finally today my Visoflex 2 arrived after back order of 3 months for the M11 & the WATE I ordered yesterday 10 mins later. It was your podcast that finally made my mind up. Works excellently on my SL2 as well. Christmas came early
Excellent review of the WATE. I do own a WATE and after watching your photos, I realize I need to make more use of this lens. I also own a MATE (28-35-50) which I use often. Unfortunately Leica no longer makes this lens. Thanks.
Very detailed review.....this is what we all like. Looks like a very complex lens indeed. An essential video for all who have this lens. Thank you Math!
Great video! I was deciding between this and 28-35-50 Tri Elmar. Do you have a video comparing the two? What are your thoughts about this lens vis-a-vis the 28-35-50 lens? Cheers, Martin
Oh wow! great video, very informative! 👏 Picking up a SEM 18mm f/3.8 this Wednesday + an external view finder for my M6 at a very good price (I think) from a local camera store 🥳
As usual, very clearly explained - thank you. I have the 18mm SEM (and a CV 15mm III), so I will probably just stick with that and zoom with my feet as needed.
Great Video dear Mat! I still keep learning from here. I got this WATE lens a few weeks ago and used it last weekend in Antwerp for architecture photography with my M10-R. Set the camera to Perspective Control to see on the screen what is possible. What is your experience with P.S: with your M11? Do you use it?
Hi John, thanks for the positive feedback. I use perspective control frequently, thinks its very convenient. And since in Lightroom you also can apply it (as set up during the shot) for the RAW file, I think this feature is nicely done :)
I have to say that to me this lens would mostly be for reportage and documentary work. together with the mate gives you a lots of flexibility. Personally would be a dream to get a sort of WATE and MATE Leica Q version with an f2 or variable 1.7-2 aperture. So with a Q mate and a Q wate you have the perfect reportage documentary camera ever. for me Leica Q ist the new M
Thanks, very good video as always. I don't own a Tri-Elmar, but a 90mm F4 macro and an M adapter. Iwould love if you could do a video on that combination.
Super - vielen Dank für das tolle Video, ich habe die Linse nun tatsächlich verstanden :-) und ich werde sie mir kaufen (leider :-)) da es bald nach Island geht und ich dort gerne diese one size fits all Linse dabe hätte. Ich denke meine M11 wird sich über sie freuen :-) vielen Dank
It is pretty old fashion then... I use a Laowa 9mm on my Fuji system that has almost no distortion... In don't mind to pay thousands euro's extra for maximum quality. This was the case with Leica for a long time. Now more and more Leica becomes a fun gimmick 😅 PS. Monochroms still are the best option of anything out there if you like to shoot B&W
It's impressive how the lens performs so well in the corners. BTW, this lens replaces, at best, two focal lengths, not three. You could make do with only an 18mm; or you could have a 16mm and either a 21mm or a 24mm. So IMHO the lens itself is fine but it doesn't really solve a lot of problems.
If it looks like a zoom, it’s a zoom. Not sure you mean when you say it isn’t. The WATE is a zoom, the MATE is not a zoom. Just because Leica don’t sell it like a zoom, doesn’t mean much. Sure, if you use the M body with the rangefinder only, there are no framelines, even if you could cover the focal lengths, so M bodies can’t cope with zooms, which is where we were when this lens was launched.
Thanks Calvin, appreciate your comment. If you look into the DoF table, for instance at 16mm at f/5.6, if you then focus at infinity, your DoF is [1,517m to infinity] - means, you waste around 1.5m. Your point is that you can do better and you are right, I should have mentioned it in the video and will mention it in the infobox now: If you know the DoF table, same constellation (16mm, f/5.6), then if you focus at 2m instead of infinity, your DoF is [0,899m to infinity] which means you gain DoF and do not waste it unnecessarily.
As a previous 16-18-21 user I can agree with the previous user’s comment. This lens is a TOTAL WASTE!!! WATE = WASTE…. It seems, from afar, as a great idea BUT it produces weird, unfixable, mustache-shaped distortions that make it worthless for architecture. I’d save the money and go for the Voigtlander 15mm, or maybe the 18mm or 21mm Leica options. The Voigtlander 15 is great by itself, and comparatively a steal, plus much smaller…. The WATE doesn’t deserve the red dot, and is just an expensive paperweight…
finally today my Visoflex 2 arrived after back order of 3 months for the M11 & the WATE I ordered yesterday 10 mins later. It was your podcast that finally made my mind up. Works excellently on my SL2 as well. Christmas came early
Excellent review of the WATE. I do own a WATE and after watching your photos, I realize I need to make more use of this lens. I also own a MATE (28-35-50) which I use often. Unfortunately Leica no longer makes this lens. Thanks.
Thank you William.
Very detailed review.....this is what we all like. Looks like a very complex lens indeed. An essential video for all who have this lens. Thank you Math!
Great review. Just what I want for my Landscape work & the odd architecture. I'll start saving now.
Great video! I was deciding between this and 28-35-50 Tri Elmar. Do you have a video comparing the two? What are your thoughts about this lens vis-a-vis the 28-35-50 lens? Cheers, Martin
always a thoroughly enjoyed vlog on various camera and lenses
Oh wow! great video, very informative! 👏 Picking up a SEM 18mm f/3.8 this Wednesday + an external view finder for my M6 at a very good price (I think) from a local camera store 🥳
As usual, very clearly explained - thank you. I have the 18mm SEM (and a CV 15mm III), so I will probably just stick with that and zoom with my feet as needed.
Good choices, no need then to go to the Tri-Elmar. Thanks for your comment, Peter.
I just wonder if there is enough difference in the those close focal lengths to bother. 24/35/50 might interest me.
Great Video dear Mat!
I still keep learning from here.
I got this WATE lens a few weeks ago and used it last weekend in Antwerp for architecture photography with my M10-R.
Set the camera to Perspective Control to see on the screen what is possible.
What is your experience with P.S: with your M11? Do you use it?
Hi John, thanks for the positive feedback. I use perspective control frequently, thinks its very convenient. And since in Lightroom you also can apply it (as set up during the shot) for the RAW file, I think this feature is nicely done :)
I have to say that to me this lens would mostly be for reportage and documentary work. together with the mate gives you a lots of flexibility. Personally would be a dream to get a sort of WATE and MATE Leica Q version with an f2 or variable 1.7-2 aperture. So with a Q mate and a Q wate you have the perfect reportage documentary camera ever. for me Leica Q ist the new M
EXCELLENT review, thanks for sharing !
Thanks RS!
Is this lens better than the 21mm Super Elmar?
Your review, on the other hand, is well done…
Could you make a comparison with the Hasselblad tiltshift you have there in the back?
thank you for the video and clear explaination~
Thanks, very good video as always. I don't own a Tri-Elmar, but a 90mm F4 macro and an M adapter. Iwould love if you could do a video on that combination.
Thanks Geoffrey, appreciate your feedback.
What tilt/shift lenses do you use for Leica?
Is this lens good for light trail or just in general night sky ?
Tri Elmar or Leica 18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar?
I have the 18 super-Elmer and absolutely love it.
Is the distorsion of the Tri-Elmar corrected in camera when mounted on a SL2/SL2s? Thank you
Good question, I did not try this out, will do and then get back. Thanks Danilo.
Super - vielen Dank für das tolle Video, ich habe die Linse nun tatsächlich verstanden :-) und ich werde sie mir kaufen (leider :-)) da es bald nach Island geht und ich dort gerne diese one size fits all Linse dabe hätte. Ich denke meine M11 wird sich über sie freuen :-) vielen Dank
Viel Spass in Island, Alexander, and happy shooting! Must be really cool to shoot the WATE in a nature paradise like Island.
Thanks for your sharing!
Amazing tip, using Capture One
Dxo photo lab 5 really good too
Capture One works without any flaws with the DNG files from Leica. I can really recommend it.
@@tiziocaio8657 I need to try it, have it but do not really use it, good hint, thx.
It is pretty old fashion then... I use a Laowa 9mm on my Fuji system that has almost no distortion... In don't mind to pay thousands euro's extra for maximum quality. This was the case with Leica for a long time. Now more and more Leica becomes a fun gimmick 😅
PS. Monochroms still are the best option of anything out there if you like to shoot B&W
Thank your for the very good video!
It's impressive how the lens performs so well in the corners.
BTW, this lens replaces, at best, two focal lengths, not three. You could make do with only an 18mm; or you could have a 16mm and either a 21mm or a 24mm. So IMHO the lens itself is fine but it doesn't really solve a lot of problems.
I think the 28-35-50 had a more useful focal length selection so I see what you mean.
maravilloso!!!
It's a great lens and great fun for street.
Where are you from ,if I may ask?
Born in Germany, lived in the US, now living in Switzerland for many years.
If it looks like a zoom, it’s a zoom. Not sure you mean when you say it isn’t. The WATE is a zoom, the MATE is not a zoom. Just because Leica don’t sell it like a zoom, doesn’t mean much. Sure, if you use the M body with the rangefinder only, there are no framelines, even if you could cover the focal lengths, so M bodies can’t cope with zooms, which is where we were when this lens was launched.
I think leica had the trinity concept in mind.
I see also a difference in color between lightroom and capture One……is that correct?
A bit yes, its not much but noteable.
If you focus at infinity, which is admittedly quick, you’re wasting a lot of depth of field.
Thanks Calvin, appreciate your comment. If you look into the DoF table, for instance at 16mm at f/5.6, if you then focus at infinity, your DoF is [1,517m to infinity] - means, you waste around 1.5m. Your point is that you can do better and you are right, I should have mentioned it in the video and will mention it in the infobox now: If you know the DoF table, same constellation (16mm, f/5.6), then if you focus at 2m instead of infinity, your DoF is [0,899m to infinity] which means you gain DoF and do not waste it unnecessarily.
Infobox below video edited now.
It's a zoom lens with notchy stops.
As a previous 16-18-21 user I can agree with the previous user’s comment. This lens is a TOTAL WASTE!!! WATE = WASTE…. It seems, from afar, as a great idea BUT it produces weird, unfixable, mustache-shaped distortions that make it worthless for architecture. I’d save the money and go for the Voigtlander 15mm, or maybe the 18mm or 21mm Leica options. The Voigtlander 15 is great by itself, and comparatively a steal, plus much smaller…. The WATE doesn’t deserve the red dot, and is just an expensive paperweight…
It's a waste of money. A pointless varifocal toy design.
Agreed!!!