Summilux or Elmarit 21mm on the M9?

[MarkP]

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In that case, rest assured. The Summilux is so close to the Super Elmar ( and Elmarit) that you will only see a difference if you do test shots using a heavy tripod. In the real world there is no difference in image quality, although we could go and argue fingerprints...

 

Exactly my point. Therefore base the decision on speed, weight, and cost.

 

Regards,

Mark

[Alnitak]

I have both both the 21mm 'lux and the Elmarit ASPH. The lux is a lot bigger and heavier. It's a bit softer, but nothing you would get worried about; by f/4 or so its a non-issue. The distortion is a funky mustache distortion, so straight lines will not be pleasing. I don't think it's a good lens for architectural shooting; the Elmarit does better there and the new Super Elmar is even better, but alas, slow. The least distortion I have seen is the Zeiss 21/4.5 but it's got terrible red edge issues on the M9, and is quite slow.

 

For your use, I think the Elmarit ASPH is the best value.

 

Jeff

[DFV]

I have both both the 21mm 'lux and the Elmarit ASPH. The lux is a lot bigger and heavier. It's a bit softer, but nothing you would get worried about; by f/4 or so its a non-issue. The distortion is a funky mustache distortion, so straight lines will not be pleasing. I don't think it's a good lens for architectural shooting; the Elmarit does better there and the new Super Elmar is even better, but alas, slow. The least distortion I have seen is the Zeiss 21/4.5 but it's got terrible red edge issues on the M9, and is quite slow.

 

For your use, I think the Elmarit ASPH is the best value.

 

Jeff

 

Many thanks! That is what I was most concerned about. Many of my shots are buildings and city streets. I se now that the recommended upgrade will have to be the replacement of the Elmarit, if there is any planed.

[Alnitak]

Many thanks! That is what I was most concerned about. Many of my shots are buildings and city streets. I se now that the recommended upgrade will have to be the replacement of the Elmarit, if there is any planed.

 

I suspect you won't see one. You're dealing with an optimization issue: Lens design is a compromise. If you want fast and sharp across the whole field, you are going to get distortion and a big, expensive lens. If you want great symmetry with almost no distortion and great sharpness across the field, a simple, older design is great, but it will be slow.

 

In general, most people are fine with slow for architectural shooting, as a tripod is accepted as a given--the subject isn't moving, so a longer exposure is fine.

 

Unless it's really, really dark I have found that I can shoot at f/3.4 and ISO 1600 just fine all the way down to 1/24s, so the Super-Elmar is great. I'm betting that the M10 will have even better high-ISO performance, so that lens will become even more useful in the future.

 

My guess is that Leica is segmenting their lenses into two groups at each focal length: A premium, exotic, expensive super-fast offering, and a cheaper, slower, smaller offering. Hence the new pairs: 21/1.4 and 21/3.4; 24/1.4 and 24/3.8, and the concurrent discontinuation of the f/2.8 offerings at these focal lengths. The big question now is whether the 28/2 will remain the "fast" 28mm offering, as the rumor is that they have discontinued the 28/2.8, or whether Leica will offer a new 28/1.4 as many hope, and keep the 28/2 as the "slow" offering--much like the 35/1.4-35/2 pairing.

 

Jeff