Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/10/24

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Subject: [Leica] BIG new Leica
From: roark.paul at gmail.com (Paul Roark)
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2015 12:23:29 -0700
References: <000101d10ddb$f4bf9450$de3ebcf0$@verizon.net> <D25141D8.4AF7A%mark@rabinergroup.com> <0cb101d10e8a$3ace0130$b06a0390$@mcmaster.fr> <009e01d10e8d$f4c2cdc0$de486940$@verizon.net>

I added the SUPER ELMAR-M 1:3,4/21mm ASPH to the comparison stack, below:

http://www.paulroark.com/Loxia-v-Leica-21-f28-SEM.tif

No doubt the SEM is the sharpest and smallest modern 21.  I have the ELMAR-M
24 mm f/3.8 ASPH, which I use as my "reference" wide angle on an M9.  The
Loxia, at f/2.8, however is faster and has a good 3/4 stop less
vignetting/light falloff.

I used the Biogon C 21mm on the M9 -- for B&W.  (It is not appropriate for
color shooting due to bad magenta color at the edges.)  It's sharp, but the
vignetting was significant -- about like the SEM 21.  I found heavily "red
filtered" (in Photoshop) blue skies got noticeably more grainy at the edges
with the M9.  So, that light falloff issue is a relevant factor in the
calculus.

The WATE is my only good superwide that will fit on the Sony.  More speed
and better wide open performance is what I'm interested in with the Loxia
21.  We'll see.  If it's a turkey, it'll be returned.  It will not be
shipped until December.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

On Sat, Oct 24, 2015 at 11:58 AM, Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net>
wrote:

> In my use of the lenses, the 50 ASPH Lux is the best. Period.  I can see
> the
> difference.
> The 21 and 24 SEM are VERY close to each other.
> The WATE is about as good as the 21, side by side, and offers the ability
> to
> have wider if you want/need.  Great for stitched Panoramas.
>
> Then again, YMMV, and this is all on a M9 body.
>
> I do not use a 28.. too close to the 35 in angle of view for me.  So no
> comment on the 28's, ASPH or not.
> The 28 Cron was wonderful on the M8.... but that body is gone too.
>
> I had a 35 ASPH Cron and did not cotton to the lens.  I have friends who
> love it..
>
> The 21 and 24 ASPH Elmarits are all to big physically (BIG front elements)
> for travel purposes, given the choice of the SEMs.
> Faster, yes, but you need to make it all fit in a small camera bag....
>
> If someone is in the mood to buy a 24 ASPH Elmarit, please contact me....
>
> Frank Filippone
> Red735i at verizon.net
>
>
> I think the Leica 21mm Super-Elmar-M f/ 3.4 ASPH Lens is better!
>
>
> On 10/23/15 5:44 PM, "Frank Filippone" <red735i at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> > The 21 and 24 SEM are similar to the 50 ASPH Lux (and the WATE!).  I
> > can pick out images from those lenses from others in my stable....
> >
> > It may be that the optical characteristics of the most modern lenses
> > are similar.... design tools?  Intentional design compromises?  Purely
> chance?
> >
> > Frank Filippone
> > Red735i at verizon.net
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+red735i=verizon.net at leica-users.org] On
> > Behalf Of John McMaster
> > Sent: Friday, October 23, 2015 2:40 PM
> > To: 'Leica Users Group'
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] BIG new Leica
> >
> > The 21mm SEM beats the Elmarit asph in all areas IMO. I would say that
> > the S range is Leica's still lens showcase range ;-)
> >
> > john
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > ?Yes, everything is a whole set of compromises.  I assume Leica and
> > Zeiss will both continue to make optics that also cater to those who
> > value
> compactness.
> > The M line is Leica's current showcase of what it can do.  It may be
> > that the Loxia line for the Sony is representative of what Zeiss can
> > do for that platform.
> >
> > Since wide angle optics are the main area of my concern regarding the
> > Sony line, I was curious just how much of a penalty that platform will
> > pay.  To show this, I made a Tiff file with a cutout of the Leica v.
> > Zeiss Loxia 21mm
> > f/2.8 entries into this competition shown on different layers.  The
> > images are adjusted to equalize size and distance from the sensor/film.
> > Some might find looking at the two similar optics interesting.
> > Download the Tiff from
> > http://www.paulroark.com/Loxia-v-Leica-21-f28.tif
> >
> > As to relative sharpness, all we have are MTF curves that are not
> > necessarily comparable.  If they are to be believed, the Zeiss wins by
> > a hair.  My experience is that Leica is more conservative in these, and
> in
> > the real world Leica might well win by a hair.   The main and more
> > objective measure of performance that could be important is that,
> > consistent with the performances we see in other wide angle lenses,
> > the more retrofocus optic has less vignetting. Zeiss is claiming light
> > falloff at f/2.8 that is equal to the Leica at f/8.
> >
> > Paul
> > www.PaulRoark.com
> >
>
>
>
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>
>
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Replies: Reply from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] BIG new Leica)
In reply to: Message from red735i at verizon.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] BIG new Leica)
Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] BIG new Leica)
Message from john at mcmaster.fr (John McMaster) ([Leica] BIG new Leica)
Message from red735i at verizon.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] BIG new Leica)