28mm F/2.8 Elmarit vs. 28mm F/2 Summicron

<p>All;<br>

I currently own the following wideangle Leica lenses:<br>

35mm F/2 Summicron ASPH (newest model)<br>

28mm F/2.8 ASPH Elmarit (newest model)<br>

I also have a 50mm Summicron and a 90mm Elmarit as well. I use the 35mm and the 28mm equally as often, but now I'm thinking that since the 35mm is more of a 'normal' lens, I would perhaps sell both the 35 Summicron and the 28mm Elmarit and spring for the 28mm F2 Summicron.<br>

I've been told that the 28mm Summicron is a far superior lens to the 28mm Elmarit. Do you think that the difference will benefit me more than just keeping both the 35mm Summicron and the 28mm Elmarit?<br>

Is the 28mm Summicronn 'that much' better?<br>

Thanks, Brad</p>

<p>Or consider Ken Rockwell's <a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/28mm-f28.htm">comments,</a> and get the 28/2.8 Elmarit APSH. Less distortion than the Summicron, a truly tiny lens, and a great value.</p>

<p>I have no experience w/the 28/2.8 Elmarit, but I do have the 28/2 Summicron. While the Summicron is an excellent lens, I don't see how it could possibly be "far superior" to the Elmarit unless your definition of "superior" includes lens speed. I would not go w/your proposed transaction unless you really need the extra speed in the 28mm field of view (& are willing to give up the 35mm FoV in the bargain).</p>

<p ><em><strong><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=714827">John Shriver</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub6.gif" alt="" title="Subscriber" /> <img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/2rolls.gif" alt="" title="Frequent poster" /> </a> , Mar 13, 2009; 11:30 a.m.</strong> </em></p>

 

<p><em><strong>Or consider Ken Rockwell's <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/28mm-f28.htm" target="_blank">comments,</a> and get the 28/2.8 Elmarit APSH. Less distortion than the Summicron, a truly tiny lens, and a great value.</strong> </em></p>

<p>That's priceless, don't forget to support his family.......:)</p>

 

<p>Sounds like you've got enough great lenses. Now, shoot.</p>

<p>I doubt it is <em>much</em> better, but the 28mm Summicron is a (very expensive) cracker! The current 28mm ASPH is very good and I would have got one if they had been available when I got my s/h 28mm 'cron. At that time the 28mm Elmarit (previous version) was about the same price s/h as the Summicron (+ or - $200-300) so I got the Summicron.</p>

<p>Unless you truly lust for the f2 I wouldn't bother.</p>

<p>Let's see, we have 28,35,50 and 90 optics. The BIG question is: What the H*ll kinda pictures are you trying to accomplish? If it's just pretty vacation photos with a bright sunny sky (or even in the shade) I'd keep all four lenses and go for another body so you could shoot both high and low speed films or color and B&W!</p>

<p>Seriously, without your telling us what your doing, we could not give great advice. If you're trying to take pix of a black cat in a coal bin, then scrap ALL of the lenses you have and get the fastest ones made that you can afford. The 35mm F1.4 ASPH IS the normal lens on my Leica. I have the Noct., the 28 F2.0, and the 90 F2.0 APO. I do available light, indoors, without flash whenever possible. The fast optics come in handy.</p>

<p>Get back to us with some details so we can better give you advice.</p>

<p>Uhh, John - Brad already HAS the Elmarit ASPH. But thanks for reading.<br>

Brad: The word on the 28 Summicron is that it has a touch lower contrast than the 28 Elmarit-ASPH (a good thing, IMHO). Other than that, they are really very close in performance. It's just that the Summicron does it at f/2.0. Which can make a difference in low light.<br>

IF you use the lens hoods, the Elmarit-ASPH is very compact - the 'cron hood is almost as big as the lens alone. If you don't, they are not that much different in size, practically speaking.<br>

IMHO - put your 35 in the closet for a month, and just shoot with your current 28. If you miss the 35, then don't sell it. If you don't miss the 35, but DO miss f/2 - then sell both and go for the 28 Summicron.</p>

<p>Oops. Been a bit sleepy-headed recently. Well, at any rate Ken does offer one viewpoint on these two lenses. <br>

Erwin Puts, of course, prefers the more expensive Summicron. But he certainly concurs that the 28/2.8 ASPH wins in the "low distortion" area.<br>

I'll admit that I agree with Ken in liking my lenses small. That's why I'm an LTM camera and lens user. Some of these modern Leica M lenses are bigger than my Topcon SLR lenses, for heaven's sake.</p>

<p>I will assume that you intend to use these lenses on a film camera. I also came to like using a 35 as a standard lens over the years. Most of my shooting is done with SLR cameras but the angle of view is the same in either case. I think I would miss a fast 35 if I didn't have one. Some of the fast 35s I have and enjoy using are the 35/1.8 MC Rokkor, 35/2 Canon FD SSC, 35/2 Canon New FD, 35/2 Konica Hexanon, 35/2 SMC Pentax M. For an SLR user the main penalties of using a faster 28 are weight and size. Any lens which you use a great deal of the time and which is not fast enough can be limiting. There are many fast 28s to choose from if you shoot with an SLR camera. My favorites include the 28/1.8 Konica Hexanon, 28/2 Canon FD SSC and the 28/2 Kiron. The 28 allows you to shoot at a slightly lower shutter speed hand held than a 35. Based on all of this I would keep the 28/2.8 and possibly add a 28/1.9 CV lens for when I really need the speed. </p>

<p>Define 'better'. Both are excellent lenses. FWIW, the general view is that the Elmarit has marginally better contrast and resolution, but is of course a stop slower. I've tried both. I bought the Elmarit because I preferred the way it renders - suits my style a bit better. The fact that it was smaller, lighter and cheaper than a Summicron was a bonus, and the substantial difference in price will go towards my next lens - possibly the 18 SWE.</p>

<p>I owned and used a 28mm Summicron for a while. It was good, but for some reason I tended to use the VC 28mm f1.9 Ultron much more and ultimately traded away the Summicron. I liked the results from the Ultron much better, and it's since become a workhorse for me. Another 28mm I like is the 28mm f2.8 Hexanon-M, which has the same optical formula as the late model 28mm Elmarit Pre-Aspherical. Another really solid performer. Doesn't sound like you need a Summicron.</p>

<p>Here's what I do (God help me!): I use Leica adapter 22228 on my M2 and mount the little 28mm Elmarit R with the over-priced Leitz metal 28mm finder. I never worry about non-rangefinder focusing with the 28! My 35mm is a 2.8 Summaron. I also use the 21mm 1:3.4 Super Angulon R with said adapter on my M2 -- again with an over-priced 21mm metal Leitz finder! Do I march to a different drummer?</p>