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21mm Summilux on M9


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Hi,

 

I took delivery of my copy yesterday.

Whilst I haven't been able to test fully yet, initial shots suggest a very high degree of CA in high key shots. Also noticeable in highlights. It seems fairly independent of the aperture - from 1.4 (where I could tolerate it) right through to F16.

I shot RAW into lightroom and also shot the same scene using a Hasselblad H3D & Nikon D3 (and WA lenses). Will post comparisons tomorrow night so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

Has anyone else experienced this on the M9 ? I need to figure out if I have a bad copy or whether it is the interplay with the camera.

 

Rgds

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Hi,

 

I took delivery of my copy yesterday.

Whilst I haven't been able to test fully yet, initial shots suggest a very high degree of CA in high key shots. Also noticeable in highlights. It seems fairly independent of the aperture - from 1.4 (where I could tolerate it) right through to F16.

I shot RAW into lightroom and also shot the same scene using a Hasselblad H3D & Nikon D3 (and WA lenses). Will post comparisons tomorrow night so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

Has anyone else experienced this on the M9 ? I need to figure out if I have a bad copy or whether it is the interplay with the camera.

 

Rgds

 

I think if you search the forum, you will find other discussions on CA on both the 21 and 24 Luxes. As I recall, it seemed to be worse processing in LR than C1. However on LR there is a correction slider for this. Maybe on C1 V5 pro also but as I only installed it 10 minutes ago, not fully (ha ha) up to speed on it yet. Another 2 years of practice and I will be perfect.

 

Wilson

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Hi,

Here is a test shot series across the aperture range of the 21mm Summilux. Full image and 100% crops shown. This isn't meant to be scientific - I didn't have the time. Exposure wasn't great - but at smaller apertures the 21 should have handled with ease.

 

F16 Full image

Then 100% edge crops at 1.4, 2.8, 5.6, 5.6, 11, 16, 16

 

Rgds

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F4 crop from centre of image

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This looks bad. You should contact Leica and send them the files. I would expect some of this at 1.4, but even then it looks like you have too much. Software will help with this, like C1, but it shouldn't be this bad to start with. Download a free trial of C1 v5.0 and give it a try.

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Hasselblad HCD28 wide open (F4) and F8. 3FR RAW straight into LR.

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Nikon ZOOM 14-24mm @ 21mm. Wide open @ F2.8. RAW straight into LR

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This looks bad. You should contact Leica and send them the files. I would expect some of this at 1.4, but even then it looks like you have too much. Software will help with this, like C1, but it shouldn't be this bad to start with. Download a free trial of C1 v5.0 and give it a try.

 

I don't know much about processing. I use Phocus for my Hasselblad shots and LR for everything else. I hoped that by importing everything as RAW direct into LR it was as fair a comparison as possible.

 

I will give C1 a go - thanks for the recommendation.

 

I am inclined to return the lens tomorrow. I spent over £4K on it and am frankly disappointed if what I am seeing is CA. Its not a risk I feel comfortable taking.

I also as a rule keep post processing to a minimum so even if it can be dialed out with C1 - I don't see why I should spend the time doing it. Neither my Hassy or Nikon lenses require it - both of which cost a fraction of the Summilux.

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I don't know much about processing. I use Phocus for my Hasselblad shots and LR for everything else. I hoped that by importing everything as RAW direct into LR it was as fair a comparison as possible.

 

I will give C1 a go - thanks for the recommendation.

 

I am inclined to return the lens tomorrow. I spent over £4K on it and am frankly disappointed if what I am seeing is CA. Its not a risk I feel comfortable taking.

I also as a rule keep post processing to a minimum so even if it can be dialed out with C1 - I don't see why I should spend the time doing it. Neither my Hassy or Nikon lenses require it - both of which cost a fraction of the Summilux.

 

well, my 24mm Lux behaves similarly. it seems to be the price to pay for wide angle fast lenses. my recommandation is to go f2.8 unless you really need f1.4 on your 21mm lens. peter

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It's not chromatic aberration, it's some kind of artifact caused by the extreme optical/microlens design of the M8/9 and has to be "handled" by the RAW-processor.

Chromatic aberration caused by the lens would cause characteristic color fringing on opposite sides.

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others are better placed to comment on why you've experienced this problem with your camera/lens combination.

 

i had a similar problem with purple fringing with my m8 and 15mm voigtlander. forum members kindly sent me to shaystephens.com (uk) to buy a small photoshop action which helped correct the problem.

 

i tried this action on your f1.4 example, and thought you'd be happy to see that it worked pretty well.

 

good luck

 

rick

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Ignoring the CA/blooming, the 21 Lux images are significantly sharper than the Hasselblad and Nikon images. Are they really representative? If so, I wouldn't return the 21 Lux, but rather the HCD 28 and 14-24G!

 

The comparison wasn't intended to compare the resolving power of the systems - just looking for CA at similar focal lengths and apertures - so not representative in that context as you suggest. Happy to post resolution tests if I keep the lens!

 

Rgds

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i had a similar problem with purple fringing with my m8 and 15mm voigtlander. forum members kindly sent me to shaystephens.com (uk) to buy a small photoshop action which helped correct the problem.

 

You mentioned the "small photoshop action". I am unable to find it on the web site. Could you point me to the site.

 

Many thanks - Peter

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... i had a similar problem with purple fringing with my m8 and 15mm voigtlander. forum members kindly sent me to shaystephens.com (uk) to buy a small photoshop action which helped correct the problem ...

 

rick

 

Rick:

 

I checked the website you mentioned, but can't find any software for sale on it. Can you be more specific? Thanks.

 

Guy

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