28mm Summicron or 28mm Elmarit Question

[Pixeleater]

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Which has more contrast? Sharp corner to corner? I'll use it on an M10-R for architectural, environmental, and landscape. Not always wide open.

Thanks.

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[a.noctilux]

I use the two M lenses, one of this 2/28mm

and this 2.8/28mm

Closed down a bit to f/4 or f/5.6/8, I hardly see any one "better contrast" than the other.

I hardly use for corner to corner sharpness, so we can differ here.

Simple answer is as simple as each one can give good result at same apertures.

 

[sebben]

According to the MTFs the Summicron is better in the corners. 

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Summicron at the bottom, you can get the full data sheets on the Leica website 

[Pixeleater]

Thanks!

[stephan54]

I started with an Elmarit 28asph and was very satisfied with the detail and colour. Switched to the Summicron 28 v2 recently as I preferred the colour rendering. Both lenses are equally sharp according to me, but the Summicron makes the separation between the colours a bit more gradual. In addition the colour rendering of the Summicron was much the same as my Summilux 50asph. You cannot go wrong with either lens.

Edited March 12, 2021 by stephan54

[Pixeleater]

Stephan54, is the Summicron 28 v2 lens hood plastic or metal? Can't tell from the product page. Thanks.

[lawman]

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4 hours ago, Pixeleater said:

Stephan54, is the Summicron 28 v2 lens hood plastic or metal? Can't tell from the product page. Thanks.

The new Summicron (v2) is a metal screw on lens hood. I have both of these lenses and find that although the Elmarit is a great lens (and very sharp) it is a little on the contrasty side for me and therefore I prefer the Summicron. As mentioned, once stopped down a bit, both lenses are very sharp, although I have not done a corner comparison. Hope this helps, Larry

[astrostl]

If architectural is your first subject, worth noting that the Elmarit has less distortion than the Summicron (while both are low).

Especially if shooting stopped down, I would default to the Elmarit.

[Herr Barnack]

I had the 28 Summicron v.1 (#11604), currently have the 28 Elmarit #11677. 

The main reason to choose the Summicron IMO would be to have the f/2.0 maximum aperture. 

My copy of the Summicron had truly outstanding velvety color rendition & saturation at f/2 and was bitingly sharp at middle apertures and beyond..  The Elmarit is a solid performer and is right on the heels of the Summicron when stopped down to the middle apertures.  This may or may not be a consideration, but the minimum aperture on the Elmarit is f/22 while it is f/16 on the Summicron; something to think about for landscape and street photography where hyperfocal depth of field is a factor.

If you shoot stopped down the majority of the time, the Elmarit will serve you well.  if you are into low light shooting and shooting wide open, the Summicron will serve you well. 

I tend to think of the Elmarit as the all-around 28, the Summicron as the middle way and the Summilux as the holy grail 28.  YMMV.

 

 

Edited March 13, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[Cobram]

Landscape --> Elmarit ASPH

People shots --> Summicron ASPH

The only thing I don't like about my Cron 28 is rendering at infinity. Again rendering, not sharpness. Otherwise it is my most used lens by far. 

[Casey Jefferson]

51 minutes ago, Cobram said:

Landscape --> Elmarit ASPH

People shots --> Summicron ASPH

The only thing I don't like about my Cron 28 is rendering at infinity. Again rendering, not sharpness. Otherwise it is my most used lens by far. 

I've just gotten the 28/2, V1 to be specific, a few days with the lens concluded that it rendered better than my 35/2 ASPH V1 (which I was pretty happy with). The 28/2 seem to have more rounded tonal transition while retaining the clarity at smaller aperture which the 35 looked a little harsher (or flatter, hard to describe) in comparison. But I've seen pictures that matches your description prior to purchasing this lens...

[Pixeleater]

On 3/15/2021 at 2:02 AM, Cobram said:

Landscape --> Elmarit ASPH

People shots --> Summicron ASPH

The only thing I don't like about my Cron 28 is rendering at infinity. Again rendering, not sharpness. Otherwise it is my most used lens by far. 

I'm looking at this more for landscape and occasional indoor of people. For me, rendering is many things, including sharpness. f/16 being reasonably sharp, while f/22 is distinctly softer?

Edited March 16, 2021 by Pixeleater

[Cobram]

15 hours ago, Pixeleater said:

I'm looking at this more for landscape and occasional indoor of people. For me, rendering is many things, including sharpness. f/16 being reasonably sharp, while f/22 is distinctly softer?

For landscape I prefer Elmarit ASPH. Summicron is designed to be used wide open @f2. I can confirm my best family photos are taken at f2 with Summicron 28. But my best tree and landscape photos came from Elmarit ASPH (I sold it) and CV 21/4.