24mm f/3.8 Elmar questions

[jklotz]

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Couple of quick questions - who's got the 24mm f/3.8 Elmar and using it with an M9? Any red edge issues with the current firmware? Do you find that you can frame it accurately without an external viewfinder?

[scottwallick]

You should be able to find your answers here:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/116048-elmar-m-24-f-3-8-a.html

[jklotz]

Thanks Scott. It would appear the red edge issue is indeed sorted out with this lens.

 

I didn't see anything regarding the need for an external viewfinder though. How's the framing using a 24 on the M9 without it?

 

Thanks

[adan]

"How's the framing using a 24 on the M9 without it?"

 

Like this (top: viewfinder view with 35/135 lines visible, bottom, actual 24mm image - and this is if you don't wear glasses. With my glasses on, the black area is tighter to the 35mm lines):

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[jklotz]

Perfect Andy, thank you

[Balivernes]

Frankly: get the external viewfinder. It is a pleasant tool. Better than rolling your eyes around the edges of the M9 view. Those "wider than 28mm" lenses are a pleasure to use if you do not mind a little to and fro between both finders. In real world terms, once you decide on exposure, and I would recommend manual à la M6, distance can be ballpark. Deep doF will do the rest, even at f3.8. External viewfinders are the ultimate in "uncluterness". I love them.

 

I had the Elmar (traded it in to fund a 28mm 'cron), and it is an absolutely lovely lens. Its only downside is when shooting interiors...f3.8 rapidly requires highest ISO settings. In bars and other weird places, with mixed lights, highest ISO settings give crappy colour pics. Hence the 'cron.

[jklotz]

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Frankly: get the external viewfinder. It is a pleasant tool. .

 

Thanks for that. I am considering it, but I really love my "Thumbs Up", so maybe I'll need to investigate a double hot shoe adaptor. Not to mention I'm a big fan of bubble levels, particularly when shooting wide.

 

I suppose it's my architectural photography background, but I find it almost impossible to shoot interiors without some form of perspective control. I think I'll leave that for my Cambo/Phase One, but landscapes, on the other hand, gotta say I'm loving the M9 for those.

[rljones]

I use a Thumbs up on my M9, along with the 24/3.8. I do not use external finders with 24mm lenses as I've found, as posted above, that the whole finder is essentially a 24mm view. The slight discrepancy is hardly worth the hassle of gong back and forth between the 2 viewfinders.

 

(I don't even use a viewfinder with my WATE as one gets a pretty good idea how wide things are with experience and besides, you can immediately see the result on your screen. Viewfinders were essential in the film days as you couldn't see the exact cropping; now you can.)

 

There is no fringing, etc., with the 24/3.8. It is an outstanding lens with MTF plots looking like a short tele. Amazingly good.

[ho_co]

Andy--are those cars so hard to park straight in Denver, too?