24mm Elmarit versus 28mm Elmarit

[JohnP]

Besides offering a slightly wider view, what advantage does the 24mm Elmarit present over its significantly less expensive sibling the 28mm?

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Quite frankly I don't think that the 24mm is preferable to the 28mm. If you are using an M6 your framelines only extend to 28mm. Adding a accessory viewfinder, for me, would be working against the benefits of using a rangefinder. It is IMHO that the rangefinder being a compact instrument should not have any accessories attached to it for street work. If one wanted to extend the range of the lens to 24mm (which I have done) the SLR would be the appropriate instrument. But, that is my opinion and it does limit me with a Nikon rangefinder.

 

[John Rountree]

Please correct me if I am wrong, since I don't own either lens. But, isn't it pretty well established that using the entire viewing window (beyond the 28 mm frame lines) is a pretty close equivalent to the 24 mm field of view?

 

[jackal2513]

Besides offering a slightly wider view, what advantage does the 24mm Elmarit present over its significantly less expensive sibling the 28mm?

how about the images produced look infinitely more sublime ?

 

[DwF]

24 vs 28

24 vs 28

The 24mm lens gets into wide-view territory. The 28mm lens is still a very useful all around lens for shooting people, places, things/situations etc. The 24mm field of view looks wide, which can be very useful but I would be careful going wider than 28mm without a purpose in terms of either function (architectural) or a look that you are trying to achieve.

What's cool about the 28 is that you can make it look and function pretty wide with care in framing, or manage a portrait again with some care not to distort the subject features.

My two cents.....
David

 

[Rob-F]

24mm is probably my favorite focal length, so I am a little biased. I know I need one, though I have no way to know if you do. My answer would be, you need both 24 and 28 (and 35); but not everyone needs the extra expense and complication of carrying both.

Think of a lens, not as an individual lens, but as part of a system of lenses. If you already have a 50, and want to add one lens, a 28 makes sense, as the gap between them is not too wide. But if you have a 35, then a 24-35-50 outfit would be more versatile than 28-35-50. So think ahead to the outfit you want to build to.

It was not hard for me to use the 24mm with the built-in 0.58 finder, until I got around to buying a finder for it. The framing was not highly accurate, but with a little judgement I did well. Both the 24mm Leitz and the 25/28 Zeiss are good--well, the Zeiss is very good! It is bulkier though.

Well, take your time, as part of the fun is in the planning . . .

Best, Rob