Beyder28 Posted September 6, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted September 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ok, So I am looking for a 28mm. Two conditions, it can't be a the new Cron (too expensive) and it has to be a Leica. I have heard good things about v.3 of the Elmarit. Opinions? Does it make sense to pluck down for the current version of the Elmarit? Or can you get same or similar good results with an older lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 6, 2011 Posted September 6, 2011 Hi Beyder28, Take a look here Which 28mm?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kaiwing Posted September 6, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted September 6, 2011 I recommend the Elmarit, a reasonable priced lens in the Leica family. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiver Posted September 6, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted September 6, 2011 While you did not mention it, I can definitely recommend the Zeiss 28mm f2.8 Biogon. I have the current version Elmarit and it is every bit as sharp, and the distortion equally low. It is a bit bigger than the Elmarit but has a well-knurled focus ring and bump which I find much easier to use than the Elmarit's tab. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeinzX Posted September 6, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted September 6, 2011 I use the Elmarit, excellent and small lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Fluff Posted September 6, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted September 6, 2011 I've owned both the last pre-asph, and the asph versions. Â Results from both are excellent. The main question really is how you feel about viewfinder blockage - the newer lens is much better in this respect, and it's the one I kept because of this. I don't really use it on my M9, but loved it on the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holybasil Posted September 6, 2011 Share #6  Posted September 6, 2011 While you did not mention it, I can definitely recommend the Zeiss 28mm f2.8 Biogon. I have the current version Elmarit and it is every bit as sharp, and the distortion equally low. It is a bit bigger than the Elmarit but has a well-knurled focus ring and bump which I find much easier to use than the Elmarit's tab. +1 on this  I owned the 28 elmarit asph. and while I did enjoy the size of it, the zeiss really is sharper (yes yes, god forbid) and easier to focus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted September 6, 2011 Share #7 Â Posted September 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) 28mm Elmarit pre aspherical is a very very good lens. Bigger than the latest version but performance is superb right from wide open. Â I agree fully with this recommendation. I believe what is referred to is the so called version 4 of this lens, with E46 filter thread. It is possibly even sharper than the ASPH but admittedly not as compact. This was a much more expensive lens than the ASPH before it was discontinued, but now I see it sells for less than the ASPH. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted September 6, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted September 6, 2011 i know the op counted out the summicron, which i can fully appreciate given the cost. but i was wondering of those who recommend the zeiss (i have the zm 21mm 2.8 and think its great) how they stack up the zeiss against the summicron -- qualitatively speaking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holybasil Posted September 6, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted September 6, 2011 i know the op counted out the summicron, which i can fully appreciate given the cost. but i was wondering of those who recommend the zeiss (i have the zm 21mm 2.8 and think its great) how they stack up the zeiss against the summicron -- qualitatively speaking. I haven't had the chance to even touch the 28 cron, but if I could I'd get it for the extra f-stop alone. Big price difference though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jippiejee Posted September 6, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted September 6, 2011 I have shot only one roll of film now with the Elmarit 28mm asph, but love it very much. Not an overly expensive member of the Leica lens family either. It seems sharp throughout the frame, but after one roll that might be a tad early to conclude. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted September 7, 2011 Share #11  Posted September 7, 2011 I will also recommend the last pre-asph Elmarit, which is a beautiful lens. It's all a matter of taste, but I prefer lenses that resolve well and are not over- contrasty; the asph 28 Elmarit can blow out highlights more easily. I learned from using 8x10 that is possible to have lenses that are too contrasty. You will also save a little money. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/161180-which-28mm/?do=findComment&comment=1786863'>More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted September 7, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted September 7, 2011 i know the op counted out the summicron, which i can fully appreciate given the cost. but i was wondering of those who recommend the zeiss (i have the zm 21mm 2.8 and think its great) how they stack up the zeiss against the summicron -- qualitatively speaking. Â Sean Reid tested the Zeiss 35 2.8 Biogon against the 35 Asph Cron (and the Zeiss 35 F2 Biogon) and found the 2.8 to be the best technical performer all around. I put a lot of store in his testing, which is thorough and pretty rigorous in real shooting terms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share #13 Â Posted September 7, 2011 Sean Reid tested the Zeiss 35 2.8 Biogon against the 35 Asph Cron (and the Zeiss 35 F2 Biogon) and found the 2.8 to be the best technical performer all around. I put a lot of store in his testing, which is thorough and pretty rigorous in real shooting terms. Â We are talking about the 28mm not the 35mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted September 7, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted September 7, 2011 Sean Reid also tests the 28 Biogon against the 28 Elmarit and the Cron, but on the M8. The Zeiss lens comes off well -- you have to subscribe to read it, but for me it is well worth it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stateowned Posted September 7, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted September 7, 2011 altough u said not to.. i am really enjoying my cron, the bokeh is nicee Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 7, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted September 7, 2011 Ok, So I am looking for a 28mm. Two conditions, it can't be a the new Cron (too expensive) and it has to be a Leica. I have heard good things about v.3 of the Elmarit. Opinions? Does it make sense to pluck down for the current version of the Elmarit? Or can you get same or similar good results with an older lens? Depends on the camera you intend to use it with. Film or digital. FF or crop cam. With M8 or M9, don't forget to count the cost of 6-bit coding if any. The 28/2.8 v3 (# 11804) could come close to a s/h 28/2.8 asph then, as all copies of the latter are natively coded if i'm not wrong. As for the v4 (# 11809), it could well be at the same or higher price level then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share #17 Â Posted September 8, 2011 Depends on the camera you intend to use it with. Film or digital. FF or crop cam. With M8 or M9, don't forget to count the cost of 6-bit coding if any. The 28/2.8 v3 (# 11804) could come close to a s/h 28/2.8 asph then, as all copies of the latter are natively coded if i'm not wrong. As for the v4 (# 11809), it could well be at the same or higher price level then. Â Talking about using it on M9-P. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyder28 Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share #18 Â Posted September 8, 2011 Sean Reid also tests the 28 Biogon against the 28 Elmarit and the Cron, but on the M8. The Zeiss lens comes off well -- you have to subscribe to read it, but for me it is well worth it. Â Can you elaborate on that? What order does Reid rank them in? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 8, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted September 8, 2011 Talking about using it on M9-P. Then consider 6-bit coding as necessary. Same for non-Leica lenses of course. Also beware that some of our colleagues here (including me) have little or zero experience with those lenses on M9 or M9-P and sometimes know only the "hot spot" of those lenses on crop cameras like M8 or R-D1. We might then ignore lesser performances on edges and corners, which can be a problem for landscapes shooters among others. According to Jean-Marie Sepulchre who tested those lenses on the M9, the best performers there are the Summicron and the Elmarits asph and v4 at f/2.8 and f/4. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted September 8, 2011 Share #20 Â Posted September 8, 2011 Can you elaborate on that? What order does Reid rank them in? Â Â Reid doesn't rank lenses. He tests them thoroughly -- CA, vignetting, viewfinder blockage, test setups at all apertures, distortion, etc, plus working photos. There is no uber-sharp, super contrasty ideal. Lenses draw in different ways that will appeal to photographers who know what kind of look they want. The Zeiss lenses are superb and significantly cheaper than top of the line Leicas. As an earlier poster said, the 35 2.8 biogon is brilliant. The 25mm is an incredible lens , and the 28 is very good. The 21mm F4.3 is also amazing and tiny. Lee Friedlander uses one on a Bessa with chromogenic Ilford film, and says the results are like his wide angle Hassy prints on 24 inch paper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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