Elmar 24 3.8 asph - 'look and contrast'

[notturtle]

Ca anyone comment from experience on the drawing/contrast of the 24 elmar 3.8 asph specifically and compare it with other lenses? I would be shooting B&W film and possibly pairing with Zeiss lenses. A biogon 25 is a bit larger than I want, judging by the 21 2.8 I have. I am assuiming this lens has roughly similar contrast to the Zms...which would be handy - it would stand in for the 21 and 28 to give me a flexibe 2 lens 24/35 for when I am feeling like travelling light. Two cameras two bodies, rather than two bodies and three lenses: 21/28/35(or 50)

 

[b.espahbod]

I tested it at a local dealer on m8, its a superb lens with great performance at wide open aperture and good color rendition. if ur a 24/25 shooter its a very nice lens compared to its price tag. i my self use 21 35 75 or 28 50 but this 24 baby made me think again

 

[notturtle]

wow, I guess there are not many users of this lens! Used Elmarits seem to have dropped in price - perhaps this has something to do with it... Still, I am surprised at the lack of comment on what is reportedly a real cracker.

 

[peter_n]

It's kind of an in-between lens that is probably aimed at the M8 market. There's also the competition: the CV 25, CZ 25, Leica 24/2.8 and 24/1.4. It is a bit expensive and also only selling new at the moment. It certainly seems to be a cracker wide-open but let's remember wide-open is f3.8...

 

[abenner]

I just picked one up used from the classifieds here and am excited to give it a go. Straight film here, no M8. It'll be my wide, complementing my 50 in just a two-lens kit. Mine came with a CV 25 finder, and I'm going to try that as well as just using the whole finder on my 0.72 MP. Reviews suggest it's a winner as long as you don't need the speed. It's comfortably compact, smooth, short focus throw, and the hood is well designed. I'll try to post some shots once I get there.

 

[peter_n]

Wow you found a used one, that's great! I'm interested to hear that it has a short focus throw, I was interested in the 1.4 but I have heard that the focus throw is long on that lens. I've been unable to try one for myself and I'm keeping my 24/2.8 so it's a question of wait until these lenses turn up at a dealer here in Boston.

 

[notturtle]

I just picked one up used from the classifieds here and am excited to give it a go. Straight film here, no M8. It'll be my wide, complementing my 50 in just a two-lens kit. Mine came with a CV 25 finder, and I'm going to try that as well as just using the whole finder on my 0.72 MP. Reviews suggest it's a winner as long as you don't need the speed. It's comfortably compact, smooth, short focus throw, and the hood is well designed. I'll try to post some shots once I get there.

Wow - please do post some findings - I too am a film user and would be very interested to hear your thoughts esp re contrast and tonality.

I would stick to the external finder. I have a 0.58 and 0.72 and the 0.58 finder outer edge is close to about 24/25mm as a guess all in. The 0.72 is more like 28mm as the lines are right on the edge as you look straight thru (without moving the eye about to search out the corners) and the lines are a touch narrow for 28 anyway at medium to long range. I am confident that you will get a lot more with the 24 that you will ever see thru the 0.72 finder.

I am finding external finders better to use than actual internal finders for stopped down, fast in the thick of the action shooting with wide lenses. I find they can come up to the eye faster, you can see more around them and they are sooooo bright. I just periodically adjust my set focus point.