[Leica] IMG: images from Summilux 21 and Elmar 18

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

I just assume that anything I shoot with my crop camera the edges are not an
issue. I can use half assessed glass as I often do and the performance I get
from it is beyond reproach. Because I'm not using the edges or anything
resembling them because of the crop circle factor.
I have an early AF 28mm 2.8 Nikkor which I'd not get 30 bucks for but with
cropped format the  performance is honky dory. Its a 43mm lens.
Take a 28mm lens out of a 21 made by Leica what problems are we going to
find with it? 

Leica lenses I assume even if I shot it with film they put a huge priority
on edge performance. Right out to the full frame black border edge. The edge
performance I got with my 21 ASPH Summicron with film is astounding if I use
a level and shoot straight as I often did you may as be using a non
retrofocal optic. A super Angulon 21.
But to then take a crop out of that as a 28mm lens its doing it in its
sleep. We're find fault with it?

Wide view shooting with very narrow depth of field is not a style of
shooting that is really part of collective mind set yet.
We're not used to seeing it. It has not caught on. I've not seen it.
We're used to seeing thin slices out of narrow or normal views not wide
angle views. 
Somebody can get a jump on it and become a master of it and make it their
own.... If its viable at all. If its not then just stop down.

But I'd shoot it will film and have it be a 21 with thin DOF. Not a 28 which
is normal for a lot of people.
And as always: pray for an M9.


Mark William Rabiner



> From: Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com>
> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:15:55 +1000
> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: images from Summilux 21 and Elmar 18
> 
> Hi Jim. That is certainly so. Actually, of course applies from the 28 and 
> on
> down. Especially for shooters who are not experienced with them, like me!
> 
> I was shooting too, to look at performance out to the edges and in 
> difficult
> conditions too. That Summilux 21 of course, is all about the low light
> possibilities and DoF control.  For me the most impressive part of its
> performance was that superb correction and flare resistance that the best 
> of
> Leica's modern designs have. A specialist lens, I think. Inevitably larger
> and heavier than your average M lens too. Incidentally a number of subject
> elements shown in some shots were actually really not square, before I shot
> them (cupboards, building frames etc)!