Zeiss 28mm f2.8

[DMJ]

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Dear All,

 

At some point would love to add a 28mm to my 50mm Apo Summicron. I think that the Leica 28mm summicron may be replaced at some time soon, so I'll wait for this. In the meantime thinking about the Zeiss 28mm f2.8.

 

Does anyone have experience of using this lens on the M240 or the M9?

 

Martin

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[250swb]

Really? The 28mm Summicron is one of Leica's very best lenses, so they will have to go some to replace it, and even if they did, a second hand one has to be far more desirable than an equivalent ZM lens (no disrespect to the ZM range intended).

 

Steve

[Guest Marc G.]

I've written it before and I'll write it again: the Summicron-M 28mm f/2 is one of Leica's best lenses. People often argue about the hood design, which could see a remake, as Leica has done it before (see e.g. 50mm Summicron-M 1979-1994 and 1994-present). But the optical cell is marvellous and I simply see no faults there. The same could be said for the Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 asph. Leica users are blessed with extremely capable lenses in the 28mm range. It mostly comes down to weight/size/aperture issues.

 

There was a 6-bit code added for a possible 28mm Summilux which has nothing to do with the Summicron itself.

[01af]

People often argue about the [28 mm Summicron's] hood design, which could see a remake ...

When Leica re-does this hood, it will be for the worse

 

 

... a possible 28 mm Summilux which has nothing to do with the Summicron itself.

A 28 mm Summilux is what many are waiting for ... but it will be big, heavy, and expensive—provided it really materialises in the first place.

[Guest Marc G.]

When Leica re-does this hood, it will be for the worse

 

 

 

A 28 mm Summilux is what many are waiting for ... but it will be big, heavy, and expensive—provided it really materialises in the first place.

 

I know, but many are yearning for Leica to perfect their offerings cosmetically... an effective hood is not what many customers want. They rather want it to look pretty...

[Guest odeon]

A 28 mm Summilux is what many are waiting for ... but it will be big, heavy, and expensive—provided it really materialises in the first place.

 

It's like... waiting for the one who will never come.

Leica believes the best 28mm solution is summicron.

[DMJ]

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Getting back to my original question....... I must assume that no one on the forum has any experience of using the Zeiss 28mm f2.8 on either the M240 or M9.

 

I currently have an M240 & both the 50mm Noctilux 0.95 and Apo Summicron. These give fantastic images. The 28mm Summicron has been around (I believe) since 2000 & reviews using the M240 have suggested it be be a solid performer but less than exciting.

 

I am aware of the coding of the 28mm Summilux on the M240/M9 & I'm prepared to wait for such a lens to appear. However, I don't want to sink money into the old 28mm Summicron & just wondered if anyone had used the Zeiss. Sorry if this rattles some cages, but I'm only asking for an opinion!

 

Martin

[Guest Marc G.]

You sadly have no idea about how well the 28 Summicron performs.

 

Good luck.

[MarkP]

I agree with Marc's post above.

 

The 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH is an extraordinary lens. I think it would match nicely with what you have.

 

My advice would be that if money or size are not the issue the Summicron wins out over any other M mount 28mm lens. If you want something smaller/slower/cheaper the 2.8/28 Elmarit-M would be the lens to get.

 

I own and really like a number of Zeiss lenses but nothing compares with the 28 Summicron.

[250swb]

However, I don't want to sink money into the old 28mm Summicron & just wondered if anyone had used the Zeiss. Sorry if this rattles some cages, but I'm only asking for an opinion!

 

Martin

 

Three points, the first is that if a Summilux is announced it will not replace the Summicron because it will be a big fat lens and not to everybody's liking, so the Summicron will hold its value. It doesn't even mean a Summilux version will perform significantly better, only have a wider aperture.

 

The second point is that when I, and others, say the 28mm is one of Leica's best lenses, it is not with the subtext of 'considering it was released in 2000'. What we mean is compared with all of todays lenses, 50mm Summilux, and APO and Noctilux included.

 

The third point is that, yes, it is true I have never used the ZM 28mm. I have used others from the range. That nobody else seems to have bought one is perhaps an indicator of where the consensus on quality lies. The overriding impression I have is that they are all designed to offer a higher level of micro contrast than an equivalent Leica lens. This characteristic goes back a long way with Zeiss lenses, making the images appear very sharp, almost brittle, but invariably they are not quite as sharp as a Leica lens when pixel peeped. And all that I have used have a cooler colour palette than Leica lenses. So the question you ask is perhaps being met with responses from people who simply prefer the way Leica lenses 'draw', and not as the 'better or worse' that you expect. The ancient () 28mm Summicron will 'draw' very much like your other Leica lenses, the ZM won't. For instance, I love my 21mm ZM Biogon, it is half the price of a Leica lens, it is very sharp, but it screams 'ZM' if used with colour and compared with all my other lenses, but since I hardly use colour it doesn't matter much to me. And finally, while the build quality is very high of ZM lenses, they are built by Cosina Voigtlander who do make excellent lenses in their own right (I have some), but the feel and smoothness is not the same as a Leica lens, and they have aperture rings that have 1/3rd stops, and not 1/2 stops as Leica do, so changing from one type to the other is not as quickly intuitive when the camera is up at eye level.

 

Steve

[CalArts 99]

The 28mm Summicron has been around (I believe) since 2000 & reviews using the M240 have suggested it be a solid performer but less than exciting.

 

I dress my 28mm Summicron up in a hat and skirt and it sings and dances for me. Now that's exciting.

 

Many Leica lenses have been around a lot longer and are quite stellar. I don't think age of design has that much to do with things, imho.

 

You really should try to rent or borrow the Summicron before you dismiss considering it. It's a truly spectacular lens. And if a Summilux ever does appear to replace it, there's no doubt you could easily sell the Summicron to those who will be clamoring after it as another 'lost classic.'

[Peter H]

Martin, I think you have the wrong impression of the Summicron 28. It is one of the most wonderful of all lenses ever made, by anyone.

 

You dismiss it far too lightly.

[MarkP]

The combined wisdom of the 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH fanclub hath spoken.

[skuromis]

Filters for the 28/2.8 is a good topic, anyone has a good recommendation for a ND filter, something like 4 stops or more?

[wattsy]

It hardly needs stating but what you point a lens at is of far more significance than the differences between "renderings" of different lens models. That said, the 28 Summicron is a modern classic that will endlessly reward a skilled photographer. Designed during an era before bloggers posted endless online 'reviews', it is not a lens for photographing brick walls. Instead it is a modestly sized lens of remarkable technical quality that can be confidently used at any aperture setting.

[rramesh]

Martin, I am confused as to your comment.

 

If price is an issue, by all means buy the Zeiss 28.

 

However, if you are looking for the absolute best 28 lens for your M, then the Summicron is it. It's an absolutely fantastic lens that would be hard to better, even by Leica.

 

As for the hood, frankly I think Leica has better things to do. Yes, the hood is a little ungainly, but it works well. And there are other options for those who are picky.