Leica 28mm lenses

I have only owned two 28mm lenses -- the Elemarit ASPH and the M-Hexanon -- and somewhat preferred the M-Hexanon. The Elemarit was a bit too small to operate comfortably. Also, the Elemarit's colors were a little on the "hot" side (a slight overabundance of red/magenta) and the bokeh was of the "hard looking" type. Overall a very similar performer to the 35 Summicron ASPH.

The M-Hexanon was a more balanced performer. Build quality was at least as good as the Elmarit and the metal hood was great. Images looked natural and pristine with extremely neutral colors. Sharpness was abundant but was never excessive or distracting. Images taken with it had the quality of looking perfect/just right. In this sense its optical fingerprint was a little similar to the 50 Summicron.

My Japanese M lens book describes the M-Hexanon as an improved version of the 4th generation, pre-ASPH Elmarit's formula.
 
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I've tried the CV Ultron f/2 and the color-skopar f/3.5, the Zeiss 28mm, and now have the Leica Elmarit ASPH ...

Overall: Elmarit ASPH
Size: Color-Skopar or Elmarit
On a budget: Color-Skopar
Large: Zeiss
 
I currently use the 28mm Elmarit-M ASPH. It's a wonderful lens, I cannot think of one thing I don't like about it. Compact, stunning image quality, flare resistant, overall a very competent little lens.

Savvas
 
jsrockit said:
I wish... but no, I won't be spending $4000 on a lens... ever.
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+1

With patience, however, it is possible score a used one in fine condition for under $2000, as I did. I see them come up here at that price every once in a while, usually without the hood, which nobody would actually use anyway. (The lens is fine without, and when you do need a hood, the alternatives are much smaller). Still a crazy amount of clams, but much closer to your elmarit.
 
A confession:

It was my first entry into photography.
I loved it.

My first RF lens purchase was a CV 28/1.9 ... soon followed by the addition of the CV 28/2.5 ...

But I mostly shoot portraits, and falling in love with the 75 FL (a CV 75/2.5), I was susceptible to the numerous postings here that argue, with good reason, that 35 and 75 are made for portraiture.

'Tis true, but...

The 28 can produce some incredible portraits (as can a 25, for that matter).

I'd show some photos, but my flickr pro account lapsed, and I don't have anything available now to show. But the 28 can be used to great effect.

There's a huge difference between f/2.0 and f/2.8

The CV Ultron 28/2.0 looks mighty good for portraits, provided you stick to film.
 
thomasw_ said:
The claim about it being "necessary" to use the 12504 hood for filters on a version 2 summilux is not true. The much more compact square 12526 or 12524 work more effectively at blocking ambient light, protecting the front element and can be easily modified to hold a 39mm filter. As such, it remains a fair bit smaller than the summicron 28, especially with any type of hood on the 28 cron.
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I may try and find one of the square hoods as now that I'm not using the lens on my M8 I won't be using a filter anymore.
 
If I had the wish to spend lots of cash on a 28mm lens, I might have bought a Summicron. Instead, I am using a 28/3.5 Kobalux. It is a small lens that is also very sharp. How does it compare with a CV 28/3.5 or with the 28/2 Summicron?
 
I have only experience using the CV 28/3.5 and Avenon (Kobalux) 28/3.5 (but not the 28mm Summicron-M) and of the both lenses, the CV has a little higher contrast while the Avenon seems to have a slightly higher resolution in the center of the frame. Since my CV is in S-mount and the Avenon in LTM, I can use quite similar 28mm lenses on all my 35mm cameras. :)
 
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