Elmar 3.8/24 ?

[didier]

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Dear all,

I am a 50 guy. I also shoot my 75s quite regularly.

I currently have one wider Lens only, a lux 35 FLE.

I had a 1st gen 28 cron I sold a long time ago, as I didn’t get along with it.

In order to challenge myself a bit and explore new perspectives, I consider getting a 24 : I would use it without a dedicated finder, through my M10M viewfinder.

I have been thinking about this FL for 10 years and never tried as it would remain a niche use for me. But now we can hope to travel again, it may be the moment  : the Lens would be aimed at travel and daily shots from a new perspective.

I would love to learn more from your Elmar 24 and/or other 24 experience.

 

Thanks 

 

Didier

 

[SiggiGun]

This lens is outstanding! However depending on your target, you have to choose between the 24Elmar or the 21SEM. As a "50 guy", I think the 24Elmar is a great addition. I take it for street and landscape.

Here some exemples: https://nyti.ms/3s3EvRl

 

[wda]

On your own admission,  a 24 mm lens would be seldom used. I do not have one, but very occasionally use that focal-length on my D Lux. That might be a lower cost way of satisfying your curiosity. I find my DLux Type 109 a very useful companion when travelling. If you normally shoot a lot of interiors, there might be a good case for satisfying your desire. 

[pedaes]

It is a great lens and if you are quick you might find a new one. OK, you may not use it a lot but invaluable in some situations.

[lct]

Great lens that i use more on crop cameras than FF. For UWA experience i prefer 21mm but it's just me.

[crony]

Hi, I own and use on the M9:

-Elmar 3,8/24

-Elmarit 2,8/24 asph

-ZEISS Biogon 2,8/25.

Elmar samples (in Saarbrücken/D):

 

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[crony]

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Hi, 24/25 samples.

Elmarit 2,8/24 asph.(in Wiesbaden/D):

 

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[crony]

Hi, 24/25 samples. ZEISS Biogon 2,8/25 (Mosel, Schwelm/D): 

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[crony]

Hi, one might ask, of these lenses

-Elmar 3,8/24 

-Elmarit 2,8/24 asph

-ZEISS Biogon 2,8/25.

which to buy?

The easiest reaction is to buy all, like I did. --- All are good lenses! 

The Elmar seems to be the contrastiest, and sharpest. In post, the others can be tweaked, however. The Elmarit and the Biogon can rest on their shades (on a level surface),which can be helpful for taking pics without a pod.

If a lens is to be used for travel, one might ask: which destination. For city travel, 24 mm is not very wide, for tall buildings. ---

Why do I have all three ?

I bought them out of curiosity. And curiosity killed the cash ( 😁)

 

[LarsHP]

If I was you (which I am not, obviously), I wouldn't get a 24mm to complement your 35mm, but go one step "further" and get a 21mm lens. You might end up thinking the 24/25mm lens isn't that much wider than your 35mm lens.

When I had my M4-2 in the analog days, I had 21, 35, 50 and 90mm lenses and felt that the difference between 21mm and 35mm made sense. I also found myself skipping the 50 most of the time, while today I love the 50 focal length and have skipped the 35mm entirely (so I sold it), so it's obviously a matter of taste and mood.

If you still think you prefer a 24mm over a 21mm and don't expect using it that often, then I suggest buying the Zeiss 25mm since it won't cost you as much as a Leica lens. I have read people saying that among the Zeiss M lenses, the 25mm is the "best".

[pedaes]

57 minutes ago, LarsHP said:

get a 21mm lens

Have to say in my experience much more difficult to use a 21. A 21 needs a lot of care but can provide great interiors and landscapes. On a M you can just about manage a 24 through the viewfinder as long as you remember the extra width and height, but not so a 21. FWIW.

[LarsHP]

45 minutes ago, pedaes said:

Have to say in my experience much more difficult to use a 21. A 21 needs a lot of care but can provide great interiors and landscapes. On a M you can just about manage a 24 through the viewfinder as long as you remember the extra width and height, but not so a 21. FWIW.

Sure. Using a 21mm requires a viewfinder, optical or electronic. That's certainly a valid point when shooting M cameras. 

[Kl@usW.]

Hi, I owned the Elmarit-M 2,8/24 and now own the Elmar 3,8/24. Contrast- and  sharpnesswise the Elmar is clearly one of the best Leica lenses I have-and had. As to the use of the FL: In my experience 24 mm is much easier to use than lenses wider than that --  it´s  a perfect lens for street but also for landscape. If I only want to carry two lenses--it´s one of the 50s ( S´rit, Slx or Nlx ) and the 24 Elmar.   So if you only want to buy one FL: the 24 seems the more versatile choice than the 21. 

btw: I use two MP-film bodies, external finder for the 24. Guesswork spoils the fun of shooting with the lens--you don't want to make a fool of yourself by squinting and  shifting your eye behind the camera.... 

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[crony]

11 hours ago, LarsHP said:

If I was you (which I am not, obviously), I wouldn't get a 24mm to complement your 35mm, but go one step "further" and get a 21mm lens. You might end up thinking the 24/25mm lens isn't that much wider than your 35mm lens.

When I had my M4-2 in the analog days, I had 21, 35, 50 and 90mm lenses and felt that the difference between 21mm and 35mm made sense. I also found myself skipping the 50 most of the time, while today I love the 50 focal length and have skipped the 35mm entirely (so I sold it), so it's obviously a matter of taste and mood.

If you still think you prefer a 24mm over a 21mm and don't expect using it that often, then I suggest buying the Zeiss 25mm since it won't cost you as much as a Leica lens. I have read people saying that among the Zeiss M lenses, the 25mm is the "best".

Hi, in a blind test, most people could see a difference between the Elmar and the Biogon, together with the Elmarit.

The 25mm ZEISS is a good lens, but not the best ZEISS ZM, of which I have (and use) 8. 

My best ZEISS ZM is the Distagon 1,4/35 FLE.

[LarsHP]

2 hours ago, crony said:

Hi, in a blind test, most people could see a difference between the Elmar and the Biogon, together with the Elmarit.

The 25mm ZEISS is a good lens, but not the best ZEISS ZM, of which I have (and use) 8. 

My best ZEISS ZM is the Distagon 1,4/35 FLE.

I forgot about that one (35mm f/1.4 ZM). I'm sure you are right. 

[jplomley]

M10M and the 24 Elmar is my most used combo for street. Easily 80% of my images come from this combo. 

[lct]

1 hour ago, Al Brown said:

The trouble - just for me, YMMV - is the f/3.4 on the 24 Elmarit.

What would you say if it were f/3.8 . Just kidding.

[pedaes]

8 hours ago, lct said:

hat would you say if it were f/3.8

And it was on the Elmar, without the '..it'.

[crony]

Hi, found these in my files ... (M9 - Elmarit 2,8/24 asph , f 4, crops) :

 

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Hallo,

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[LeicaS2]

I have a 24mm Elmar and love it. But I am a wide-angle shooter. I have a 12mm, 21mm, 24mm, 50mm, and 90mm. I hardly use the 50mm. If I had to go with two lenses it would be the 24 and 90. Since getting the 24mm I do not use the 21 much. Some say rent and for a week it will cost you 10% of the used purchase price. I’d say buy it, use it for a month and if you don’t like it you might be able to sell it for 80% of the price you paid. The external viewfinder is an attractive option, which I have for my 21mm, but don’t seem to need with the 24. You may prefer it, but live view is a nice workaround unless you get comfortable with the built in viewfinder which works for me.

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