28mm choices for M11 in 2023

[M11 for me]

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vor 5 Stunden schrieb robsonj:

28 summicron v2 is an incredible lens, hard to beat for image quality, colour, sharpness, weight, size, 46mm filter thread etc, fantastic all around package that will last a lifetime 

Wonderful b/w images on your website. Great.

Re the 28mm I have actually the Summicron ASPH which is my first lens when I go out with one lens. But I am still looking for an even lighter and smaller lens as the Elmarit. That is why I am very interested in reading here. Still its a bit difficult to follow:

- Wherever an image from a specific lens is shown (actually not just in this thread) I never see a blured picture beside a crisp one with the comment that one lens is bad and the other one is good. All shown inages are always great. So I am looking for tests showing kind of same images taken with different lenses and then commenting on the different details.

- Here I just see (what is fully normal) that one after the next comment mentionned different lenses and the person mentioning a lens owns it if course and thinks its great. Lets take myself: I would never write that my Summicron is bad. As a 28 mm lens I know nothing else AND I LOVE IT

Still I am looking for less weight and even smaller lens. In that disciplin the Voightländer Ultron Type I (not II) seems to be a beast. And its even smaller than the Summicron. Still I can not stop looking at the Elmarit. So I always looking for a decent test.

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[robsonj]

9 minutes ago, M11 for me said:

Wonderful b/w images on your website. Great.

Re the 28mm I have actually the Summicron ASPH which is my first lens when I go out with one lens. But I am still looking for an even lighter and smaller lens as the Elmarit. That is why I am very interested in reading here. Still its a bit difficult to follow:

- Wherever an image from a specific lens is shown (actually not just in this thread) I never see a blured picture beside a crisp one with the comment that one lens is bad and the other one is good. All shown inages are always great. So I am looking for tests showing kind of same images taken with different lenses and then commenting on the different details.

- Here I just see (what is fully normal) that one after the next comment mentionned different lenses and the person mentioning a lens owns it if course and thinks its great. Lets take myself: I would never write that my Summicron is bad. As a 28 mm lens I know nothing else AND I LOVE IT

Still I am looking for less weight and even smaller lens. In that disciplin the Voightländer Ultron Type I (not II) seems to be a beast. And its even smaller than the Summicron. Still I can not stop looking at the Elmarit. So I always looking for a decent test.

My suggestion, don’t buy a second 28mm, instead, next time you’re at McDonalds, skip the fries, there you have your weight saving, I’ll send you my PayPal link so you can send me funds, then you’ll have spent the same about of money, to scratch that itch also. 😃

Seriously though I have a great copy of the Ultron 28mm, v1. But it doesn’t get used, not while I have the Summicron. I’m sure the v2 is even better, but if I had both I’d still use the Summicron. Different story on my M6, where film is a bit more forgiving of course. But the weight and size diffs aren’t that much really.

[robsonj]

16 minutes ago, M11 for me said:

Wonderful b/w images on your website. Great.

Re the 28mm I have actually the Summicron ASPH which is my first lens when I go out with one lens. But I am still looking for an even lighter and smaller lens as the Elmarit. That is why I am very interested in reading here. Still its a bit difficult to follow:

- Wherever an image from a specific lens is shown (actually not just in this thread) I never see a blured picture beside a crisp one with the comment that one lens is bad and the other one is good. All shown inages are always great. So I am looking for tests showing kind of same images taken with different lenses and then commenting on the different details.

- Here I just see (what is fully normal) that one after the next comment mentionned different lenses and the person mentioning a lens owns it if course and thinks its great. Lets take myself: I would never write that my Summicron is bad. As a 28 mm lens I know nothing else AND I LOVE IT

Still I am looking for less weight and even smaller lens. In that disciplin the Voightländer Ultron Type I (not II) seems to be a beast. And its even smaller than the Summicron. Still I can not stop looking at the Elmarit. So I always looking for a decent test.

Thanks for stopping by the website and the kind words, much appreciated! Most of those black and whites were shot with the… 28 Summicron

[M11 for me]

I'll follow your advice with McDonnals. But clearly its not about the total weight of the photographer plus camera 😝

[robsonj]

3 minutes ago, M11 for me said:

I'll follow your advice with McDonnals. But clearly its not about the total weight of the photographer plus camera 😝

We have the identical kit funnily enough, except I have the black 50mm Summilux, and the Q2m, so less cover glass than the Q2 and aluminum 50mm lens… maybe that’s why I feel so light :-), and I have the voigtlander 75mm 1.5.

[M11 for me]

Great to hear.

When I bought the silver 50 Summilux I was not aware of a difference in weight. When I learned that I was a bit upset that the dealer did not tell me. I would go for black now.

But sorry: That is not the theme here.

Edited December 30, 2022 by M11 for me

[colint544]

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If you're considering the 28mm Summicron ASPH, whatever you do don't buy the mk1, get the mk2. I have the mk1 and, whilst it's compact and useful, with a beautiful rendering in the images (great clarity, with smooth backgrounds at full aperture), the barrel at the front is held together with three microscopic screws. I don't know what they were smoking in the factory when they came up with this design. The lens is notorious for these screws working loose, and mine is no exception.

It's as though I bought it from Bonnie Tyler - great lens, but every now and then it falls apart (I'm here all week).

[lct]

3 hours ago, M11 for me said:

Still I am looking for less weight and even smaller lens. In that disciplin the Voightländer Ultron Type I (not II) seems to be a beast

You mean Ultron 28/2 asph i guess. If so, it is close to the Summicron with a bit more contrast and color fringing but nothing to worry about if you shoot raw. Only con is vignetting at f/2 but it is not difficult to adjust in PP. It is now my regular 28 on digital CL.

[lct]

5 hours ago, Musky said:

I considered all this when I recommended my Ultron II to you (because I already looked at all this). if the Elmarit was better I would’ve said get the Elmarit.

How long is your experience with the Elmarit if i may ask?

[Huss]

On 12/22/2022 at 2:27 PM, Huss said:

I just picked up the CV Ultron 28 f2 v2 used (but called the v1 as it is the 'retro' design).  Not sure if I am going to keep it.  I already have the Cron Asph v2 and a few others, so, hmm.

From a design perspective, the Leica lenses just look so much nicer.

The CV Ultron 28 v2 is.... fantastic.  I wanted to find flaws in it because 1/ I think the physical design is ugly, and 2/ I already own the Summicron v2 as well as other lenses.

But.. I've now shot it on digital - M10r, and film - M-A, and the results are outstanding.  

Edited December 31, 2022 by Huss

[Huss]

.

 

 

Edited December 31, 2022 by Huss

[Huss]

1 hour ago, Musky said:

Exactly. I’ve learned to live with the chrome front ring and the ugly looks Because who cares. The proof is in the pudding. 

BTW, it’s not v1 it’s Type I. There’s Type I and Type II. I don’t mind the focusing knob thing but it’s those ears on the aperture ring that drive me nuts. I had them on the Nokton 50. Hated every second of them.

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Yes, v2, t1...

 

I find the t1 to be better to focus than the t2 because the t2 only has the focus 'knob' while the t1 has the focus stick AND a knurled focus ring.  So with the t1 you can grab either to focus.  I agree about the ears on the aperture ring.  Just why?

[Huss]

1 hour ago, Musky said:

..

If you’re thinking Summicron save your money and get the Ultron II. (No I haven’t owned the summicron either. I’m sure it’s lovely. I’ve seen enough real world comparisons between them all).

of course YMMV

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I have both the Summicron Asph v2 and the CV Ultron v2 t1.  If I had to choose between only having one, the Summicron for sure. Optically there pretty much isn't a difference between the two apart from the CV vignetting more wide open.  But from a design and haptics viewpoint, the Summicron is so much nicer.  Its design is beautiful - at the same time classic and modern.  And the handling is perfect.  The CV? Well, it's ugly.  It's like Cosina just made it different not to be better, but to be different.

Again, the quality of the pics will be the same.  It just is up to you if you think it's worth it spending all that extra money for the things that have no effect on optical quality.

[robsonj]

And as ugly as the 28 is, they are capable of decent looking lenses, the 35mm f1.5 type II is a pretty nice looking lens, surely they could have made the ultra share the same design language

[Huss]

22 minutes ago, robsonj said:

And as ugly as the 28 is, they are capable of decent looking lenses, the 35mm f1.5 type II is a pretty nice looking lens, surely they could have made the ultra share the same design language

Yeah, I think my CV 40 1.2 looks fantastic.  As does the 35 1.2 v2 and v3, as does the 50 1.0 and my new CV 40 2.8 M mount.  So they can do it, but go off on this weird design tangent just to be different.  Even the fonts they use are weird.

[lct]

2 hours ago, Musky said:

I considered it. Never bought it.

The elmarit you can say technically that has no vignetting. No distortion. Super sharp from f2.8. Almost boring Because it’s so sharp at every aperture. Some say perfect IQ. (Certainly near perfection or not perfect)

But does that make it “better”? Not for me

If that’s what you want then get it. I would ranger have a little more character wide open. 

Doesn’t make it a “better” lens. Especially with this wobbly front elements problem. 

I thought about it, but I don’t want another boring perfectly sharp lens. Would seem like a waste of my money.

The Ultron II gives you a more flexible f2, more character from f2-2.8 (so it makes beautiful wide portraits), it’s just as tiny, a fraction of the price, and after a certain aperture you won’t be able to tell the difference.

And of course this is all YMMV IMO etc etc. you’ll disagree. That’s good. That way he can decide for himself. 

For me there are 3 choices (unless they come out with some miracle 28 in 2023):

1) Ultron II: Best overall every day 28mm. 
2) Elmarit: if you want super sharp all the time. Street that sort of thing. 
3) Summaron: if you want the most character 

I thought a lot about the Elmarit, but there’s a sweetness from 2-2.8 the Ultron gives me that the elmarit never will. There’s no “charm” in it. Just straight up sharp generic image and that’s it. 

If you’re thinking Summicron save your money and get the Ultron II. (No I haven’t owned the summicron either. I’m sure it’s lovely. I’ve seen enough real world comparisons between them all).

of course YMMV

You are putting words in my mouth here. I just wanted to know if you have any experience with the Elmarit because you wrote above « I considered all this when I recommended my Ultron II to you (because I already looked at all this). if the Elmarit was better I would’ve said get the Elmarit ». But you have no experience with the Elmarit don't you. Makes me think of a car advertiser who would advise me against buying a car i've been driving for 15 years, even though he has never sat behind the wheel. If people like me have 15+ years experience with this lens (i bought mine in 2006), it is for a reason. Now, as i said above, i have nothing against the Ultron that has become my regular 28 for digital CL.

[Huss]

I never had any issues with my 28 Elmarit Asph v1.  It was an incredible lens and frankly I should have kept it.  But at the time I had the 7A 28 1.4 and the Elmarit, and sold them both for the Cron v2. Anyway..

 From what I have seen, the lenses where the front has come loose seems to be because the users are grabbing the front/lens hood area to attach and detach the lens from the camera.  This should only be done from the base of the lens - for any lens.

[lct]

2 hours ago, Musky said:

One doesn’t have to own the elmarit to know it’s very sharp and character-less. That pretty much says it all about the lens.

You have no experience with the Elmarit 28/2.8 asph, as you admit it yourself, so why denigrate it this way, especially on a Leica forum? Couple of snaps with this superb lens below.

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Edited January 1, 2023 by lct

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[Jeff S]

2 hours ago, Musky said:

YMMV

IMO

HORSES FOR COURSES

 

Getting old and boring already.  Hard to do when your entire posting history is one month. I wonder how the forum has survived for over 20 years.  Of course, just my opinion.

Jeff

[tappan]

My Ultron 28mm 11 was delivered yesterday. I took this portrait of my son's friend shortly after receiving the lens.
This is on an M9-P.
2 Things I noticed, VERY sharp (not too much), and nicely contrasty. Vignetting is not so good at F2-F5.6. Obviously post processing will cure that. The lens seems to flare just a bit more than a Leica lens when shooting against the light. All in all, I am VERY happy with this purchase. I got the black paint one, with the round lens hood.
Good luck.

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