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Leica 28mm 2.8 history


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is there a pre asph version of the current 28mm 2.8 asph?

 

same size?

 

if so how does it compare to the current 28mm 2.8 asph?

 

 

thank you.

 

I have one. The same size with M 28mm/ f2.0 ASPH. Please read the attached technical data and MTF chart for that lense.

 

For details about performance, you may read Erwin Puts's "Leica M-lense-their soul and secrets" posted on Leica official site.

 

Regards,

 

Thomas Chen

Elmarit28_M.pdf

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I thought the Elmarit-M 28 mm 1:2.8 pre-asph would have been the same size as current Elmarit-M 28 mm 1:2.8 Asph.

No. In fact, the new Asph is hardly sharper than the (very good) latest spherical version. Instead, its advantages over the predecessor basically are smaller size and less distortion (virtually none at all).

 

There are five versions of the Elmarit-M 28 mm, four spherical ones and one Asph. Versions three and four are just excellent even by today's standards; the Asph is at least as good but much smaller.

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No. In fact, the new Asph is hardly sharper than the (very good) latest spherical version. Instead, its advantages over the predecessor basically are smaller size and less distortion (virtually none at all).

 

There are five versions of the Elmarit-M 28 mm, four spherical ones and one Asph. Versions three and four are just excellent even by today's standards; the Asph is at least as good but much smaller.

 

Agree!

 

V1 - classic symmetrical 28mm from the 1960's

 

V2 - (choosing my wording carefully to avoid controversy), a "retrofocus-LIKE" redesign in the 1970's to increase the backfocus distance to clear the metering arm in the M5/CL cameras.

 

V3 - 1980 redesign to improve image quality over the V2 - rather large, but that was not an issue at the time because the M cameras only framed down to 35mm. External finder use was still "assumed" for 28mm.

 

V4 - 1990 redesign to shrink the size ("One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small...") and reduce blockage of the M4-P/M6 finder with built-in 28 framelines, while retaining V3 resolution and adding some "Solmsy" contrast and color.

 

(Insert - 28 SUMMICRON ASPH - amazingly designed to fit in the same size as the 28 Elmarit V4 while doubling the speed)

 

V5 - 2006 ASPH redesign - smallest 28 Elmarit - introduced alongside the cropped M8, on which it could serve as a nice "37mm" with the form-factor of the 35 Summicrons, whose lens hood it shared.

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The version 4 is my main working lens. It is an extremely impressive lens, with good resolution edge to edge. I think I prefer it to a recently acquired 28 Cron. It has a beautiful, silky focusing action, too. The 28 asph is too contrasty for me. This all comes down to personal taste. I posted a few images on page 76 of the "through older glass" thread in the Lens Forum. Or I may have posted Version 4 35 Cron, which is also great. It doesn't seem to be an issue with a lot of posters, but the V4 28 is not expensive, at least relative to Leica lenses.

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I would personally recommend the Ver.IV Elmarit, it is an update to the Ver III, and in limited testing I found it appears to have a flatter curvature of field.

Where the apparent depth of sharp focus at the edges more closely matches the performance at the centre of the image.

 

Some people prefer more curvature of field, YMMV.

 

Overall It would seem that the Ver. III and IV are very similar......both are excellent.

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  • 5 months later...

Could the v4 be considered a retrofocus design? I can't afford a Leica body, so would be paring an elmarit with a Sony Nex-6 body and hopefully avoiding the smeary corners I had with a Fuji + Contax G 28mm Biogon combo. Thanks! T

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Only last week found a version 4 at Red Dot London in lovely condition; paid £800. I am delighted with the files (M240). No longer feel the "need" for 28 Summicron or v4 35 Summicron to complement my 35 2.8 Summaron, which I had been looking for, as the character of the 28 is not unlike the (now far more expensive) "King of Bokeh" 35s I've owned in the past on the M9.

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I have also bought an Elmarit 28/2.8 Version 3 recently. My first Leica lens, I'm really excited about how it will feel and perform. One thing I didn't think about was that the original lens hood (which is missing on mine) is really rare and expensive - maybe thats why I paid a little bit less than the usual price.

 

The original hood is also big and has no cutouts, so it blocks the viewfinder. So I'm thinking about to get one of those generic "vented lens hoods" from ebay. My plan is to shoot this lens without additional viewfinder on my M5. Does anyone know if this will work for this lens?

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The vents on the Heavystar hoods line should line up with the M5 viewfinder. While you're on the site buy a bag of lens caps (ten for ten dollars U.S.) so you won't feel bad if you should loose one.

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I have also bought an Elmarit 28/2.8 Version 3...the original lens hood...is missing

 

I wouldn't worry about the lack of a hood. In my experience this lens is less flary without a hood than a similar generation 35 or 50mm Summicron is with. However, even without a hood it'll still block a chunk of the frame because of its size, so I'd suggest considering using it with a brightline finder (an older SLOOZ is much better optically than the tatty plastic finders Leica were knocking out in the 80s and 90s).

 

By Leica standards, this lens is a real bargain. It's beautifully built and has sharpness on par with current lenses.

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