Leica Super Wide Angle 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit M Aspherical Manual Focus Lens - Black 35mm Primes

DESCRIPTION

With the introduction of the ELMARIT-M f/2.8/21 mm ASPH., Leica Camera has added a new super-wide-angle lens of the highest optical performance to its range of lenses for the LEICA M6 and all older M models. In order to achieve a visible improvement of the image quality, the optical complexity was increased considerably in comparison with the lens's predecessor: the new lens now comprises 9 elements in 7 components, including one element with an aspherical surface. Three of the elements are composed of high-refractive glass and two of glass with partial anomalous dispersion. Thanks to these improvements and a sophisticated optical design, a lens has been created, which, although considerably smaller than its predecessor, features visibly enhanced optical performance. Even at full aperture the lens is notable for its very good reproduction of contrast and detail in the center of the image and across the entire image field. Comma and astigmatism are virtually non-existent up to an image height of 18 mm. Th...

USER REVIEWS

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[Nov 25, 2006]

pluton

Professional

Strength:

Excellent sharpness wide open. Good evenness of illumination. Sharp close up.
Uses real-world-size 55mm filters. Good but not amazing resistance to acute flare, very low diffuse flare. Holds up to Leica pledge that lens will be deliver usable nice quality images at any aperture or focused distance.

Weakness:

Evenness of illumination approaches, but not as good as a good SLR-intended lens(Nikon 20/2.8 AiS,17-35 zoom,etc.) Close focus of .7m cannot compete w/ typical slr lens close focus.
Must use extra auxilliary finder for accurate no-guess framing. Starts to go soft around f/11.

The best 21 yet for Leica RF. Grotesquely expensive new, merely expensive used.
The M and R Leica lenses are the only line of of 35mm still lenses that approach the quality of design and contruction used in the outstanding cinema lenses from Zeiss, Cooke, and Panavision.

Customer Service

No problems w/ this lens, but camera service is marginal to grim in USA. Slow. Fixed doesn't always mean fixed. Products sometimes damaged by service dept in New Jersey. Have been known to supply loaner if your camera is going back for it's 3rd try at being repaired. If you have the time to spare, ask them to transship it to Germany for repair.

Similar Products Used:

Leica 28 35 50 and 90mm lenses. Nikon, Canon 20mm lenses.

OVERALL RATING	5	★★★★★ ★★★★★

VALUE RATING	4	★★★★★ ★★★★★