24mm 2.8 ASPH

[greenaa]

Hi everyone,

I have the chance to buy a good used 24mm 2.8 ASPH

Have been looking for something wider than 35mm to use on my M8

Any advice on this lens?

Thank you,

ACG

 

[rickp]

it has a reputation as one of leica's best M lenses, i believe. have a look at the puts site here: http://www.imx.nl/photo/ for confirmation. you could also search at flickr or other site for photos made with this lens.
good luck
rick

 

[leicashot]

yeah buy it if you want a 24mm 2.8. what other advice would you need right now?

 

[philosomatographer]

It's the best 24mm lens you could possibly put on your M8 (but not by much). Because it is a retrofocus lens (similar to SLR lenses), it's better suited to a digital sensor in the corners than the Zeiss Biogon ZM 25mm f/2.8 (which I would much rather use on film, but which some believe performs equally or even better than the Leica 24mm ASPH when it comes to evenness across the frame).

The 24mm f/1.4 Summilux might be better in some parameters of image quality, and has f/1.4 light-gathering power, but is ludicrously expenive, and has comparatively high levels of distortion. It's also gigantic by comparison, no longer enjoying the advantages of the rangefinder philosophy.

There's really not nothing much more to say, the 24mm f/2.8 is one of Leica's best performing lenses - if the fact that Erwin Puts consistently uses it to prove maximum resolution figures on slow-speed microfilm is anything to by, at least.

If you ever upgrade to a film Leica M or an M9, you'll have to get an annoying external finder (and an SLR will really start to look appealing, i.e. an Olympus OM with a 24mm f/2.0 is smaller, with close focusing and accurate framing), but on your M8, you can use the built-in 24mm frame lines.
Enjoy it!

 

[greenaa]

Thank you

Thank you

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I guess I was hesitating because of the size and because the 28mm 2.8 ASPH new is a little less still than the price of the 24mm 2.8 used.

Best Regards,

ACG

 

[Nando]

Gorgeous lens! I struggled to decide between the Zeiss 25mm Biogon ZM and the 24mm Elmarit-M ASPH. I went for the Elmarit and had no regrets. The Zeiss is a fine lens but I prefer how the Elmarit renders at larger apertures and contre jour scenes.

 

[peter_n]

It's a terrific lens to use. I use mine on a film camera and the external VF isn't a big deal. It's not big and the lens hood doesn't obstruct too much of the viewfinder. I love the full-frame perspective of the lens and often travel with it as a complement to my 35 and 75. If you move to an M9 someday you'll really appreciate it.

 

[greenaa]

Question on M9

Question on M9

Peter -

You mention moving to an M9.... but that would require the external viewfinder, right? Or I'm guessing some shoot without it and get used to estimating the framing through the M9 built-in viewfinder?

I know there are 24mm framelines on the M8 but not on the M9.....

Thank you,

ACG

 

[Jeicob]

It's a winner!

Let's have a 1:1 pixel crop:

And I used it for most of the pictures in my gallery

 

[peter_n]

You mention moving to an M9.... but that would require the external viewfinder, right? Or I'm guessing some shoot without it and get used to estimating the framing through the M9 built-in viewfinder?

I know there are 24mm framelines on the M8 but not on the M9.....

Yes in theory you'll need an external VF and the all-metal Panasonic is the best of the bunch. I understand some can, with practice, estimate the coverage but I don't have a problem with external finders. I know others do.

 

[kzphoto]

My only complaint with this lens is the size of the lens hood. It feels too big in comparison with the rest of the lens. I wish Leica would update the external housing of the lens to take one of their newer screw-on hoods. Or make an f/2 version with the same optical characteristics.

Regardless, The 24/2.8 ASPH is my favorite optic. The colors this lens can produce will render beautifully on film or digital.

I use the lens on a Hexar RF and an M7. The external viewfinder isn't an issue for the Hexar -- I just use the whole window and it's quite accurate.

Examples are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xbleh/tags/24elmarit28/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xbleh/tags/24elmaritm/

 

[tightsqueez]

Had the 24/2.8 for about 10 years and it was a joy to use; it's a hard lens to fault. Rarely ever used the hood, as flare was never an issue.

Examples:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70355737@N00/tags/leicaelmarit24mmf28asph/

 

[ChrisC]

Here's a different take on the lens combined with M8.

It was my only lens, and a carefully considered purchase; a lens bought for life. What drove me nuts with the M8 was having the substantial rectangle of the 35mm twinned frame-line dominating the 24 image framing view. Without a doubt, the visual noise of the 35mm twinned frame negatively effected my 24mm's images and considerably spoilt the experience of working with it.

Unfortunately my finances forced me to the sell the lens, but with hindsight, if I were again opting for a wider angle than 35mm on the M8 I'd suggest that the 28mm focal length has far superior viewfinder framing and is a more natural companion for the M8 than the 24mm focal length.

The lens is small and good with a deserved reputation, but if you prefer to stop down [and I do] Leica's slower 24mm lens is probably a [marginally] better option, and the Zeiss 25 has earned a very good reputation amongst discerning users. Strangely though, I never had the immediate emotional relationship with opening my Leica 24mm files that I regularly have in first viewing of my Zeiss 35mm C-Biogon files.

............... Chris