 50mm, 75mm and 28mm. I love it very much. I may sound crazy but I always want to have all the needed gear whenever I am doing anything. I am hading to Brazil - Riodejaniero next week and want to make sure I am gear properly

DL

[jimrivers]

I have the 28-35-50. I think this also is an excellent lens and might be easier to find used. I got mine abouut 10 years ago for about $1000. It is the original version with built in lens hood.

[enigmart]

I used the Tri-elmar for the documenta 12 (2007) in kassel (germany). I think it is a very good lense.

documenta 12

philipp

[doug_m]

Philipp,

Your documenta 12 series is great. The WATE sure does shine in this series.

[Jack MacDonough]

Love the lens. It has allowed me to stop using all my Canon wide-ngle options...four 24mm versions and a 16-35 zoom. The sharpness crushed the competition and that's not Leica lens kool-ade talking. I use the frankenfinder half the time, but it is only helpful for architecture thanks to the bubble level that for me has not ever dried out. On travel, I pack the WATE, no finder, and a 75 2.5. So far it is the lens most on the camera. But I admit, I bought it with the 30% discount before the price went through the roof.
And yes, the zoom feature is a plus over a mere 16mm lens.
I do not use a filter as I do not shoot weddings with black tuxes.

[mr_big]

Originally Posted by tom0511

I like it but rather use the ricoh 21-28mm viewfinder.

Where did you get the Ricoh viewfinder?