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Leica m 3.8/18 super-elmar


Arbo68

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Leica's actual press release now up on the DPReview site. Includes the new flash too.

note that AOV figures ARE quoted for 24x36 the same as all previous lenses.

 

I will put an SF58 on order this morning. Whilst I am delighted to see it, I have to say it's more than overdue. What on earth took Metz and Leica two and a half years to modify an existing flash (the 58 MZ i AF) for Leica cameras?

 

Wilson

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In marketing terms, I think this is one of the first times that really Leica makes an announcement TAKING INTO ACCOUNT their competitors... if they would have positioned this new lens' price too much above the Distagon 18, even with something "more" (say, 2,8 or 2,5 aperture), they would risk a flop and cannibalize at all the WATE, which I suspect doesn't make anyway good numbers; a "symbolically" larger aperture, together with asph elements, RF coupling, coding, brand name and a brilliant design can justify well the price gap with the Zeiss.

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In marketing terms, I think this is one of the first times that really Leica makes an announcement TAKING INTO ACCOUNT their competitors... if they would have positioned this new lens' price too much above the Distagon 18, even with something "more" (say, 2,8 or 2,5 aperture), they would risk a flop and cannibalize at all the WATE, which I suspect doesn't make anyway good numbers; a "symbolically" larger aperture, together with asph elements, RF coupling, coding, brand name and a brilliant design can justify well the price gap with the Zeiss.

 

Luigi,

 

I think the Zeiss 18 Distagon is RF coupled. I believe it is only the 15 Distagon which is not.

 

Wilson

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I'm registering an M8 that I purchased last month and trying to decide which 2 free filters to get. I might presumptively order a filter for the 18 super elmar since it is close to the top of my wish list. Does anyone know which filter size to order?

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I'm registering an M8 that I purchased last month and trying to decide which 2 free filters to get. I might presumptively order a filter for the 18 super elmar since it is close to the top of my wish list. Does anyone know which filter size to order?

 

There is a special filter holder for an E77 filter - start saving now. Hopefully John Milich will be doing an M8 filter for the crop sensor.

 

Wilson

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There is a special filter holder for an E77 filter - start saving now.

 

Wilson

So how come Zeiss can do an 18mm f4 with a 58mm filter thread? The Zeiss covers full-frame doesn't it? It just doesn't make sense to me to have such an unnecessarily large filter.

 

Unless I'm missing something that is...

 

Mark

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Hi Mark,

As I understand it, you can fit an IR filter glass into the lens hood, similar to the 21 and 24 Summiuluxes. The filter adapter is used if you want to fit other filters.
The UV/IR filter could be fitted between the lens and the hood. It should have a new screw system specially devoted to this Super-Elmar.

Look out the price then !

The filter-holder cost 75 euro in France (should be ~65 in Germany).

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Let me know when you figure out how to use the new SF58 flash with the 18mm lens.

The flash provides 18mm coverage. Am i missing something here?

For my 21mm ASPH and Metz, I need to use the flash off camera and cannot use the TTL flash setting because my 21 finder is on the accessory holder for the flash.-Dick

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Why are people assuming that the Super Elmar will use the filter system of the new Summilux lenses? Does someone have some information not included in the official press release? The Elmar 24 uses a normal screw in filter. It fits really neatly to the filter thread without interfering with the externally screwed on hood. The picture in the Leica newsletter announcement appears to show no room to sandwich in a non-screw in filter. I'm certainly looking forward to the first hands on report on this new lens.

Hi Mark,The UV/IR filter could be fitted between the lens and the hood. It should have a new screw system specially devoted to this Super-Elmar.

Look out the price then !

The filter-holder cost 75 euro in France (should be ~65 in Germany).

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(Deleted)

 

Bill (s'cuse: Wilson) Waidlaw is right - the official spec sheet is up at the Leica web site and the Super-Elmar requires the 77mm filter adapter.

 

[more edit] from the leica page/pdf "UV/ IR Filter: For LEICA M8 models there is a special UV/ IR filter (item no. 13 422), which is mounted between the lens and the lens hood." Still no precise size given.

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

Deal-killer...

 

Leica, let me give you a word of advice. The "unique selling proposition" of the Leica M is compact size - otherwise why would we put up with all the obvious weaknesses compared to SLRs?

 

If I want SLR-sized lenses (and a lens that requires a 77mm filter falls in that category) - I'll just get an SLR.

 

The Leica-M needs to get back to its roots: 39mm filters for general use, 46 for high-speed lenses, and a maximum filter size of 48/49mm (somehow the 21 Super-Angulons and 90 'crons of the 1960s-70s managed to work with no larger filters)

 

Especially for an f/3.8 lens. A 21 Elmarit is a longer focal length, with a larger relative and absolute aperture, and STILL manages to fit into a 55mm filter size.

 

Design target - all lenses take smaller-than-50mm filters unless the absolute aperture requires more (e.g. Noctilux)

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(Deleted)

 

Bill Waidlaw is right - the official spec sheet is up at the Leica web site and the Super-Elmar requires the 77mm filter adapter.

 

Just to put that in context, what the full text says is...

 

 

  • UV/ IR Filter: For LEICA M8 models there is a special UV/ IR filter (item no. 13 422), which is mounted between the lens and the lens hood.
  • Filter Holder. For compatibility with other filters there is the accessory holder for E77 filters, which is mounted where you would normally secure the lens hood (item no. 14 484).

Full details here...

 

http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/m_system/lenses/6291.html

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(Deleted)

 

Bill Waidlaw is right - the official spec sheet is up at the Leica web site and the Super-Elmar requires the 77mm filter adapter.

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

Deal-killer...

 

Leica, let me give you a word of advice. The "unique selling proposition" of the Leica M is compact size - otherwise why would we put up with all the obvious weaknesses compared to SLRs?

 

If I want SLR-sized lenses (and a lens that requires a 77mm filter falls in that category) - I'll just get an SLR.

 

The Leica-M needs to get back to its roots: 39mm filters for general use, 46 for high-speed lenses, and a maximum filter size of 48/49mm (somehow the 21 Super-Angulons and 90 'crons of the 1960s-70s managed to work with no larger filters)

 

Especially for an f/3.8 lens. A 21 Elmarit is a longer focal length, with a larger relative and absolute aperture, and STILL manages to fit into a 55mm filter size.

 

I agree. My WATE with its John Milich filter adapter manages on the M8 with a 49mm filter glass at 16mm f4, although I do understand that this vignettes on full frame film M's.

 

Wilson (not usually known as Bill except on this forum ;-}})

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I can see the spec sheet now. Thanks for the links. I was wrong thinking that the new Super Elmar would use the same filter arrangement as my Elmar 24.

This is a large disappointment for me. Looking at the distortion diagram, this lens seems to have similar characteristics there to the WATE as well. That is a disappointment for me too. Whether it makes any practical difference on the M8 I guess we shall see.

Actually the original press release now proves to be quite 'positive' in its description. I'll leave that alone.

Comparing the Super Elmar to the ZM the numbers are better except for the distortion figure. The ZM is 4mm larger diameter and takes 58mm filters. The Leica hood does look to be more effective certainly. But I can fit either the hood OR the supplied filter holder.

Rats!

Presumably the firmware will make a correction for a UV/IR filter and vignetting and I'm going to need an E77 UV/IR all the time for that to work. Rats, Rats.

 

I can only assume that Leica determined the smaller maximum diameter was worth the extra complication of this filter holder OR hood arrangement. Rats, Rats, Rats!

 

I wish they'd made the lens a tad fatter and used a normal screw in filter like Zeiss. Its not like any obstruction of the finder will be an issue when an external finder is compulsory. Perhaps my Distagon does produce unacceptable vignetting on 24x36. I've not tried it there.

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... But I can fit either the hood OR the supplied filter holder.

Rats!

Presumably the firmware will make a correction for a UV/IR filter and vignetting and I'm going to need an E77 UV/IR all the time for that to work. Rats, Rats. ....

 

 

On the Leica page they give the following description:

 

* UV/ IR Filter: For LEICA M8 models there is a special UV/ IR filter (item no. 13 422), which is mounted between the lens and the lens hood.

* Filter Holder. For compatibility with other filters there is the accessory holder for E77 filters, which is mounted where you would normally secure the lens hood (item no. 14 484).

 

This means, for UV/IR you don't need the E77 Filter instead of the hood but work with filter between lens and hood. I think, this is the same system as for the wide-angel summiluxes.

 

It will be more problematic though to use filters for film.

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OK thanks for that. I'm confused between this arrangement, the WATE arrangement, the new Summilux arrangement and the Elmar 24 arrangement. I'll see what this special filter costs and looks like as they become available.

On the Leica page they give the following description:

 

* UV/ IR Filter: For LEICA M8 models there is a special UV/ IR filter (item no. 13 422), which is mounted between the lens and the lens hood.

* Filter Holder. For compatibility with other filters there is the accessory holder for E77 filters, which is mounted where you would normally secure the lens hood (item no. 14 484).

 

This means, for UV/IR you don't need the E77 Filter instead of the hood but work with filter between lens and hood. I think, this is the same system as for the wide-angel summiluxes.

 

It will be more problematic though to use filters for film.

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... I'm confused between this arrangement, the WATE arrangement, the new Summilux arrangement and the Elmar 24 arrangement. ....

 

Right! Only Leica could invent four different filter/hood-mount systems for just four lenses. Let's hope for the great debates in the Historical Section of this forum for future generations.

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OK thanks for that. I'm confused between this arrangement, the WATE arrangement, the new Summilux arrangement and the Elmar 24 arrangement. I'll see what this special filter costs and looks like as they become available.

 

I believe that the price has been announced and I seem to remember hearing that the UV/IR filter is to cost around £125 in the UK.

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I believe that the price has been announced and I seem to remember hearing that the UV/IR filter is to cost around £125 in the UK.

Here the prices published for France (always a bit more expensive) in Euro:

11649 18mm lens : 2350,-

12463 Spare Hood : 195,-

14484 Filter Holder : 75,-

13422 UV Filter for 18mm : 165,-

12022 Viewer Black Paint : 659,-

12023 Viewer Chrome : 659,-

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