21mm's for the M8

[mark-b]

I'm seriously thinking about getting a 21mm lens for my M8 (which would be an equivalent 28mm focal length because of the 1.3 crop factor). The 21mm Elmarit seems to be the logical choice, but are there other alternatives in terms of performance that will do just as good? How is the Zeiss 21mm Biogon?

I'd love to hear your experience with the 21mm Elmarit, and other makes.

Thanks to all

 

[Artorius]

I am really liking the CV Color-Skopar f/4. Nice and small, and as a plus, if you have the 15/4.5 Aspherical Super-Wide Heliar, you can use the 21mm viewfinder for both.

 

[mark-b]

Art, thanks for the info on the F/4 Skopar. I'm assuming it's a 21mm. Do you have any photographs made with that lens?

 

[Artorius]

Art, thanks for the info on the F/4 Skopar. I'm assuming it's a 21mm. Do you have any photographs made with that lens?

Not any I can post yet, but there are a bunch on Flicker. Just enter CV 21 Color-Skopar and you will be amazed at what this lens can do.

 

[mark-b]

I'm there! Thanks again, Art =)

 

[Doug]

Mark, it seems we have an embarrassment of riches in the 21mm arena; all excellent choices. Look at size, speed, cost, 6-bit coding, and other issues. There are two Zeiss 21mm Biogons... an f/4.5 and an f/2.8. The f/4.5 is said to have the least rectilinear distortion, but it's also the slowest of them, and very compact. There's also two Leica 21mm Elmarits, with the more recent one being an Elmarit-ASPH. There's reviews of many of these at www.reidreviews.com, a subscripton site.

 

[Roger Hicks]

And don't forget the Summilux, which is stunning. Pity it's $5995...

I own the 21/4 Voigtländer (tiny) and a 21/2.8 Kobalux (also sold as Pasinon and others -- fast enough for most purposes), and have owned or used 21/4.5 Biogons old and new (virtually zero distortion but too slow for my taste), 21/2.8 pre-aspheric Elmarit (excellent but it was stolen from me in Russia), 21/2.8 Biogon, 16-18-21 Tri-Elmar and (not in Leica fit) 21/4 Nikkor. All are very good to excellent so it comes down to price and speed.

If price were no object I'd probably go for the Tri-Elmar (the slow speed is outweighed by having the other focal lengths) and if I used 21mm more I might just go for the Summilux (which I currently have on loan). As it is, the Voigtländer is tiny and so cheap that I carry it without really thinking, and the Kobalux is the lens I use when I really want a 21mm -- but I'm not a great 21mm user.

With 21mm finders, Zeiss are the easy winners.

Of course if you're willing to consider a 24mm (for which, after all, you have a built-in finder) the Summilux is this time the out-and-out winner if you need speed.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Grober]

I bought a new non-ASPH Elmarit 21mm lens in my M6 days and see no reason to ever sell it.

It's effectively a 28mm lens on my M8. When on the M8, I use the 28 lines of the excellent Zeiss 25/28 aux. finder. (I sent my Elmarit to Leica Service for proper 6-bit coding.)

Alas, the front of the 21mm Elmarit is rather large and it does take a non-standard, hard-to-find 60mm filter, but its optical performance has never let me down.

IF using any auxiliary finder with any 21mm lens is too bothersome for you, migrate up to any Leica 24mm -- I drool over the new Elmar-M! -- and use the supplied frames inside the M8.

-g

 

[mark-b]

Doug, riches are what I'm after....the knowledge kind I did not know there are 2 types of 21mm Biogon. I'm more inclined to opt for less distortion than a faster lens, and besides, most of my work is in daylight. I will have to read up on the review, comparing them with the 21mm Elmarit. The Elmarit is past my spending budget, and I wonder if the Biogon is comparable. Thanks

Roger, the Summilux has been priced beyond my reach I'm starting to narrow it down to either the 21 Elmarit or the 21 Biogon. Thanks for your wisdom on this, sir!

Grober, I'd pick up a non-aspherical 21 Elmarit if I knew I could get one practically new are you sure you won't be selling yours soon? haha, just kidding. Thank you

 

[Bébèrt]

A few Paris street shots with the Voiglander Color Skopar 21/f4, the poor man's Elmarit.

 

[jev]

I bought Avenon/Kobalux 21mm f2.8 in japan
one of my favorite lenses for wide shooting, also very useful for any infrared work

Price paid about $600
B&W UV IR filter 58mm

 

[Tom Niblick]

I use a 21/2.8 Zeiss Biogon. It's a nice lens. I had to get a 28mm mount from Zeiss because it brought up the 50mm frame. I think the newer ones come with the proper 28 mount. I then sent it to DAG for codeing. In all the process took about 3 weeks and cost about $125.

 

[mark-b]

Jev, Bebert and Tom Niblick, thanks for the sample photos, they're very helpful!

 

[Krosya]

Another vote for Avenon/Kobalux. Read here about it's performace on M8

 

[akiralx]

Doug, riches are what I'm after....the knowledge kind I did not know there are 2 types of 21mm Biogon. I'm more inclined to opt for less distortion than a faster lens, and besides, most of my work is in daylight. I will have to read up on the review, comparing them with the 21mm Elmarit.

I have the Zeiss 21 f/4.5 C Biogon. Note the C - means Classic as well as Compact, so gives a nostalgic look. Brilliant lens, superbly rich saturated colours, ideal for outdoors and travel when you may not need speed.

 

[jaapv]

The Zeiss 28/2.8 Biogon is rated higher that the Leica 21/2.8 asph by Erwin Puts. Fwiiw.

 

[Ben Z]

I have the pre-aspheric 21 Elmarit, and the Voitlander Skopar (the screwmount version). Performance-wise I'd say the difference is that the Elmarit has 2.8 and is at least twice the size. At one time I did own the aspheric Elmarit, but did not see enough difference between it and the pre-aspheric, so I sold the more expensive lens and put the money to other use. I probably should've kept the lens and sold it now, for quite a bit more.

 

[mark-b]

Hi Ben; I kinda figured that the difference between aspheric and pre-aspheric wasn't all that noticeable. The size difference would have played a big part if I were in your shoes...opting for the smaller lens as you did.

Hi jaapv; that's surprising to hear Thanks for the info!

akiralx, what a great example from the 21mm 1:4.5 Biogon! Lovely work

 

[thomasw_]

OP, a great vintage 21 is the Leica Super Angulon 21/3,4.

 

[Avotius]

I use a 21/2.8 Zeiss Biogon. It's a nice lens. I had to get a 28mm mount from Zeiss because it brought up the 50mm frame. I think the newer ones come with the proper 28 mount. I then sent it to DAG for codeing. In all the process took about 3 weeks and cost about $125.

I just got myself a 21 2.8 biogon, you are right, it brings up the 28mm lines on my M6.