wlaidlaw Posted January 25, 2014 Share #61 Posted January 25, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) The last MATE’s (28-35-50 Tri Elmar) were assembled from spare parts to meet requests for the 30% discount lens concession over the M8 IR and sensor problems when released. I just missed out on this as my M8 was delivered 2nd of Jan 2007, and the cut off date was 31st of December 2006. A friend did get a MATE under this scheme (one of the very few built as a coded lens) but found he was not using it, so I swapped my 50 ASPH Summilux with him for the MATE. It is a useful lens on holidays but the M240 is really showing up the limitations at 28mm, where compared with my 28 ASPH Summicron, it is very soft. For the M240, I have really replaced it with a Zeiss Vario Sonnar 28-85/f3.3, which is a noticeably better performer, albeit a lot larger and heavier. I asked during a visit to Solms in 2008, why they had withdrawn the MATE, just as a market opened up for it with the M8 (and even more with the M9). I was told they were losing money on each lens, the warranty claims were high and they did not feel they could sell many at an economic price. I think for film, many found the lens too slow, so I guess not a whole lot were sold of both versions. I only use mine on the M9 now and not often at that, so may well sell it. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Hi wlaidlaw, Take a look here 28mm f/1.4 lens coming - firm evidence?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MarkP Posted January 25, 2014 Share #62 Posted January 25, 2014 It is a useful lens on holidays but the M240 is really showing up the limitations at 28mm, where compared with my 28 ASPH Summicron, it is very soft. I agree with you about the limitations of the MATE, but I would add significant distortion at 28mm. Having said that it is indeed a very convenient lens for general work with three focal lengths (my two favourites of 28 & 50mm) in a package of only 340gm (much more compact that the 28-90 Vario-Elmar and doesn't need the EVF), renders very nicely on the Monochrom and M (in that gentle Mandler style). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 25, 2014 Share #63 Posted January 25, 2014 I agree with you about the limitations of the MATE, but I would add significant distortion at 28mm. Having said that it is indeed a very convenient lens for general work with three focal lengths (my two favourites of 28 & 50mm) in a package of only 340gm (much more compact that the 28-90 Vario-Elmar and doesn't need the EVF), renders very nicely on the Monochrom and M (in that gentle Mandler style). Mark, I was perfectly happy with mine until I got the 28 Summicron but now the MATE looks distinctly second rate at 28mm I sometimes wonder if I change lenses too often and my photography would be more disciplined and ultimately better by sticking to one lens and a non multi/zoom one at that. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted January 25, 2014 Share #64 Posted January 25, 2014 I was perfectly happy with mine until I got the 28 Summicron but now the MATE looks distinctly second rate at 28mm The 28 Summicron is one of my all-time two favourite lenses (the other being the 50 Summilux) and it is rarely off my camera. It is the 28 Summicron I was thinking of when discussing the limitations of the MATE at 28 but it''s probably not a fair comparison, is it? I sometimes wonder if I change lenses too often and my photography would be more disciplined and ultimately better by sticking to one lens and a non multi/zoom one at that. Yes,I know exactly what you mean, but I don't use the MATE or 28-90 very often and rarely go out with more than two lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted January 25, 2014 Share #65 Posted January 25, 2014 ... the MATE. It is a useful lens on holidays but the M (Typ 240) is really showing up the limitations at 28 mm where, compared with my Summicron-M 28 mm Asph, it is very soft. Sure—the Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50 mm Asph, at the 28 mm setting, cannot really hold the water to the mighty Summicron-M 28 mm Asph ... which basically is to be expected. Still, it's not bad at 28 mm—definitely not "very soft." At least mine isn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 25, 2014 Share #66 Posted January 25, 2014 My MATE at 28 and f4 really does not resolve detail in the corners at all well on the M240. It becomes fuzzy some time before the picture pixelates. The “mighty” 28 Summicron pixelates even at f2 before you can see any softness in the corners. I have not used my new Noctilux enough yet at smaller apertures to say but I would say that my 28 ASPH is the equal sharpest lens I have along with the 50/2 Planar. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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