gib_robinson Posted January 22, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Anyone using this lens on an M9? I have heard very good things about it and it's lots cheaper than the Leica 18. Question is, are there any real downsides? It won't be coded. Would the M9 manual lens choice help? And would there be any significant color issues, say in relation to my Leica 24mm. Thanks, --Gib Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 Hi gib_robinson, Take a look here ZM 18mm on the M9: Downsides?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
chriscove Posted January 22, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 22, 2010 I am using this on the M9 and find it to be a great lens. It is extremely sharp and a little more contrasty than my Leica lens. It does exhibit the corner color shift you can see in the shot below. This shot was taken with it coded as the WATE 18. Cornerfix completely eliminates this. I found that shooting uncoded and using Cornerfix is much easier, then I do not forget to changes back to auto. I am curious if anyone has tried other settings for the 18 Zeiss. EIther way with Cornerfix this thing really shines. I did buy the 18 Zeiss finder and love that as well. Good luck! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/110343-zm-18mm-on-the-m9-downsides/?do=findComment&comment=1196498'>More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted January 22, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 22, 2010 I bought mine before the 18mm Super-Elmar existed, so I had to code it as a WATE. This of course means that it has to show 28+90 finder frames, but Zeiss Oberkochen did supply the right bayonet for that. I sent it to John Milich for milling. If you intend to code it as a Super-Elmar, you can just retain the standard bayonet for 35+135 frames. I have not changed the WATE coding however, because it works just fine (though with the M9, it is recorded as 16mm, but so what?) I have very little red edge, and expect that to go away with the next firmware update. I am using a B+W 58mm UV filter with good results. Because of the shallow hood, an exposed front lens would make me a bit nervous! The old man from the Age of the Hologon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&A Posted January 22, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 22, 2010 Hi All, I concur with what everyone has said regarding the Zeiss 18mm..which I've used with both he M8 & M9....and in my tests comparing it to the Leica 18....it is neck and nexk for all intended purposes and an absolutely superb lens. *** I do have a question though about the red edge (rt side) that will occur with M9 and Zeiss 18, Leica 18 and some of the ultra wide vc lenses....but my question is specifically regarding the use of the Zeiss 18 on the M9. Has anyone put on a UVIR filter on the lens and tried it both coded as a WATE 18 (shows up as a 16mm) or even uncoded...both with the UVIUR filter....to see what effect it has both on the red edge and possible difficulties with color in the corners? I haven't got around to tring this but often wondered if this might be of some help (with reducing the red edge seen. Thanks if anyone has any feedback in trying this...as I thought to ask here before making a new posting. Dave (D&A) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted January 24, 2010 Share #5 Posted January 24, 2010 Excellent lens and useful to have. Mine was coded by Malcolm Taylor - beautifully milled on the original plate. I use it with the WATE and have no problems that cornerfix can't sort out. Given that this is a width I use infrequently, it was by far and away the best value for money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted January 24, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 24, 2010 Has anyone put on a UVIR filter on the lens and tried it ....to see what effect it has both on the red edge and possible difficulties with color in the corners? (D&A) An IR filter in front should make things worse. Color in the corners is related to the range of angles at which light passes thru the IR filter that covers the sensor. Since the M body is about 28mm deep, an 18mm lens has to be pretty telecentric -- its center is displaced away from the sensor, and the range of angles at which light hits the sensor is less than the full angle of view. But light passing through a filter in front varies over the full range of 106 degrees corner to corner. That should produce a lot of green in the corners. scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted January 24, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 24, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I use a 58mm B+W filter on my Distagon, and as I said before, I see very little 'red edge' indeed. Scott's concern seems to be misplaced. The UV/IR filters we use(d) with the M8 worked by interference. This is why the longer ray path toward the edges of the filter caused a cyan shift (or actually a loss of red). But normal UV filters work by absorption, and the wavelengths they absorb do not really affect the sensor. So I do not expect an UV filter to make a difference. The same old man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&A Posted January 24, 2010 Share #8 Posted January 24, 2010 Hi Scott, First I appreicate your reply and explanantion. My question about using a UVIR on the 18mm was to comment on how it might impact the red edge problem that is seen with the Zeiss 18mm (and some other wide angles) when used on the M9 because of possible "overcorretion"...although I'm aware that other factors may be involved in contributing to this problem (decentering, asymetry, ect.) . I realize use of the UVIR might lead to excessive cyan corners, particularly on the right side of the frame where there is no red edge...but wondering what one might see on the side of the frame where red edge can easily be detected. Thats the reasoning for my question. Thanks again! Dave (D&A) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc_P Posted February 3, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 3, 2010 I really like the M9 and the 2,8/28 ASPH: remarkable results. Since the ZM 4/18mm costs roundabout a third of the 18mm Leica and i found many recommendations i bought one... Mechanically this lens is top-notch, but due to the picture quality i am not so convinced up to now: Color shifts (red / purple is annoying in winter slides with snow), no 6bit coding (who does it in Germany). I'll keep this lens until I can afford a Leica one... my recommendation: find a dealer, try it for a weekend and decide then: is the 18mm Leica worth the nearly triple price.. BTW: the 18mm Finder from Zeiss is O U T S T A N D I N G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&A Posted February 4, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 4, 2010 When you say re-purple shifts...like in light color images like snow..are your refering to the left side "red issue described in this thread? If so, the Leica 18mm suffers from it oo on the M9. Most have found, like I have, that optically the Zeiss 18 and Leica 18mm are very very close in optical performance, even color characteristics (although there are slight differences). The two are about as close in performance as two ultra wide can angles get. As for coding, the Zeiss 18mm only need a small single black line to code it as a WATE 16mm...and it works perfect...except of course the left side red edeg thats an issue with many ultra wide angle lenses on the M9 and for now taken care of by using "Corner Fix". Just some personal thoughts. Dave (D&A) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted February 4, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 4, 2010 I do fully expect Leica to fix the 'Italian flag' or 'red edge' syndrome with the coming firmware update. Even now, there is so little of it that it does not really disturb me. You know, I don't often walk around photographing flat dead white surfaces. Your allergies may be different. Mine is linear distortion, of which the Distagon has much less than either the Super-Elmar or the WATE. I also beg to second the opinion on the finder. The Zeiss finders are superb. The old man from the Age of the Contax Biogon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_W Posted August 22, 2010 Share #12 Posted August 22, 2010 Can I ask what people think now? Has the red issue been sorted with both lenses? I have read that they are as sharp as each other - comments welcome - purchase pending - money not an issue in purchase as have been saving - performance is the key... Leica or Zeiss 18mm? T Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manolo Laguillo Posted August 22, 2010 Share #13 Posted August 22, 2010 Can I ask what people think now? Has the red issue been sorted with both lenses? I have read that they are as sharp as each other - comments welcome - purchase pending - money not an issue in purchase as have been saving - performance is the key... Leica or Zeiss 18mm? T lars said it: the Zeiss 18 does not have the amount of distortion the Leica 18 has. I know it because I have the Zeiss, and the distorion is negligible ... That's for me crucial. If the Leica's distortion would be equal -and it is not-, then there is the price issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_W Posted August 23, 2010 Share #14 Posted August 23, 2010 Is there much colour shift in Zeiss: what do you set it to in the camera? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 23, 2010 Share #15 Posted August 23, 2010 I have lately re-coded my 18mm ZM to emulate a pre-aspherical 21mm Elmarit. Much less rededge. Enough to ignore, at least in my case. This is a fairly hard test, made on a overcast 1st of May this year. I haven't tried the new FW yet, as my M9 is still in Solms with a cracked sensor cover. The red-eyed old man Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/110343-zm-18mm-on-the-m9-downsides/?do=findComment&comment=1414084'>More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted August 23, 2010 Share #16 Posted August 23, 2010 ........ This shot was taken with it coded as the WATE 18...... There is no automatic WATE coding other than at 16mm only (so I presume you set manually all the time). In the WATE there is no mechanism to show the other lengths - as opposed to the MATE - so that is why. Experience shows that 21mm settings may be better. There have been several reports to that effect in the past with regard e.g. to the CV 15mm. If 21mm works, you are also rid of the WATE menu showing every time you switch on the camera, and you do not have to set manually, when you lens is coded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted August 23, 2010 Share #17 Posted August 23, 2010 SANDER My Zeiss 18 is coded as Leica 18 Super-Elmar. There's a slight red edge issue that's very simple to correct with a Lightroom graduated filter which can be batch applied. VERY happy - and for the money it's difficult to see how you can go wrong with this lens. I use it with the Frankenfinder and - in combination with a pre-asph 21 + 28 cron asph - have all the wide angle flexibility I could wish for with my style of work. LARS - lovely image. I note a slight shift to magenta in the sky and pavement on the left of the image... Not a huge issue, but again, using a Lightroom custom colour graduated filter (H 203 / S 19%) seems to kill it. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/110343-zm-18mm-on-the-m9-downsides/?do=findComment&comment=1414157'>More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 23, 2010 Share #18 Posted August 23, 2010 Chris, thanks for the demonstration. I do use only a 15" laptop just now however, and Lightroom seems to demand more acreage than that. So I haven't even downloaded it. Under more normal circumstances, the residual rededge is not much to get upset about, I think. The (probably) red-blind old man Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/110343-zm-18mm-on-the-m9-downsides/?do=findComment&comment=1414451'>More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted August 23, 2010 Share #19 Posted August 23, 2010 Especially if you keep pink buildings on the left of the frame ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 23, 2010 Share #20 Posted August 23, 2010 Yes, that's the trick of course. The devious old man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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