Leica Super Elmar M 21mm

[ExplorerII]

Hi all

I'm considering getting an SEM 21mm for travel and tight indoor photography and would appreciate it if fellow M9 shooters could share their thoughts/impressions of this lens.

Of course, film M shooters are also welcomed to contribute.

I've read tons of online reviews but I guess nothing comes close to views of fellow shooters at home.

I would suppose that an external VF is recommended but question is will non-Leica makes give accurate framelines?

Thanks!

 

[Double Negative]

Unfortunately, I can't say I've shot this lens yet - but I'm quite keen to get one also. I've heard (and seen) nothing but good things about it. Quite sharp, great on distortion, colors/saturation, etc. Personally I'd rather have f/2.8 but that also means a larger lens - and one of the nice things of the SE is the common 46mm filter size. I'll leave the speed for longer lenses.

 

[sillbeers15]

I took it on a trip to Taiwan and US last June. Absolutely love the 21mm Super Elmar for the coverage, contrast, sharpness and minimal distortion. Wonderful for nature, streets shot, architectural. Only wish it was a Cron or Elmarit. Was considering to get the 21 elmarit instead earlier. But no looking back after getting my 21 SEM.

 

[recap]

it is the singular best 21mm lens in terms of optical quality, contrast, color, rendition available. it beats the zeiss 21mm. i own both. distortion on the leica is far superior to the mustache type one on the zeiss. obviously at f/3.4 you aren't going to do much hand held shots indoors, in this regard the 21/1.4 is vastly superior. with the obvious exception of bokeh rendering, the super elmar wins on every other count in my opinion. the size is also very practical for travel, far better than the older 21/2.8

with regards the the external viewfinder, it will *never* actually be spot on accurate. It is merely an approximation that depends on the distance to the subject - you'll probably capture more when stuff is towards infinity, and less when its within a few meters. but these are a quibbling part of the rangefinder experience. so outright accuracy per se is probably "not there" but you'll eventually get used to composing and knowing roughly what will show up in the final shot.

i do recommend the use of the external VF. do not get the leica one. it was a waste of money. buy the zeiss 21 viewfinder. it is SO BRIGHT your M9's native finder will look comparatively dim thereafter. the lens performs extremely well on film or digital, virtually no ghosting, no flaring and just insane sharpness corner to corner.

source: if you read a lot of the reviews online. you probably read mine.

 

[recap]

pretty much as they are. slightly processed in lightroom to my taste.

The lens is so sharp, that it can cause aliasing with the M9 filter, it can easily stand up to the demands of a 36-40 megapixel sensor, maybe even a 50MP one in the future.

 

[recap]

this one had virtually no post processing, the light was really good, and the lens, in typical leica lens design fashion, is very contrasty by default.

having some fun with the contrast

colors are great in my opinion.

so i bought this lens off another clubsnapper who owned two copies. He was trying to offload both because he didn't like the slow aperture, and the combination of the noise M9 sensor means you are pretty much stuck to below ISO 320 for color work, though with LR4 these days, I argue that 1250 is the limit.

I have really enjoyed this lens, and it is my classic travel staple 3 lens kit when I am on the move - the others being the more standard 35 and 50mm lenses.

 

[tweakmax]

Very nice!!!

 

[Riotbmx]

this one had virtually no post processing, the light was really good, and the lens, in typical leica lens design fashion, is very contrasty by default.

Awesome! Wish more people who does digital imaging would go this direction too-keeping it real

 

[recap]

Awesome! Wish more people who does digital imaging would go this direction too-keeping it real

I have to say, as much as I wish that this was the case, we cannot run away from post processing, its a fundamental portion of the photographic process. Even back in the days of film, when you drop off that roll, the darkroom staff will usually do some touch ups here and there to make our images come out a little bit better. Granted that it is a different thing with slides altogether, but I feel that the general output of the average raw file needs some tweaking to make it pop like it should, even if just to replicate what we "saw" at the moment of exposure.

The Leica system is a little bit easier because of the excellent lenses, and the CCD sensor, for what its worth on the M9, is really good for the daylight outdoor photography it is meant for. Not completely perfect, not the most outstanding dynamic range, but a very good output for what its worth.

Bagan, Myanmar

Yangon, Myanmar - Shwedagaon Pagoda

Inle Lake, Myanmar

Bagan, Myanmar - Ananda Pagoda

Mandalay, Myanmar - U Bein Bridge, world's longest teak bridge.

The 21 is a brilliant lens, sometimes towards dusk you can feel the limitations of the f/3.4 aperture, perhaps mitigated by upping the ISO to 320 or 640, but as far as I am concerned, this is one gem of a lens and will probably never sell mine. I highly recommend it.

 

[Riotbmx]

It's been a terribly long time since I saw good images here, thanks for sharing your wonderful photos.

 

[ExplorerII]

Yo bro, nice to "see" you again.

Thanks for the candid opinion on the 21 SEM as well as the choice of VF.

Love the shots from your Myanmar trip.

Thanks to Double Negative and sillbeers15 too.

it is the singular best 21mm lens in terms of optical quality, contrast, color, rendition available. it beats the zeiss 21mm. i own both. distortion on the leica is far superior to the mustache type one on the zeiss. obviously at f/3.4 you aren't going to do much hand held shots indoors, in this regard the 21/1.4 is vastly superior. with the obvious exception of bokeh rendering, the super elmar wins on every other count in my opinion. the size is also very practical for travel, far better than the older 21/2.8

with regards the the external viewfinder, it will *never* actually be spot on accurate. It is merely an approximation that depends on the distance to the subject - you'll probably capture more when stuff is towards infinity, and less when its within a few meters. but these are a quibbling part of the rangefinder experience. so outright accuracy per se is probably "not there" but you'll eventually get used to composing and knowing roughly what will show up in the final shot.

i do recommend the use of the external VF. do not get the leica one. it was a waste of money. buy the zeiss 21 viewfinder. it is SO BRIGHT your M9's native finder will look comparatively dim thereafter. the lens performs extremely well on film or digital, virtually no ghosting, no flaring and just insane sharpness corner to corner.

source: if you read a lot of the reviews online. you probably read mine.

 

[meven]

Amazing shots Recap!

 

[hookonclassic]

I have to say, as much as I wish that this was the case, we cannot run away from post processing, its a fundamental portion of the photographic process. Even back in the days of film, when you drop off that roll, the darkroom staff will usually do some touch ups here and there to make our images come out a little bit better. Granted that it is a different thing with slides altogether, but I feel that the general output of the average raw file needs some tweaking to make it pop like it should, even if just to replicate what we "saw" at the moment of exposure.

The Leica system is a little bit easier because of the excellent lenses, and the CCD sensor, for what its worth on the M9, is really good for the daylight outdoor photography it is meant for. Not completely perfect, not the most outstanding dynamic range, but a very good output for what its worth.

Inle Lake, Myanmar

Mandalay, Myanmar - U Bein Bridge, world's longest teak bridge.

The 21 is a brilliant lens, sometimes towards dusk you can feel the limitations of the f/3.4 aperture, perhaps mitigated by upping the ISO to 320 or 640, but as far as I am concerned, this is one gem of a lens and will probably never sell mine. I highly recommend it.

Brilliant shots! But this two really stand out for me. :thumbsup:

 

[recap]

thanks! though i almost didn't share the bridge shot cos I thought it looked too flat... but oh. thanks!

 

[SKEdz]

Great shots and like seeing the results of the Burma+M9+21mm trifecta

 

[jcho]

Is one of my fav lens as well for landscape and streets photography.

My samples shoot can be found here.

LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-M 21mm f/3.4 ASPH - a set on Flickr

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Inle Lake, Myanmar

Superb shot! :thumbsup:

This one really stood out.