wine angle decisions, zeiss vs leica, 24mm vs everything else

[SBC]

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Hi Everyone,

 

I am thinking about buying my second leica lens. I currently own a 50 1.4 for my m6.

 

My thoughts are that 35mm has never quite felt natural for me so I want to go for something wider like a 24mm 3.8 or the zeiss 25mm 2.8 zm.

 

Does anyone have any opinions of this focal length choice or the zeiss vs leica question. I do not have a ton of money but the decision is not 100% financial since I plan on having it for life, or close to it.

 

 

 

Thanks!

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[Walt Calahan]

as with any new lens, I suggest you test the focal length before purchasing to learn if it matches your seeing style

 

just as a 35mm doesn't fit, but a 50mm does, the 24mm might not be quite right

 

I like to jump focal lengths, so I own a 24mm, but not a 28mm, stead I jump to a 35mm. Then I skip the 50mm for a 75mm.

 

Make sure you test a 28mm and a 24mm to see if it is a logical viewing step away from your 50mm

 

that said, the Zeiss or the Leica will work fine

[Printmaker]

I'd echo what Walt said but add that a 28 Elmarit M (Type IV - 46 mm filter) is a wonderful lens. This lens renders images like the legendary 28 Summicron at your most used apertures. It can be found for about the same price as a Zeiss 25 and does not need a finder on most Leicas. And it will only go up in value where the Zeiss will drop a few hundred dollars/euros if you buy it new and then resell it an a year or two.

 

My .02

[Bill W]

I have the 24 f3.8 and it is a wonderful lens. You really do not need an external finder. I bought mine used but it was like new for under $2000. Just my $.02 worth.

[Shade]

I would skip a 24 altogether since I prefer the28 for its compactness and no need of viewfinder. I you want to have something wider and dont mind that extra bulk, I would head straight to 21.

 

Heck I just bought a 15 heliar 1st generation for m240 and I dont even need the finder. Its so small is fun! And sharp like hell.

 

So im 15-50 and probably would add a 28 in between.

[250swb]

As this is your second lens I think you should stick with Leica, and begin to get a feel for the qualities that Leica put into lenses. After you have two Leica lenses you have a broader platform to judge other manufacturers by. A 28mm is a nice jump from the 50mm and is a natural combination many photographers, myself included, would take out with them.

 

Steve

[NZDavid]

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Ah, the wine angle lens for photographing the entire vineyard!

 

I have a 2.8/21 Zeiss, 2.8/24 Elmarit, and a 2/35 Summicron-Asph. The angles of view are 92º, 84º, and 64º. The 28 is 76º. In wideangle on with the 35mm (full-frame) format just a few millimeters difference in focal length can make a significant difference.

 

Build quality of Zeiss and Leica is excellent. Always use a hood for best results.

 

The 35 is great for travel and environmental portraits. The 24 is extremely useful for interiors, groups, buildings, and scenics. The 21 is more specialized and great for architecture.

 

You might also want to consider a 28. A faster lens is always handy to have for low light.

[SBC]

Thanks for all the great info!

 

I did not event think of 28mm. The f2.8 would give me more light vs the 24m 3.8 and would also prob be a nice middle distance and combination with my 50.

 

It also saves me a viewfinder and gives me a super light lens for travel.

 

I will rent one and report back.

[skinnfell]

For some reason the Elmarit-M 24/2,8 ASPH is selling relatively cheap these days. I have this and think it is an excellent compromise between small size and aperture speed. And of course its image quality is legendary.

 

Any wider and 24 and it starts to become very "wide-angley" in my opinion. Proceed with care.

 

That said. If you have a 50, you might want to shoot for a 28 first, since it is a more natural step if you want to skip 35. AND you dont have to mess around with external finders.

I also have the 28/2 ASPH which is just as good as the 24/2.8, but it is more expensive (used) and harder to find.

I have to admit that I very rarely use it at F2, more often at F4-8 so in retrospect I should have settled for the tiny, excellent and inexpensive 28/2,8 ASPH.

[IWC Doppel]

The 24 Elmarit-M ASPH is a stunning lens and a very good buy today. Even Putts sites this as a landmark lens.

 

It recreates image depth amongst the best Leica lenses and is immersive and has the ability to avoid looking obviously wide.

[Stealth3kpl]

I used my 24mm 2.8 for this shot. It's a bit of an out-take but even so, It's a shame you won't see the original as the 3D effect is very apparent. I bought a 21 SE with the intention of selling this, but, as is always the way with me, I can't bring myself to sell it yet. Actually, when used on the Ricoh GXR, it's a very nice 35mm 2.8. Perhaps this is why it never quite gets listed.

Pete

 

[sblitz]

i have a 28 and 35 but my suggestion is jump to the 18mm sem, which i also have, if you want to go wide. wonderful lens, no magenta shifting on the m9, and it really moves you into a different mindset other than having a 50 with a wider field of view. if, on the other hand, you are really just looking for wide but practical lens to walk around with for everyday street shots, 28 is an excellent focal length for that.

[peter_n]

Actually, when used on the Ricoh GXR, it's a very nice 35mm 2.8. Perhaps this is why it never quite gets listed.

At one point I had two 24/2.8 lenses, an early black one and a silver one and I very foolishly sold the silver one. I'm using the remaining one on my NEX-7 and it's doing a sterling job as a 35mm equivalent (pic below). But best of all I like it on my Leicas, it renders just beautifully.

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[IWC Doppel]

24mm f2.8 ASPH at f2.8, no sharpening, just a little work in SFEX2. For me it has the rare combination of incredible detail, depth and wonderful rendering and they are relatively cheap second hand

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[Rick in CO]

If you are on a budget the Zeiss 25mm f2.8 is a bargain. No need for an external finder, just use the entire viewing frame (does take some practice). Some of my best photos are with this lens, I bought new and never looked back.

[Guest malland]

SBC, it's difficult to advise you because you only say that a 35mm doesn't feel natural but you don't say what you like to photograph: landscapes, street photography, city scenes? The focal lengths that I like are 21, 28 and 50mm, and I shoot with any of the three in "binges," which is to say that I don't like to change lenses when I am shooting: I pick whichever one I feel like shooting with on a particular day and carry another one in my pocket, "just is case," but, in reality, seldom switch lenses.

 

The Summicron-28 is simply one of the best 28mm lenses around and I would get that first; and eventually follow with a 21mm lens. I also like the Elmarit-21 ASPH, and prefer that to the SEM-21 because I want the extra half-stop ( f/2.8, instead of f/3.4) for night photography; also, in my view, the difference in resolution is minor and won't really show up in street photography or anything else done without a tripod. I don't know how the used Elmarit-21 ASPH price is these days.

 

I've never had an interest in a 24 mm lens because I like 28 and 21 so much, and feel I could always use a 21mm and move forward or crop a bit if I needed 24mm. Here are some recent night pictures with the Summicron- 28 and the Elmarit-21 ASPH. I often like the type of layered composition that the 21mm easily lends itself to.

 

 

 

Leica M9-P | Summicron-28 | ISO 640 pushed 2.25 stops | f/2.0 | 1/125 sec

Bangkok

 

 

 

 

Leica M9-P | Elmarit-21 ASPH | ISO 640 pushed 1.8 stops | f/2.8 | 1/60 sec

Pak Nam Pran

 

 

 

—Mitch/Pak Nam Pran

Bangkok Obvious [WIP]

Eggleston said that he was "at war with the obvious"...

[IkarusJohn]

To be blunt, while there are lots of Leica alternatives people will recommend for very good reason, why buy into Leica if it's not for the lenses. Leica used to be "for life" - as it's now electronic, Leica tells us it's Leica "for as long as we have spares". It's a computer, it's going to break or be obsolescent quicker than you might hope.

 

The lenses will keep and will keep operating (I use a lens from 1948 on my M cameras).

 

If you buy a Leica digital because you like the Leica experience, buy Leica glass to go with it.

[gberger]

Just another vote for the 24/f2.8. It's a superb lens, and Puts was correct.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[algrove]

And I thought this thread was about wine. That's why I checked. Sorry, get back to being serious. Perhaps some wine will help the decision making process.

[Ecar]

On the wide end those few mm make a lot of difference in terms of FOV/perspective.

In other words, 21 vs. 24 may seem like those 3mm are not a big deal - and yes, you can often zoom with your feet or crop in post - but they affect the way you see things and the way you compose more than you think.

Wides can be disappointing at the beginning, with empty, boring frames - until you learn how to use them.

That's why I'd agree that a 50+28 combo makes a lot of sense.

It's already a fairly substantial jump and you can always add a 21mm later.