21 / f3.4 SE ASPH v. 21 / f2.8 Elmarit ASPH

[Jennifer]

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I'd very much like to add a 21mm to my current two lens stable, a 35 Lux fle & a 90 APO- Cron.

 

Whilst I'd dearly love the 21 Lux, its size and weight puts me off a little and its price puts me off even more.

 

Though I've not had the opportunity to use one, the SE 21 / F3.4 seems to have been reviewed extremely well. However, I was wondering whether I should try and pick up a good late production 21 / f2.8 Elmarit ASPH as I'd save myself around £500 over a new SE (used copies of the latter seem to be rarer than hens' teeth). Admittedly this is not a lot money in a Leica world, but still its a saving of around 30% on a new SEM. That being said £500 isn't going to break the bank if the advantages of the one over the other justify it.

 

Can anyone offer me any guidance?

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[Hookeye]

There is an Elmarit at Ebay right now: Leica Elmarit M 21mm F 2 8 ASPH 6 Bit Lens Latest 1 Owner Low Use Mint Glass 0799429118976 | eBay

 

Looks legit...

HP

[tom0511]

I'd very much like to add a 21mm to my current two lens stable, a 35 Lux fle & a 90 APO- Cron.

 

Whilst I'd dearly love the 21 Lux, its size and weight puts me off a little and its price puts me off even more.

 

Though I've not had the opportunity to use one, the SE 21 / F3.4 seems to have been reviewed extremely well. However, I was wondering whether I should try and pick up a good late production 21 / f2.8 Elmarit ASPH as I'd save myself around £500 over a new SE (used copies of the latter seem to be rarer than hens' teeth). Admittedly this is not a lot money in a Leica world, but still its a saving of around 30% on a new SEM. That being said £500 isn't going to break the bank if the advantages of the one over the other justify it.

 

Can anyone offer me any guidance?

 

I have used the 21/2.8asph for some years and have allways been happy.

Last year I bought a used 21/1.4 but images seemed somewhat soft to me, however Leica checked the lens and said everything is fine.

I also got a 21/3.4 at that time and compared the three lenses.

The samples I had the 21/3.4 is the sharpest of the three, followed by the 21/2.8asph and then with a bigger distance the 21/1.4. So I gave the 21/1.4 back to the original owner. (I do have however a different experience with my 24/1.4 which seems sharper).

 

Now I still own the 21/2.8asph and the 21/3.4. The 21/3.4 is my choice which I allways use these days. It is very sharp and has nice contrast, I like the smaller size, and I do not really need more speed in such a lens.

 

I also could still be happy with the 21/2.8 which I think is also an excellent lens. It doesn't have the "bite"-sharpness but is still a sharp lens, has the advantage of f2.8 and draws a little bit smoother. It is a little bigger though.

 

If you buy the Elmarit used you could allways sell it again without loss in kind you do not like it (I think you would like it).

However I really enjoy the small size and powerfull drawing of the 21/3.4. Even if I could get a 21/1.4 for the same price I would rather keep the 21/3.4.

 

For me f1.4 is most usefull/ needed in a 35 or 50mm lens. (I can see how for certain kind of images f1.4 in a ultrawide can create a special effect though happens not often enough for my type of photography to justify the 21/1.4)

[menos I M6]

I would wait for a deal of a second hand 21/3.4 SE - these seem to come up for sale in diverse classifieds now and then and tend to sell a bit lower than comparable late 21/2.8 ASPH lenses.

 

The 21 SE is smaller in size, has a beautiful, compact lens hood of the newest design, shares the same E46 filter threads with your 50/1.4 ASPH and is user wise a peach, not to mention it's optical qualities, being possibly the finest 21mm lens, Leica has ever produced.

 

The longer you wait, the more second hand samples you will see to pick from - time is working for you here.

 

The 21 Summilux is an entirely different animal, which I would advise exclusively to the user who does not need to ask themselves if they really need one, but know it from the get go.

 

Until you find a nice deal on a 21 SE you could even play the shuffling game and try out:

 

- 21 SA

- 21/2.8 Avenon/ Kobalux LTM (the black Millennium version being the technical best of these)

- 21-35 Konica Hexanon-M Dual (optically as good as the 21/2.8 ASPH but adding a very useful 35mm focal length at no weight or size disadvantage over the Elmarit)

- 21 Biogon

 

Once you get that 21 SE you can decide to re-sell the other or even keep it over the 21SE.

[rramesh]

If budget is tight you can also look at the Voigtlander 21 f/1.8. It's bigger than then SEM but a whole lot cheaper and great value for money. Of course, in my case I opted for the SEM.

[SiriusLux]

Somewhere on the German side of the Forum there's a comparison between the SEM 3.4/21 and the Elmarit 2.8/21. The SEM is significantly better compared to eh Elmarit.

The Biogon is almost as good as the SEM. The SEM has much more contrast.

 

Regards, SiriusLux.

[pgk]

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Until you find a nice deal on a 21 SE you could even play the shuffling game and try out:

 

- 21 SA

 

Once you get that 21 SE you can decide to re-sell the other or even keep it over the 21SE.

I kept the SA despite having the SE too. Both excellent but in such different ways. My characterful SA is currently sitting on an M4-P where it looks very much at home;). The SE though, is as you say probably the best 21 Leica have produced. An entirely excellent lens.

[DigitalHeMan]

I just purchased the SEM this past week. Before I did, I was comparing it to both the Elmarit as well as the Zeiss Biogon 21mm. In the end I chose the SEM for the following reasons:

 

- Although there is ±500 Euros difference in price between a decent used Elmarit and a new SEM, assume the worst, and assume you are going to have to spend another 250 Euros on a CLA for the Elmarit, especially if it hasn't been well treated and you are buying from a private buyer

- SEM uses 46mm filters, which are the same size as the filters on my 50mm Lux and 28mm Summicron, so I don't need to buy additional filters (Elmarit is 55mm)

- Very positive reviews online for the SEM (also for the Zeiss lens)

- SEM 'feels' and 'looks' nicer than the Zeiss and the Elmarit (personal thing)

- SEM is a very compact lens

- I tested both the Elmarit (pre-ASPH) and Biogon, and neither lens blew me away

- As you say, there are very few second hand SEMs on the market, so in the worst case you could resell it again and lose very little money, if you decide it isn't for you

 

Now that I have the SEM, I am very happy with the results I am seeing. Sharp, nice colours, and nice contrast.

[Jennifer]

Today I took delivery of a 6 month old SEM 21 in mint condition. I've only had a chance to play with it in and around my house and garden, but, oh my, what a lens! I can well see it becoming one of my favourites. So that's it, lens stable complete.

 

Super-Elmar-M 21mm f/3.4 ASPH

Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE

Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH

APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2.0 ASPH

 

Now starts the hard part, taking photos of sufficient merit to justify the expense.