Super Angulon 3,4/21mm

I still have my 21/3.4. I have a bunch of other 21's (VC/ZM/Ricoh) that gets used more often. The optical quality of the newer lenses is better, but the 21 S-A has a special place with me. I started using it in the early 60's - first the f4 version (not a great lens) and then later the 3.4.
So, it might have a bit softening in the edges at 3.4, but the centre sharpness is still something else. It does have a signature of its own. You can spot the shots done with it on the light table!
It still can drive you nuts with the hood cramping the aperture ring, but I am used to it by now. My current 21/3,4 is a very late version - probably one of the last 100 to be made (#2 917099) which puts it at 1979/80.
Stick it on a M2 and load up with tri X and it is an instant "retro" to the 60's.
 
It's my 21mm lens of choice. It has the same personality as the pre-asph 35 summilux. My kind of lenses.
 
Have owned a 21mm SA since the late sixties and it's become one of my favorite lenses. Have gotten some amazing shots with it and even sold one for a magazine cover.

Only draw backs I found were occasional flare, and incompatability with the M5.

Glenn
 
As Ned says ! The 21mm SA-M is my favorite WA lens together with the 35 Summilux pre-ASPH, too. Very sharp and unique rendering.
 
One of my photos with the Super-Angulon-M: (M4-P Tmax 400 old)

2049118633_d594373a36.jpg
 
Doug: Thank you ! Wait, until Ned finds the thread ... He took some really good photos with that lens. :cool:

Erik: Buying the Super-Angulon-M from you was a good decision ! :D:p

Edit: Ned had posted already in this thread ....
 
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I bought my Super-Angulon two times!...I sold it first because of the new Asph. 21...and 2 years later I bought it again...:p...


Thanks for the nice storys and pictures....:)

regards,
Jan
 
Tom A, could you comment on the signature difference between the SA 21/3.4 and the ZI 21/4.5? I've always favored the 21/3.4 imaging but would also prefer TTL metering and less light falloff.
 
awilder said:
Tom A, could you comment on the signature difference between the SA 21/3.4 and the ZI 21/4.5? I've always favored the 21/3.4 imaging but would also prefer TTL metering and less light falloff.
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Your best bet is going to Flickr and type in the tags "Leica Super Angulon 21,, f3.4" and "Zeiss biogon 21mm f4.5". You will see a fair bit of stuff done with these lenses.
The Biogon 21mm f4.5 has less distorsion than the 21 S-A and more even rendition. The edge fall off is less too.
The S-A has a look all its own though. remarkable center sharpness and the vignetting/edge fall off tends to "center" the view a bit.
As for resolution, I suspect that the Boigon might resolve a bit more, but both lenses will allow you to print 24x36" prints with no visible loss of sharpness.
The Biogon is also less flare sensitive than the S-A. For a metered camera M5/M6/MP etc, the 21mm f4.5 is more convinient, but if you already have the 21 S-A, I would suggest that you get a 2nd body (M2-M3) and dedicate it to the S-A instead!
 
I had a Super Angulon 21mm/3.4 for a couple years but found it too soft for my taste, so when I got a Biogon ZM 21mm/2.8, I sold it on eBay (to a Wall Street Journal editor). The Biogon is sharper, faster and has less light fall off, but is much bigger than the little Super Angulon. The f/2.8 aperture makes shooting a 21mm handheld indoors quite practical.
 
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