Re: new 24 Asph

[TTAbrahams@aol.com]

Cesar, =20

I have been shooting with the 24/2,8 Asph for close to one year and after
initially being somewhat cool to it, I now really like it. Performance-wi=
se
it is up there with the 4 generation 28/2,8 and the 21/2,8 (both regular =
and
Asph.) There is a very slight softness at the edges at 2,8 and a slight
vignetting at 2,8/4, it is all but gone by 5,6. Optimum aperture seems to=
 be
5,6/8.=20
The finder is the weakest point of the lens. It is a 21 finder with mask =
for
the 24 and as all Leica finders it is difficult to use. You have to move =
your
eye between focus and framing, it is prone to being broken off (particula=
rly
if you are dumping the camera with the finder in a crowded camerabag - as=
 if
there is any other kind of camerabag!). I find that I prefer using the le=
ns
with my M6 or M4P and using the extreme edge of the cameras viewfinder, i=
t
gives me close to 24 mm for framing. M-cameras were never designed for
precise framing anyway.
At Photokina-96 Leica hinted about a =93combination =93 finder with 21/24=
/28
frames in it, but I haven=92t seen one yet and I think we have to wait fo=
r that
until they release the M6J in a =93civilian=93 form i.e. black, no =93her=
itage
engravings=94 and a reasonable price. With its 35/50/90/135 frames it wou=
ld
make sense to do a combination finder.  Of course this means that when yo=
u
loose the finder(note the =93when=94, not =93if=94) you are out of luck w=
ith three
very wide lenses!
I have now problem recommending the 28/2,8 Asph as a lens; it slots nicel=
y in
between the 21 and 28 and in a pinch can replace both of these. My =93tra=
vel=94
pack now consists of a 24/2,8 Asph, a 35/2 Asph, a 50/2 and the 90/2,8
Elmarit -M, 2 M6 bodies (24/35) and a M4P body with the M3 finder in it (=
for
the 50/2 and 90/2.8). Not too bulky, it can all fit in a nondescript
shoulderbag with a day=92s supply of film.
Very few jobs that you cant handle with that kit.
Tom A