21 or 24 Lux

[adan]

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j_lir - nice concert shot - and precisely the kind of shot that made me really begin to suffer with the M8, where I had the choice of 15 f/4.5 (not fast enough for the light) or 21 f/2.8 (not wide enough for the action and environment, cropped).

 

"...too wide..." No such thing

 

novice9 - You can go to Leica's web site and download pdf files that have their mtf graphs for both lenses: Leica Camera AG - Downloads

 

It does look like the 21 slightly edges the 24 at all the aperture tested, but not enough to make a difference if you really prefer the 24mm view of the world.

 

Considerations having nothing to do with IQ - The 24 may be usable on an M9 without an accesory finder by using the "whole viewfinder" for framing (I don't find it so, but some do). If you are going to need an accesory finder in any case, it is probably easier to find one used for the 21 than for the 24 - Leica has been making the first for over 40 years and the latter for only a decade.

 

(Although at the moment KEH seems to have more for 24 than 21 - unusual!)

[novice9]

Thanks again to all for the indespensable advice. I picked up a 24 1.4 today. For me the deciding factor was not the FOV but rather that I felt like in most applications where I reach for my widest lense I am not likely to need the speed of the 21 1.4. Rather, I'm buying this lense for street, indoor event, party, etc. shooting where I expect to use the speed and probably will be more comfortable with the narrower FOV. Eventually, if I want something wider for landscape, etc., I would probably look to the WATE (if not a more affordable non-leica alternative) where I'm not paying for speed that I do not need. Happy Holidays all!

[JPH1962]

Hi there

I think the same way - got my 24 lux a week ago... and really... dont regret it at all! :-) - it is used for a lot of pics, it might really become my always on lens....

 

JPH