24 mm M Lens recommendation?

[IkarusJohn]

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Can anyone recommend a 24 mm lens for my M9?

 

I'm looking for a nice wide angle lens for landscape and streetscape/travel photography, and I'm interested in recommendations . The Summilux has appeal, but it is very expensive.

 

I would also carry in my bag 35 & 75 Crons and a 50 Lux (if I can lay my hands on one).

 

Anyone with experiences to share of the Summilux 1.4, the Elmarit 2.8 or the Elmar 3.8? I rather fancy something fast, as I don't use flash at all. BUt then there is a huge price difference.

 

As an extreme alternative, I'd also consider a WATE, but price is also a problem, and I've pretty much decided on the 24 as I don't absolutely need a separate viewfinder.

 

Many thanks

John

[jamesk8752]

I can recommend both the Leica Elmarit 24/2.8 and the Zeiss Biogon 25/2.8 from personal experience.

 

The Biogon is a lot less expensive and every bit as good in IQ, IMO. However, you might want to send it to DAG or some other reputable repairman for 6-bit coding, which would add $125 or so to the cost.

 

Regards, Jim

[vdb]

The 24 lux stays on my M9 almost permanently. A stunning lens in every way. You can view many examples on my albums and in the people photo sub forum.

If you can use 1.4, there's no other choice. The way it separates the foreground is magical.

[IkarusJohn]

The 24 lux stays on my M9 almost permanently. A stunning lens in every way. You can view many examples on my albums and in the people photo sub forum.

If you can use 1.4, there's no other choice. The way it separates the foreground is magical.

 

I was afraid someone might say something like that.

 

Okay, I'll keep looking for a 50 Lux, and I'll start saving for the 24 Lux!

 

Thanks for your comments.

John

[NZDavid]

Depends how close you get, or need to. If you want everything sharp, superb definition and contrast and a lens that is still usually fast enough even at low ISOs, the 2.8/24 Elmarit ASPH is stunning. You might like to look at Erwins' Putts reviews at http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/lenses/len_start.html (most reviews under Leica/lens).

[Shadow Blaster]

Can anyone recommend a 24 mm lens for my M9?

 

I'm looking for a nice wide angle lens for landscape and streetscape/travel photography, and I'm interested in recommendations . The Summilux has appeal, but it is very expensive.

 

I would also carry in my bag 35 & 75 Crons and a 50 Lux (if I can lay my hands on one).

 

Anyone with experiences to share of the Summilux 1.4, the Elmarit 2.8 or the Elmar 3.8? I rather fancy something fast, as I don't use flash at all. BUt then there is a huge price difference.

 

As an extreme alternative, I'd also consider a WATE, but price is also a problem, and I've pretty much decided on the 24 as I don't absolutely need a separate viewfinder.

 

Many thanks

John

John,

Let me add my vote for the 3.8 24mm Elmar. I absolutely love this lens and it is as sharp as sharp can be, although it is slower than the alternatives.

Good luck,

John S.

[rob139]

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+1 for the summilux. It is indeed ridiculously expensive, and a bit big. But the results when used wide open are very rewarding.

 

Best, Rob

[Marty]

Another vote for the Summilux but I don't think you will need 1.4 for most land-/streetscapes. Yes it is quite big (for an M lens).

 

If price is a concern then close to 24mm lies 28mm where you will find the cheaper yet stunning and compact Elmarit 28mm, also highly recommended for your purpose with the added plus that you will have the framelines for it.

[Jaybob]

Just my opinion, but $3500+ is WAY too much for a 24 2.8, even if it was presented in Titanium. You'd be better served with the 28 Elmarit.

 

If you want a summilux, I'd get the 21 over the 24 for the same money.

 

All that being said, if they made a Summarit 24, I would buy it for $1795.

[jamesk8752]

Just my opinion, but $3500+ is WAY too much for a 24 2.8, even if it was presented in Titanium. You'd be better served with the 28 Elmarit.

 

If you want a summilux, I'd get the 21 over the 24 for the same money.

 

All that being said, if they made a Summarit 24, I would buy it for $1795.

 

You'd be better off with a Biogon 25/2.8 for $820 IMO, with money left over to buy a second lens. This lens is superb!

 

Regards, Jim

[roguewave]

John if what you shoot is largely "landscape and streetscape/travel photography", I think the Elamrit 24 is a wonder solution. I use this lens in th2 R system with my DMR for digital work & with my R8 for film work. It is very reasonable in price. It is tact sharp and the color rendition is divine. I have used it for many landscape assignments and it always delivers. At 2.8. there's plenty of separation between foreground & background, with a delightful bokeh. Stopped down, it has tremendous dof. The M version doesn't have much of a close focus range like the R 24, but for your needs, including street work, it is a very fine tool with a modest price. The Summilux 24 may just be one of the all time greatest M system lenses, but the price is very steep and once you stop the lens down, all magic is gone. It's not a landscape lens.

[IkarusJohn]

Thanks for the recommendations. Having found a 50 Lux Asph, I won't be buying a new wide angle lens any time soon.

 

The discussion is, however, interesting.

 

I am still coming to grips with the M9, and my current 2 lenses. The 75 Cron will be going to Solms soon for coding, and to have the focus checked (something is not quite right, I suspect). I will be working with the 35 Cron and the 50 Lux for the next few months.

 

I do, however, in the long run need a wider angle of view. The drama given with the wider field (particularly skies and foregrounds) is fantastic for landscape and streetscapes, in my view. To have the ability to take low light pictures (inside) and to use a narrow DOF (for the isolation of objects) also appeals; hence my interest in the 24 Lux.

 

I am also a keen paraglider pilot (hence the username), and a wide angle is important for including more than a wingtip in my photos (granted, if the entire wing is to be in shot, I'd need something like an 18mm). This is something I am yet to try with the M9 ...

 

I will look out for an Elmar 2.8 - sadly, the chances of trying before buying are limited here.

 

Cheers

John

[marknorton]

FWIW, I have all three 24's and could happily do without the Elmarit. The Summilux is wonderful for its low-light, shallow DoF options but it's also big and heavy and obscures the viewfinder. Remember too that even at f1.4, the depth of field increases rapidly with distance so in order to separate foreground and background, the foreground needs to be quite close - compare, for example, the DoF charts for the 24 and 50 Summiluxes.

 

At other times, the 24mm Elmar is a brilliant lens, small and unobtrusive.

[NZDavid]

IkarusJohn, for flying, then, the 18 might be a good idea. In helicopters I have found the 24 is good but wider would be useful. Zeiss 21 is also nice. The Voigtländer 15 may also be worthy of consideration.

 

It may be helpful, too (although few seemed to agree in another post) to consider that FOV is a very useful measure as well as focal length ( the slight discrepancy between close up and infinity notwithstanding).

 

Thus, as a reminder, with a 24 x 36 or "full frame", 16mm = 180deg, 18mm = 100deg, 21mm = 92deg, 24mm = 84deg, and 28mm = 76deg.

 

(Below, 2.8/24 Elmarit)

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[IkarusJohn]

Thank you David - that is exactly the advice I was looking for.

 

Calculating the circumference of my glider (based on a line length of somewhere around 8 metres), then taking the span of my glider (10.82 metres) as a factor of the entire circumference, and applying that to 360 degrees, I come up with a required field of view of only 77 degrees, which doesn't seem right.

 

I'll keep checking.

 

Cheers

John

[IkarusJohn]

Just doing some quick research on the net, I find that the Zeiss ZM 21 has the following field of view (diagonal/horizontal/vertical) 90/80/58, so your field of view figures look like diagonals, David.

 

I assume it is not possible to get non-Leica lenses coded (not a huge issue), but is the colourshift reported here (diglloyd: Lenses for Leica M, especially M9) dealt with by manual coding on the M9?

 

I'm assuming it does, but that might be quite wrong. If coding, would you use the WATE setting for f/4@21mm? I assume this only deals with colour balance for Leica lenses, or is it close enough>

 

Cheers

John

[meowzilla]

I think Zeiss 25mm/2.8 Biogon is bang for the buck. Image quality from this lens is just stunning. I think one of forum member showed a great coast image taken by this lens. The result is just wonderful (if you saw this post, please share with us once again)

 

IMHO, Biogon is a great design. Its definitely on par with Leica counter part (please also refer to Putts article and don't flame me on this one ). Plus Elmarit's price is just a little bit too much for a 2.8 if buying new. Lux is not someone like landscape photographer would need (plus field curvature would be a problem with the lux to begin with). If you need a lens that is sharp from corner to corner for landscape type of photography, Biogon seem to be the perfect choice. And of course, you should consider something wider than 24 if you are doing aerial.

[NZDavid]

John, those figures for FOV, except for the 16mm, were from Günter Osterloh's Leica M Photo School. AFAIK they do indeed refer to the horizontal coverage and not the diagonal. The 180deg FOV for the 16mm was from Olympus and I thought it looked far too wide; indeed it is, that was for the 16mm fisheye. The Voigtländer 15mm FOV is 110deg. A 28mm lens's FOV is 76deg and even though it is not considered ultra wide may still be wide enough. One other advantage of wider lenses is the ability to use slightly slower shutter speeds and still get a sharp shot.

[lars_bergquist]

Leica do not code non-Leica lenses (obviously), but several other workshops do. The bayonet of my ZM Biogon 25mm travelled across the Atlantic to be milled for coding by John Milich in Brooklyn (I did then code the lens as a 24mm Elmarit ASPH with complete success), and a 90mm Elmarit from 1995 is on its way back from Will van Manen in the Netherlands, completely coded and with its focusing adjusted.

 

The Gnomes of Solms would have willingly done this, as it is a Leica lens, but it would have taken two months, they would have wanted the camera too, and they would have demanded a ransom of Dwarves' Gold. Mr van Manen got the lens on Monday and shipped it back on Thursday. I won't see the result until Monday next week, at the latest, but our friend Jaap vouched for him.

 

The latest Zeiss ZM lenses have got their bayonet screws moved out of the coding area, and, like new C/V lenses, the bayonet plane has a slight groove so that you can try to code with a marker pen. But I prefer the certainty and permanence of properly milled recesses. I hear that 21mm 2.8 ZM lenses can be coded successfully as a 21mm Elmarit ASPH. But the 4.5 lens seems to have colour shift problems that Leica's internal coding can't do anything about. A pity. Maybe Leica should bring out a 21mm pendant to the 24mm Elmar ASPH.

 

The old man from the Age of the 21mm Contax Biogon (1953!)

[IkarusJohn]

I took these from the Leica tech specs:

 

With my M9:

 

- 24 mm lens - horizontal of 74°, vertical 53° and diagonal 84°

 

- 21 mm lens - horizontal of 81°, vertical 60° and diagonal 92°

 

- 18 mm lens - horizontal of 90°, vertical 67° and diagonal 100°

 

- 16 mm lens - horizontal of 97°, vertical 74° and diagonal 107°

 

The angle from wingtip to wingtip for a paraglider from the pilot's viewpoint is somewhere between 85° and 90°, which suggests a focal length of 21 or 18.

 

That suggests one of the 21mm lenses (Summulix 1.4 or Elmarit 2.8), a Super-Elmar 18mm f/3.8 or a WATE 16-18-21 f/4.

 

I guess I want to have my cake and eat it - a reasonably compact lens (I looked at a 135 APO-Telyt in the shop the other day - what a monster!), with wide field of view for drama and fast so I can also use it in low light. Sounds like a Summilux or a Elmarit 21.

 

I was rather hoping that a 24 might fit better. Any one with thoughts on the WATE?

 

Zeiss ZM - Biogon 21mm f/2.8 or Distagon 18mm f/4 also look like they might fit the bill, if anyone has experience of them.

 

Cheers

John

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Hallo,

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