ianman Posted July 30, 2021 Share #41 Posted July 30, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) 13 minutes ago, MarkP said: I agree. I have a 2.8/28 Elmarit-M and 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH (initially v1 and now v2) so also speak with experience. Apart from the obvious size and weight comparisons, construction quality of both lenses is obviously outstanding. Both lenses demonstrate outstanding image quality. The Elmarit is sharp as a tack and quite contrasty compared with the Summicron. The rendering of the Summicron is harder to describe, more gentle and muted with excellent micro-contrast - one of my favourite lenses. Thanks for the informed opinion. Short but more convincing than the "more expensive = better" approach. These threads would be so much more useful if owners of the lenses discussed could post examples of side-by-side identical photos showing the characteristics of each lens. We don't need a ton of them but as they say, one picture paints a thousand words. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 30, 2021 Posted July 30, 2021 Hi ianman, Take a look here 28mm, F2 or F2.8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted July 30, 2021 Share #42 Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Ian, do you really think that couples of same examples (side by side photos taken from lenses) can do ? Years ago, that idea was mine ...but in real life, no couples 'side-by-side' same pics could make decision easier. That is just me, of course, maybe hard to convince with couples of pics to buy this or that lens. Sorry I can NOT provide those to prove (what for ? ) my feelings/observings/subjective criterias. My only (for some time now) advice is : take opinions then try the 'thing' oneself to make decision which can vary in time. Even trying hard I wouldn't be able to provide those anyway, as I take only one lens at one time, since long now. Edited July 30, 2021 by a.noctilux Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodrog Posted July 30, 2021 Share #43 Posted July 30, 2021 17 hours ago, pippy said: Before I bought my Elmarit asph I had (and still have) the same as you; Voigtlander Ultron 28mm f2 v1. When I was contemplating buying a Leica 28 I looked-back through the data to see how regularly / often I shot wide-open. The answer was 'Never; Not Even Once'. Made my decision-making rather a formality. Philip. 👍 This is one of the best ways to find out which lens you need. Search through the data to find out which apertures you mostly use. If you rarely shoot wide open (like I hardly ever do) consider the Elmarit. It's the sharpest of the lenses I have (others are 50mm Summilux ASPH; 35mm Summicron v4; 90mm Summicron pre-ASPH) and it's the most-used. Unless you need f2.0 for a specific purpose - and, if so, why not the f1.4? - then I would strongly recommend the Elmarit. For me, it has been a revelation. Peter 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted July 30, 2021 Share #44 Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) 14 minutes ago, a.noctilux said: That is just me, of course, maybe hard to convince with couples of pics to buy this or that lens. Well the point of these threads, in my view anyway, is not to convince people to buy anything, just inform and offer advice based on experience. Express opinions or preferences is all good and well but if they can be supported by images it makes them more useful. Of course, as you so correctly wrote, the best way to choose a lens is to test oneself, there is no substitute for that. Edited July 30, 2021 by ianman 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted July 30, 2021 Share #45 Posted July 30, 2021 42 minutes ago, ianman said: These threads would be so much more useful if owners of the lenses discussed could post examples of side-by-side identical photos showing the characteristics of each lens. We don't need a ton of them but as they say, one picture paints a thousand words. I agree but have never felt the need to do so for myself because I know when I want to use each of them. When I want a small compact lens, or part of a compact set, then it's the Elmarit. When I want a more contrasty 'modern' look, especially to go with a more 'modern' contrasty lens, then it's the Elmarit. When I just want to use one of my favourite lenses because I love how it images, or because it images sympathetically with a number of my other other lenses (ie 50 Summilux, etc), or I really need that extra stop then it's the Summicron. I usually reach for the Summicron just because I love the images I get from it. I might get around to some comparisons this weekend if I get the time. I can also throw pics from a 2.8/28 Elmarit-M 11804 and at 28mm from a 28-35-50 MATE E49. ps: To those calling the Elmarit a 'cheap' lens in a derogatory sense, its costs less than faster lenses because it is easier and cheaper to make an f2.8 than f1.4 or 2.0 lens, not because of compromised build or imaging quality. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 30, 2021 Share #46 Posted July 30, 2021 2 hours ago, ianman said: These threads would be so much more useful if owners of the lenses discussed could post examples of side-by-side identical photos showing the characteristics of each lens. We don't need a ton of them but as they say, one picture paints a thousand words. Did it several years ago here, i didn't keep the links, but differences were very subtle IIRC. Now doing valid comparos is not that easy actually. Keeping same light, framing and focusing is difficult to achieve with any camera, let alone rangefinders. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted July 30, 2021 Share #47 Posted July 30, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) Reading through the comments, I don't doubt that the 28/2.0 Summicron has a bit the edge over the Elmarit versions - especially if the additional stop of light is beneficial for the photographer. What is more stunning to me is the significant difference in price. It excluded for me the f/2.0 option upfront. The Elmarit version IV (pre-ASPH) does all performance I need so far - I have no complaints. I also keep my CV 28/2.0 version I lens which delivers well with bit of different rendering, too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted July 30, 2021 Share #48 Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) 30 minutes ago, Martin B said: Reading through the comments, I don't doubt that the 28/2.0 Summicron has a bit the edge over the Elmarit versions - especially if the additional stop of light is beneficial for the photographer. What is more stunning to me is the significant difference in price. It excluded for me the f/2.0 option upfront. The Elmarit version IV (pre-ASPH) does all performance I need so far - I have no complaints. I also keep my CV 28/2.0 version I lens which delivers well with bit of different rendering, too. Again, although the rendering of the Summicron is generally more to my liking, it is not a better lens but a different lens. I’m surprised you’re stunned by the price difference. Approx $2500 USD per stop from Elmarit to Summicron to Summilux. It has always been so… Edited July 30, 2021 by MarkP 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted July 30, 2021 Share #49 Posted July 30, 2021 1 hour ago, MarkP said: Again, although the rendering of the Summicron is generally more to my liking, it is not a better lens but a different lens. Spot on. It’s a shame and a bit strange that so many people don’t understand this. They equate lens speed (and thus price) to mean better. We see this over and over again. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted July 30, 2021 Share #50 Posted July 30, 2021 2 hours ago, lct said: i didn't keep the links Well that’s not very clever, now is it!? 🤪😂 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 30, 2021 Share #51 Posted July 30, 2021 My fault. I'm too modest 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capuccino-Muffin Posted July 30, 2021 Share #52 Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, MarkP said: Again, although the rendering of the Summicron is generally more to my liking, it is not a better lens but a different lens. I’m surprised you’re stunned by the price difference. Approx $2500 USD per stop from Elmarit to Summicron to Summilux. It has always been so… It’s not better but different? Now that is some politically empty talk. What would happen if you took the elmarit and made It better? I will tell you: it would happen that it would become a summicron. A full stop faster, keep it as tiny as possible, make it sharper, less light falloff, fine image character... all of a sudden you’re holding a summicron. As simple as that. Edited July 30, 2021 by Capuccino-Muffin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted July 30, 2021 Share #53 Posted July 30, 2021 18 minutes ago, Capuccino-Muffin said: if you took the elmarit and made It better? A couple of years back Leica did, and it stayed an Elmarit. 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capuccino-Muffin Posted July 30, 2021 Share #54 Posted July 30, 2021 54 minutes ago, pedaes said: A couple of years back Leica did, and it stayed an Elmarit. Yes. But they created the elmarit asph’s design, not from the old design but from the summicron’s design. In reality, what happened is they took the summicron and worked an elmarit asph out of it. Just look at the construction and optical design, it’s obvious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted July 30, 2021 Share #55 Posted July 30, 2021 3 minutes ago, Capuccino-Muffin said: worked an elmarit asph out of it. The clues in the name! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted July 30, 2021 Share #56 Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) So if I file down the aperture blades of an Elmarit I get a Summicron? And a bit more I get a Summilux? RESULT!! Mr Karbe actually has a very easy job. (and does manicures in his spare time) Edited July 30, 2021 by ianman 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted July 30, 2021 Share #57 Posted July 30, 2021 https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2017/3/12/quick-comparison-two-generations-of-leica-28mm-lenses 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted July 30, 2021 Share #58 Posted July 30, 2021 13 minutes ago, jrp said: https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2017/3/12/quick-comparison-two-generations-of-leica-28mm-lenses Very enjoyable comparison which makes a lot of good points well-worth noting for the OP. Thanks for posting. Philip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted July 31, 2021 Share #59 Posted July 31, 2021 2 hours ago, jrp said: https://www.streetsilhouettes.com/home/2017/3/12/quick-comparison-two-generations-of-leica-28mm-lenses Thanks for that link. Nicely done. I could be perfectly happy with a V1 Elmarit. Just need an 0.58 MP or M-A 😉 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted July 31, 2021 Share #60 Posted July 31, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Capuccino-Muffin said: Now that is some politically empty talk. Unnecessary inflammatory comment. In over 9000 posts here I have never made a personal attack on another member. I have at no time made any inappropriate comment directed towards you, I just don't agree with you Mr Cappuccino-Muffin. Neither do most of the others who have posted here who also have experience with these lenses. What is your problem? Edited July 31, 2021 by MarkP 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now