A 28 query

[ananda]

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Anyone have experience or notions about how the current 28 mm Elmarit ASPH stacks up against earlier versions of the 28 Elmarit?

I know many prefer the Summicron 28 but that is a much larger lens and with a much higher price. So my focus, so to speak, in on the Elmarits.

 

Thanks for any illumination in advance.

[Erik Gunst Lund]

The latest 28mm Elmarit Asph was released at the same time as the M8, and they work really well together as a 35mm equivalent lens.

 

It's an Asph lens design and a really good one IMHO, flat focus field, no focus shift and no distortion, no CA.

 

I always use the hood that fits really well, only drawback is that the hood is plastic.

I have had no issues with lens flare.

 

Shooting into the sun is no problem with this lens. Nice sunstars and highlights.

 

Bokeh is very fine for a wide angle lens

 

As you have noted it's a very nice size, smaller/similar to the 35mm Summicron Asph

 

Link to images of 'Vented' Lens hood

 

Ergonomics are great.

 

It has that modern flawless look in the images, the older 28mm Elmarits have an much vintage look to the images, so you can easily own several 28mm Elmarits...

[pfhrased]

I liked the asph on my M8.2, but I found the hood a complete pain in the backside - I was constantly knocking it off when pulling the camera out of the bag / putting it away.

[StephenPatterson]

I've shot the 28 Elmarit ASPH on a friend's Monochrom and loved the combination for street photography. As Erik pointed out it's a very sharp lens that has a modern rendering, but you can always work the files in post to tone things down a bit and give your images that pre-ASPH look

 

Anyway, I've just picked up a new 28 Elmarit ASPH for myself and I think it's performance, size and price make it a no-brainer.

 

PS Oh, I also don't love the hood (same as is used on the 35 Summicron ASPH). Just shoot without it.

[wda]

I replaced my V2 28 Elmarit with the latest version and the improvement in performance was quite remarkable. The immediate predecessor came close, according to reports I have read in the past, but if you can afford the current lens you will never regret it. Elmarits are superb lenses and deserve a 'come-back'.

[Guest Marc G.]

I had the 28 2.8 asph and sold it to buy a 28 2 asph. While this may come down to tastes the latest Elmarit isn't much more expensive than used older models. I would always pick the latest Elmarit, being the asph one.

[dg2mst]

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I use the E46 Elmarit 28 on my M8 and it is one of my favourite lenses of all time. Compared to the current asph it lacks the biting sharpness and contrast in the centre of the frame but it seems to deliver more consistent image quality overall.

 

Personally, I have never felt the urge to get the new asph, but then again I don't mind the size of the E46 Elmarit with its huge hood. If you do, you might be happier with the asph...

[luigi bertolotti]

Exactly the same for me : happy with the E46 ; you can also note that the mean prices for used items of it and the asph are very similar for items in the same conditions (around 1000-1100 Euros): asph is more compact and always coded, while most previous items are not.