Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 9, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just bought the 28 elmarit and I am not happy with results. I use it on my MP but I don't see the Leica look I thought I would see... Even in f/22 nothing looks sharp. What do I do wrong? Tried it with iso 400, 1600, 3200 and I compared it with my 50 lens shots, iso 400. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 9, 2008 Posted November 9, 2008 Hi Catherine Chryss, Take a look here Shots with Elmarit 28 2,8 look dull.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jrh68uk Posted November 9, 2008 Share #2 Posted November 9, 2008 Hi, Is this a new Elmarit Asph? I have one and it is bitingly sharp in both film and digital. I bought it new and, I have to say, it does back-focus just a tiny bit. Not enough to worry me really, since it's still on the front-side of the depth of field and, at f/2.8, it's still perfectly sharp enough. It's just that focus extends backwards a little but not forwards when wide open. I can compensate if necessary (not required so far) and, stopped down it's undetectable. It's the sharpest, most highly detailed lens I have ever used. It's easy to tell if yours is out of adjustment in this regard. Just set the camera on a tripod, take a frame at the position that the r/f tells you is correct, then turn the focus a small amount each way and repeat. If one of the other frames is sharper then your lens will need adjustment (or your camera's r/f, though I gather from your post that it's accurate with other lenses, which would tend to rule that out). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted November 9, 2008 These are some samples! You can see the differencies between the 50 elmar lens and the 28 elmarit. Is there a possibility of a not perfect mount? I clicked it to be sure but the results are the same... 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/67971-shots-with-elmarit-28-28-look-dull/?do=findComment&comment=710242'>More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted November 9, 2008 These are the 28 elmarit shots! 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/67971-shots-with-elmarit-28-28-look-dull/?do=findComment&comment=710250'>More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted November 9, 2008 hi jrh68uk! Thanks for being interested in my problem... I hope there is no problem with that lens... How does someone adjust a lens? What should I do if there is actually that problem??? And hey, pleeeeease, could you upload some of your pics to see how sharp they are? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tourmie green Posted November 9, 2008 Share #6 Posted November 9, 2008 Hi Catherine. Just wanted to say that a 28mm is the "right" wide angle for you;the composition of both those full frame examples featured is first class.Did you say which version of 28mm lens you have? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #7 Posted November 9, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for your good words! I needed it right now... Lens is the newest Elmarit-M 1:2.8/28mm ASPH. Guess is the one for the M8 too... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tourmie green Posted November 9, 2008 Share #8 Posted November 9, 2008 Both your featured pictures are quite grainy which suits the mood of the setting;are you processing and printing your own negatives? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eckart Posted November 9, 2008 Share #9 Posted November 9, 2008 Cathrine, very good shots by the way:) The pictures are quite grainy but the don't look dull to me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #10 Posted November 9, 2008 No, I give the films for processing... I just scan them... So what do you think? Is it a lens problem or you find it natural? Is this how a 28 elmarit is supposed to look??? Thanks for the compliments! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted November 9, 2008 Share #11 Posted November 9, 2008 Its a bit hard to tell, with the scans and the way you have handled them being on the ordinary (almost cell phone) side. What is your scanning procedure? The large images are 144, and 148k, and to be honest just look like unprocessed flat silver based scans, highly compressed. Are you used to looking at C41 scans? The smaller sized images are actually bigger file sizes but are still unpresentably post processed or displayed. The 28Elmarit should be staggeringly good for the sort of work you have displayed and the conditions you are using it in. The farmer should be a cracker of an image. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted November 9, 2008 Share #12 Posted November 9, 2008 Hi Catherine, So, are the first two pics your 50mm and the subsequent (sheep) ones the 28mm? The only real difference I see is in contrast, not sharpness. I don't believe there's anything wrong with your lens. Is the second image a 100% view of the first 50mm frame? It is no sharper (I'd say it's less sharp) than the enlarged view of the man with sheep. But it does have more contrast. Now, given that the 28 Elmarit Asph is one of the most contrasty of Leica's lenses, this difference will be more down to film processing/scanning/post-processing. Which brings me to your subject line - that you say the images look "dull". Are you sure you mean lacking in sharpness, or are you perceiving higher contrast (of the images from the 50) as greater sharpness? How are you scanning your film, and what do you do to it once scanned, if anything? I know it's not comparing like with like, strictly speaking, as the only images I can show you right now with this lens have been taken on my M8. Have a look at Leica Akademie - a set on Flickr where the first 15 were taken with the 28 Elmarit Asph and the rest with the 50 Cron. Cheers, Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #13 Posted November 9, 2008 I do a regular scanning with no USM. No dust removal, no backlight. I just get the original stuff... At 3200 dpi. That's it. But you can see the shot from the elmar 50 lens is more sharp. Same developer, same scanner. (Epson V7700) Is there a problem with the mounting of the lens or it would not look like that? Would you say they look sharp or soft focus??? Is that the "contrasty look" I read about this lens??? Heeeeelp! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #14 Posted November 9, 2008 let me clear some things: First photo with the house is from the elmar 50 lens. Scanned in Epson 7700. The large photo of the house is an expert from the actual size of the photo, taken with quick shot of a mac computer!!! Second photo with the man is with 28 elmarit (scanned in Epson 7700) and largest photo taken with with quick shot of mac. Third photo scanned in Epson 7700. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Chryss Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #15 Posted November 9, 2008 These are some more samples, in close ups! First photo from elmar 50 lens. Second with table, with Elmarit 28. What do you think? As I see it, there is a soft focus problem with Elmarit 28, no? 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/67971-shots-with-elmarit-28-28-look-dull/?do=findComment&comment=710432'>More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted November 9, 2008 Share #16 Posted November 9, 2008 But you can see the shot from the elmar 50 lens is more sharp. I'm afraid I can't. The enlarged view of the church is not sharper than the enlarged view of the man; in fact I'd say it's actually slightly less sharp. Look at the detail, rather than the contrast which gives a false impression of sharpness. The church may look sharper at first glance as it has higher contrast, yet the actual detail level at 100% (if that's what it is) is not that high at all. Some of that may be down to jpeg compression in your resulting file. There is nothing wrong with your lens or its mount from what I can see. It does not appear to be out of whack at all. If I just scan my film and leave everything on auto (and this is with a dedicated film scanner) then I will sometimes get scans which lack contrast, and sometimes it will be exagerated. It depends on so many factors. As with any scanner, you need to make appropriate adjustments pre-and post-scan in order to get the best results. Your scanner has opted for a relatively high contrast image of the church but relatively lower contrast for the others. Try adding a small amout of unsharp mask to your scans and playing with levels/curves. The differences you are seeing appear to be more down to what happens after the exposure has been made than anything else. Certainly, your 28mm is no less sharp (from these images) than your 50. Can you try slide film and examine with a loupe? Cheers, Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted November 9, 2008 Share #17 Posted November 9, 2008 As I see it, there is a soft focus problem with Elmarit 28, no? Assuming you were focusing on the part of the table closest to the lens, no. You've just thrown most of the frame out of focus as it's behind the nearest corner of the table. The leaves are higher in contrast but no sharper than the wood detail of the table. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergio44 Posted November 9, 2008 Share #18 Posted November 9, 2008 Hi! I see more a lack of depth of field for a wide angle lens than real softness. On the other hand the photo of the table like the photo of the man seem to suffer from the "flatness" of digital cameras. The table in the focus area looks ok to me; the out of focus part of the photo look glued to the table with little transition. What camera are you using? It would be much easier to understand the problem - if any - if you would be so kind as to take 2 photos of the same subject on a tripod. Kind regards Sergio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted November 9, 2008 Share #19 Posted November 9, 2008 I cant see anything throught the poor quality of your scan and the obvious depth of field. Probably a good thing to do would be to run a few rolls of C41 and get them printed, then scan them yourself and see how you go with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbelyaev Posted November 10, 2008 Share #20 Posted November 10, 2008 There is definitely nothing wrong with the lens. I'm sorry to admit this, but the images are poorly exposed/developed. It is much easier to give the film for processing to someone, but, as you see, the results are poor. You may want to do yourself a favor, buy a small tank for film processing (Paterson) and a bottle of Rodinal and any fixer. (it will cost 30-40usd) Expose a roll of delta 100 @ 64, and develop in Rodinal 1+25, 68f, gentle agitation every 30", for 6 min. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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