28mm lens (Summicron vs Elmarit) to accompany my 50mm Summilux?

[jmui852]

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Hi Guys,

 

I am relatively new to Leica (just made my first purchase recently - M240 and a 50 Lux), and would like to purchase a 28mm lens to go with my 50. Understand that the 28mm doesn't require an EVF, and since I would probably shoot more landscape (or landscape + people in it) with this lens (and more street photography + portrait with my 50), is the extra f stops necessary (as most likely I will have to step down and not shoot wide open). In this scenario, would you recommend the Cron or the Elmarit? Which one is sharper (I assume for landscape sharpness matters more than bokeh / rendering?)? Thanks!

 

Regards,

J

[jdlaing]

Elmarit's nice.

[DigitalHeMan]

Elmarit's nice.

As is the Summicron

 

Various reviews I have read suggest the Elmarit is a sharper lens than the Cron. I have only used the Cron, but am always impressed by its ability to render across the frame, and it offers all the sharpness I need, with the added advantage of f/2 for lower light.

[MarkP]

This has been a long-contested discussion on the Forum if you do a search.

 

I have both lenses - the 28 Elmarit is compact, very sharp and has relatively higher contrast. To me the 28 Summicron is just extraordinary in it's rendering and microcontrast, and is always my lens of choice to pair with the 50 Summilux.  It's very hard to demonstrate this on Forum images (most look similar with these <1MB files) but is seen on high quality screens and most importantly in print. The extra stop of the Summicron is also helpful at times albeit with some vignetting which has rarely bothered me.  I would recommend changing the Summicron hood to another more compact Leica hood again which can be easily found on a search.  I have no problems using it for landscapes.

 

If you were looking at pairing a 28 with a compact 50 such as a 2.8/50 Elmar-M or similar, then I'd get the Elmarit to maintain the small form-factor of the kit - this is when I take the 28 Elmarit.

[semi-ambivalent]

As is the Summicron

 

...the added advantage of f/2 for lower light.

Not to slam the Summicron but, with the M240's ISO range is the aperture even a consideration these days? Especially with a wide angle?

 

For the OP, the contrast comparison is addressed often. I don't have the Summicron because I didn't think it offered me enough to justify double the price and the additional size and weight over the Elmarit ASPH, so I can't speak to that. But if you're inclined to look there's a bit here that might help, whatever you decide to buy:

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20110808152618/http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/lenses/lenses/lenses/page85.html

 

In any event I'm sure you'll love either.

 

Thanks,

s-a

[gpwhite]

The 28 Summicron ASPH has a particular rendering, as MarkP mentioned, that you might find addictive. Leica lenshood/cap set 12589 will work perfectly on the Summicron and is very compact.

 

I would urge you to test a properly adjusted 28 Summicron, just so you know what it will do.

[ramosa]

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Do you need to shoot at f2? If so, Cron. If not, Elmarit. Also, the Elmarit is much smaller and costs much less.

[rramesh]

Both are great lenses and you will not regret your purchase. However if buying a 28 Elmarit, buy used, as you WILL upgrade to the 28 Cron eventually.

[semi-ambivalent]

Both are great lenses and you will not regret your purchase. However if buying a 28 Elmarit, buy used, as you WILL upgrade to the 28 Cron eventually.

'However if buying a 28 Summicron, buy used, as you WILL upgrade to the 28 Summilux eventually.'

 

Equally untenable assumption, don't you agree?

 

Thanks,

s-a

[MarkP]

'However if buying a 28 Summicron, buy used, as you WILL upgrade to the 28 Summilux eventually.'

 

Equally untenable assumption, don't you agree?

 

Thanks,

s-a

 

Not at all, at least for two of us.

 

I upgraded my original 28 Elmarit within 4 months of purchase for the Summicron which for me is the superior lens regarding it's rendering.  

 

I went back to buy a 28 Elmarit (2nd hand) years later for only when I wanted a more compact kit with my 2.8/50 Elmar-M and 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar.

 

Don't know if I want the 28 Summilux.  Tempting, but it would not replace my Summicron :-)

[Joshua Lowe]

If it were my money I'd get the 28 cron because it's still relatively light and you can share filters with your 50 lux.

 

[Ai_Print]

Both are great lenses and you will not regret your purchase. However if buying a 28 Elmarit, buy used, as you WILL upgrade to the 28 Cron eventually.

 

I had a 28 Summicron for 5 years, great lens no doubt. But I now have the 28 Elmarit Asph and love it, really perfect for what I need and want, won't be going back to the Summicron. 

 

And I don't look at these choices as upgrades or downgrades, just choosing the right tool for the job. 

[bocaburger]

I've had 3 Leica 28's over the years.  The first was a v.3 (e49) which though it was a good lens optically, literally fell apart on me.  Once Leica glued it back together (not kidding) I went to the ASPH Elmarit.  Another nice lens, and very light and compact.  Then a v.4 came my way that I could not resist, as it was priced at half the normal cost due to a tiny hairline coating mark on the front element.  I found it to perform better than the ASPH (less distortion, slightly more contrast) so I sold the ASPH.  On a side note, I also have a CV 29/1.9 LTM which for all intents and purposes is equal to the Elmarit at comparable apertures, plus has the added stop when I need it.  So that's one to consider if money is an object.

[wayanwolvie]

I have a 50lux and have tried both 28cron and 28 Elmarit ASPH. The elmarit is amazingly small, light and very sharp corner to corner even at f2.8. But I find the rendering is too clinical and lack of character.

 

The 28cron is bigger, heavier and slightly less sharp even when stopped down to f2.8. But the rendering, espcially the bokeh, is wonderful with lots of character. In fact some of my favourite portrait photos are taken with this lens at f2.0.

 

So again, the choice will depend on what you are looking for.

[jmui852]

But for a 28mm focal length, I wouldn't be using it for portraits when I already have the 50mm? I would imagine I would mainly be using it for landscape / landscape + people / some street photography? So for this scenario would the extra f stop matter as much as the added sharpness?

[jmui852]

also any thoughts on the 28mm f1.4 summilux?

[DigitalHeMan]

also any thoughts on the 28mm f1.4 summilux?

Yes it's a very nice lens, but also a very different price point to the other two you have mentioned. Also you're questioning the necessity of f/2 vs f/2.8, and then the next question is whether you should go for f/1.4??!

[smkoush]

I said this in another thread, but I used to have the elmarit asph, and then switched to the summicron. I find the summicron's reandering much more pleasing to me than the elmarit. Btw, this comment is based on film, no digital m. And my only other lens is a 50 summilux asph. I find the summicron to be very similar in its drawing to the 50 summilux asph. 

[MaticB]

I had the same dilemma three weeks ago, also newbie at Leica. After reading some test and prolonged consideration, I decide for Elmarit. I can assure you, that even for portraits, Elmarit is wonderful, with all the good features also mentioned before (thack sharp, no distortion, no coma -  in one word, excellent). But whatever you will decide to, you won't regret! 

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Hallo,

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[rirakuma]

I would go for the cron just for the convenience of same filters or you could get the v4 elmarit. If you weren't locked with the lux I would recommend the elmarit asph and tabicron but its because I'm not a wide open shooter. With all due respect the summicron renders nothing like the lux, they can overlap but when you use it for character it's entirely different.