Elmarit M 28mm 3rd vs 4th edition?

[George Stoichev]

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Hi everyone,

I want to buy Elmarit M28mm. I’m hesitating between 3rd and 4th generation.Any recommendations? Pros &

cons.?

[sarav]

I was in same situation years ago and I ended buying v3. I liked out-of-focus a lot more. It's a very light lens but is a bit large, I don't mind but someone do. There's a bit of light falloff toward the corners (vignetting) with bright blu sky. Sharpness is amazing, colours are full and pop, I mostly use it in B&W with high-speed film....fantastic!

[adan]

V.3 - bulkier than v.4 (that big, thick bull nose) but actually slightly lighter weight (~10g). That's without lens hoods mounted - with hoods mounted, both are quite bulky, especially compared with the 28mm ASPH v.1. Both can be 6-bit updated for digital use.

V.3 - takes 49mm filters and thus can share filters with 75 APO-Summicron and 135 APO-Telyt.

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V.4 - takes 46mm filters, and thus can share filters with 75/90 Summarits, 90 Elmarit-M, 21 Super-Elmar, 35/50mm Summilux-ASPHs (and the new reproduction of the non-ASPH 35 Summilux "steel rim.") The v.4 is within a fraction of a mm the same size as the 28mm Summicron v.1, because Leica demanded the 28 Summicron be the same size when designing it.

Imaging

- the absolute resolution is pretty similar, but the v.4 has more contrast and higher MTF than the v.3.

- the v.3 color is usually in line with the slightly cool blue-green bias of Dr. Mandler's other Canadian lens designs (75mm Summilux, 50 Summilux pre-ASPH, 21 Elmarit-M, 135 Elmarit-M, etc.) - but see below. The v.4 is a tiny bit warmer yellow-orange.

Personally I've always liked the Mandler (v.3) contrast and color. But the most recent v.3 I found was substantially bluer (and thus less green) than my previous copies, and also had a tendency for internal flare around bright spotlights and such in the pictures (either sample variation, or just 30+ years of aging).

So I currently have a v.4, and am just a little more careful when dealing with high-contrast lighting (intense sunny days).

[grahamc]

I am not all that familiar with the v4 , but can say that I borrowed a v3 once and was astounded but he images it produced.  If I ever need one it will be the v3

I shot it alongside 35:2 v4 and 50;2 v4, and to echo @adan's point .. the colours an contrast were beautifully matched.   

So if you are familiar with the rendering of those 35/50lenses hopefully this helps!

[RexGig0]

The Version III most certainly can flare, as adan mentioned. The shooter can use this flare creatively. I have found this flare to be reasonably predictable, so, not a negative/con, but, if I had to shoot a 28mm lens in a a documentary manner, in a range of conditions, I would select a modern 28mm lens. (I have never used the Version IV, so, cannot say whether it would be sufficiently “modern.”) 

To be clear, I wanted the Walter Mandler visual signature, in a 28mm M-mount lens, for specific creative reasons, so, bought the Version III. I knew that it could flare. The character of the flare was a pleasant surprise. 

Hypothetical shoot, at a real event: At 10:00 AM this morning, my wife, who is a Texas Master Naturalist, will be assisting with an educational “Tree Walk” at a nearby Nature Discovery Center. The area is wooded, and there will be harsh sunlight filtering through the trees. My Elmarit Version III can produce dramatically cinematic flare, in such conditions. If I were to be tasked with documenting this event, with clear, sharp images, with sharply-defined vegetation and people, I would not select the Elmarit Version III. My very modern Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 ZM, with its T* coating, would be the much better choice. My Leica Elmar-M 24mm ASPH would probably be another good lens for the task, though I have yet to test it in these conditions.

In the same place and conditions as the Tree Walk, I may well want to shoot creative images, using that lovely flare, taking advantage of the character of the Elmarit version III.

Disclaimer: I am certainly not any kind of expert, and am probably artless. My formal training was forensic/evidentiary/crime scene photography, with DSLRs, in APS-C format.

 

 

Edited February 4, 2023 by RexGig0

[sarav]

Probably flare is not the same on every sample. Mine is not so bad. I often use it with bright light inside boats, cars, tight places with high contrast scenes and pictures are almost perfect. Years ago I bought a couple of 135 APO Telyt-M and both did flare like crazy. I sold them and bought a Tele-Elmar 135, it's a jewel, at today I haven't seen any flare. All Walter Mandler  lenses are wonderful and some designs are technically almost perfect.