JJS Posted June 15, 2020 Share #21 Posted June 15, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm in a similar situation deciding between the 21 SEM and new Voigtlander 21 1.4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 Hi JJS, Take a look here 21mm lenses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Cobram Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share #22 Posted June 16, 2020 11 hours ago, jdlaing 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! Dear jdlaing, One photo is more than 1000 words. Thank you for posting TTArtisan photos. Seems it punches above its price. Can you share with us your thoughts about manufacturing quality? With chinese products I'm always a little bit scared of minor tolerance problems or sharp (not enough polished edges) that can damage my camera... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeamosau Posted June 16, 2020 Share #23 Posted June 16, 2020 The Leica 21mm Super Elmar is one of the very best lenses I’ve used. I would stop looking, and just get one! I have a lot of images in this article if of any interest: https://photobasecamp.com/review-leica-21mm-super-elmar/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted June 16, 2020 Share #24 Posted June 16, 2020 Cobram, I agree whole heartedly with those who use the 21 SEM. It is a lens with superb resolution, minimal distortion, excellent color and flare control, contrast, minimal field curvature, uses E46 filters and renders beautifully. Keep in mind the 21 SEM is currently in production, whereas the 18 SEM and 24 Elmar were recently discontinued. Although all three lenses are most excellent, the Leica 21 SEM IMO, is a stand out against all others. Hope this helps. r/ Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted June 16, 2020 Share #25 Posted June 16, 2020 9 hours ago, JJS said: I'm in a similar situation deciding between the 21 SEM and new Voigtlander 21 1.4 Why. To me the two lenses have specifications which suggest that they are useful for entirely different roles. If you 'need' speed then f/1.4 is invaluable, if you don't then the SEM is a fabulous lens in terms of absolutely precise delivery. Fast lenses rarely have the same imaging capability as slower ones and have the potentiality for flare and distortion. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertospa Posted June 16, 2020 Share #26 Posted June 16, 2020 Obviously everyone will tell you their opinion. I can tell you that with my M9 I have personally used and tried these lenses: - Voigtlander 21 f.4 color skopar LTM: vignetting and color shifting at the edges very difficult to correct. - Zeiss zm 21 f.2.8: no chromatic problem if coded as Elmarit 21 f.2.8. For my tastes too contrasted. I did not like it. - Voigtlander Ultron 21 f.1.8: no chromatic problem if encoded as Elmarit 21 f.2.8, beautiful rendering with chromatic rendering similar to my Summicron 35. Excellent blurred and backlit. I've been using this lens for years and I don't think I'll ever change it. This lens also performs well on my Nikon Z6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 16, 2020 Share #27 Posted June 16, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) 7 hours ago, Cobram said: Dear jdlaing, One photo is more than 1000 words. Thank you for posting TTArtisan photos. Seems it punches above its price. Can you share with us your thoughts about manufacturing quality? With chinese products I'm always a little bit scared of minor tolerance problems or sharp (not enough polished edges) that can damage my camera... They are pretty well built, and above all, adjustable for front/back focus and infinity by the user. Mine was right on out of the box and needed no adjustment. Comes with a filter holder as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 16, 2020 Share #28 Posted June 16, 2020 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! 3 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/310537-21mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3994344'>More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 16, 2020 Share #29 Posted June 16, 2020 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! 4 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/310537-21mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3994346'>More sharing options...
Dennis Posted June 17, 2020 Share #30 Posted June 17, 2020 Nice photo! The 21 lenses with great performance, have a very little distortion. With a proper use of the perspective, and a good compositions, they don't look like 21. They look like 24, or sometimes even 28. It's the eternal internal fight haha. Sometimes the 21 could be too wide, that's why i prefer the 24. But sometimes is the perfect wide angle lens 🤦♂️ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
m410 Posted June 17, 2020 Share #31 Posted June 17, 2020 (edited) OP and JJS, When a lens is as great as the Leica 21mm f3.4 SEM is available, it would be my suggestion to take advantage. The 21SEM is excellent mechanically, optically and ergonomically. AND as Leica lenses go...it is a bargain! I very much enjoy the focal length of 21mm and I use it quite often. The question of course: Is this a focal length any purchaser can be comfortable with? Besides. Why put a Chinese lens on a German Camera? It is a quality mismatch imho. jDD Leica M10+21mmSEM 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! Edited June 17, 2020 by m410 4 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/310537-21mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3994426'>More sharing options...
pgk Posted June 17, 2020 Share #32 Posted June 17, 2020 19 hours ago, jdlaing said: They are pretty well built ..... I had a well known Leica repairer look at another of these low cost lenses. Optically not too bad, although wide open the corners were not that wondrous - a straightforward design. Mechanically he was not overly impressed. Regardless of where they are made, low cost lenses are built to a price, and to do so means that their mechanical design is a compromise. Yes, the lens I had felt well made, but once inside the cost cutting was there - as inevitably it has to be. I'm not decrying them as they are a very low cost entry into M fit lenses, but I'm not under any illusions about them either. And FWIW I sold the lens to a friend (with full disclosure) and he is very happy with it for the amount of use it gets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 17, 2020 Share #33 Posted June 17, 2020 5 hours ago, m410 said: Why put a Chinese lens on a German Camera? For the same reasons we (at least i) use German lenses on Chinese made bodies i guess. So it's a small world . 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simone_DF Posted June 17, 2020 Share #34 Posted June 17, 2020 I have a Voigtlander Ultron f1.8, it's big and bulky but I love the rendering, the colours and the typical Voigtlander sunstars. Mine is coded and I haven't seen any colour issue on my M10. On top of that, if you also have other mirrorless, it works great. The SEM doesn't and you get mushy corners. 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! 6 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/310537-21mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3994596'>More sharing options...
m410 Posted June 17, 2020 Share #35 Posted June 17, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, lct said: For the same reasons we (at least i) use German lenses on Chinese made bodies i guess. So it's a small world . Not always but most of the time we get what we pay for imho. For a long term investment, the 21mmSEM meets my needs best. I have confidence my 21mm SEM will last and be as wonderful as my fifty-four year old 135mm Tele-Elmar has proven to be. Edited June 17, 2020 by m410 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 17, 2020 Share #36 Posted June 17, 2020 7 minutes ago, m410 said: Not always but most of the time we get what we pay for imho. Indeed but my 7art 35/2 is surprisingly good for the price. Doesn't prevent me from using other lenses so i hardly see what the problem is, if any. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted June 17, 2020 Share #37 Posted June 17, 2020 Surprisingly good??? What does that really mean. Do you mean that every photograph that you look at you say to yourself: Its good quality in comparison 😀 I would not like that. Either we have the Leica quality or else . . . let it be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 17, 2020 Share #38 Posted June 17, 2020 9 minutes ago, M10 for me said: Surprisingly good??? What does that really mean. Do you mean that every photograph that you look at you say to yourself: Its good quality in comparison 😀 Every photo no but mostly yes indeed. Very sharp at all apertures. Only problems are distortion but it's easy to fix in PP, and flare when strong light sources are outside the frame. Summilux and Summicron asph and pre-asph user speaking . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted June 17, 2020 Share #39 Posted June 17, 2020 Wonderful Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted June 17, 2020 Share #40 Posted June 17, 2020 I have been using my 21-35mm Vario Elmar-R of late on my M10M & M240 when I felt that a focal length of 21mm would be needed - but the lens plus R to M adaptor weighs in at 600g - after an hour I begin to regret choosing it! Nowadays for me, weight has become a very important factor - which has led me to considering the latest VM 21mm f3.5 Color-Skopar ASPH - all 180g of it. One drawback though is the hideously overpriced lens hood - does anyone know of a realistically-priced alternative? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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