What are your opinions on the Leica R 15mm f2.8 ASPH?

[vickko]

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What are your opinions on the Leica R 15mm f2.8 ASPH?

 

I am seriously thinking about buying one. But, concerned that they are quite expensive, and if I decide to resell, would be difficult to find "the next buyer".

 

So, is it a good lens?

 

It is the price of a f1 Noctilux. I hear a lot about the Noctilux. But almost none about the 15mm f2.8 ASPH.

 

....Vick

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[Paolo.Battista]

Never got one, but as far as I know it is a very good Schneider/Leitz design.

It's an "extreme lens", so sample variation must be taken into account if you want really extreme (good) performances.

 

It was very expensive, so you have to check where and why you are about to use it.

 

On a DMR, it loses part of its extreme reach due to the crop factor. Since it is probably a retro-focus design (but I need to check), it could easily not be adapted to some of other FF cameras since it would crash on their mirror.

 

So my suggestion is to check how and where you want to use it, and then decide if the price is aligned with your goals.

 

Paolo

[dkCambridgeshire]

Which camera do you plan to use with the lens? The Super-Elmar 15/3.5 is very much cheaper than the Elmarit 15/2.8 and is by all accounts an excellent lens when stopped down. The f3.5 lens sticks for months on dealers' shelves. The f2.8 sticks for weeks rather than months ie both lenses are slow sellers.

 

I was planing to buy a Leica 15/3.5 lens recently for use on a Canon 1Ds but was put off by the fact that it is a 'slow seller' and the fact that the camera would have required a mirror shave. Eventually I settled for a Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 which has proved to be an excellent and very versatile lens when used on a Fuji S5 ... and which was less than half the price of a used 15mm f3.5.

 

dunk

[vickko]

I have an R6.2 to use.

Vick

[dkCambridgeshire]

Your R6.2 needs the Leica 15mm as there are no other superwides which will fit it (apart from the 16mm fisheye) . You might consider the 15/3.5 rather than the 15/2.8 and save yourself a lot of money. All superwide lenses need stopping down to f8 or f11 for best performance and to minimise vignetting. The f2.8 lens is a better performer than the f3.5 but I doubt if the differences are that noticeable. The f2.8 weighs 710g compared to 810g for the f3.5. You could maybe 'try before you buy' if a local dealer has a used lens in stock. There is one available at Mifsud if you are in the UK. The f3.5 lens is a Zeiss design and is the same lens as was made for Contax ... and I believe the same lens design was licenced to Pentax. And because these lenses are slow sellers it might be worth haggling ref price.

 

dunk

[elansprint72]

I'm with Harry Callahan when it comes to opinions.