I have the Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8. It's a far better size than either 21/1.4 on your list, but still not as tiny as the Super-Elmar. It's sharp, very well made, optically well-corrected and not terribly expensive. Plus the 1.8 aperture is very useful for film shooting indoors.
1bwana1 wrote:
I think the Leica 21mm Super-Elmar is the best M mount 21mm available currently. But of course it is a bit pricy.
Thank you and yea Super-Elmar is bit pricy.
I rarely shoot wild angle, only own a Nikon 17-24mm for my Z7II and most likely for landscape and architecture.
I'm not sure if I like wide angle on street so not trying to get a expensive Super-Elmar just for now.
_jim_ wrote:
I have the Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8. It's a far better size than either 21/1.4 on your list, but still not as tiny as the Super-Elmar. It's sharp, very well made, optically well-corrected and not terribly expensive. Plus the 1.8 aperture is very useful for film shooting indoors.
Jim , you mean the 21mm F1.8 Ultron right?
With that built hood is smaller than the F1.4 Nokton?
zi464 wrote:
Jim , you mean the 21mm F1.8 Ultron right?
With that built hood is smaller than the F1.4 Nokton?
Correct. It's big, but it's still manageable (just barely). I think the 21mm/1.4 Nokton is objectively a better lens, but the size would make it less enjoyable to use. I also have the 21mm f/4 Color-Skopar when I know I'll be shooting outdoors exclusively and I don't want the weight of the Ultron.
I can only vote for the ones I have been using for some time without issues both on film and digital M cameras:
CV 21/1.8 (the predecessor lens of the current f/1.4)
Leica 21/2.8 Elmarit-M (pre-ASPH version)
The CV lens has a fixed hood which I never liked since it doesn't allow me to use step-up rings for larger filters. Fortunately it comes with a standard 58 mm filter diameter. I agree with @_jim_ above that the lens is superb otherwise. Only adapted to Sony-E-mount sensors it creates purple vignetting in the corners if not corrected in PP. No issues with Leica M sensors at all.
The Leica Elmarit lens is smaller, less heavy and optically excellent, too. I love taking this one for travel. The one stop slower has never been a debit for me so far either. The lens is available here and there used but you might need to purchase its hood separately. Its filter diameter is a bit unusual with 60 mm.
retrofocus wrote:
I can only vote for the ones I have been using for some time without issues both on film and digital M cameras:
CV 21/1.8 (the predecessor lens of the current f/1.4)
Leica 21/2.8 Elmarit-M (pre-ASPH version)
The CV lens has a fixed hood which I never liked since it doesn't allow me to use step-up rings for larger filters. Fortunately it comes with a standard 58 mm filter diameter. I agree with @_jim_@ above that the lens is superb otherwise. Only adapted to Sony-E-mount sensors it creates purple vignetting in the corners if not corrected in PP. No issues with Leica M sensors at all.
The Leica Elmarit lens is smaller, less heavy and optically excellent, too. I love taking this one for travel. The one stop slower has never been a debit for me so far either. The lens is available here and there used but you might need to purchase its hood separately. Its filter diameter is a bit unusual with 60 mm. ...Show more →
Did Leica fix the Italian flag problem with pre-A Elmarit 21 on their digital cameras? I've only shot it on the M9 and a Kolari V2 modded a7, and it was very present on both those cameras.
Which Biogon are you looking at; the f/2.8 or f/4.5? The former performs decently on digital M but trails behind the CV 21/1.4 significantly in all objective measures. A coworker of mine tried the f/4.5 on his M11 and said it was messy on the edges and corners, but he loves it on his M6.
freaklikeme wrote:
Which Biogon are you looking at; the f/2.8 or f/4.5? The former performs decently on digital M but trails behind the CV 21/1.4 significantly in all objective measures. A coworker of mine tried the f/4.5 on his M11 and said it was messy on the edges and corners, but he loves it on his M6.
F2.8.
This might be my only 21mm, so the F4.5 is bit slow.
From your list I have used 3 of them and recommend the VC 21/1.4. Someone is selling one now here at the Buy and Sell section (I have no affiliation). The 21mm Elmarit is a fine lens especially for b/w due to its lower contrast and classical rendering but it’s still a Leica lens with Leica prices. I would pay a bit more for the later Asph version if you prefer the brand. The ZM is very high contrast. Not my taste but some people like it.
freaklikeme wrote:
Did Leica fix the Italian flag problem with pre-A Elmarit 21 on their digital cameras? I've only shot it on the M9 and a Kolari V2 modded a7, and it was very present on both those cameras.
I never heard or seen this issue - as mentioned, I have the pre-ASPH one and never seen it in any of my photos. I am using it on film and with M 240 based cameras.
retrofocus wrote:
I never heard or seen this issue - as mentioned, I have the pre-ASPH one and never seen it in any of my photos. I am using it on film and with M 240 based cameras.
It's a version of crosstalk in which one of the short sides looks magenta and the other side green. Both the pre-A and ASPH had problems with it on early digital.
I just got the 21mm Thypoch Simera this week after contemplating almost the exact lenses as you did.
Leica 21 SEM or VM Color Skopar: nice and compact size, but too slow since I plan to have only 1 21-28mm lens in the lineup so I need a versatile (fast) one
VM 21/1.8: smaller diameter but not necessary length due to the built in hood
So it was between VM 21/1.4 and the Thypoch, but the 0.23cm MFD on the Thypoch really is clenching it for me. Plus from most of the reviews, it performs as good if not better than VM21/1.4, and slightly smaller/lighter and with much closer MFD
This image provides some sense of the blurry edges on the 21mm Biogon-c f/4.5. Never noticed the edge problem on my M11M, but does vignette a good bit at 4.5. It isn’t a good choice for pre-M11 cameras. You don’t want such a slow/small lens, but I’m in the don’t want large heavy lens at this focal length. The Super-Elmar is faster, larger, prettier, but less micro-contrast. The G21 is amazingly small and much like the ZM, but I’ve only used it on a G2 body. Lovely images on the previous post.
