Best wide lens on M9?

[Alex Krasotkin]

Guys, what is in your opinion the best wide lens on M9? Leica's 24/2.8, 28/2, 28/2.8? What do you think about Zeiss 25/2.8?

many thanks,
Alex

[Mark T]

They all sound pretty good to me. I've used 24 3.8 and 28 2, and both have been good for different reasons. Of your choices above I guess it comes back to things like size, do you want to use an external finder, do you need speed, how much do you want to spend etc. All ought to be pretty good. For general purpose/travel i would go with 28/2.8. For landscapes 24/3.8 or 25/2.5, for speed 28/2 etc.
Cheers and good luck with your choice!

[Alex Krasotkin]

Many thanks, Mark. I want not a big size and no external finder.

[JMQ]

No external finder means you'll be limited to 28mm and 35mm for the wides. Personally, I find the 28mm framelines not too pleasant to use (yes, I wear spectacles), so the 35mm is about the widest I'd use w/o an external finder.

[Richard G]

25 2.8 is a fantastic lens, sharp and dead straight. It isn't small and on the 3mm thicker M9 it makes a substantial rig. I don't have any of the others you mention. For its convenient size I like the 25 f4 Color Skopar but I've had some flare with that.

My favourite is the ZM 21 4.5, smaller than the 25 and even straighter and very sharp. It is meant to be incompatible with the M9 because of colour fringing. For black and white it's perfect and if coded as Leica 21 2.8 pre ASPH the purple fringing is trivial or not noticeable.

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by JMQ

No external finder means you'll be limited to 28mm and 35mm for the wides. Personally, I find the 28mm framelines not too pleasant to use (yes, I wear spectacles), so the 35mm is about the widest I'd use w/o an external finder.

I have the same experience. I actually love the external finders but with the M9 I'll often use a 25 or the 21 without one, finding it obligatory only for architectural shots. I don't have a 28.

[JMQ]

Point well taken Richard. I suppose you can always approximate the picture area with wider lenses sans finder if framing is not too critical.

[Lss]

The Leica Elmar 24/3.8 seems almost perfect for a smallish kit.

[sepiareverb]

I've not tried the ZM lenses on the M9. I use the 28/2 ASPH the most of my wides.

[icebear]

Originally Posted by Alex Krasotkin

Guys, what is in your opinion the best wide lens on M9? Leica's 24/2.8, 28/2, 28/2.8? What do you think about Zeiss 25/2.8?

many thanks,
Alex

Hi Alex,

I've had a 28/2.8 at some point of time for my films M's and for whatever reason I never got to love it. Maybe it was too close to 35mm, I don't know. Consequently I sold it and some years later I got a 25/2.8 Biogon and it is fantastic on whatever camera, also on the M9. I use it w/o an external finder and I am very happy with it.

[kbg32]

The best wide is the one you want to use. ZM lenses wider then the 24 show the dreaded magenta edge.

[Marc G.]

I simply adore my elmarit 28 mm asph... great, small, light lens with super performance and a bang for your buck too if you want leica glass

[ramosa]

I have an Elmarit 28 asph, and, like a previous poster, have never really bonded with it. It's too clinical for MY tastes. And that pains me as a 28mm lens is my most used lens per the M8's crop.

[theno23]

I really like the 28 2.8, it is a bit contrasty, but tiny, and great ergonomics. I can use it fine without an external finder, but I don't wear glasses.

A serious issue I have with Zeiss lenses is the 1/3rd stop aperture clicks. Many people don't seem bothered by it, but I find it extremely inconvenient to use on Leica bodies.

I like to be able to shift the aperture and shutter speed dial I'm unison. Not sure if all Zeiss M-mount lenses are 1/3rd, but some are.

- Steve

[Alex Krasotkin]

Many thanks, guys. I will strongly consider Biogon 25/2.8. Should I fix it somehow in Leica M9 firmwire, or just shoot without any adjustments? Does the size of the this lens block M9 viewfinder?

regards,
Alex

[Richard G]

I code it as a Leica 24. Haven't noticed any problems. I don't know if it blocks the VF. I've only used it with the external VF.

[Viktor Sebastian]

The one with the least amount of blue/pink corners. Which would probably be a lens designed for the Digital sensor. Something like the 24 elmar asph or 21 super elmar.

All of them are sharp enough! But having your corners going funny colors is really annoying for me. In a way I feel like the M9 is only really good for focal lengths from 35mm - 50mm, beyond that focusing and framing gets difficult, or your colors get messed up because of steep incidence angles.

I will probably get flamed for this opinion but whatever.

[kbg32]

Originally Posted by Alex Krasotkin

Many thanks, guys. I will strongly consider Biogon 25/2.8. Should I fix it somehow in Leica M9 firmwire, or just shoot without any adjustments? Does the size of the this lens block M9 viewfinder?

regards,
Alex

The Biogon is a great performer on the M9. Sharp and great color. It does give the dreaded edge magenta cast , but much less so than any ZM ultra-wide. I still keep my UV/IR filter on it at all times and it helps a great deal with this, as well as keeping the blacks, black. I code it manually as a Leitz 24 without any problems. It is larger and does protrude into the viewfinder, but not objectionably. I use it with and without the auxiliary viewfinder.

[raid]

Hi Alex,
I will use the wide angle lenses that I have and which I am using on M film cameras. In particular, I like using the 35mm Summicron and the VC 25mm/4. I will avoid using the nonretro-focus wide angle SLR lenses such as the Canon 19mm/3.5 or the Minolta 21mm/4 due to the protruding glass elements that may touch the M9 sensor.

[kbg32]

Raid, in shooting color, I find the CV wides 28, 24, 21, produce the magenta edge cast.

[raid]

Keith,
Wouldn't the cast go away with an IR cut filter?
This is less costly than buying a ZM.

[Viktor Sebastian]

No, the IR filter makes things worse.

I use both the M8 and M9. Can I leave the UV/IR filters on the lenses?
For focal lengths of 35mm and longer, yes. For focal lengths wider than 35mm this is not recommended, because through the UV/IR filter a color shift will appear in the corners.

http://en.leica-camera.com/assets/fi...=file_6300.pdf

[kbg32]

Originally Posted by raid

Keith,
Wouldn't the cast go away with an IR cut filter?
This is less costly than buying a ZM.

No, it doesn't Raid. I find the CV wides to be poor performers on the M9 when shooting color. I love their small compact size and wish they didn't give the magenta edge cast. I love the CV 50 1.5! I have been using my Leitz lenses, with the exception of the Biogon 25, more and more on my M9, as I shoot mostly color.

[kbg32]

Originally Posted by Viktor Sebastian

No, the IR filter makes things worse.



http://en.leica-camera.com/assets/fi...=file_6300.pdf

I find the opposite and keep the UV/IR filter on my Biogon 25. It helps cleanup some of the magenta.

[Viktor Sebastian]

So ZM goes pink in the corners, and the filter adds blue, and then it sort of cancels it out a bit?

Like I said before, the M9 is good for 35mm - 50mm. Otherwise corner fix!
https://sites.google.com/site/cornerfix/