21mm prime on my SL2-S for landscape photography

[Adam_James]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello all,

     Heading for a trip to Madagascar in September and want a nice 21mm prime for landscape work.  I’ve got a rock solid tripod, but I’m looking for a good 21mm prime…

Been drooling over a 21mm Summilux, but not sure how it will perform for landscapes.  Looked at Super Elmar-M, and then a Biogon T, then Voigtlander Nokton, and am even now considering a C645 35mm Distagon.  Tough choice…. I currently own a Leica SL2-S, and will be purchasing an S3 next year.  I don’t want the Leica 16-35 Zoom or a WATE.  Looking for a nice 21mm prime.  What would you choose?

Thank you for your responses,

Adam

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[TeleElmar135mm]

For Landscapes the Super-Elmar (first choice if you have a M too). But if you need AF (o.k. not very important for landscapes) wait for the long awaited Apo-SL Summicron or buy meanwhile one of the Sigmas (or the Panasonic 18mm) and sell them when the Apo ist out.

[LeicaR10]

Adam_James,   I sent you a link on the subject Contax 645 and L mount as its been discussed before on the forum.  Based on my experience, the M 21 Super Elmar is most excellent on the SL2 for landscapes.  I use it when I need to hike long distance in rough terrain and I don't want to carry the SL lenses.  I am certain others will chime in with their ideas.  r/ Mark

PS  The Contax 645 Zeiss lens should work quite well on the S3 with the adapter.  You can find out more about third party lenses on the S cameras on the S forum threads.  

Edited June 9, 2023 by LeicaR10

[Darrell]

The 21mm SEM is my go to lens for landscape. The Leica 16-35mm zoom would be superior, but is more weight than I want to carry around.

[Simone_DF]

Sigma offers two 20mm options in f1.4 and f2 variants. Both are most likely sharper than any adapted lens, including the SEM. The f1.4 version is optimized for astrophotography. 

Laowa has also a 20mm f4 shift lens in native L mount. 

[Ken Abrahams]

21 SEM is a favourite lens which I have used for landscape work in the past. Fantastic lens and really nice on the SL2S. I know you said that you weren't interested in the 16-35 Super Vario Elmar. It is a great lens and one can "go wider" when the 21 SEM cannot. I agree however if I had a choice between the 21 SEM and the SVE 16-35, I would choose the 21 SEM. 

 

[Adam_James]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Thank you everyone for your responses so far.  I value this community immensely.  I guess my only ‘hang up’ with using Contax 645 lenses, is that I used to shoot Contax 645, and I got some amazing shots with the Distagon 35mm F3.5

Edited June 9, 2023 by Adam_James

[Stuart Richardson]

Lens design has come a long way…

I tried my friend’s 21mm Super Elmar M on my SL2 vs my Sigma 24mm 3.5. The Sigma was sharper across the frame, though the Leica was slightly sharper on center. The Sigma is a very well built metal lens that costs under 600 dollars. If you are more concerned with performance and value than brand name, those Sigma wides are pretty amazing. I am sure Leica’s upcoming apo summicron will beat it, but in the meantime…

[Stuart Richardson]

Regarding hang ups around older lenses…I have a Hasselblad 203FE with the lovely FE lenses including the 110mm f2, which was one of my favorite lenses of all time. When I started shooting the S system I intended to use those lenses to fill out my kit. Unfortunately the Leica S lenses were so much better that it was unbelievable. The V lenses had lots of chromatic aberrations and softness, and the S lenses were sharper wide open than the V lenses stopped down in most cases. 
The SL lenses are even better. That’s why I steered you away from the Contax in the other thread. Not because it is bad, but because the Leica lenses now are so extraordinary. 

[Adam_James]

Thank you Stuart.  I’ll figure this one out.  Who knows, Leica may introduce the 21mm Summicron next week, and all my problems will melt away…. (Back to reality)

[Virob]

I went through the same decision and settled on the Sigma 20/2. If the Sigma 20/1.4 was available at the time, I might have gone for it instead, but I don’t need 1.4 for landscapes and could do without the larger filter size. Stopped down for landscape work it as sharp as anything available. The only real negative is It does have a noticeable amount of vignetting which doesn’t fully disappear when stopped down.

[trickness]

21 SEM is a stunning lens and relatively inexpensive too. Love mine to bits

[Genoweffa]

Zeiss 21

Older or Milvus...same optics

[KenTanaka]

On 6/9/2023 at 1:32 AM, Adam_James said:

Hello all,

     Heading for a trip to Madagascar in September and want a nice 21mm prime for landscape work.  I’ve got a rock solid tripod, but I’m looking for a good 21mm prime…

Been drooling over a 21mm Summilux, but not sure how it will perform for landscapes.  Looked at Super Elmar-M, and then a Biogon T, then Voigtlander Nokton, and am even now considering a C645 35mm Distagon.  Tough choice…. I currently own a Leica SL2-S, and will be purchasing an S3 next year.  I don’t want the Leica 16-35 Zoom or a WATE.  Looking for a nice 21mm prime.  What would you choose?

Thank you for your responses,

Adam

My vote: the Sigma 24mm f/3.5 DG DN Contemporary..  Small, light, built to take punishment, very sharp clean image with good corners, and relatively inexpensive.  If/when you decide to replace it one day your pillow won’t  be too wet for too long.

[Camaro5]

I used the 21 SEM when I had several different M's and it was one of my favorite lenses.  Since going to the SL2-S I wanted a lens for astro & night sky and got a Sigma 20mm 1.4 DG DN Art lens that I also use for landscapes.  In multi-shot mode the Sigma is as good as anything and at much lower price.  It also has auto-focus if you need it.  Single shots look great as well.  I might've gone with a 21 SEM if it was faster than 3.4 but that was a deal breaker for me. 

This is the Colorado River in Page, AZ above Glen Canyon Dam.  Multi-shot mode on an SL2-S & Sigma 20mm.

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Paul2660]

Sigma has taken leaps forward with their recent lenses.  Both the 20mm 1.4 and now the 14mm 1.4 are excellent both in optical range and value.  The 14mm is sharp corner to corner by F2 and at F 1.4 is almost coma free (corners are still bothered by it, but can easily be cropped out due to 14mm focal length).  The 14mm is huge and heavy, but Sigma provides a removable lens foot (pre Arca cut LOVE that).  They have a rear filter mount that can take ND filters (1) filter and several companies are making filters for this lens.  Halida is working on a front mount for the 14mm (apparently you can't use a CL-PL in the rear mount due to focus issues).  The 20mm can take normal threaded filters.  

I realize that many are drawn to Leica for the optics, as I am.  But ultra wide fast lens  in 35mm format is not current in the Leica line up.   

If the 21mm Leica becomes reality, I am sure many will flock to it, but it will be interesting to see how the 20mm 1.4 Sigma and the 21mm Leica compare.  

Both the 14mm and 20m Sigma also offer a focus lock feature, which for night photography is a great asset with a mirrorless camera since there is no hard stop @ infinity and it's easy to push the lens past the best focus point in the dark. 

 

Paul 

[Ken Abrahams]

I have collected a few lenses over the years including the 21 SEM, 50 APO, VE 90-280 SL, APO 35 SL and about six other Leica M lenses. I am not sure how the 35 Sigma DG DN got into my portfolio of lenses but on my first use, I discovered this lens must have missed out on the technological advancements over at Sigma because it's not a lens I can ever use.

I will always be a huge fan of the 21 SEM, it's a lens that continually surprises me with its sharpness. I have tried the 21 Summilux lens however I could never justify the use of a "fast" landscape lens which was a primary usage at the time. Will I get the 21 APO SL? Probably not but only because of the demand outweighing the supply and the likelihood of stores not having stock. I began using the 21 SEM on the M Monochrom, then the SL, M10M and now SL2 and SL2S. With very new camera iteration this lens seems to offer up more and more (creative dimensions)

Happy shooting  

[Eclectic Man]

On 8/8/2023 at 8:13 PM, Paul2660 said:

hard stop @ infinity

My old Summilux R 50mm lens has a hard stop just past 'infinity' focus, presumably to allow for temperature expansion and contraction.  So you should probably not rely on manual focus lenses focus stop for infinity focus.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[JCR33]

I have used this on many trips, loving it. Not expensive and fairly compact for travelling.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

 

[Sandokan]

Try a lens with shift so it easily covers the medium format. The Summilux has hard vignetting. 

I have the Venus Optic 20mm in F mount with adaptors for the SL and Hasselblad. 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1699932-REG/venus_optics_ve2040n_laowa_20mm_f_4_zero_d.html