chuckroast
Well-known
I have been researching used 21mm lenses for my M film bodies. I've looked into Skopars, Biogons, and Leitz lenses and it's hard to know which way to go.
Excluding the older Super-Angulons (which won't work with my M5), do any of you have experience or recommendations to share in this regard? What about finders?
Excluding the older Super-Angulons (which won't work with my M5), do any of you have experience or recommendations to share in this regard? What about finders?
Deardorff38
Mentor
Chuck, I've used a number of Leica 21mm over the decades including the Super-Angulon 3.4 and Elmarit 2.8. After coming back to 35mm from LF, I bought a Voigtlander f4.... mostly because it was cheap and came with a Leitz metal finder. It's tiny. It's sharp. I haven't felt any reason to replace it, & it continues to be one of my favourite focal lengths.
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Richard G
Mentor
M5 ZM 21 4.5 by Richard, on Flickr
I love this lens. Compact, bright, sharp and no distortion. Great for architecture. I felt no great limitation of the f4,5 aperture with film, mostly Tri-X. The Zeiss finder is superb.
luuca
Well-known
I've just bought a elmarit M and it's very good on film, at full aperture too
it's not too expensive (for a leica lens) and well built
samples with kodak gold
f2.8
f11
f8
if you don't need f2.8 , the voigtlander color skopar 21 f4 is tiny and similar in rendition imho
it's not too expensive (for a leica lens) and well built
samples with kodak gold
f2.8
f11
f8
if you don't need f2.8 , the voigtlander color skopar 21 f4 is tiny and similar in rendition imho
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I generally let budget and frequency of use dictate my purchase decisions. If I am going to use it all the time then money spent would be less of a factor amortized with use. For a while I used the 21mm Summilux as my primary street photography lens. How are you going to use the 21mm and how often? Stopped down it makes negligible difference.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Film. It comes in two different catégories. In color and bw.
Any color skopar 24 is great on both. Good and not overpriced. I have LTM version.
If you want some special quality , Elmarit-M 21 2.8 , last Canadian version.
But you will need to print in the darkroom to see what it really does. Just be aware those type of lenses aren't best of Leitz build.
And don't forget about fast Cosina and China made as well.
I suggest to look at more modern lenses to have accurate metering.
Any color skopar 24 is great on both. Good and not overpriced. I have LTM version.
If you want some special quality , Elmarit-M 21 2.8 , last Canadian version.
But you will need to print in the darkroom to see what it really does. Just be aware those type of lenses aren't best of Leitz build.
And don't forget about fast Cosina and China made as well.
I suggest to look at more modern lenses to have accurate metering.
trix4ever
Well-known
If you don't need a wide aperture, the 21mm f4.5 zeiss is extraordinary on film, best wideangle I have ever used and I've tried most of them.
Leica M6, 21/4.5 Zeiss, tri-x
Leica M6, 21/4.5 Zeiss, tri-x
tcmx3
Established
if I only shot film I'd likely go 21/3.5 Color Skopar
if you plan to go digital at some point, I'd suggest the Leica 21mm f3.4 super elmar asph
if you plan to go digital at some point, I'd suggest the Leica 21mm f3.4 super elmar asph
WJJ3
Well-known
The VM 21/3.5 Color Skopar is corrected for digital Leicas. Here on the M9, showing no color shift at the edges.
tcmx3
Established
The VM 21/3.5 Color Skopar is corrected for digital Leicas. Here on the M9, showing no color shift at the edges.
curtain
2020 sakura
it's not so much about color cast.
it's the advantage of 6-bit coding and maybe a bit of resolution. the 21 SEM is one of the finest M lenses ever produced but kind of wasted on film where it's mostly just too contrasty.
IMO.
WJJ3
Well-known
I guess if you like the in-camera correction profile in the digital Ms, you'd have to go with the Leica lens.
chuckroast
Well-known
I ended up with an LTM version of the Skopar 21mm f/4 that I can use on both my IIIf and M bodies. I also bought the TT Artisan finder.
Thanks to everyone who responded.
Thanks to everyone who responded.
Deardorff38
Mentor
Good call..... i traded out my 21/f4 M for a 21/f4 LTM....(kept the Leica finder)......but at this point i have no more LTM bodies
chuckroast
Well-known
Good call..... i traded out my 21/f4 M for a 21/f4 LTM....(kept the Leica finder)......but at this point i have no more LTM bodies
They still sell Barnack bodies, you know
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I have same and metering needs +1.7 or so adjustment on M-E 220. Might be the same for M5.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
M5 ZM 21 4.5 by Richard, on Flickr
I love this lens. Compact, bright, sharp and no distortion. Great for architecture. I felt no great limitation of the f4,5 aperture with film, mostly Tri-X. The Zeiss finder is superb.
Everything is compact on M5. Everything is large on Barnack.
jbielikowski
Jan Bielikowski
if you can show off the IIIf with the TTArtisan viewfinder I'd much appreciate it, I'm using same lens but with Voigtlander plastic VF and while the view is better than in Leitz VF the looks kinda sucks.
raid
Dad Photographer
For a Leica film camera I like using a Canon 19mm 3;5 ltm. I also use a Minolta Rokkor 21mm 4 that has an M or ltm adapter. The canon FD wide angle lenses can use Canon Adapter B for ltm. I use the 17mm lens.
tcmx3
Established
I do like them.
I also just like the info being there for cataloging purposes. I have an awful lot of shots marked as 28mm elmarit 11809 that arent even taken with a 28mm because you have to pick a least worst option.
chuckroast
Well-known
When everything shows up, I'll do just that.