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which 24 or 28 mm lens ...

Godfrey

Well-known member
A very interesting set of likes and preferences, thank you very much.

It looks like the Super Elmar 24 and the Summicron 28 are the two that I'll choose between, if and when I decide I want to go for it. I notice that new Elmar 24 and used Summicron 28 run close in price, around $3K.

I'm finding that I tend to use the M9 mostly with the Nokton 50 and with the Ultron 28, and the Ultron 28 isn't really on par with the Nokton 50. So if I'm going to keep the camera, I'd like to get a good Leica lens for it.

Thank you all for your thoughts once more!

G
 

Paratom

Well-known member
A very interesting set of likes and preferences, thank you very much.

It looks like the Super Elmar 24 and the Summicron 28 are the two that I'll choose between, if and when I decide I want to go for it. I notice that new Elmar 24 and used Summicron 28 run close in price, around $3K.

I'm finding that I tend to use the M9 mostly with the Nokton 50 and with the Ultron 28, and the Ultron 28 isn't really on par with the Nokton 50. So if I'm going to keep the camera, I'd like to get a good Leica lens for it.

Thank you all for your thoughts once more!

G
Take the 28 Summicron. Its 2 stops faster, you can use the internal viewfinder.
 

250swb

Member
The 28mm Summicron is one of Leica's best lenses, in much the same way that people look on the current 50mm Summilux, it has such a nice character and doesn't do much that is wrong. Like you Godfrey I also have the excellent 28mm CV Skopar, and I don't find a massive gap between the two with my MM or M240, so perhaps try experimenting with the coding of your Skopar? Mine is coded as a 28mm Elamrit.

Steve
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
The 28mm Summicron is one of Leica's best lenses, in much the same way that people look on the current 50mm Summilux, it has such a nice character and doesn't do much that is wrong. Like you Godfrey I also have the excellent 28mm CV Skopar, and I don't find a massive gap between the two with my MM or M240, so perhaps try experimenting with the coding of your Skopar? Mine is coded as a 28mm Elmarit.
Thanks! I'll do some more experimenting with the Color-Skopar 28 for sure. I can't remember what I had it coded as.
 

Ocean

Senior Subscriber Member
I also coded Color-Skopar 28 as Elmarit 28 ASPH and it works well on M9. But Summicron 28 is just so special on M9, as many mentioned. The price for the Elmar 24/3,8 has come down for the past few years. You can find good copies of the lens between $2200 - $2400, definitely cheaper than the Summicron 28/2,0.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
I also coded Color-Skopar 28 as Elmarit 28 ASPH and it works well on M9. But Summicron 28 is just so special on M9, as many mentioned. The price for the Elmar 24/3,8 has come down for the past few years. You can find good copies of the lens between $2200 - $2400, definitely cheaper than the Summicron 28/2,0.
I see three M9 codings for Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8: 11804, 11809, and 11606. One listing I have says to code the Color-Skopar 28/3.8 as 11804. Another suggests 11604 (which is listed as for the "Summicron-M 28/2 ASPH"). The Elmarit-M 28/2.8 ASPH coding is 11606 and I see that the Zeiss Biogon 28/2.8 ZM and Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8 are both recommended to use with that setting.

Which one do you and Steve use?

thx,
G

---
While we're on the subject of M9 lens codes, I code for lenses manually from a cheat sheet and create setups in the User Settings, four lenses at a time depending on what I feel like using.

This is what I have on my cheat sheet currently:

Skopar 21/4: 11135
Ultron 28/2: 11604
Skopar 28/3.5: 11804 by kit, 11604 by listing, 11606 ?
Skopar 35mm f/2.5: 11310-11
Nokton 40mm f1.4: 11874-11883 (Summilux m 35mm f1.4 ASPH
M-Rokkor 40/2 II: 11310
Nokton 50mm f/1.5 ASPH LTM: 11891-11892
Skopar 50mm f/2.5: 11831-24-23
M-Rokkor 90mm f/4: 11633-34
Hektor-M 135mm f/4.5: ?

Anyone care to offer their settings if they differ?
 

alajuela

Active member
I see three M9 codings for Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8: 11804, 11809, and 11606. One listing I have says to code the Color-Skopar 28/3.8 as 11804. Another suggests 11604 (which is listed as for the "Summicron-M 28/2 ASPH"). The Elmarit-M 28/2.8 ASPH coding is 11606 and I see that the Zeiss Biogon 28/2.8 ZM and Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8 are both recommended to use with that setting.

Which one do you and Steve use?

thx,
G

---
While we're on the subject of M9 lens codes, I code for lenses manually from a cheat sheet and create setups in the User Settings, four lenses at a time depending on what I feel like using.

This is what I have on my cheat sheet currently:

Skopar 21/4: 11135
Ultron 28/2: 11604
Skopar 28/3.5: 11804 by kit, 11604 by listing, 11606 ?
Skopar 35mm f/2.5: 11310-11
Nokton 40mm f1.4: 11874-11883 (Summilux m 35mm f1.4 ASPH
M-Rokkor 40/2 II: 11310
Nokton 50mm f/1.5 ASPH LTM: 11891-11892
Skopar 50mm f/2.5: 11831-24-23
M-Rokkor 90mm f/4: 11633-34
Hektor-M 135mm f/4.5: ?

Anyone care to offer their settings if they differ?
Hi Godfrey

I have a chart and I will note the reading if different after yours separated by a hyphen

Skopar 21/4: 11135 ---11134
Ultron 28/2: 11604 -- Same
Skopar 28/3.5: 11804 by kit, 11604 by listing, 11606 ? -- Same 11804
Skopar 35mm f/2.5: 11310-11 - Same
Nokton 40mm f1.4: 11874-11883 (Summilux m 35mm f1.4 ASPH) --Same
M-Rokkor 40/2 II: 11310 --
Nokton 50mm f/1.5 ASPH LTM: 11891-11892 --Same
Skopar 50mm f/2.5: 11831-24-23 --Same
M-Rokkor 90mm f/4: 11633-34 --
Hektor-M 135mm f/4.5:
 

Seascape

New member
Godfrey, you may notice a common thread to this thread…..all the 24's a great.

The 24 Elmarit ASPH, is a very special lens, I have one and loved it on my M8 for the past 6 years, now that I have a M240, I have often wondered about the other options that you are considering, and I have to say for what you pay for a used 24 Elmarit, they are extremely good value while still being outstanding optically. You may notice that many have expressed the opinion that they regret selling their Elmarit's…..they are still SOTA.

BTW, you might also want to consider a Ver. 4 28 Elmarit, it is every bit a good as a 28 Cron ASPH (the same size physically as well), again at a much more attractive price.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
Godfrey, you may notice a common thread to this thread…..all the 24's a great.
...
Yes, I do miss my 24 ASPH too. No regrets though, I sold it and the other M gear in 2002 to fund a Hasselblad 903SWC—that was worth it to me.

This query remains a bit of a thought experiment to me for the present. I really have no particular need or desire to spend the money for another M-bayonet lens at the moment. I'm deciding whether to keep the M9 body, or even upgrade to the M(240), and the notion is that if I do either of those I'll want to replace the Ultron 28 with a Leica lens at some point, either 24 or 28. As Jono said elsewhere, selling a Leica M is often a one-way trip due to the cost of re-admission so I'm taking my time to ask questions and think about it.

I've just fitted the Color-Skopar 28/3.5 to the M9 and set the lens code to 11606 for testing. It's nice and compact this way ... Slips into my usual junk day bag (a Lowepro Teraclime 100 with ACAM 1100 insert in it) alongside the M4-2 fitted with Color-Skopar 50/2.5 and Color-Skopar 35/2.5 in a pouch. Quite a dense little Leica kit to carry this week. ;-)

G
 

asiafish

Member
Another vote here for the 24 Elmar ASPH. Incredibly sharp, nice contrast and tonality on the Monochrom and oh so small and light. I borrowed one at a Leica Akademie class and liked it so much I bought a new one soon after.
 

Ocean

Senior Subscriber Member
I see three M9 codings for Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8: 11804, 11809, and 11606. One listing I have says to code the Color-Skopar 28/3.8 as 11804. Another suggests 11604 (which is listed as for the "Summicron-M 28/2 ASPH"). The Elmarit-M 28/2.8 ASPH coding is 11606 and I see that the Zeiss Biogon 28/2.8 ZM and Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8 are both recommended to use with that setting.

Which one do you and Steve use?

thx,
G

---
While we're on the subject of M9 lens codes, I code for lenses manually from a cheat sheet and create setups in the User Settings, four lenses at a time depending on what I feel like using.

This is what I have on my cheat sheet currently:

Skopar 21/4: 11135
Ultron 28/2: 11604
Skopar 28/3.5: 11804 by kit, 11604 by listing, 11606 ?
Skopar 35mm f/2.5: 11310-11
Nokton 40mm f1.4: 11874-11883 (Summilux m 35mm f1.4 ASPH
M-Rokkor 40/2 II: 11310
Nokton 50mm f/1.5 ASPH LTM: 11891-11892
Skopar 50mm f/2.5: 11831-24-23
M-Rokkor 90mm f/4: 11633-34
Hektor-M 135mm f/4.5: ?

Anyone care to offer their settings if they differ?
I use a coded LTM to M adapter that has coding slots that I coded as the Elmarit-M 28/2.8 ASPH (11606). It worked well on by my M8 (no longer own) and M9. I have not use the lens on M240 yet.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
I use a coded LTM to M adapter that has coding slots that I coded as the Elmarit-M 28/2.8 ASPH (11606). It worked well on by my M8 (no longer own) and M9. I have not use the lens on M240 yet.
Thanks. That's what I've input for it. If I ever get any time to actually snap the shutter, I'll see what it looks like. Previously, I'd used 11604 and 11804 and there's a good bit of color shifting with them on the M9.

G
 

DDudenbostel

Active member
The 24 Elmar is amazing. I had a ZM 25 and thought it was great but tried the Elmar and sold the 25 ZM.

I got out of Leica digital and am going back to B&W film and returning to vintage glass. It's just better for my kind of shooting and I miss film. I'm an old B&W M shooter since 68.

If you're looking for a mint Elmar I consigned it to Popflash and you can save some money and have 30 days to return it if you don't like it.

I think the 24 Elmar is a perfect match for the 35 summilux FLE, 50 asph summilux and 90 apo summicron. I had or have all three and they are superb as a set. The Elmar is also very small.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
The 24 Elmar is amazing. I had a ZM 25 and thought it was great but tried the Elmar and sold the 25 ZM.

I got out of Leica digital and am going back to B&W film and returning to vintage glass. It's just better for my kind of shooting and I miss film. I'm an old B&W M shooter since 68.

If you're looking for a mint Elmar I consigned it to Popflash and you can save some money and have 30 days to return it if you don't like it.
Thanks, that's a tempting price too. I'll have to think on it ... This Elmar-M 24 vs Summicron-M 28 game is amuzing. Both seem to be superb lenses, a wonderful thing really.

Off to the side ... has anyone used the Elmar-M 24 on a Sony A7/r/s. If so, how did it fare?

Regards the film vs digital, just go with what makes you happy. I'm not selling my M4-2, and I'm sure that either of these lenses will do a lovely job on film too. I also have been shooting with Leicas (next to Nikons and other cameras) since the late 1960s (IIc and IIf for a while there, then an M2 for a bit..., etc).

G
 

DDudenbostel

Active member
I tried a couple of 28 summicrons and found the 24 Elmar sharper wide open particularly at the edges and corners wide open and better contrast. Both are very good but the 24 excelled. It was very close to my 35 summilux FLE.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
I tried a couple of 28 summicrons and found the 24 Elmar sharper wide open particularly at the edges and corners wide open and better contrast. Both are very good but the 24 excelled. It was very close to my 35 summilux FLE.
So, if I may ask, why have you decided to sell it?
 

iiiNelson

Well-known member
Thanks, that's a tempting price too. I'll have to think on it ... This Elmar-M 24 vs Summicron-M 28 game is amuzing. Both seem to be superb lenses, a wonderful thing really.

Off to the side ... has anyone used the Elmar-M 24 on a Sony A7/r/s. If so, how did it fare?

Regards the film vs digital, just go with what makes you happy. I'm not selling my M4-2, and I'm sure that either of these lenses will do a lovely job on film too. I also have been shooting with Leicas (next to Nikons and other cameras) since the late 1960s (IIc and IIf for a while there, then an M2 for a bit..., etc).

G
The 24 Elmar works decently well on the A7 and I'd assume it was even better on the A7s. It's not great on the A7r as a landscape lens.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
The 24 Elmar works decently well on the A7 and I'd assume it was even better on the A7s. It's not great on the A7r as a landscape lens.
Thanks!

(I'm pretty happy I chose to be cheap and go with the A7 rather than the A7r. The lens compatibility and EFCS along with its already more-than-enough sensitivity and resolution for my needs has made it a delight. :)

I'm going on my walk today with the M9 and Color-Skopar 28/3.5, coded to 11606 per the recommendations in this thread...

G
 

DDudenbostel

Active member
So, if I may ask, why have you decided to sell it?
I do documentary work and have shot since 68. B&W film is my medium. I went to an M9 and new glass and was very disappointed with my M9. It didn't feel like my M film cameras and my particular camera was nothing but trouble. It tool a year and a half to get it straightened out. I was disappointed in the camera in general and felt I couldn't trust it.

I sat down one day and looked back at the images I've shot over the past nearly 5 decades with Leicas and the look that I loved most was all film with my vintage glass of the 60's. Look at my link home and go to documentary.

I felt some of the appeal at least to me were the imperfections of the film medium, grain, and character of the lenses. My aspheric glass and digital were too clean and perfect.

I still shoot a lot of this work and all of my images are going to a special collection / archive in a museum for educational purposes. Archives almost insist on film not digital. Many will not even accept digital.

Anyway the imperfections of older glass are more in character with my style and subject matter. I guess you might say I got bored with perfection. Also I get much more satisfaction out of shooting film and wet printing. Also I love the vintage look of old glass. I'm also shooting non AI glass with my nikon F. I have a lot of years using this gear and I can predict the end result every time.
 
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