24mm The lost lenses of Leica M

[Bo-Sixten]

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I have this big conundrum now - I've come across a 24mm Summilux in very fine condition at half new price. I've borrowed it - and man I love this lens. I was never a big fan of 24 with my dslrs, but this 24mm with my M10M is simply wonderful. My 28 lx is super sharp and flat field (almost). This 24 is also almost as sharp, a little softer wide open and with a strong curved field. Actually I love this curved field in this lens. If you use 50 Noctilux F1 or 50 lux pre Asph, you know what I'm talking about. It makes your objects stand out more from the background.

But is it too close to my 28lx in focal length? Maybe not. It has a distinct wide angel field view, the 28 is closer to a 35 imo. What do you think. Should I go for it?

My buddy Baron from this mornings dog walk. M10M, 24mm Summilux at 1.4. ISO 160.

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[mdg1371]

3 hours ago, Bo-Sixten said:

I have this big conundrum now - I've come across a 24mm Summilux in very fine condition at half new price. I've borrowed it - and man I love this lens. I was never a big fan of 24 with my dslrs, but this 24mm with my M10M is simply wonderful. My 28 lx is super sharp and flat field (almost). This 24 is also almost as sharp, a little softer wide open and with a strong curved field. Actually I love this curved field in this lens. If you use 50 Noctilux F1 or 50 lux pre Asph, you know what I'm talking about. It makes your objects stand out more from the background.

But is it too close to my 28lx in focal length? Maybe not. It has a distinct wide angel field view, the 28 is closer to a 35 imo. What do you think. Should I go for it?

I have both the 24mm and 28mm Summiluxes, I cannot bring myself to settle on one— they are different enough. I agree with you, the 24 ‘lux produces a distinctly wider feel, and can have a more dramatic impression. The 28 on the other hand is better at “floating” a subject out of the background for a 3-D feel.

 

[jaeger]

3 hours ago, Bo-Sixten said:

I have this big conundrum now - I've come across a 24mm Summilux in very fine condition at half new price. I've borrowed it - and man I love this lens. I was never a big fan of 24 with my dslrs, but this 24mm with my M10M is simply wonderful. My 28 lx is super sharp and flat field (almost). This 24 is also almost as sharp, a little softer wide open and with a strong curved field. Actually I love this curved field in this lens. If you use 50 Noctilux F1 or 50 lux pre Asph, you know what I'm talking about. It makes your objects stand out more from the background.

But is it too close to my 28lx in focal length? Maybe not. It has a distinct wide angel field view, the 28 is closer to a 35 imo. What do you think. Should I go for it?

My buddy Baron from this mornings dog walk. M10M, 24mm Summilux at 1.4. ISO 160.

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Your dog looks like a giant, probably surrounding trees are small.  Very interesting indeed.

[Fedro]

29 minutes ago, mdg1371 said:

I have both the 24mm and 28mm Summiluxes, I cannot bring myself to settle on one— they are different enough. I agree with you, the 24 ‘lux produces a distinctly wider feel, and can have a more dramatic impression. The 28 on the other hand is better at “floating” a subject out of the background for a 3-D feel.

 

I find the 24 more dreamlike and painterly. A beautiful lens with a lot of drama. The 28 is a more modern, yet gorgeous, lens. They are different, I agree. Do you "need" it? Only you can tell

In any case a good price is a good price and if you can afford to buy it without selling the 28, you won't lose money should you decide to resell it.

[otto.f]

4 hours ago, Bo-Sixten said:

is it too close to my 28lx in focal length? Maybe not. It has a distinct wide angel field view, the 28 is closer to a 35 imo. What do you think

If you’re in love with this lens and have a feeling that it’s going to last, I would go for it. Because half the price is seldom for this lens, so you can’t loose on it. 
I own 35’s, a 28 and a 24. In my photography the 28mm stays more often at home and I choose for the 24 and the 35 to go out with. Otherwise I’d go for a 50 and a 28, but much less often. 

[Peter Kilmister]

I love the 24mm lens when I need a wide angle.

[davidmknoble]

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 I have the 24 lux  and used to have the 24 elmarit (2.8).  I also used the 28 lux and 35 lux.  I actually found the 21 SEM to be an incredible landscape lens because it is super sharp, more so then the 24 SEM.  The 35 lux is just easy to shoot and I found I could guess at focus on the 24 lux easier than the 28 lux, so I swapped the 28 lux for a 28 Summicron.  The downside of the 24 lux is that it takes series 7 filters, so if you use filters for BnW, you will have some just for that lens.  The 28 Summicron, 21 SEM and 35 lux all share the 46 mm filters, so easy to pair up for a trip.  That all said, I don’t shoot the 24 lux for landscapes, but it really shines between f/1.4 and f/4.0.  I use it mostly with the M10M and film.  Like any lens, it’s an acquired taste and you have to get used to moving closer to your subject than a 35 or 50.  The 24 lux is now discontinued, btw.

[Bo-Sixten]

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Resistance was futile and I succumbed to the hypnotic songs from the Sirens of Wetzlar (again) and purchased the 24mm Summilux today. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts on this subject.

I believe I will be happy using this lens. Life is too short to ponder too much, and as Fedro had it: it can always be sold at little or no loss later. 

Happy camper.

M10M, 24Lx, 5.6. Sloppy focusing.

Edited April 28, 2020 by Bo-Sixten

[Fedro]

1 hour ago, Bo-Sixten said:

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Resistance was futile and I succumbed to the hypnotic songs from the Sirens of Wetzlar (again) and purchased the 24mm Summilux today. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts on this subject.

I believe I will be happy using this lens. Life is too short to ponder too much, and as Fedro had it: it can always be sold at little or no loss later. 

Happy camper.

M10M, 24Lx, 5.6. Sloppy focusing.

great choice and truth be told, I also bought mine late last year at flash sales for a hefty discount on price new. You will love it

[Stein K S]

I own both 28, 24 & 21s. I find the 21 still very challenging and use it rather rarely. Concerning the. 28 vs the 24 I am still drawn between the handyness of the 28 not needing an external viewfinder and the very nice angle of view of the 24 (in addition to the very nice drawing of the 24 Elmarit...). That external viewfinder almost blow the M feeling in my opinion.

[lioness731]

I currently use a Zeiss ZM 25mm. 24mm is my favorite focal length but could not cough up coins for a Leica version. This and a 50 Lux are my favorites for now. 

[otto.f]

I never use a separate viewfinder with my Elmarit 24 because the metal frame of the viewfinder works perfect enough for me. 

[rsolomon]

13 hours ago, Stein K S said:

I own both 28, 24 & 21s. I find the 21 still very challenging and use it rather rarely. Concerning the. 28 vs the 24 I am still drawn between the handyness of the 28 not needing an external viewfinder and the very nice angle of view of the 24 (in addition to the very nice drawing of the 24 Elmarit...). That external viewfinder almost blow the M feeling in my opinion.

I mostly use my 24 without the EVF, I consider the edges of the OVF to be the frameline, it’s pretty darn close. I do own the EVF and use only as needed and rarely for walking the streets or hiking 

[Jürgen]

People only appreciate things when they lose them.

I love my 3,8/24 (see image from a hiking tour) and my 1,4/24 too. Great lenses for different applications - in case enough people buy these lenses. This was the simple reason, because Leica decided not to produce these focal length any longer.  

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[Fedro]

2 hours ago, Jürgen said:

People only appreciate things when they lose them.

I love my 3,8/24 (see image from a hiking tour) and my 1,4/24 too. Great lenses for different applications - in case enough people buy these lenses. This was the simple reason, because Leica decided not to produce these focal length any longer.  

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or maybe they have a new 24 coming out? Something in between the two (i.e. a new Elmarit or a Cron)?

[dkmoore]

On 4/28/2020 at 1:59 AM, Bo-Sixten said:

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!

Resistance was futile and I succumbed to the hypnotic songs from the Sirens of Wetzlar (again) and purchased the 24mm Summilux today. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts on this subject.

I believe I will be happy using this lens. Life is too short to ponder too much, and as Fedro had it: it can always be sold at little or no loss later. 

Happy camper.

M10M, 24Lx, 5.6. Sloppy focusing.

If you do decide to sell it let me know! I’ve been pondering this lens for about 3 years now. I didn’t end up buying because I got the 28 Lux and have the 28 Cron but it still pulls at my heart strings. It’s like the M9M, 28 Summaron, and others in that it has a unique rendering to anything else on the market. 

[a5m]

16 hours ago, rsolomon said:

I mostly use my 24 without the EVF, I consider the edges of the OVF to be the frameline, it’s pretty darn close. I do own the EVF and use only as needed and rarely for walking the streets or hiking 

I never considered anything wider than 28mm due to having to use a external viewfinder, but this is a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing! I now want a 24 😁

[rsolomon]

49 minutes ago, a5m said:

I never considered anything wider than 28mm due to having to use a external viewfinder, but this is a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing! I now want a 24 😁

I just want to confirm with you  that I’m using the 24 Elmar NOT the summilux. Certainly they will look different in the OVF as the lens barrel sizes are different . The Elmar is an outstanding lens. 

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[a5m]

16 minutes ago, rsolomon said:

I just want to confirm with you  that I’m using the 24 Elmar NOT the summilux. Certainly they will look different in the OVF as the lens barrel sizes are different . The Elmar is an outstanding lens. 

I'll most likely only be able to afford the Elmar so no worries

No but that's good to know, thanks. Although I never found viewfinder blockage to be much of an issue. The virtual 'completion' of the rest of the frame has worked thus far

[james.liam]

On 4/28/2020 at 8:14 AM, lioness731 said:

I currently use a Zeiss ZM 25mm. 24mm is my favorite focal length but could not cough up coins for a Leica version. This and a 50 Lux are my favorites for now. 

The ZM 25 is one of the best of the ZM series. You’re in no way missing out.