21mm Summilux

[junah1]

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I am considering buying the 21mm Summilux and searching the internet to see if it comes with a viewfinder, with no success, I know I can use liveview on the M but would need one for the Monochrom.

Which is the best one to get?

Has anyone got one of these lens? what is your experience of using it and is it worth it?

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[jaapv]

No; it does not come with a viewfinder. The Zeiss is the nicest, but does not align too well in my experience, The Leica a good compromise and the Voigtlander decent and reasonably cheap.

[Ecar]

I find the Voigtlander good enough in most circumstances.

When I don't mind the size and/or need the level, I use the Frankenfinder.

[Ecar]

I missed the 2nd part of your question: yes, it's an amazing lens, but fairly large and expensive. If you are interested in the combination of wide and fast, you may also want to take a look at the CV 21/1.8. I have no experience with it, but have seen good reports (good IQ at a fraction of the price of a Lux).

[IWC Doppel]

I have the Leica 18 viewfinder and the Voigtlander 21/25 metal round viewfinder. The Voiglander is nicer. I went back to see if there was something wrong with my 18, the guys at Leica agreed with me and there was nothing 'wrong' with my 18

[marknorton]

I use the Frankenfinder on the M9 but Live View on the M 240 transforms the use of the lens. To be sure, it's not the sharpest lens but f1.4 at 21mm gives you images which you cannot obtain any other way - sharp foregrounds, rapidly receding and de-focussing backgrounds. It's not something you want to use all the time but I like it.

[MarkP]

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I have both the 1.4/21 Summiliux ASPH and 3.4/21 SEM ASPH.

The SEM is without doubt the best regarding IQ, distortion, size and cost,and practical day to day use. I use it far more than the Summilux.

 

Nevertheless the Summilux is a fantastic lens, and that two and a half stops makes a big difference for low light photography and narrow DOF (if you want to use it for that). It lets me do what cannot be done with slower WAs, particularly where I want to maintain some semblance of better IQ with lower ISOs than would be possible with slower lenses.

 

Think of it as a wide angle Noctilux (half a stop slower, relatively narrow DOF for a WA, but much wider lets you hand hold at quite slow shutter speeds). The summilux has a very different rendering, a little more gentle than the SEM, which I find less clinical and more appealing in some ways, especially for B&W.

 

 

There are numerous hotly debated threads on the 21 VF. I had the Zeiss finder but sold it for the Leica with no regrets The Zeiss is, as Jaap wrote, a little out of alignment for the Leica cameras which introduces a rotational error when composing as the centre of the lens compared with the inbuilt OVF (ad final image) is diagonally off from that on the ZM finder so you tend to over tilt the camera down and to one side - really stuffs it up alignment for any vaguely critical work - but the Zeiss finder is glorious to look through.

The Leica finder is more accurate, more expensive, much more compact, and just a little less glorious to use.

[algrove]

I have the Leica 21 OVF which I use for its small size. However, I find the Leica OVF #12013 which is conveniently cantered over the lens axis and can be switched from 21/24/28 a much better and cheaper alternative.

 

In addition it has a twist lock to keep it on the flash bracket like my Frankenfinder. I am always loosing the 21 OVF in my camera bags when taking out of my bags since it catches and slides off all too often when putting camera with OVF into my bags.

 

Just my two cents.

[junah1]

Thanks for your replys, I am going to use it mainly for indoor informal portraits and thought I had just about got the cash together, now it looks like I have to look down the sides of the sofa for some more loose change!

[junah1]

Leica viewfinder £613 - OUCH!!!!!!!!! that hurts

[algrove]

If used for portraits, be very careful keeping limbs away from the edges as the lens will stretch them. Seems very expensive for informal portraiture at over $7k, but if it floats your boat go for it.

 

Also look into the OVF #12013 I mentioned above as it is under $500 and offers you the opportunity to acquire other wides without needing another OVF (21, 24, 28).

[Ted Lemon]

I am considering buying the 21mm Summilux and searching the internet to see if it comes with a viewfinder, with no success, I know I can use liveview on the M but would need one for the Monochrom.

Which is the best one to get?

Has anyone got one of these lens? what is your experience of using it and is it worth it?

 

I got this lens for landscape use plus the Leica finder for my M7 and enjoy it in that context. I have just used it on the Monochrom for the first time without filter or viewfinder as I have the thumbs up on the camera so didn't bother with the finder. The results are a rolling slide show on the home page of my web site (the tedlemon gallery) just thought you might like to see what the outcome was. I found it hard to focus in dark interiors compared with my 28mm Cron plus yellow filter on the MM its also very heavy when on a walk

[jaapv]

Leica viewfinder £613 - OUCH!!!!!!!!! that hurts

Well, that is what Voigtländer is for

[junah1]

I see a Voightlander for $100 on ebay, we have a camera fair close to us in December, so I will have a look there, the lens itself appears to be readily available new here in the UK, but not seeing many on the secondary market.

[LuxM9]

take the original Leica finder; I had others too but the Leica is the best you can use with the Lux 21 asph,

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

I have the 21 lux and the Leica 21mm Viewfinder..................they work perfect together

[semi-ambivalent]

Well, that is what Voigtländer is for

 

I use the 21/25 Voigtländer with my 21 SEM. It's small, works well enough, saved me a ton of money and the SEM doesn't seem to notice.

[gpwhite]

I would definitely test out the 21 SX before buying if you intend portraiture. It is true that you can get good separation at f/1.4, or even a bit smaller, but I did not like the distortion. I sold mine.

 

For portraiture, my suggestion would be Biogon.

 

Leica viewfinders are absurdly expensive. I think Leica prices them that way because they are also absurdly good.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[gpwhite]

Here is an outdoor, informal portrait I shot on Sunday with my 24 Elmar @f/3.8.

 

That is the shape of his mask... not distorted,

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