Jump to content

Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-T 11-23mm Lens Review


Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I was lucky enough to test out the new Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-T 11-23mm lens for a weekend of shooting in Miami Beach. Needless to say I was impressed. You can check out my full review with plenty of sample images here:

 

Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-T 11-23mm Lens Review

 

Now I can't wait to try out the Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-T 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH! Soon I hope, once a generous customer lets me play with one before I ship it off to them.

  • Like 6
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks a ton for posting this! I was looking for some reviews. I put down a deposit on both the new T lenses and was getting nervous about the lack of reports of their release. It's good to know Leica is delivering them now.

 

You won't be disappointed ..... both are very good indeed.

 

I am off hiking in the mountains of Tenerife on tuesday and will be taking the full T line-up to try extensively ...... with my M as back-up (for a change) ...... looks to be an excellent fairly light and compact system .... we will see how it fares in slightly more testing circumstances than Ocean Drive .....

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
I was lucky enough to test out the new Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-T 11-23mm lens for a weekend of shooting in Miami Beach. Needless to say I was impressed. You can check out my full review with plenty of sample images here:

 

Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-T 11-23mm Lens Review

 

Now I can't wait to try out the Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-T 55-135mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH! Soon I hope, once a generous customer lets me play with one before I ship it off to them.

 

Does this lens need software corrections of distortion and chromatic aberrations? How strong is the real distortion?

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
at 11mm there is quite a software correction on distortion

 

yes there is, but interestingly the resolution penalty is not as bad as with some MFT glass on MFT bodies for instance...

On the T you end up with JPG that is still quite high quality and pleasing to look at, even in the corners. And then there is this philosophical question where Leica would probably say: you get Leica R&D and know how in hardware (M lenses) or software (T lenses), but the end result is the "almost the same"

Edited by bernie.lcf
Link to post
Share on other sites

yes there is, but interestingly the resolution penalty is not as bad as with some MFT glass on MFT bodies for instance...

On the T you end up with JPG that is still quite high quality and pleasing to look at, even in the corners. And then there is this philosophical question where Leica would probably say: you get Leica R&D and know how in hardware (M lenses) or software (T lenses), but the end result is the "almost the same"

 

 

Well, I would like Leica R&D to prove that they will make outstanding T-primes (in WA) , where they put the knowledge and quality foremost in the hardware, like the M-lenses.

 

I know with the T, a balance in quality and compactness has to be found. That are the appealing features of the T, in combination with its UI. So this route can work (certainly for the zoomlenses).

But in the end we are all looking voor the optimum in quality. There is a danger that Leica will take the "easy" route with the T and compromise, like so many other manufacturers. A software-solution can be an easy way out to solve CA and distortion. It gives quality pictures for the current T, but we are, hopefully, at the beginning of the development of the T. Future T's will be better, more DR, resolution etc. To make the T-lenses (primes) future proof they have to keep focusing on the optical quality and deliver a clean as possible picture on the sensor. In the end this always wins over a choice for a software solution. Here is the chance for the T and Leica to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack. Forget an expectancy in the longevity of the body, focus on the quality of the lenses. The M-lenses are the evidence of that.

 

Old lenses still thrive in the digital age!

Edited by AndrewAM
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...