colonel Posted October 20, 2015 Share #1 Â Posted October 20, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I might finally be actually on the verge of purchasing a 21mm lens (shock / horror) Â I am looking at : 1. 21mm Leica f2.8 ASPH (balance of weight, contrast, sharpness and light) 2. 21mm Leica f3.4 ASPH (super sharp, contrast and flat field) 3. 21mm Zeiss f2.8 (balance of weight and cost) 4. 21mm Voigtlander f1.8 (balance of value, not bad sharpness at all and light) Â Anyone had 2 or more of these and can compare/ contrast ? Â Slightly more drawn to Leica f2.8, in terms of good compromise, or Voigtlander in terms of sacrificing some weight and contrast advantage to get the extra light Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 20, 2015 Posted October 20, 2015 Hi colonel, Take a look here 21mm question. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wda Posted October 20, 2015 Share #2 Â Posted October 20, 2015 I have owned the Elmarit Asph. since film days and had it 6-bit coded for digital use. I never saw the need to buy an alternative and simply love the clean rendering it gives on film, M8, M9 and M-P. Although the Elmar is tempting, my overall limited use of the 21mm focal length simply does not justify the change. It is a challenging focal length, but always rewarding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted October 20, 2015 Share #3 Â Posted October 20, 2015 I have both 21/3.4s (SE and SA). The SE is a phenomenally good lens and is probably the best 20/21mm lens that I've ever owned (and I've owned quite a few over the years). If its affordable then I would strongly recommend that you get one and forget all the others. FWIW I still own and use the 21SA too because it has such a unique signature; still very sharp centrally but with poorer corners and substantial vignetting - very much a lens of its time (as is the SE today). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiggiGun Posted October 21, 2015 Share #4  Posted October 21, 2015 Hi I just onwed a new Super-Elmar. After having used for a long time the Elmarit pré-ASPH. It is a huge difference!  This new lens is realy well done, small and the image quality is outstanding. If cost is on top of your questions: take a look on the f4.5/21 from ZEISS also. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted October 21, 2015 Share #5 Â Posted October 21, 2015 http://www.ronscheffler.com/techtalk/?page_id=130 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted October 22, 2015 Share #6 Â Posted October 22, 2015 Get the SEM-dynamite. I use my 21/1.4 way less now that ISO capabilities are getting higher with the M240 platform cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted October 22, 2015 Share #7  Posted October 22, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) If cost is on top of your questions: take a look on the f4.5/21 from ZEISS also.  It does not play with color M sensors. Extreme color shift in the corners.  (Would work nicely with the Monochrome, though) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted October 22, 2015 Share #8 Â Posted October 22, 2015 Â It does not play with color M sensors. Extreme color shift in the corners. Â (Would work nicely with the Monochrome, though) Â The 4.5/21 ZM C-Biogon is a fabulous lens but on digital it is indeed a problem with colour. For film, B&W conversions or on the Monochrome it is great. Having said that it is not as good as the 3.4/21 SEM. I sold the Zeiss for these two reasons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmuussoni Posted October 22, 2015 Share #9 Â Posted October 22, 2015 I am not sure if shooting landscapes is your thing. For me it was. So the deal breaker for Elmarit-M 21mm ASPH is the fact it has only 8 aperture blades. I just can't stand those 8 point sunstars. So for this reason alone I much prefer Super-Elmars with 9 apertude blades (for once I agree with mr. Ken Rockwell ). Biogon has 10 straight blades, a slight improvement. If you are fine with even number of blades, then I am sure you are happy with the performance of both Biogon and Elmarit-M. Good luck in your decision Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted October 22, 2015 Share #10 Â Posted October 22, 2015 I'm fine with an even number of blades if they are also divisible by three. Ten just doesn't make it; twelve would be the bee's knees. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordvik Posted October 24, 2015 Share #11  Posted October 24, 2015 I bought a Zeiss 2,8 first. It was nice but needed Adobe Flat Field correction (or Cornerfix if you don't use Adobe products). I found that inconvenient, so I bought a SEM. The SEM is smaller and better to handle because of the focus tab . It is also more expensive. My suggestion: buy the Zeiss if you don't plan do take many pictures with a 21mm.  Here are some crop-comparisons taken from center right edge, at 2,8/3,4: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/251829-21mm-question/?do=findComment&comment=2912549'>More sharing options...
Exodies Posted October 24, 2015 Share #12 Â Posted October 24, 2015 I only have the SEM 21 and one becomes accustomed to its quality, it's when one sees comparisons like this that one appreciates what one has. Even the groundsman has tidied the scene up for the Leica shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted October 24, 2015 Share #13  Posted October 24, 2015 I only have the SEM 21 and one becomes accustomed to its quality, it's when one sees comparisons like this that one appreciates what one has. Even the groundsman has tidied the scene up for the Leica shot. =8^o  s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted October 24, 2015 Share #14  Posted October 24, 2015 The Voigtlander 1.8 is a really rather wonderful lens, not just £ for $, but in its own right. Worth a try if you don't mind the size.  I haven't used the SEM21 yet though, so maybe this is meaningless. Wouldn't be the first time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 24, 2015 Share #15 Â Posted October 24, 2015 I bought a Zeiss 2,8 first. It was nice but needed Adobe Flat Field correction (or Cornerfix if you don't use Adobe products). I found that inconvenient, so I bought a SEM. Did you code it? I find it a little baffling you needed Cornerfix with a properly coded f/2.8 Biogon as I've found it works perfectly on an M9 and M240. I agree that if aren't going to use a 21mm a lot then don't knock yourself out finding perfection because they are all pretty good anyway. If I want something more lightweight on a day shooting I prefer to take my f/4 CV Skopar and don't worry myself it isn't quite as perfect as any other lens. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordvik Posted October 24, 2015 Share #16  Posted October 24, 2015 Yes, I did code it. Tried several 28 and 21 profiles. One 28 seems to get the best result, but since they all needed Flat Field corrections I settled on a 21 to get the correct Metadata info. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted October 24, 2015 Share #17 Â Posted October 24, 2015 How much do you think you are going to use the lens? A lot? Then the SEM is wonderful. I had the Zeiss and it was great and relatively cheap and more than filled my needs at the time -- I used it around 5% of the time. I eventually swapped into a 18mm SEM which was fantastic but since sold because I rarely used it and was able to use the cash to finance a different Leica purchase. Moral of the story -- these are all great lenses and whether they deliver what you want depends on what you want other than owning that focal length. Unless, of course, the budget is unlimited. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted October 24, 2015 Share #18 Â Posted October 24, 2015 BTW, voigtlander at 21mm and shorter are great lenses -- as is the elmarit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted October 24, 2015 Share #19  Posted October 24, 2015 For utmost sharpness, get the Super-Elmar-M 21 mm 1:3.4 Asph. For speed and value-for-money, get the Voigtländer 21 mm 1:1.8 Aspherical. Period. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithlaban.co.uk Posted October 24, 2015 Share #20  Posted October 24, 2015 I bought into the M system because of the 21mm Super Elmar-M.  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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