Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 asph

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peterbilitch

Guest
I am looking at the Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 asph.

In order to save me the additional purchase of a D-type 24mm viewfinder, if one takes into account the .85 correction factor, I would like to know/understand if this should be generally useable [frame and focus] with the camera's viewfinder.

Thanks,

Peter
 
What camera are you using Peter? Without my glasses I can see out to the 28mm lines on my M6, but not beyond them. I believe the .85 correction factor would make it more appropriate to use a longer lens with a given set of frame lines, not wider. For instance, the 35mm framelines work well with a 40mm lens. Does this help?
 
I am using the R-D1.

The 24mm has been stated by some on this Forum, to present a certain amount of blue/yellow colour abberation in the corners. Elsewhere there are users that rate it as their favourite lens for both sharpness and uniform colour rendition. I was planning to see for myself how it performs, but since I seem to have an unfounded aversion to using an external finder except for use with the CV 12mm, I would like to know if I can get away with using the internal viewfinder, either by using the entire viewfinder or perhaps the 35mm frame.

Peter
 
I have to start looking at the Forum in which the threads are posted.

Can't help you with the R-D1. I am very encouraged though to see the number of posts regarding it here. Perhaps a niche camera, but a seemingly popular one.
 
Ah, but Rover... if it continues to get more popular, it won't be "niche", will it? :D

Trius
 
The bright light at the end of the tunnel is that if its popularity continues to grow there will be other digital RFs introduced and more choices for us photographers.

You are right Trius, no longer a niche, but that will be a good thing.
 
With the RD-1's crop factor of 1.53, the 24mm Elmarit would have the same angle of view as a 36.7mm on its native Leica. So a viewfinder matching a 35mm lens (63-deg angle of view) would be about right. I think the RD-1's widest VF frames are for the 28mm lens (same angle of view as 43mm), and from what I've heard there is no extra space around the outside of those frames. You'll need to either use the 28 frames and guess how much more will be captured, or cave in and put a 35mm finder on top. :) This would be a very very handy focal length for this camera... maybe Epson will lower the VF magnification on the next version and add frames for 24/25mm?
 
Doug said:
... maybe Epson will lower the VF magnification on the next version and add frames for 24/25mm?
Click to expand...

I hope not personally otherwise I could not shoot both eyes open any more.
At 24mm the DoF is so wide that a rangefinder is not necessary anyway.
Best,
LCT
 
Well, under many circumstances with good light one can stop-down the 24mm and get good depth-of-field. But the lens does open up to f/2.8 and does focus fairly close, so DoF can be limited. That's not to say one can't guess-focus at close distance, but a focus aid can be useful even on such a wide lens...
(Sample 24mm at f/2.8)
 
We can still use both the rangefinder and a 35mm external viewfinder if we need to focus a short distance.
Anyway it's a choice obviously.
To me the ability of shooting both eyes open is much more important and i approve Epson's choice from this stand point.
But to each his own of course :)
Best,
LCT
 
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True enough, and it's great that we have those options to choose! Being left-eyed, I've never been able to see anything useful with the other eye anyway, blocked by the camera body. I like seeing the full field of a lens in the viewfinder.

In the above sample shot I was having an awful time with my "focus aid", a Pentax ME Super, as focusing the 2.8/24mm on the ground glass in dim light was difficult to say the least! I'd much rather have been using an RF for this, but I was doing some experiments shooting wide open with 2.0/28mm and 2.8/24mm to see what lens I "needed" for the RF cam! I'd always previously avoided shooting wide open with an SLR... The testing did help, and I bought a 28 'cron. :)
 
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I use the 24mm Elmarit on my R-D1. The intire viewfinder just covers about everything you'll get in your shot - exept for the part covered by the lens hood. I don´t like using external viewfinders, thats why I chose the 24mm over the 21mm. The 28mm was to close the my 35mm and I'm used to the 35mm FoV from the Leica. It's a great lens but expensive, I would get the 25mm Biogon and save my $$$ if I had the option. I don't think color abberation is a problem with this lens, maybe in a distant corner and fully open.
 
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