Leica Super-Elmar-S 24mm f/3.5 ASPH Is equivalent to what focal length on a Leica SL/SL2/SL2-S?

[Adam_James]

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Hello all,

     Focal length designation can be a little confusing, so I’m hoping someone can help me figure this out…

     I shoot a Leica SL2-S.  Next year I’ll be buying a Leica S3.  I shoot landscapes and currently looking for a 20 or 21mm lens for my Leica SL2-S.  If I were to buy the Leica Super-Elmar-S 24mm f/3.5 ASPH would that behave as a 24mm or a 19mm on my Leica SL2-S?  It’s a little confusing…

The Leica S has a crop factor of 0.8X. 0.8 x 24mm = 19.2mm, but that’s on the S body.  What about if you use it on a Leica SL2-S?

     I have a feeling it will behave like a 24mm, and since I already own the 24-90mm Zoom, it may be redundant.  Can anyone help me figure this out?

Thanks in advance,

Adam

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[Stuart Richardson]

It would work as a 24mm when used on 35mm. Big and heavy for the SL cameras, but the S lenses all work well on the SL cameras. I know I have responded to all your recent threads, but as good as the S lens is, it is likely more or less the same performance as the 24mm Sigma lenses have on 35mm while being nearly ten times the price and five times the weight. 

Edited June 9, 2023 by Stuart Richardson

[LeicaR10]

Adam_James,  The S-24 will behave like a 19mm FL.  Here is a link to a very good S lens guide written by David Farkas.  My decade plus with using all the S cameras and most of the S lenses for my business, I can say the S camera and certainly the lenses render unlike anything else out there.  Very cinematic and pure optical engineering genius as they use not optical firmware for correction.  My clients, albeit very demanding, would only purchase my fine art landscape prints made solely with the S camera and lenses.  I highly recommend if you buy a used S lens make sure the AF motor was updated and have the certificate with the lens.  If you are looking for two very good Leica stores that do have S lenses at a truly bargain prices, I suggest either Camera West/Leica Store San Francisco (same owner) or Leica Store Miami.  Try this link, the article will be very insightful.  r/ Mark

Try:  https://www.reddotforum.com/content/2020/04/the-definitive-guide-to-leica-s-lenses/

PS.  If you want to look at photographs taken with the various Leica S (S 24 link here) lenses then try this link:

Try:  https://onfotolife.com/lens_sample_photos?lens_id=342&page=1&focal_min=0&focal_max=800&aperture_min=0&aperture_max=32

Edited June 9, 2023 by LeicaR10

[Adam_James]

Mark,

Thanks for your response.  This photo bug really got stirred up from a recent trip to Turkey in 2021.  I got out of photography for 10 years or so.  Before that I traveled around Africa backpacking with a Contax 645 and 200+ rolls of slide film at any given point.  It was challenging to say the least, but the images were well worth it.  Now, after this this to Turkey, I’m very much back into photography.  I’m going back in September for 10 days, and then off to Madagascar for 14 days.  I’ve purchased an Alpa tripod that, with ballhead, pushes 10lbs or so, and trying to be as technical as I can to bring home amazing landscapes.  I will be able to afford an S3 next year, and start my lifelong aspiration of documenting Africa with the S3.  That’s the plan.  I appreciate all your responses, and I’m just having a difficult time trying to figure out what super wide angle (19mm-21mm) to pair with my SL2-S for now.  When I have my new S3 in my hands, the first lens I’ll buy will be the 24mm Super Elmar-S.  I want to travel with an SL2/SL3 and the S3 and use the best options from both systems…

-Adam

[LeicaR10]

Adam,  Great ambition and certainly a worthy project.  Perhaps shooting with a M 21 SEM or maybe even a M 18 SEM might be a very good and wise option for you.  The M lenses work great on the SL2-S with the M to L adapter.  That is what I shoot when I need to hike light. The S3 is superb especially with its OVF and tweaked red channel.  I used the S 24 a lot for my landscapes.  There are no off S lenses too.  Keep your eye out for the S3 that can be had for about $12 K in mint condition and even lower in price.  The S market is soft right now and a good time to buy both S lenses or pick up a mint S3.  I recently saw a used mint S3 on the Popflash site with Tony Rose.  It was a very good price too.  The S Lens Guide is a very good starting place to learn about lenses.  Last, the security landscape in Africa is constantly changing, so I highly suggest you be keenly aware before going any place on the continent.  If you have questions, you can drop me a PM on the forum and if I can help, I will do so.  r/ Mark

Edited June 9, 2023 by LeicaR10

[Eclectic Man]

Not sure that you are asking the right question.  In general, lenses are listed as having a focal length, and when not used on a Full Frame '35mm' sensor, the equivalent focal length for the Full Frame sensor is stated (as an approximation.  It is basically describing the field of view.  On an S camera, the 24mm lens gives a field of view equivalent to that provided by a 19mm lens on a 35mm camera. So it would act like a 24mm lens on an SL2/s.  If you want the same field of view on an SL camera as that provided by the 24mm on an S camera, then you want a 19mm lens.

See: https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/photography/lenses/s/super-elmar-s-24mm-f3-5-asph  where it states "The Leica Super-Elmar-S 24 f/3.5 ASPH. (19 mm in 35 mm format)"

For example, the Mamiya 7 43mm lens was described as being, on the Medium format Mamiya, equivalent to a 21mm lens on a 35mm camera.  On a 4x5 sheet film camera, a 90mm focal length lens is 'equivalent' to  a standard lens on a 35mm camera.

I hope this helps.

Edited June 9, 2023 by Eclectic Man
Clarity

[beewee]

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A 24mm lens will still have a 24mm FoV on a FF sensor assuming the image circle covers the entire FF sensor.

The 24mm lens from the S line has a larger image circle but it doesn’t change the FoV if you do not have a larger MF sensor (such as what is found in the S body) to take advantage of the larger image circle and get a wider FoV.

To keep things simple:

• Put the 24mm S lens on a SL body, you get 24mm FoV found on 35mm
• Put the 24mm S lens on a S body, you get 19mm equivalent FoV found on 35mm (note that you only multiply the crops factor once, not twice).

Edited June 9, 2023 by beewee

[Adam_James]

Thanks everyone!  I got it now.  24mm Super Elmar-S is out until I purchase an S3 next year