Konica 21-35mm- any experience?

[cme4brain]

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I have the opportunity to purchase the 2002 Konica 21mm-35mm dual range lens for the Leica M mount. Is this lens worth it? Can anyone furnish pictures taken on the M8 with this lens? Can you compare it to your Leica glass or any other lenses?

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[marknorton]

Rare as hens teeth I think but an interesting lens. In the context of the M8, there would be an issue coding it since the code would only be for one focal length or the other.

 

Perhaps Leica should think about putting a user lens selection menu in the camera...

 

If you don't want it, please put the seller in touch with me because I would like to buy it.

[sdai]

There's one on ebay offered by a seller from japan right now ... 1500 US.

[peter_n]

Lots of posts in other forums. The concensus is that the focal lengths are not as good as primes. Konica doesn't make a 21 but the 35 on this Dual is not as good as their 35/2 M-Hexanon or UC Hexanon, both of which are outstanding. The Dual is often ia bit overpriced because it was a limited production run, I think 800 units. The UC Hexanon is the same - only 1000 lenses made, and that drives the price up as well as the quality.

[msadat]

if you were in la, i let you try mine and make up you own mind. if you are shooting with 8, just ake it for a test drive?

 

I have the opportunity to purchase the 2002 Konica 21mm-35mm dual range lens for the Leica M mount. Is this lens worth it? Can anyone furnish pictures taken on the M8 with this lens? Can you compare it to your Leica glass or any other lenses?

[howard_cummer]

Here are a couple of "snaps" taken today with my Konica 21 - 35 on my recently arrived replacement M8. These were taken with "lens detection on + UV / IR" but of course the Konica is not coded so nothing is read. It is a good lens in my experience, simpler in construction than the TriElmar because no frame lines are engaged, but it doesn't see much action given that I prefer to use coded wide angle lenses.

Cheers

Howard

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[terrycioni]

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I am sorry I missed this earlier.

 

Remembrance Day On The Drive - a photoset on Flickr

 

I have this lens and like it on the M8. I am not that concerned about coding - cyan corners, etc. The images where shot .jpg and black&white mode. In my opinion it is excellent on the M8.

 

Best Regards. Terry.

[dante]

Terry:

 

Nice, nice shots. I just bought a 21-35, and as soon as it clears customs, I am eager to take it out.

 

Dante

[terrycioni]

Thanks Dante, I am an admirer of your work/website... I like this lens a lot on the M8. I know you will enjoy it very much once in hand. I get offers for mine all the time, and it is just not for sale.

 

Best Terry.

[howard_cummer]

Hi Terry,

Nice to see our tastes in lenses extends to the Konica 21 - 35 as well as certain Rollei equipment! :-)

Cheers

Howard (in Hong Kong)

[terrycioni]

Hi Howard,

 

I missed saying good bye but it was a busy summer all around for me and getting away Friday mornings was somewhat of a challenge. Interestingly enough Tom A. gave me the KM lens several years back and it saw little use on the film Ms - but was the first lens I put the M8 (even before the tri-elmar, etc).

 

Noted on the coding challenges for non Leica lenses, but I haven't let that stop me from having fun with it.

 

Hope all is well with you in HK needless to say the 'rain forest' is living up to it's reputation these past few weeks.

 

PS. Take good care of that Rollei <smile>.

 

Best Regards. Terry.

[dante]

On a few days' testing of the 21-35mm, I can say that I am very, very impressed.

 

Focusing and RF operation seem to be right on the money on an M8 (where it is essentially a 28-50 lens).

 

The 21mm is sharp, very sharp. There is very slight barrel distortion as on any retrofocus 21mm lens (e.g., Elmarit). Vignetting is pretty much absent (maybe it's not an issue on M8 given the sensor coverage). Detail resolution is excellent, producing ample moire starting wide open (generally what I consider the test of whether a lens is maxing out the sensor). Contrast is very high, but as as pointed out, not quite as high as on other M-Hexanons. That's probably a good thing. This is one of the best 21s I've seen, period.

 

The 35mm setting is not the disappointment that a few people would want you to believe (very likely people who are looking at aerial images of resolution charts rather than the maximum capabilities of film or sensors). On an M8, the 35mm setting is at least the equal of the Tri-Elmar, which most people think is quite good. This morning, I also tested it against a 35/1.4 ASPH Summilux (both at 1m, f/4), and they are very comparable (the Konica focal length looks a touch shorter, but it may be a difference in the distance engravings). I'm not sure what bepedestaled lens people are comparing it to but it's more than good.

 

Build quality is first rate, although the click stops on the aperture are much more quiet than on M-Hexanons in general. Leica could learn some things from the smoothness of the focal-length-selection mechanism (by the way, there are no intermediate focal lengths with the Tri-Elmar or the Dual Hexanon).

 

The dual finder is bigger than a CV 21mm finder and includes both 21mm and 35mm framelines. Very little distortion.

 

Anyway, for an M8, I can't see how you could go wrong; it's far cheaper than even a used 21mm Elmarit ASPH, it is about the same size (give or take 5mm in length), and it gives you a quick switch to the 35mm focal length.

 

Dante

[howard_cummer]

Since the dual range Konica brings up the 24 / 35mm framelines on my M8 I have coded my John Millich milled Dual bayonet as a 24 Elmar and using a 60mm Leica IR cut filter taped on to the lens the results at both 21mm and 35mm, are very very good.

Cheers

Howard