LEICA M 3.8/18 SUPER-ELMAR preview

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veraikon

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There was for longer time a rumour about a 18mm M lens from Leica:
Here is the preview but sorry seulement en francais 😉
http://www.lecirque.fr/product_info...38967?osCsid=65165e9e1b2ab856172eb25b33cc36fd

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Nouveauté - Sortie prévue en MARS 2009
Objectif très grand angle , particulièrement compact caractérisé par d'excellentes performances image.
Le vignetage et la distorsion , paramètres si difficile à corriger habituellement sur les grands angles sont si bien maitrisés qu'ils sont difficilement perceptibles.Les images sont très nettes et lumineuses.
Angle de vue : Avec M8 (18x37mm) : 84°,74°,53° (diagonal, horizontal, vertical)
Formule optique : nombre de lentilles 8 en 7 groupes (2 lentilles asphériques )
Distance de réglage : de 0.7m à l'infini.
Dimensions : longueur 48.8 mm
Poids : 310 g
prix 2290€
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It sounds like the Leica has less distortion and less vignetting than the ZM 18 Distagon, which was already better than most people need.

It sounds like a really fantastic lens.
 
How can these guys advertise it -- with image -- even before it's been promulgated by Leica?
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I don´t know the exact english word is- in german it is "Sperrfrist" . You´ll get normally information before the press conference with a NDA not to publish it before a certain time [often the time the press confernce is held] ("Sperrfrist" blocking period ? retention period ?)

At the 8.2 there was also one who broke the "Sperrfrist" - than it was a norvegian dealer
 
I am perfectly happy with my Distagon 18 - and judging from the new 21 finder from Leica - I prefer the Zeiss ones anyday.
It is good that they start producing some new glass and with the 18/21/24's and the 24f3.8 Elmar too they are doing what they do best, charge a lot but make it worth it in optical quality. I think that a 16f4 would have been more "sales worthy" in some aspect, but good for Leica.
 
field of view

field of view

84° is exactly the same than a 24 mm with 24x36 (angle de vue = angle de champ ~ field of view).
Very very interesting : a true useful wide angle for M8 - not too luminous -> price less scandalous than other lenses.
But if I buy a 18, it probably will the Distagon : seems to be a good lens and so cheap...
 
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Crystal ball
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no - you will get the Infos and pics from the marketing department with a NDA not to publish before a certain date (the date the press confernece is held).
Some publish it before - last time at the 8.2 it was a norvegian dealer - now it is someone from France 😉
 
Double Negative said:
Oh I have no doubt it'll be a spectacular lens.

As for the ZM, I have seen no vignetting/distortion worth mentioning, at least on the M8. Haven't let this puppy loose on film... Yet...
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The distortion is said to be a little more pronounced than the perfect 21/4.5, but I can't notice it myself. The vignetting I find quite pleasant. All in all I prefer the look of the ZM 18, which has more snap (perhaps due to greater contrast) than the 21, but they are very close in speed and FL (at least close enough for me), while the 21 wins on size/weight. The Leica looks pretty big, too, doesn't it. It also has a longer MFD than the ZM 18, which goes down to 0.5 meters.
 
Coding

Coding

I guess for people who want a minimum of fuss, buying a Leica lens, all be it at a premium, is worth it because it comes coded and therefore properly supported by Leica in the M8's firmware.

I've only just had the opportunity to hold some ZM lenses and I was very, very impressed with their build quality and performance. If I was to be buying my kit all over again I'd save the money and get only Zeiss glass - but only if I wasn't planning on going digital. I've only shot colour for the last four years and proper IR filtering combined with cyan drift corrections would be a must for me. I know you can custom code non-Leica lenses but it doesn't sound ideal to me. Just my opinion, and admittedly one not based on real experience actually using coded wides.

Because I sold my M8 and only shoot film these days the Zeiss ZM 18mm would be my ultra wide of choice, along with the ZM 21 f4.5.

I must say though, this 18mm lens from Leica looks really lovely though! And so does their new 24mm, but it's a bit close to 28mm for me to justify getting one of those.
 
TJV said:
I've only just had the opportunity to hold some ZM lenses and I was very, very impressed with their build quality and performance. If I was to be buying my kit all over again I'd save the money and get only Zeiss glass - but only if I wasn't planning on going digital.
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Quite! I shoot monochrome only and would struggle to justify three times the price for Leica lenses. My ZMs are wonderuful, my only issue being a couple have developed the focus wobble/rattle and will need something tightening up somewhere. Their performance is incredible and all those who say their contrast is a problem in B&W, this simply is not true if you develop and process your own negs and prints. if you do not I can see how it would be a problem...

Its great that Leica is pushing out more glass, but I confess to being disappointed that their 24 3.8 was priced relatively highly and not more along the Summarit lines, adjusted for the FL - lets face it, its a slow lens. I am hoping Zeiss will produce a small 25 f3.5/4 now and that this ping pong will allow us to have a really broad choice between the two manufacturers. Some nice pancake type lenses from Zeiss would be good, although the 35 3.8 is moderately small.
 
Ok..lets get down to what is historically always Leica's problem. In spite of owns the company...SALES Price !! AT 2300 Euro's right now that would be, based on a 1.28 exchange rate 2944 USD. That is insanely higher than the Zeiss 18mm lens. Which is about 1100 USD or even less. This is another example of Leica's internal culture that has made sales a ever declining trend.

If I shoot a direct comparison of the same scene with both lenses I already know the boys and girls in at Solms will not be able to tell me which is which !
So there is no value added benefit of tangible result for consumers.

Iam also willing to bet that the landed US price will be based on a Euro exchange of 1.50 so were are looking at price over 3500 USD plus tax !

At that price Iam better off buying the Zeiss 15mm !!!!

When are these people going to learn...this lens will be dead on arrival. No one will stock it and total sales in the US will be almost ZERO

All the Best....Laurance
 
"Embargo".

veraikon said:
I don´t know the exact english word is- in german it is "Sperrfrist" . You´ll get normally information before the press conference with a NDA not to publish it before a certain time [often the time the press confernce is held] ("Sperrfrist" blocking period ? retention period ?)

At the 8.2 there was also one who broke the "Sperrfrist" - than it was a norvegian dealer
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