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Upgrade to 21 Super Elmar-M


rramesh

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I currently have a 21 f/4 Voigtlander Color-Skopar. It is an M-mount, is serving me well and I have no red edges on an M9-P with the latest firmware.

 

what I like about it is its compact size and ease of use. Most of the time I use it during travels and for landscape or architecture. Note that I use it only 10-15% of the time and rarely to photograph people for which I prefer using the 35 or 90.

 

I have read a lot of users praising the LEICA 21mm f/3.4 ASPH SUPER-ELMAR-M. I have also read reviews and comparisons by Sean Reid, Ken Rockwell and others.

 

I am keen to understand from users the following:

  1. Is it a upgrade that would be worth it?
  2. What will I gain or lose if I upgrade my 21 to this?

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This is a question that i asked to myself as well but the Skopar 21/4 is so good and blocks so little the VF that i went for the Elmar 24/3.8 instead. But i use both lenses on crop cams and i don't like external finders so YMM vastly V.

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If you are considering a new lens it would be more useful to add the Super-Elmar 18 I should think. The added creative possibilities are preferable to the quality gain imo.

And a wideangle is no hindrance when photographing people btw ;)

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/people/245831-master-work.html

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I currently have a 21 f/4 Voigtlander Color-Skopar. It is an M-mount, is serving me well and I have no red edges on an M9-P with the latest firmware.

 

what I like about it is its compact size and ease of use. Most of the time I use it during travels and for landscape or architecture. Note that I use it only 10-15% of the time and rarely to photograph people for which I prefer using the 35 or 90.

 

I have read a lot of users praising the LEICA 21mm f/3.4 ASPH SUPER-ELMAR-M. I have also read reviews and comparisons by Sean Reid, Ken Rockwell and others.

 

I am keen to understand from users the following:

  1. Is it a upgrade that would be worth it?
  2. What will I gain or lose if I upgrade my 21 to this?

 

 

The upgrade will give you an astonishing lens!!!!!!!

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I have to agree with Jaap.

 

You will be spending a lot of cash for not much extra that is visible at normal photo sizes.

 

The 18 is a super lens and the extra width gives you more flexibility, especially indoors....

 

Having said that.... if I didn't have a wide angle below 35, the 21/3.4 SE would be THE lens to go for.... its astonishingly good...

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If you are considering a new lens it would be more useful to add the Super-Elmar 18 I should think.

I am not a big fan of an external viewfinder. I wanted to initially buy the 21/3.4 SE. However a friend suggested the Skopar to get familiar with the 21 format as it was really cheap.

 

Having used it now, I find the Skopar to be one amazing lens for its small size. Over time I have learnt to use it without the need for the viewfinder.

 

Jaap, wouldn't the 18 require use of a viewfinder?

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It sounds as though you are pleased with the 21 Skopar. In my experience, I have found out (the hard way at times), that if I'm happy with a lens I should keep it. You can't go wrong with the 21 SE, but it is an expensive replacement for a lens you're satisfied with... Especially one you don't use that much.

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I am not a big fan of an external viewfinder. I wanted to initially buy the 21/3.4 SE. However a friend suggested the Skopar to get familiar with the 21 format as it was really cheap.

 

Having used it now, I find the Skopar to be one amazing lens for its small size. Over time I have learnt to use it without the need for the viewfinder.

 

Jaap, wouldn't the 18 require use of a viewfinder?

If you are good at visualizing maybe not, but it sure makes life a lot easier. As you go wider critical focus gets less important, especially @ 3.4 and smaller. I find it no hindrance to use one for the 18, for the 24 1.4 I tend to use the camera viewfinder, because, like you, I dislike the uncertainty of switching viewfinders for focus and framing.

 

I could not say for the 21, it is a focal length I rarely use on the M9.

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