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Has anyone tried the Zeiss ZM 15mm Distagon on the SL


wlaidlaw

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Has anyone tried the Zeiss ZM 15mm Distagon on the SL? I have been offered a S/H one at quite an attractive price. If it performs anything like my Voitglander 15/4.5 Mk.2, I am not interested, with significant vignetting and Italian flag. In that it is a Distagon rather than Biogon, that should mean it is a retrofocal lens, with an exit pupil not too near the imaging surface, which works in its favour. I suspect it might be better on my M240 than the SL, due to the angled micro lenses. Oddly the Voigtlander is also not good on the M240, whereas it worked fine on my M9, coded as a 28 Summicron. My other concern is how often I would use the ZM 15mm, with it being a big heavy lump of a lens to carry round as well as the 24-90. I do carry my 18SEM, as it is quite small and does not weigh much.

 

It is a good time in France to buy from non-EU sources, as the French customs are on a "work to rule" and don't seem to be levying duty on incoming items sent via normal international post (i.e. non-courier). 

 

Wilson

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From memory, slight red edge curable with CornerFix.

 

Happy to take some test images - any subject you'd prefer?

 

John, 

 

That is very kind. Could you please take a landscape picture, preferably with lots of fussy detail at the bottom and with a monochrome grey or blue sky at the top, to judge red edges. I use a lens template in Capture One to cure my red edges and vignetting. However it could not sort the soft corners with the Voigtlander on the SL. 

 

Many thanks

 

Wilson

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John, 

 

That is very kind. Could you please take a landscape picture, preferably with lots of fussy detail at the bottom and with a monochrome grey or blue sky at the top, to judge red edges. I use a lens template in Capture One to cure my red edges and vignetting. However it could not sort the soft corners with the Voigtlander on the SL. 

 

Many thanks

 

Wilson

 

No problem - it's dark right now ...  :)

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Hello Wilson,

do you know this review ?    http://www.leica-review.com/reviews-1/zeiss-15mm-distagon-f/28-zm-review

Sorry if you already have it.

Stephan

 

It's for the M-P 240 and there is slight discoloring - so probably for the SL as well. But this probably can be fixed.

Did not try it - I have the WATE (16-18-21) and am happy with it. Maybe you get a used WATE (without finder), they are not so expensive anymore.

It has far less vignetting and no discoloring and is almost distortion-free (for a UWA ;-). And with the correction profiles of the SL it is almost perfect. And it's also much smaller and lighter. (only 335g)

 

Maybe this is also useful:   http://diglloyd.com/articles/LeicaM/LeicaM-ZeissZM15f2_8.html and his "Guide to Leica"  (maybe not ;-)

Edited by steppenw0lf
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Hello Wilson,

do you know this review ?    http://www.leica-review.com/reviews-1/zeiss-15mm-distagon-f/28-zm-review

Sorry if you already have it.

Stephan

 

It's for the M-P 240 and there is slight discoloring - so probably for the SL as well. But this probably can be fixed.

Did not try it - I have the WATE (16-18-21) and am happy with it. Maybe you get a used WATE (without finder), they are not so expensive anymore.

It has far less vignetting and no discoloring and is almost distortion-free (for a UWA ;-). And with the correction profiles of the SL it is almost perfect. And it's also much smaller and lighter. (only 335g)

 

Maybe this is also useful:   http://diglloyd.com/articles/LeicaM/LeicaM-ZeissZM15f2_8.html and his "Guide to Leica"  (maybe not ;-)

 

I did wonder about getting a WATE again. I part exchanged mine for a 28 Summicron ASPH and cash, because using the RF to focus and then Frankenfinder to frame, was just too fiddly and as a result, I rarely used it. I could part fund my WATE purchase by selling my 18 SEM, as you certainly don't need both. 

 

Wilson

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I have just been looking at prices and on the assumption that I could get £1500 for my mint 18SEM, it would cost me another £1400 to get a WATE at least. There is one for sale in the UK but some of the information is dubious. It says the lens has been updated with a 6 bit code. As far as I am aware, all WATES had the 6 bit code from new. I had one of the very early ones in Jan 2007 and that was certainly 6 bit coded. The £1400 is about what I have been offered the 15mm Distagon for. 

 

Wilson

 

PS. The better alternative would be to hold off until Leica gets round to making a wide angle zoom, which I am sure will arrive at some point. I would love a 12 to 24mm. 

Edited by wlaidlaw
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Yes, I also have the Frankenfinder and it is still in its original plastic bag. I never used it, I found the idea to put it on a M so bizarre. I rather used the lens "with good hope" to fetch the right angle.

This is now completely different on the SL, where it is a true zoom lens. Actually my smallest zoom lens.

I have lately seen the Canon 11-24 (worldrecord uwa zoom) and burst out laughing about "experts" claiming that the SL was far too big. (SL plus WATE compared to Canon EOS 5DS with 11-24, even worse with a EOS 1Dx).

 

A Leica SL AF UWA zoom will cost a lot (I'd expect 7 or 8 thousand dollar). And it will probably look like the Canon lens or the Nikon 14-24. With a weight of more than 1 kilo. Not my dream lens, if it ever comes ...   ;)

The Nikon AF-S 2.8/17-35 is the biggest I "tolerate". (A lot smaller than the 14-24 and the 11-24, which is the biggest)

Edited by steppenw0lf
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Look into ebay (France or Germany). They usually offer it for 3500 euro more or less. Usually in the original box. Maybe there is a better offer from time to time.

There are currently several on offer, maybe one is willing to make a better deal if you contact them and say you need no finder.

(That seems less than the 2900 pound, or am I mistaken ?)

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SL plus WATE

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You can see that it is easy to use filters, while the Zeiss 15mm and many others in that range simply can't. (Or just with a substantial effort.)

It is an outstanding construction and also a very useful lens. Much more practical than many later additions to the M range (e.g. the many WA Summiluxes and the 50 Apo).    :)

I wish Leica would produce a practical midrange zoom with some of these features (either for the M a 28-35-50-75 or for the SL a small, light 28-75 of high quality). Unfortunately the old 28-35-50 MATE is no zoom, just a collection of three lenses and not as useful on the SL as a true zoom.

Edited by steppenw0lf
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For some very odd reason, the 28mm length on my MATE does not seem quite as soft in the corners on the SL as it does on my M240. I cannot think of any logical explanation, why this might be so, other than the angled micro lenses on the 240 sensor could be causing softening. The only other reason could be that you are achieving more accurate focus on the SL.

 

I have just arranged to go on the Spice classic car rally in November, across Myanmar. We will be using an ex-works Safari Rally 1969 Mercedes 280SL, which does not have a whole lot of room inside it, as it has a full roll cage. You have to put cameras in the inside, as on past experience of rallies in this car, the boot fills up with dust (we keep our luggage inside sealed large plastic sacks). The last rally I did with this car, The Transamerica Rally, I took my M9 and left the MATE on the whole time, but had a lot of trouble with dust on the sensor. I am not sure I want to take a camera as large as the SL with 24-90 but its excellent dust and damp sealing is a very attractive feature. In Myanmar earlier this year, I had no problems with dust or condensation on the sensor of the SL. 

 

Wilson

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I use mine a lot with the SL. It has high resolution to the corners and produces sharp contrasty files.  There's some magenta on the edges which is easily repaired.  I always leave the included ND filter on so vignetting is never a problem although it does drop the speed a bit.  I love this lens on my SL!  My only regret is not being able to attach neutral grads to it.

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Sorry not to post this earlier - I was trying to get a uniform sky (without success).  The 15 Distagon is coded as a 28 Elmarit - the only adjustment in white room was to ry to equalise the exposure and to tone down the highlights slightly.  Let me know if you want the DNG files to play with.

 

First, with the centre graduated ND filter supplied with the lens.  Both images taken at infinity to increase the risk of smeary edges.

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Edited by IkarusJohn
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Now without the filter - not much vignetting visible (I haven;t toned it down at all, but it is possible it's a correction in LightRoom).  Again, very clear red edge.

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The solution is to crop out the edges (making a square image, of the same field of view as the SWC), or to use it on the Monochrom.  The lack of rangefinder coupling isn't a factor as you can stick it on any focus you like, the depth of field is so huge.

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I use mine a lot with the SL. It has high resolution to the corners and produces sharp contrasty files.  There's some magenta on the edges which is easily repaired.  I always leave the included ND filter on so vignetting is never a problem although it does drop the speed a bit.  I love this lens on my SL!  My only regret is not being able to attach neutral grads to it.

 

Could you not use a Lee SW100 mm or SW150 square filter kit? Then you have access to all sorts of ND filters both uniform and graduated (hard, medium, soft transitions). I went on a Lee filters day earlier this year and was very impressed for use on the 24-90 and 90-280. 

 

Wilson

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The SL 24-90 looks like the best choice, because of its resistance to adverse conditions. This will be a great test.

(Why not ask Leica to sponsor it  ;) )

My experience of asking them for this sort of thing is not great. My daughter got married in Baltimore, MD to the son of one of the USA's best known professional photographers, not long after the S came out. There were going to be lots of professional photographers as guests at the wedding. I asked Stefan Daniels if he could arrange the loan of an S, to be sent to the studio of the professional photographer and I would return it in person, as I was going to be going through Allendale, NJ two days after the wedding. I would pay for insurance. SD thought this was a great idea to get some exposure for the S to the sorts of folk who might buy it. New Jersey thought it was all a bit difficult so the answer was no. Given from the interest my humble M8 with 35 ASPH Summilux was shown (I had lent it to the photographer who was the official one for the wedding), this was a huge missed opportunity for Leica but was their loss. 

 

Wilson

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