Leica 24mm/3.4 ASPH Lens

[35mmdelux]

Hi All:

Anybody waiting on this lens beside me? My other lenses are a 35mm & 50mm ASPHs (Luxes).

Too slow? What say ye?

Thanks, P.

 

[user237428934]

Looked at it at photokina. Very nice size and weight. Not too big and heavy. But too expensive for a 3.4 lens.

 

[peter_n]

Too slow IMHO. But even with the f2.8 you can't really get DOF effects wide-open. You need the f1.4 for that. 😎 I've read that the IQ degrades a bit when you close down from f3.4, and that wide-open is the lens' best aperture. I find that a bit difficult to believe but it is worth looking into if you're thinking of buying one. 24/25mm is a fantastic focal length BTW!

 

[DwF]

28 f2

28 f2

I would recommend 28 f2/1.9 for that reason that you still get shallow DOF and more speed. A person could buy both Ultron 28s for the price of the new Elmar (which I bet is also a very nice lens).

David

 

[Tom A]

I did borrow a 24f3,8 ASPH from Leica USA at the LHSA meeting in Louisville, KY last week. Very nice lens! Small and compact and about as good a lens you will ever need. Very sharp, even at f3.8!
If you go to Flickr and type in tag "Leica Elmar 24mm f3.8 ASPH" there are about 20 bl/w shots done with it. Any unsharpness is not the fault of the lens, some where shot during a bourbon distillery tour and some at the Bluegrass Brewing Company in Louisville!
I am actually seriously considering this lens and as it is about 1/3 of the cost of the 21/1.4 - I can actually afford it!!!!

 

[leicavidom]

I like the idea of this lens...

I like the idea of this lens...

But the new Leica 24/32 finder is way out of proportion to the value of the
lens;maybe the Zeiss 25/28 finder would make a good compromise?

 

[35mmdelux]

The VC 25/28 minfinder at $125 would be what I would use withe the 24mm.

For me it would sort of be a "specialty" lens because I mostly (85%) shoot with my 35mm/1.4 ASPH. On a trip, or for architecture, land/ocean/cityscapes I would bring along a Gitzo fibrepod for sharp 11x14 or 16x20 enlargements.

 

[35mmdelux]

Tom: Looks like it holds up pretty well under contrasty conditions. Thanks.