21mm M on SL2-S

[augustwest100]

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I am debating between a Super Elmar and a Voigtlander 21mm for my recently milled SL2-S. I do not use wide angle that often, but would prefer a clean image for when I do use it! My plan is to go out on the street with a 45mm Sigma or my 35mm Summicron M but to have the 21mm in a pocket or a small bag of gear for when I need it. I'm loving my SL2-S so far, but life doesn't seem the same without a couple of M-jewels in my bag

I have a few questions!

1. There are two Voigtlander 21mm's - a 3.5f and a 4.0f - is one better for SL2-S than the other?

2. Has anyone seen a side-by-side comparison of the same photo taken with a Voigtlander 21mm and a Super Elmar 21mm? The people who have a Super Elmar seem to love it. I'm just wondering if there are any real world comparisons so I can get a feel for the differences.

3. Would a Zeiss 21mm slot somewhere in the middle of the Voigtlander and the Leica 21mm's in terms of price and image quality?

(Since this is not my typical focal length, I would prefer not to break the bank, but to get something that is at least good quality).

Thanks, all, for any advice you may have!

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[serhan]

CV 21mm f3.5 is better since it is designed for digital sensors vs f4 version was designed for film cameras that shows color shift on digital sensors.

Edited March 11, 2021 by serhan

[LikameLeica]

The 21 Super Elmar (21 SE)  is one of my favorite lenses for landscape shots.  I did notice edge softness on the SL2, but love it so far on the SL2-S.  I do not have a comparison to the Voigtlander's, but the investment will last a life time and I guarantee that you will be happy with the images that you get with the 21 SE with the Leica SL2-S. This picture was taken with this combo and I think helps showcase the quality edge to edge capability of the Leica 21 SE.  Good luck with your decision. 

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[Photoworks]

I have tested the Voiglender 21mm f4 P.  on the sl2. there is 5% on each RL side that never get into focus, not even at F8. The smearing is a problem with this lens on modern cameras.

The newer 21mm 3.5 was not available for testing. 

[Simone_DF]

13 hours ago, augustwest100 said:

1. There are two Voigtlander 21mm's - a 3.5f and a 4.0f - is one better for SL2-S than the other?

2. Has anyone seen a side-by-side comparison of the same photo taken with a Voigtlander 21mm and a Super Elmar 21mm? The people who have a Super Elmar seem to love it. I'm just wondering if there are any real world comparisons so I can get a feel for the differences.

The f3.5 version is newer and optimized for digital

For the SEM, see this topic:

 

[augustwest100]

8 hours ago, LikameLeica said:

The 21 Super Elmar (21 SE)  is one of my favorite lenses for landscape shots.  I did notice edge softness on the SL2, but love it so far on the SL2-S.  I do not have a comparison to the Voigtlander's, but the investment will last a life time and I guarantee that you will be happy with the images that you get with the 21 SE with the Leica SL2-S. This picture was taken with this combo and I think helps showcase the quality edge to edge capability of the Leica 21 SE.  Good luck with your decision. 

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Uh...wow. That's about all I can say here.

[helged]

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On 3/11/2021 at 9:27 AM, LikameLeica said:

The 21 Super Elmar (21 SE)  is one of my favorite lenses for landscape shots.  I did notice edge softness on the SL2, but love it so far on the SL2-S.  I do not have a comparison to the Voigtlander's, but the investment will last a life time and I guarantee that you will be happy with the images that you get with the 21 SE with the Leica SL2-S. This picture was taken with this combo and I think helps showcase the quality edge to edge capability of the Leica 21 SE.  Good luck with your decision. 

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+1. The 21-SEM is a small and very good lens; my favorite, wide angle lens, for sure. 

[LikameLeica]

On 3/12/2021 at 3:47 AM, augustwest100 said:

Uh...wow. That's about all I can say here.

Thanks for the comment.  You should see the details in the full high res file. 

[sebas_]

How is the vignette correction working on the SL?

I’ve recently got an SEM 21 and on the M11-P there’s a pretty extreme vignette, which isn’t fixed in camera. 

[Ken Abrahams]

I don't have the Voigtlander, I hear they are very good. I can testify to the 21 Super Elmar M, a fantastic lens and very good on the SL2S. I have worked this lens in Landscapes, Street and portraiture with SL2. SL2S SL and SL3. I have found that it's very good on the SL2S, not as good on the SL3 however. I am not getting the "extreme" vignetting, perhaps on the SL3 it is more pronounced and with a bit of work it can be corrected. Before the APO SL Lenses came into being, the usual post editing work to fix aberrations was considered normal however this work has been eliminated with the Apo SL lenses.  

[Photoworks]

11 hours ago, sebas_ said:

How is the vignette correction working on the SL?

I’ve recently got an SEM 21 and on the M11-P there’s a pretty extreme vignette, which isn’t fixed in camera. 

the 21 SEM with Leica M - L adapter has great in camera correction on SL2 and SL3, which I must have for this lens. other adopters without the 6bit correction don't apply it. from my testing, it is hard to get the same results in post in LrC or C1P.

That said the SEM 21 is a good lens, but it does not have the micro-contrast of L lenses, a modern L lens or zoom would do better.

[sebas_]

vor 11 Stunden schrieb Photoworks:

the 21 SEM with Leica M - L adapter has great in camera correction on SL2 and SL3, which I must have for this lens. other adopters without the 6bit correction don't apply it. from my testing, it is hard to get the same results in post in LrC or C1P.

That said the SEM 21 is a good lens, but it does not have the micro-contrast of L lenses, a modern L lens or zoom would do better.

 

vor 20 Stunden schrieb Ken Abrahams:

I don't have the Voigtlander, I hear they are very good. I can testify to the 21 Super Elmar M, a fantastic lens and very good on the SL2S. I have worked this lens in Landscapes, Street and portraiture with SL2. SL2S SL and SL3. I have found that it's very good on the SL2S, not as good on the SL3 however. I am not getting the "extreme" vignetting, perhaps on the SL3 it is more pronounced and with a bit of work it can be corrected. Before the APO SL Lenses came into being, the usual post editing work to fix aberrations was considered normal however this work has been eliminated with the Apo SL lenses.  

 

thanks for your insights. I have asked Leica, if there are different profiles or correction applied between M or SL cameras. I’ve only read good things about the lens, and I really like it on the M - just the vignetting is too much and it’s odd that it is not corrected in camera. 
Since it’s the only option on M mount, it can be corrected in LR classic or capture one with the help of a LCC capture and correction tool. 

[Malabito]

CV 21 f3.5 is made for digital sensors, skip the f4 one.

The leica 21mm super elmar is supposed to be amazing, I only ready great things about it. 

I have the 21mm skopar f3.5, (use it with the sl2s and a m10, recently upgraded to m11), and couldn't be happier with it. The lens has great colors, its sharp, small, i have absolutely no complain about it. IT actually made me look again into Voigtlander lenses!

Some samples below with the sl2s:

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[costa43]

Have you considered the Voigtlander 21mm f1.4? I think it's slightly larger size works fine on the SL bodies and even if you hardly ever use it, the option to open it up to f1.4 is a nice to have. A good addition to a kit imo and one that I am currently considering. The optics are supposedly stellar.

Not quite the same but I own the 24mm Elmar which is a bit of a 'sister' lens of the 21mm Super Elmar and it works fine on my SL2s. I think the reputation of M lenses having bad corner performance on SL bodies is a little exaggerated from my own experiences with the SL2s. I've tested around 20 m lenses on it and it works like a dream with all of them. Nothing wider than 24mm though.

[jplomley]

3 hours ago, costa43 said:

Have you considered the Voigtlander 21mm f1.4? I think it's slightly larger size works fine on the SL bodies and even if you hardly ever use it, the option to open it up to f1.4 is a nice to have. A good addition to a kit imo and one that I am currently considering. The optics are supposedly stellar.

Not quite the same but I own the 24mm Elmar which is a bit of a 'sister' lens of the 21mm Super Elmar and it works fine on my SL2s. I think the reputation of M lenses having bad corner performance on SL bodies is a little exaggerated from my own experiences with the SL2s. I've tested around 20 m lenses on it and it works like a dream with all of them. Nothing wider than 24mm though.

I much prefer the 24 Elmar over the 21 SEM; less vignetting, better corner performance, less distortion when using for street. I therefore sold my 21 SEM to use the funds for the 21 APO, against which there is absolutely no comparison. The 21 APO is simply epic in performance. 

[HeavyEd]

On 3/11/2021 at 3:27 AM, LikameLeica said:

The 21 Super Elmar (21 SE)  is one of my favorite lenses for landscape shots.  I did notice edge softness on the SL2, but love it so far on the SL2-S.  I do not have a comparison to the Voigtlander's, but the investment will last a life time and I guarantee that you will be happy with the images that you get with the 21 SE with the Leica SL2-S. This picture was taken with this combo and I think helps showcase the quality edge to edge capability of the Leica 21 SE.  Good luck with your decision. 

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Great Shot! I just ordered my 21 sem today and can not wait to pair it on my SL2s.......

[Ken Abrahams]

21 SEM on the SL2S for Street. Shot today in my wintry City. 

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