ian748s Posted March 6, 2007 Share #1 Posted March 6, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) How does this rate compared with the Elmar 21mm? I have a chance of one and don't know much about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 6, 2007 Posted March 6, 2007 Hi ian748s, Take a look here Leica 21mm super angulon. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bankcheck Posted March 7, 2007 Share #2 Posted March 7, 2007 Hi Ian, I guess you are trying to choose between the 21mm f/3.4 Super Angulon (S.A.) and the 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit. I have both and from a structural and functional perspective, I will say: 21mm S.A. --- built in meter of the camera won't work with this lense as the rear elements go very close to the film plane, smaller filter thread (48mm), closest focus distance is 16 inches, less bulky. 21mm Elmarit --- camera meter works with this lense on, there are 2 versions with the first version focus down to 0.3m and filter thread 55mm; the 2nd version focus down to 0.7m with filter size 60mm. The build is more chunky compared to the S.A. My 2 cents and hope it helps. Regards, Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejd Posted March 8, 2007 Share #3 Posted March 8, 2007 John R Mead (leicamann) has posted some stunning shots on this forum, taken with a super angulon R. There is also a page or two on these lenses in Erwin Puts's Leica Lens Compendium which can be got free from his web site. The first f4 SA of 1958 is not as good overall as the succeeding f3.4 design, but OK stopped down a bit. The f3.4 SA for the M and R were the same optically. Both somewhat soft towards the edges, but have great charm, is my impression. The f4.0 SA R is a slightly later design, and not quite as good as the f3.4 (says Puts). The Elmarit M of 1980 (non-aspherical) is so so. The 1997 asph design is supposed to be very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_f Posted March 9, 2007 Share #4 Posted March 9, 2007 Ian, I have used the old Leitz Super-Angulon f3.4 lens for Leica M cameras. It was, at the time, one of the best if not the best super wide-angle RF lens. But since its optics was based on a very symmetrical design, it meant that the performance was very high in the center of the image and just "good" in the corners. Contrast was very high (a good thing) and images were very sharp! The lens was also very compact in comparison with modern Leica M 21mm lenses. I currently own the Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 Asph. An excellent lens with very good sharpness and contrast, and very neutral and accurate colour reproduction under all lighting conditions - a Leica trademark. Today, it's relatively easy to design a good lens that will produce good to very good images under perfect light. It's when the lighting is less than ideal (available light, low light, mixed lighting, etc..) that you see what your lens is really made of. This is where Leica lenses really shine. While the Elmarit-M Asph might be better, keep in mind that it is much more expensive, and much bigger. If speed is not an issue, may I make a suggestion: why not consider the soon to be announced (late March early April) Zeiss C Biogon 21mm f4.5 ZM designed for the Zeiss Ikon ZM camera (see Welcome to Carl Zeiss Camera and Cine Lenses). Yes, I know, it's not Leica (a little competition is healthy ;-), but the price should be competitive, the weight much lighter, and the image quality should apparently be as good if not better than the 21mm Elmarit Asph (based on latest field reports). Which would leave you some money for other worthy Leica goodies ... Elmarit-M 28mm Asph, Summicron-M 35mm Asph, APO-Summicron-M 75mm Asph, etc.. Hope all this helps John F. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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