Zeiss Biogon T* 2.8/28

[luxikon]

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Hi,

 

does anybody use the above Biogon on his M9? Which lens detection code do you choose?

If not, what would you suggest?

[gjames9142]

Check out Sean Reid's site, even if you have to pay for it. He has just done an extensive test of that and five other 35's for the M9 -- it checks out really well, probably the best technical performer, including the Leica Asph Cron.

[lars_bergquist]

Klaus asked about the 28mm/2.8, not about the 35mm/2.0. Read the numbers.

 

I have no experience of this lens (I have no use for 28mm lenses on FF), but it would seem that its performance is not quite up to the level of its 25 and 35mm close neighbours. This does not necessarily mean that it is inadequate.

 

The old man from the Age of the 3.5cm Elmar

[Doc_P]

The Leica M9 costs roundabout €5.500,--. There is some significant price gap between Zeiss ZMs and the Leica primes, no doubt about it...

 

My recommendation is the Leica 2.8/28 ASPH, a class of its own (&rather cheap in the Leica Universe). ZM 2.8/28 is about € 890,--, the Leica €1550,-- You get 6bit code (that you need!) and a remarkable lens...

 

I use the Leica 2.8/28 ASPH and made some of my best pictures ever: small, fast, top quality... really recommended!

 

Imo the questions Zeiss ZM or Leica gets really tough if looking at the more expensive lenses, e.g. ZM 4/18 Distagon vs 3.8/18 from Leica...

 

Best regards

Axel

 

P.S.: one of my faves

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[rosuna]

That is a really, really great picture!

[luxikon]

Thanks for the picture. I like it very much. Must be an excellent lens.

How did you treat the 'negative'?

[batmobile]

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Nah. You dont have to go to the more expensive lenses to have a very valid reason to go to either manufacturer. The 28 ZM is a cracker, as is the 21 (both) 25, 35 (both) 50 planar etc.

 

At a guess I would suggest coding the 28 biogon as a 28 elmarit V4 (pre-asph).

[luxikon]

Yes, you're right. I like my ZM 2.8/28 very much. It's a great lens. Zeiss was always famous for the Biogon. I was just asking for the coding. Thanks.

[thompsonkirk]

Mine is coded as an Elmarit Aspherical – as recommended in this list of codes:

 

Leica M Lens Codes

 

As much as I like Axel's photograph, I can't agree with his advice. I bought the 28 Elmarit Asph with M8 & found it unfortunately contrasty – definitely not what Sean Reid calls a Sunny Day lens. I use a 28 Summicron on M9, but use the Biogon as the normal lens on the M8 that I always carry with me. It couldn't be a better lens if 2.8 serves your needs.

 

Kirk

 

PS, my only complaint is its dorky lens hood.

[luxikon]

Hi Kirk,

 

thanks for the link. The Self coding thread is very interesting.

Another question: do you know what the data in the Value column of the lens coding list stand for?

[lars_bergquist]

The value is the number that the six-bit code expresses, in binary notation. White means zero, black reads as one. So the code of the Elmarit-M 1:2.8/28mm ASPH reads, right to left:

 

black--black--white--white--white--white

1 + 2 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 3

 

The old man from the Age of Decimal Notation

[luxikon]

Ah, I've got it. The value is decimal notation of the binary code.

0=>0

1=>1

10=>2

11=>3

100=>4

101=>5

etc.

Thanks