21mm summilux and summilux questions

[francesco calcagno]

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Hi

- why 21mm summilux has red ring ?

- for 90% landscape use, do you prefer 21mm, 24mm or 28mm?

- summilux lens are more sharper than summicron at f4 5,6?

thanks

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[Fedro]

1 - to remind you that the lens is not flat and sticks out (i.e. be careful not smash it)

2 - depends on the landscape, though 21 allows you to crop to both 24 and 28 if needed

3 - depends on the lens, ASPH vs non ASPH, version of the lens etc

[M11 for me]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb francesco calcagno:

Hi

- why 21mm summilux has red ring ?

- for 90% landscape use, do you prefer 21mm, 24mm or 28mm?

- summilux lens are more sharper than summicron at f4 5,6?

thanks

- I do not think that it has a red ring. See e.g. leica.de

- You need more than one lens. If only one then its up to you.  Maybe it might give you an indication that the Q camera has a fix 28mm lens.

- Summiluxes are not sharper. Anyway not that you might see that and you cannot make such a general statement.  Most of the time you close down your lens anyway and for landscape most often you need no Summilux. A heavy lens pulls your camera down in front. When in balance it is very comfortable to carry on the shoulder. Do you know the Summaron? Or the Elmarit?

Edited July 30, 2019 by M10 for me
Elmarit instead of Elmar for the 28mm

[otto.f]

53 minutes ago, Fedro said:

(i.e. be careful not smash it)

No this is because you can’t put on a filter without an extra ring

[Fedro]

1 hour ago, otto.f said:

No this is because you can’t put on a filter without an extra ring

mmh, that is actually what I was told at the Leica store + what I heard usually said of both the 21 Lux and WATE as in here (https://luminous-landscape.com/leica-16-18-21mm-f4-tri-elmar-field-report/)

I imagine that  the reason for either explanation is probably the same (i.e. that the lens protrudes the physical body of the lens)?

Edited July 30, 2019 by Fedro

[John McMaster]

You need a bought separate ring to use filters, the red ring is to warn you that the front element is in front of the body - you only see it if the lens hood is off.

john

[francesco calcagno]

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1 hour ago, M10 for me said:

- I do not think that it has a red ring. See e.g. leica.de

 

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[Fedro]

lovely lens, albeit pricey, if you are considering it

 

[francesco calcagno]

2 hours ago, M10 for me said:

- Summiluxes are not sharper. Anyway not that you might see that and you cannot make such a general statement.  Most of the time you close down your lens anyway and for landscape most often you need no Summilux.   Do you know the Summaron? Or the Elmarit?

thanks!

at f4, f5,6 or f8... LEICA SUMMICRON-M 28 MM F/2 ASPH and LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 MM F/2.8 ASPH are they more sharper than 28mm summilux ?
 

 

[a.noctilux]

1 hour ago, francesco calcagno said:

thanks!

at f4, f5,6 or f8... LEICA SUMMICRON-M 28 MM F/2 ASPH and LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 MM F/2.8 ASPH are they more sharper than 28mm summilux ?
 

 

I have in Leica M three 28mm lenses for some years, and they never deserve on the "sharpness" when close down.

Almost every "good lens" can be sharp at two or three settings from wide open.

Sorry I do not own the Summilux-M 28mm to comment on it.

To answer your question concerning the 28mm asph. in Summicron-M, Elmarit-M, Summilux-M, which one is "sharper",

I'd say in my use the Summicron-M is sharp enough for present sensor or film from f/2.8 onward in most situation.

What it worths, comparing MTF that we can download from Leica web site can give good idea on "possible behaviors" of the lens close down to F/2.8, F/4 or F/5.6.

Curvature of field is important for landscape, and for this respect, I'd opt for 28mm Summicron-M or Elmarit-M asph. for their better flat field than the Summilux-M 28mm asph.

https://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93719&subcategory=93742&type=68377&language=all

https://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93719&subcategory=93737&type=68377&language=all

https://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93719&subcategory=93726&type=68377&language=all

Edited July 30, 2019 by a.noctilux

[Fedro]

1 hour ago, a.noctilux said:

I have in Leica M three 28mm lenses for some years, and they never deserve on the "sharpness" when close down.

Almost every "good lens" can be sharp at two or three settings from wide open.

Sorry I do not own the Summilux-M 28mm to comment on it.

To answer your question concerning the 28mm asph. in Summicron-M, Elmarit-M, Summilux-M, which one is "sharper",

I'd say in my use the Summicron-M is sharp enough for present sensor or film from f/2.8 onward in most situation.

What it worths, comparing MTF that we can download from Leica web site can give good idea on "possible behaviors" of the lens close down to F/2.8, F/4 or F/5.6.

Curvature of field is important for landscape, and for this respect, I'd opt for 28mm Summicron-M or Elmarit-M asph. for their better flat field than the Summilux-M 28mm asph.

https://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93719&subcategory=93742&type=68377&language=all

https://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93719&subcategory=93737&type=68377&language=all

https://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93719&subcategory=93726&type=68377&language=all

+1 the cron is an excellent all rounder

I have owned all three at some stage and currently have the Lux, but that is more for low light and environmental portraits

I loved the weight of the elmarit  ASPH (which is also an excellent lens) but the size was a challenge for my largish hands and the look a little too contrasty sometimes

[francesco calcagno]

I really appreciate your help. Thank you!

 

any photographic comparison on the web? (lux VS cron VS elmarit)
 

[jaeger]

I have 24 Lux, I really wonder how much difference between 21 and 24.  I don't think I can even tell that factional 3mm frame change.  Any 2 cents?

[darylgo]

I wouldn't hesitate to use the 21mm/24mm  Summilux for landscape, Leica lenses are plenty sharp for this use.  Despite the mtf curves indicating field curvature and astigmatism the 21 and 24mm Summilux' render beautifully.  The colors and contrast are georgeous.   When comparing the 24mm Summilux to a Nikkor 24/1.4 the Leica was far and away sharper wide open, iirc correctly the Nikon at f5.6 was slightly sharper than the Leica wide open.  The 21mm Summilux has significant coma in the corners.     The 24mm/3.8 is sharper than the 24/1.4, a small and impressive lens.  

[Ecar]

21 hours ago, francesco calcagno said:

thanks!

at f4, f5,6 or f8... LEICA SUMMICRON-M 28 MM F/2 ASPH and LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 MM F/2.8 ASPH are they more sharper than 28mm summilux ?
 

 

Quite frankly, for 90% landscape use and if I wanted a sharp/modern rendering, I'd go for either 21/3.4, 24/3.8 or 28/2.8. FWIW, I also own the faster versions of these lenses, except the 24/1.4.

[ChateauMonty]

Dear All, 

I am thinking about getting the 21mm Sem for my next project which is to photograph a countryside village in Tuscany (people, fields, buildings, vineyards, olive groves, street markets, portraits, landscapes and so on). When I say village it is a town with a huge and varied surrounding countryside. So reportage you might call it.

BUT there are buts to the 21 Sem: 

1) I have a 24mm Elmarit ASPH which will probably be fine as my wide angle lens of choice. I also have the 28mm Elmarit ASPH, 35 Summilux ASPH (not the FLE version) and 50mm Summicron (IV, V). (28 and 50 bought on this wonderful forum btw). Plus a 75 Summicron ASPH. 

2) My dilemma is I once owned a 15mm Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar but it was way too wide for me (and my adorable M9 which I still have) so I sold it.

3) From what I have seen, and the reason I am tempted (if not yet convinced) is the Sem seems to be great at really wide open areas, street scenes and portraits (people in some kind of wider context), as well as interiors. This could be useful given than wine (my field of work) is not short of crowd scenes such as dinners, wine tastings with lots of people, hordes of grape pickers in the vines etc. Plus also the need to capture buildings eg the insides and outsides of of wineries, ruined Tuscany farmhouses, plus even staff preparing (for example) luxury bedrooms for incoming tourists.

I wondered if a 21mm is really going to give me something that much extra compared to the wonderful 24mm Elmarit ASPH, eg being out with truffle or boar or roebuck hunters (reportage, action), or for landscapes (vineyards, crop fields).

I have two bodies (M9 bought new, M10 bought as new via this forum).

Thank you for any suggestions.

[a.noctilux]

ChateauMonty,

I don't have the SEM 21mm so no comment for this particular lens which must be great for most use.

Just some thoughts on 21mm field in general.

Nice project you plan here.

 

As long time 21mm and much wider (12mm/15mm), in my type of photos; I think that 21mm is too wide to be use in most of your projected photos.

In group, beware of people "distortion" at near frame border with 21mm lens.

With your 24mm, I think that carefully framing may have less "people distortion at border".

By the way, architecture or landscape, 21mm must be fine if not letting too much foreground 😉.

 

Some years ago, I took people with 21mm lens but when there is some faces at the border can lead to "caricatural faces" .

 

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!

 

This picture came to my mind,

let's imagine at right one or more faces, this would not be fine.

Taken with Leica M and Olympus Zuiko 2/21mm custom adapted, on Kodachrome, North Thailand public "bus".

 

[pedaes]

Why don't you get a 21mm Voigtlander which is a lot less money. Given the light levels this time of year it will be plenty sharp at f5.6/8.I have 21 and 24, and 21 is a lot wider in all directions - more than you would imagine 3mm would be. Also 21 not easy to use as it needs to be perfectly 'square' to scene to avoid unsightly convergence. Don't go with 'can be corrected in post', as you are better taking it at 24mm in first instance. FWIW.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[a.noctilux]

Not so easy to "master" large view (even if I'm fan of those large view myself), I use Xpan (24x65) for better or easier large or high view (I use 30mm then).

To have some idea of "distortion" (this can also be for landscape), have a look at

this nice thread (10mm to 21mm ! )

[ChateauMonty]

Thanks for the replies. My sense was that there really is a massive gap between 24mm and 21mm but it was nice to get some second opinions on that. 21mm is a focal length with both unique challenges and rewards. I had already had a long look at the 10mm to 21mm thread yesterday and I saw some wonderful technical mastery and creativity there as well as the pitfalls.

I will stick to my existing lenses and make them work for me, and perhaps invest in an extra body instead.

Thank you.