28mm Elmarit 3rd version

<p>I have this lens on loan, possibly purchase. Its clean and smooth. How is this version as compared to others, especially in the corners? Good for film and digital? My goal is large prints and need to know if this version will hold up with tight grain and smooth gradations. Thanks for your experiences. Also, the shade is in good condition but is missing thr small metal wire that fits into the grooves inside the hood, This created a sprint for the bayonet mount. I need these small wire peices, Anybody have spares, or suggect who might have?</p>

<p>Joel, you have the lens, have you tried it out and printed something?</p>

<p>Joel,</p>

<p>It has a very good reputation, but it does not have the magical words ASPH on it, so it does not attract quite such a high price. It is not quite so stellar wide open as the ASPHs, but it is excellent. If you want the hood fixed ask Leica themselves - they may fix it for nothing.</p>

<p>I sold mine and kind of wish I hadn't now. Damn good lens. The only issue I noticed is into the sun it flared like crazy, at least with a UV filter on and no hood. Not something that's so important to me though, may be for others. </p>

<p>IMHO the v.3 28 Elmarit is the best of the Leica 28mm M lenses. I have never seen any evidence that the more recent Elmarits, or even the Summicron, actually resolve any more detail - and it has lower macro contrast, which gives more dynamic range with slides or digital.</p>

<p>I posted a mini-review of the v.3 28 and some contemporary "Mandler lenses" on the Leica Users Forum - I think you have to register (free) to see the images: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/45854-praise-mandler-lenses.html</p>

<p>Its main disadvantage is the size - it was designed at a time when M bodies did not include the 28 framelines built-in, and thus no particular emphasis was placed on how much it intruded into the viewfinder. It was assumed it would be used with a shoe-mounted accessory finder. </p>

<p>In the newer 28s, the optical advances lie in getting the same resolution out of a smaller package (much smaller, in the case of the 28 f/2.8 ASPH), adding more contrast (for carving an image into soft color neg films) and adding a full stop in speed in a smaller package (28 Summicron).</p>

<p>As to the parts or the lens shade - I'd contact Dave Elwell at Leica USA (Allendale NJ). He's in charge of parts, and even though that hood is 20+ years out of production, he occasionally comes up with miracles.</p>

<p>Andy Piper<br>

http://andypiper.squarespace.com/</p>

<p>Joel - it's my favorite 28mm -- it's everything you're looking for - and then some. I do use the hood (wish it wasn't so flimsy) -- and have never experienced flare issues. It's extremely sharp - very forgiving distortion-wise - and just a plain joy to use.<br>

bob smith<br>

www.notraces.com</p>

I must say, on behalf of Dave Elwell, that he got me the super duper lens hood for this very lens (one with a cut-out and a

spring that ensures the hood stays put, better than the springless hood). Sure, I paid for it, but he got it from Germany for

me... And I didn't think he'd remember my request.

 

In short, if you need the little metal stubs on the top and bottom of the outer ring, he may surprise you.

 

BTW, I really like my Elmarit. It is an outstanding lens, and it's always attached to one of my Leicas (the other sports a

Summilux 35mm).

<p>a friend of mine gave me a great 8x10 print of a photo he made with that lens. shortly after i got myself one and made one of my favorites photos with it.very nice lens.</p>

<p>Hello,<br>

I had the 3rd elmarit until I bought the 4th version (the later being the one with flat front element introduced in the early 90s). The V3 is very very good and comes out cheap you'll find an example in my gallery (paris by night) . Tested the V4 and then bough it as it was marginally but nevertheless better. The V4 has higher contrast and definition fully open (actually quality is unchanged between 2.8 and 5.6 with the V4. But frankly the V3 is a super lens and is much cheaper, you may buy it without risking to regret the move! (it will sell well if you change your mind anyway) . Mine also missed the spring within the shade not much of an issue.</p>

Joel, I re-read your post... and realized that I misread it the first time.

<p>

There are two types of hood or shade for this lens. Both have the same number (12536), but one has NO springs or wire

or anything; it's simply placed with the help of the little metal stubs on the top and bottom (north and south, so to speak,

or 12 and 6) on the lens barrel, very close to the edge of the front element.

<p>

Then, there's the newer 12536 hood. This one has a cutout on the side that goes up, to alleviate the rangefinder window

block it creates. It also has a nice spring inside the groove that guides the hood onto the barrel, and this spring also

makes pressure enough to prevent that the hood turns or gets misaligned.

<p>

The second type of hood is the one Dave Elwell got for me. I think I paid over $100 for it, but it was a nice, brand new

Leica piece, which came from Germany. I had e-mailed him about getting one and he said he'd keep an eye peeled in

case he saw one. A couple of weeks later I got a note from him, informing me that there was one of these hoods and

that I had to give to him my card number to have it shipped over.

<p>

As a result, I now have a spare 12536 (with an almost invisible crack) that I cannot sell and nobody wants. If someone

wants it... it's available.

<p>BTW, here's a sample, done with Agfa APX ISO 400 in Amsterdam, last summer: <p><center>

<a href=" title="Amsterdam Corner Nite by franciscosl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2963394466_04f1f82b27.jpg" width="336" height="500" alt="Amsterdam Corner Nite" /></a><p><i>M6TTL, Elmarit 28mm wide open, near the Prinzengraacht, Amsterdam</i></center>

<p>Thank you all for your responses. I am now quite psyched about this lens. I'll probably just avoid shooting it wide open. Yes, absolutely Francisco, I would really like to have that hood. That's very generous. Back-ups are my obsession. What can I offer you in exchange, a fiber print perhaps? </p>

Joel, send me a roll of film in exchange. I'll send you an e-mail through the photo.net system to the address you registered

with them. In case you're interested, my own address is <franciscosl> at <yahoo.com>

<p>Joel,</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I'll probably just avoid shooting it wide open</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I doubt you need to be so strict - it is still very good - just not as stellar as the latest versions.</p>

<p>Francisco, nice shot. <br>

Joel,one of the things about using leica lenses is their performance wide open, and at 2.8 is not like you have speed to spare. </p>

<p>Wide open it shall be. With Neopan 1600 at 1/30 or so, that's about as low as I ever need to go. Then its dark and past my bedtime. Thanks all.</p>

<p>Francisco, I would have bought that lens hood 12536 off you. If you know where to get one please let me know! Thanks</p>

<p>i have one jason. not with a window, though.....</p>

<p>i have one jason. not with a window, though.....</p>

<p>Just bought one of these lenses for KEH - actually my first leica lens. I love it coming from Nikon and Canon I feel like the difference is night and day. I do not have the hood was shooting in the the sun today and I just shielded the front element with my hand. I would say (if you are still looking at it) go for it, it saved me $1000 bucks over the newer version... <br>

I did a review on my website. I am currently looking for a hood for it but that is proving to be difficult...<br>

<a href="http://danielvalentephotography.com/2009/10/leica-elmarit-28mm-review-for-m8/">Danielvalentephotography.com</a><br>

<img src="http://danielvalentephotography.com/gallery3/var/albums/Blog_Post_Images/leica_elmarit28_aksarben.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="430" /><br>

<img src="http://danielvalentephotography.com/gallery3/var/albums/Blog_Post_Images/elmarit_28mm_oldmarket.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="430" /><br>

<img src="http://danielvalentephotography.com/gallery3/var/albums/Blog_Post_Images/elmarit_28mm_bokeh_building.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="430" /></p>