Advice on a 24mm Lens

[gpwhite]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

O1af. Thank you for the recommendation on lens profiles to offset vignetting on 24 Elmar. I almost always shoot at f/3.8, so your advice sounds like it will simplify PP.

 

I prefer 24 perspective to 21, so I cannot comment on 21 SEM (for very wide, 18SEM is extraordinary at f/3.8). But the exceptional color saturation, detail and rendering of shape from the 24 Elmar makes it my favorite lens. This February, I started shooting my 50AA, and I have to say they are equally special in their own ways. Both of them, you have to print the images large to appreciate the incredible corner to corner performance. I did not find that to be the case for the 24 Elmarit, incidentally.

 

I would try or rent a 24 Elmar and a 21 SEM. My guess is that after shooting a few scenes with both lenses, you will choose your favorite without much difficulty.

[RobertJRB]

Anyone have comment on the 24/2.8 Elmarit versus the 24/3.8 Elmar-M?

 

From what I have heard. The 24/2.8 elmarit is a great performer with a nice own look. Long time one of the best 24mm out there.

 

The 24/3.8 is the better performer trough. It lacks specific own look like is the case with all the new elmars (18, 21, 24) and is more neutral. For raw performance the 24/3.8 is the one to pick.

 

That doesn't make the 24/2.8 bad trough. Its still a real good performer. So its the choice (beside buying new or used) between a faster f/2.8 with slight less performance, or a slower but little better lens.

 

Depands on use which one suits best. To make it even more easy there is also the zeiss 25/2.8 and of course 21 and 28mm lenses to choose from.

[peter_n]

^ What is your definition of "performance"? Sharpness?

[jferebee]

Hello,

 

I would like to join in this conversation if I may

 

I have a brand new 21 Super Elmar and have been using it for a few days. I've found that it is not sharp when matching the f stop with infinity. In addition when reviewing exposure information in Lightroom 4 it's showing a 1 to 1 1/2 stop difference. For example, a shot at f/16 and the infinity symbol in line with f/16 on the lens the exposure in LR is reading f/13. At f/11 it registers at f/9.5 etc.

 

I then repeated the process shooting from the exact same spot and subject (a street sign 20 yards away) and manually focused, rather than zone focusing, and it was much better.

 

Leica has told me the readings in LR are approximate and the lens is fine. I'm not sure about that. I have the 50 f/2 and a 90 f/2.8 and the readings in LR are exactly correct all the time.

 

Zone and hyper focus are important to me in that I shoot very early and late often and it's often hard to focus manually.

 

Is it possible, as rare as it is, I may have a defective lens? I know it's under warranty and I can return it but I'm disappointed and a little gun shy about the 21 at this point.

 

Any feed back, especially from 21 owners or users, would be greatly appreciated.

[gberger]

Another vote for the 24mm f2.8 Elmarit.

[philipus]

Anyone have comment on the 24/2.8 Elmarit versus the 24/3.8 Elmar-M?

 

I am very interested in this as well, having seen the comments above about the special rendering/look of the 2.8.

 

Does anyone have examples to show?

[algrove]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Exactly. The Elmar's own profile vastly under-corrects the vignetting. The fact that according to Leica's data sheets the vignettings of both 24 mm lenses, Elmarit and Elmar, basically are equal seems to indicate that there's a firmware error in the Elmar-M 24 mm Asph's lens profile.

 

I first noticed with firmware v1.162 (which doesn't mean earlier versions were better; I just didn't check), and in the current version v1.196 the issue is still there.

 

I wonder with the new M camera if the wide angle profiles were changed to help with this issue you bring up?

[gpwhite]

Regarding the lens profiles in firmware 1.196, I did find that when I manually programmed my 24mm Elmar to shoot with the Elmarit ASPH profile (as recommended by another post in this thread), vignetting at f/3.8 is substantially corrected. So the Leica 24 Elmar M9 profile must be wrong.

 

Regarding comments above that the new Elmars do not have a "look," I must throw in my opinion that they have a beautiful and unique look. Much beyond superb color saturation and micro contrast, I find the illusion of depth rendered by my 18 and 24 Elmars to really stand out. I shoot both lenses at f/3.8, with only rare exceptions for the 18. People always ask how I doctor my 13x19 prints to "look so 3D and saturated." In fact, I do almost nothing, as images from these lenses do not seem to me to need much tuning or sharpening at all.

 

Finally, regarding Jferebee's concern about the 21 Super Elmar, although it is possible you have a lens-to-body focus adjustment issue, my impression from your comments is that you are expecting more from hyperfocal technique than might be achieved. Also, beware that closing the 21 down below f5.6 reduces sharpness and flattens out contrast that makes an image pop. Have you tried focusing at 1m, and maybe 5m, and shoot wide open with a tripod? If you cannot find critical focus accuracy under those conditions, then something might be out of adjustment with the lens (presuming you have other lenses that test well on the same body). The indicated lens opening in the EXIF is only a guesstimate. The aperture shown for my 18 is sometimes correct, occasionally correct for the 24 and never correct for my 50 AA or 135 Telyt.

[Coach Rosie]

Well, I went and bought the Zeiss ZM 25mm f2.8.

 

While the optics seem fine, I noticed some slippage in the focusing ring when using the lens at less than six feet or so. As such, I sent it back for an exchange. The replacement just arrived and it has the same exact problem. I have a Zeiss ZM 50mm f2.0 and it has no such problems.

 

Has anyone experienced slippage when focusing with Zeiss lenses?

 

Thanks.

[gpwhite]

Well, I went and bought the Zeiss ZM 25mm f2.8.

 

While the optics seem fine, I noticed some slippage in the focusing ring when using the lens at less than six feet or so. As such, I sent it back for an exchange. The replacement just arrived and it has the same exact problem. I have a Zeiss ZM 50mm f2.0 and it has no such problems.

 

Has anyone experienced slippage when focusing with Zeiss lenses?

 

Thanks.

 

I have used my 85 F/2 ZM on both M8 and M9 for several years. The lens is excellent in every way and equivalent build to Leica.

[peter_n]

Has anyone experienced slippage when focusing with Zeiss lenses?

I only have one Zeiss lens the 50/1.5 C-Sonnar and so far it has been fine.

 

Does anyone have examples to show?

 

My 24/2.8 Elmarit:

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!

[doolittle]

Well, I went and bought the Zeiss ZM 25mm f2.8.

 

While the optics seem fine, I noticed some slippage in the focusing ring when using the lens at less than six feet or so. As such, I sent it back for an exchange. The replacement just arrived and it has the same exact problem. I have a Zeiss ZM 50mm f2.0 and it has no such problems.

 

Has anyone experienced slippage when focusing with Zeiss lenses?

 

Thanks.

 

It wouldn't just be the decoupling of the rangefinder focussing mechanism? ie lens can focus to 0.5m but camera can only focus to 0.7m? Stumped me for a bit when I got a Zeiss ZM 28mm

[Coach Rosie]

That's exactly what it turned out to be. So, I kept it. Really nice lens, just through me for a loop when it didn't focus the way I expected it would.