dkmoore Posted October 21, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 21, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am about to pull the trigger on one of the above lenses and am looking for advice. I used the search function first but couldn't find exactly what I am looking for. I currently use 28, 35, 50, and 90 Leica lenses. The 28 and 50 are my most used focal lengths. From what I have seen on this forum and other reviews I would particularly enjoy the 24mm Summilux. This is due to the rendering and characteristics that I have seen in IQ. However, I worry that 24 is a couple of walking steps forward or backwards from 28mm. Do you think it is a better choice to diversify and go 21 or do you think the difference between 24 and 28 is enough to justify? Thank you for entertaining my questions. Dustin Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Hi dkmoore, Take a look here 21mm vs 24mm LUX. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
NB23 Posted October 21, 2016 Share #2 Posted October 21, 2016 21 to 24 to 28 to 35 to 50 all have the same relation. 28 and 24 will never be the same and will always be different. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted October 21, 2016 Share #3 Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) I just traded in my 21mm Summilux for the 28mm Summilux. The main difficulty I had with the 21mm was close up framing when trying to make the use of the wide open differential focus rendition. With the large lens and large Frankenfinder ( to get good close up framing ) , the combi was just too bulky to use casually or in dynamic situations. If you have an EVF camera you could do better. I leaning more and more back to film, so the 28mm and built in viewfinder will be my future. I still like 21mm in combination with 28 or 35mm , so will use a slower ZM 21/4,5 - just not so much in low light. Edited October 21, 2016 by FrozenInTime Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelwj Posted October 21, 2016 Share #4 Posted October 21, 2016 21 to 24 to 28 to 35 to 50 all have the same relation. 28 and 24 will never be the same and will always be different. 21 and 24 and 28 are all different. Choose which you want, which seems to be the 24. I'll add that I find choosing the speed of the lens before the focal length a little odd. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkmoore Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted October 22, 2016 It wasn't really choosing the speed before the focal length...My 28, 35, and 50 need their Lux sister to join the family. I just haven't shot with super wides much and wanted to know how much difference in perspective there was. : ) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelwj Posted October 22, 2016 Share #6 Posted October 22, 2016 It wasn't really choosing the speed before the focal length...My 28, 35, and 50 need their Lux sister to join the family. I just haven't shot with super wides much and wanted to know how much difference in perspective there was. : ) The easiest way to come to grips with how wide is wide is to think in terms of angle of view, so a 21mm typically has a 90 degree angle of view. The work out how big the change is between 28 and 24 and 21, use %'s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 22, 2016 Share #7 Posted October 22, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) There is the consideration of usability. Especially if you are not a specialist ultra-wide shooter it is likely that a 24 is going to be seeing a lot more use than a 21. At the price that was the decisive consideration when I bought the lens as it was introduced, so I got the 24. I have not regretted it for a second, it is one of my clammy dead hands lenses which is part of my daily bag. I did get a Super-Elmar 18 as a wideangle companion in the end. IMO the 24 is further from the 28 in use (not mathematics) than the 28 is from the 35, if you get my meaning. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen.w Posted October 22, 2016 Share #8 Posted October 22, 2016 I agree with what Jaap said. Also keep in mind that 24 is probably the widest lens that you can shoot as a general purpose lens (in other words, without the obvious ultra-wide angle effect). The combination of wide angle perspective and potential for subject isolation, on a rangefinder shooting platform, makes the 24 Summilux a truly unique lens. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted October 22, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) I can't tell on a long term basis; I own a 24 and a 28 only recently, so I'm more into 28 the last 5 months. But my 24 is already winking to me again. I find a 24 the ideal widest angle on an M because I just don't need a separate finder for it yet, it still works for me with the outer boundaries of the rangefinder. I cannot get used to separate viewfinders, which is what has gotten me off a 21, the whole idea of M-photography is gone then IMO. Also the perspective lines are even more oblique, which I find at a 24 already *a bit* disturbing, *sometimes*. Edited October 22, 2016 by otto.f 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted October 22, 2016 Share #10 Posted October 22, 2016 The horrific distortions of 21mm can be controlled by choice of scene. I have an EVF which I bought as a focus aid for 90mm in low light and I didn't like it at all - runs down the battery, won't fit in the shoulder bag while mounted, needs lots of button presses (especially if you want to prieview the occasional shot on the screen), ... Then I bought a 21 and had to use the EVF for framing rather than to compensate for poor eyesight and to provide the artificial horizon. As if by magic all the EVF's deficiencies vanished - the results were so pleasing that the ends justified the means. I now love my EVF and feel no reluctance to use it. I focus optically and frame and level electronically. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkmoore Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted October 23, 2016 Thanks everyone, 24 Lux it is! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobers Posted October 23, 2016 Share #12 Posted October 23, 2016 Good choice. I bought a used 24 Lux recently and am enjoying getting to know it. I've wanted one for a long time. Framing is a bit tricky (I wear glasses) but the image quality is astounding. It's a very special look - I previously had a Canon 24 1.4 L on a 1DX and it just didn't perform well at all though occasionally I'd get a decent image and the thing would focus properly. The Leica version is far superior (plus faster to focus!). I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2016 Share #13 Posted October 23, 2016 If you wear glasses and don't have a M 240 / SL - so no EVF, you might consider getting an accessory viewfinder for the 18mm Elmar, instead of the one for 24mm. The inside frames (for the cropped M8, that I presume is not wat you use, but you use FF) are for 24mm lenses. Two people I know, who use accessory viewfinders and don't wear glasses, hence overlook the whole viewfinder, both have the Zeiss ones, not for price reasons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted October 23, 2016 Share #14 Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) These Summiluxes have fairly wavy fields of focus. I have been getting much better results with the 21mm by being able to focus accurately closer to the edge of the frame. The results are unique. I have not tried the 24mm because I always seem to find that if you need to go wide, even wider is better. 20160812-183435_L1010016.jpg Edited October 23, 2016 by jrp 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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