The latest 28 Summicron isn't anything special rendering wise, whereas the 28 Elmarit has a more unique and pleasant rendering on both digital and film. The 28 Summilux now is truly special. This is why I have both the 28 Elmarit and 28 Summilux M lenses and will never get a 28 Summicron
Great video I went with the Elmarit F2.8. for the following reasons. - Less the money - I'll be using it mostly during the day - 2 to 2.8 is not a huge difference in terms of ISO and noise - Bokeh is almost the same - 2.8 seems sharper to me - Compact and great image quality If funds are tight another great option is the Voigtlander Ultron 2.8mm f2 I shot with it and I like it better than the Leica Summicron f2. Sharper with less CA
Answer always is if you get a change to buy a Summicron buy the Summicron. You can find similar cheaper lenses but no lens will ever be a Summicron. Best lens anyone has ever made. Get the 50/35/28 and you don’t need any more lenses.
I upgraded to the cron. Brilliant lens. I disagree with “they’re very much the same but for the extra stop”. The elmarit is clinically sharp and doesn’t hold up when shot at close range. Distorts. Ok it’s aspherical but the cron has much better optical quality at closer ranges. I think anyway. I see it as my main lens. I’d suggest if you don’t need a 28mm as your main lens just an accessory lens then stick with the elmarit.
Hello Peter! There is nothing to do, your videos are very clear, very useful and intelligently shot. Among the best ever in the photographic genre on UA-cam. Instead of an avalanche of words, often necessary for someone to suggest that everything is good and everything is beautiful, you simply and effectively illustrate the reality and, in this test, make anyone understand even the subtle nuances between Elmarit and Summicron. Good boy! More Leica tests so please! Greetings
Thank you so much for your glowing comments. It's comments like yours that gives me energy and confidence to keep on producing content, knowing some people really get value from investing time to view my videos. Thanks. Very much appreciated. Cheers Peter
Very helpful video. I purchased a Summilux M 50mm f/1.4 and decided to replace my Summicron M 35mm f/2 with a 28mm. After considering your analysis and taking test shots, I went with the Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 and am delighted. I got enough in trade for the 35mm to cover most of the cost of a new Elmarit, a nice bonus. Many thanks.
For me... neither. I bought the 1.4. Great video though!! As fas as these 2 lenses go ... Like you, I would be sticking with the 2.8. The other wide I have is the 21mm Super Elmar 3.4, that thing is crazy good. Equal to the 28 Lux to my eye!!!
I really can appreciate the work you put in your videos, but if you really would like to have a fair comparison between these lenses I’d like to see some real life shooting as well. I own the Elmarit 28 asph (v1) and am thinking about upgrading to a v2 summicron or elmarit. You can find plenty discussions on the forums comparing these two. What it usually boils down to is the more painterly rendering of the summicron vs the more contrasty rendering of the elmarit. Which one serves you the best is a matter of taste and budget (as usual), but you can’t expect someone to make a decision which one to buy solely based on looking at test charts.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, there are many factors to consider when comparing photographic gear and what best suits your needs. No doubt I'll do more videos featuring the 28mm f2.8.
Regarding the aperture: it is not LR that does not sync with the camera, it is the camera that guesses the aperture wrong. Lr is only reports when is written in the EXIF data
When I got my first Leica, the 28 2.8 was the second lens I bought after a 50 Summicron; stupidly, I sold it and bought both a new 28 f2 Summicron and a 35 f2 Summicron. I hardly ever use the 28 and almost always use the 35mm. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I wish I had kept the 28 2.8!
Same decision as mine, I kept the Elmarit-M 28mm F2.8. The compact size on M digital cameras (mine is M10-R) makes it easy for ISO adjustments if needed, unlike the film with fixed ISO 🙂
Have the 28mm F1.4 and find it next to useless given the .7M minimum focus distance. Seriously considering dumping all my Leica gear,. while I love the small lens sizes I find the system crippling and inferior when compared to modern mirroless systmes - that exhibit nerar perfect and instananeous focusing.
I own both of these lenses and have used them extensively, and for me the key difference is the rendering. The Cron is gentler, with more gradual transitions, and it has a slightly softer, more painterly look to its images. The Elmarit is razor sharp and more contrasty. There's no question in my mind that the Elmarit is the better value, but at the end of the day I think the images from the Summicron are more beautiful and kinder to people. I also find that the size and weight differences are pretty negligible. If I could only keep one, it would be the Summicron.
I think you're the third person I heard saying that the elmarit is more contrasty, but I also read that the summicron is sharper corner to corner at f2 than the elmarit is at f2.8, albeit negligible.
Try the Voigtlander 28mm Ultron II. Especially if you don't use 28mm a lot, the Ultron is a no brainer. Sharp, compact and f/2. No Leica of course, but it does the job as good...
With modern digital sensors, the extra stop is only useful for slightly more background blur, and if that’s the case, the 35/1.4 is the way to go. Conclusion: The 28/2 is not worth twice the price and bigger size compared to the 28/2.8.
24 mm rules! Both 35 and 28 are too tight/narrow for me. So the Elmar-M 3.8/24 was my choice and is a perfect match with my LUX 50 and Summarit 2.5/90. All three lenses have the same filter thread, which is very handy. Keep on rolling!
Hi Peter, Great benchmark of the different 28mm Leica lenses. I would also keep the f2,8 given my budget constraints. I have another question for you, what do you think of the Zeiss Biogon 28mm f2,8? Thank you!
I have not tried the Zeiss Biogon. I’m sure there are a bunch of reviews. I would probably go with which appeals to you most, looks, feel. Then just go and shoot.
Hi Peter, thanks for the video! Not sure if you mentioned it in the video somewhere but there appears to be a colour cast in the elmarit images? The cron seems closer to true white? Is this accurate or am I seeing things? Thanks!
Having shot Film formany years an extra stop was always useful, but with digital, increasing iso to a higher figure negates that extra stop. Of my five lenses the 28/2.8 aspherical is the best of the bunch colour and sharpness,and without the hood so compact
The version of the Elmarit I have (typ 11606) is the one prior the current (typ 11677). Here is the summary from Ken Rockwell. The typ 11606 version was made from 2006~2016. The newer typ 11677 version has been made from January 2016~ date, it uses the same optics and is the same size and weight and differs only in that it takes a metal hood instead of the plastic one of this lens.
Frankly speaking, under what conditions a Summicron 28 is really an added value against an Elmarit 28 ?? The gape of price between those 2 is difficult to understand. Just like the summilux 28 vs the Q3, or the M11 vs the Q3. In short, I'll keep my M262 and my Elmarit 28 + Summilux 50 as long as possible 😉
Agreed. Having said that, if Leica released a 28mm Summicron (gloss black paint to suit my Leica M10-R Black Paint) I would probably buy it. I'm a sucker for gear.
Interesting video. I always thought the summicron was better than the elmarit. Maybe a comparison with the Zeiss biogon 28mm? I hesitated between Leica and Zeiss. I am happy with the second one…
Wide open is the major factor for telephoto. For wide angle there's only the low light issue. And since the 2.8 is so compact I'd favor the 2.8 over the 2.0 since it takes up less space in my bag (which is small).
Yes, absolutely. In fact that is why I got the Elmarit 28mm to use with my M10-M. I experimented with colour filters, eventually settled on a Leica Orange filter as the standard set up.
I have the 35 Lux and the 28 Elmarit - a great pairing if I say so myself. The 35 is a better indoor focal length and is of course much faster than the Elmarit. The Elmarit is a great landscape and street photo lens - and I do not not require the speed given I am shooting outdoors under natural light - typically in the mid aperture range 4.0 to 8.0.. If I do need speed at night - I go back to my 35 Lux. Your findings are of no surprise - Leica does not produce lower quality lenses - simply, they produce a slower lens which is also cheaper - but of very high quality. In addition to the 28 Elmarit, I have the 35 lux, 50 cron, and 75 cron/apo. By far - my favorite lens is the Elamrit - I love its size, sharpness, and depth of field, and quick focus - simply, it satisfies on every front I value regardless of cost - without sacrificing performance and quality - to the Elmarit - I say BRAVO! For me - the 28 2.0 would simply be paying for an f-stop I don't need or want. If I did not have the 35 Lux - I might have different needs. With Leica and the M system - you can really match your lenses to your needs.
@@sc1 Rarely - with the ability to crop in a meaningful way and still yield larger prints - the opportunities (or the need) for the 75 are limited. In 18 months of owning it - I have used it once with stunning results. But, I have not used it again. I do take it out of its case and lust at it😂
I chose the elmarit R 28 version...Its cheap and available...and I can use it on some DSLR bodies as well as mirrorless...plus...I have owned it before...Cheers
@@Adventure8 I’m looking for a Leica lens that has a vintage style and that is sharp, but that is not so expensive, Series M would be great, What do you recommend? I want for portrait.
@@EduardoMaradiaga-s5w Vintage style and sharpness are usually opposite in character. For example, the new Leica M 50mm Noctilux f1.2, sharp in the middle, then quickly fades off (vintage look) away from the centre to the edges. 50mm is a great portrait lens that can be used in most other situations also. In the Leica M line up, the 50mm f1.4 Summilux is probably the best value for money lens, any variant. (probably the best combination of sharpness, bokeh and best all round focal length).😀
Leica lenses are pricey, but if purchased used, they are a bit more affordable. Voigtländer has some nice M mount lenses that are less costly (e.g., Nokton 60 mm f/1.5 and Nokton 35 mm f/1.2), but several super wide angle ones I tried didn’t perform the way I had wanted. I tried a TT Artisans 50 mm f/1.4, but didn’t like its optical performance and character, so I got a new Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH v.2 (I’m very happy with it.
The latest 28 Summicron isn't anything special rendering wise, whereas the 28 Elmarit has a more unique and pleasant rendering on both digital and film. The 28 Summilux now is truly special. This is why I have both the 28 Elmarit and 28 Summilux M lenses and will never get a 28 Summicron
Thanks for watching and giving us all your incites.
Great video
I went with the Elmarit F2.8. for the following reasons.
- Less the money
- I'll be using it mostly during the day
- 2 to 2.8 is not a huge difference in terms of ISO and noise
- Bokeh is almost the same
- 2.8 seems sharper to me
- Compact and great image quality
If funds are tight another great option is the Voigtlander Ultron 2.8mm f2
I shot with it and I like it better than the Leica Summicron f2. Sharper with less CA
Thanks for sharing and your recommendations.
Answer always is if you get a change to buy a Summicron buy the Summicron. You can find similar cheaper lenses but no lens will ever be a Summicron. Best lens anyone has ever made. Get the 50/35/28 and you don’t need any more lenses.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
I upgraded to the cron. Brilliant lens. I disagree with “they’re very much the same but for the extra stop”. The elmarit is clinically sharp and doesn’t hold up when shot at close range. Distorts. Ok it’s aspherical but the cron has much better optical quality at closer ranges. I think anyway. I see it as my main lens. I’d suggest if you don’t need a 28mm as your main lens just an accessory lens then stick with the elmarit.
Great advice. Thanks
Hello Peter! There is nothing to do, your videos are very clear, very useful and intelligently shot. Among the best ever in the photographic genre on UA-cam. Instead of an avalanche of words, often necessary for someone to suggest that everything is good and everything is beautiful, you simply and effectively illustrate the reality and, in this test, make anyone understand even the subtle nuances between Elmarit and Summicron. Good boy! More Leica tests so please! Greetings
Thank you so much for your glowing comments. It's comments like yours that gives me energy and confidence to keep on producing content, knowing some people really get value from investing time to view my videos. Thanks. Very much appreciated. Cheers Peter
Your image render refresh rate is too slow for the speed you go through your f stop target run.
Thanks for letting me know.
I am in Midlands, I need my summicron badly, in Australia, a Elmarit would be my choice.
👍
Very helpful video. I purchased a Summilux M 50mm f/1.4 and decided to replace my Summicron M 35mm f/2 with a 28mm. After considering your analysis and taking test shots, I went with the Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 and am delighted. I got enough in trade for the 35mm to cover most of the cost of a new Elmarit, a nice bonus. Many thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
For me... neither. I bought the 1.4. Great video though!! As fas as these 2 lenses go ... Like you, I would be sticking with the 2.8. The other wide I have is the 21mm Super Elmar 3.4, that thing is crazy good. Equal to the 28 Lux to my eye!!!
Thanks for sharing and watching. Cheers
I do the same , the 28mm 1.4 summilux and 21mm super elmar .
28 Summilux, 21 SEM and 50 Lux for me on the monochrome. The 10r got a 24 Elmar (was an Elmarit last month) and the 50 apo.
Leica M is all about compactness. You made the right choice.
Thanks
I really can appreciate the work you put in your videos, but if you really would like to have a fair comparison between these lenses I’d like to see some real life shooting as well. I own the Elmarit 28 asph (v1) and am thinking about upgrading to a v2 summicron or elmarit. You can find plenty discussions on the forums comparing these two. What it usually boils down to is the more painterly rendering of the summicron vs the more contrasty rendering of the elmarit. Which one serves you the best is a matter of taste and budget (as usual), but you can’t expect someone to make a decision which one to buy solely based on looking at test charts.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, there are many factors to consider when comparing photographic gear and what best suits your needs. No doubt I'll do more videos featuring the 28mm f2.8.
Regarding the aperture: it is not LR that does not sync with the camera, it is the camera that guesses the aperture wrong. Lr is only reports when is written in the EXIF data
True
When I got my first Leica, the 28 2.8 was the second lens I bought after a 50 Summicron; stupidly, I sold it and bought both a new 28 f2 Summicron and a 35 f2 Summicron. I hardly ever use the 28 and almost always use the 35mm. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I wish I had kept the 28 2.8!
Can never have too many lenses
Same decision as mine, I kept the Elmarit-M 28mm F2.8. The compact size on M digital cameras (mine is M10-R) makes it easy for ISO adjustments if needed, unlike the film with fixed ISO 🙂
👍
Have the 28mm F1.4 and find it next to useless given the .7M minimum focus distance. Seriously considering dumping all my Leica gear,. while I love the small lens sizes I find the system crippling and inferior when compared to modern mirroless systmes - that exhibit nerar perfect and instananeous focusing.
Yes, thanks for sharing your thoughts
I own both of these lenses and have used them extensively, and for me the key difference is the rendering. The Cron is gentler, with more gradual transitions, and it has a slightly softer, more painterly look to its images. The Elmarit is razor sharp and more contrasty. There's no question in my mind that the Elmarit is the better value, but at the end of the day I think the images from the Summicron are more beautiful and kinder to people. I also find that the size and weight differences are pretty negligible. If I could only keep one, it would be the Summicron.
Thanks for watching. Great to get your perspective on both lenses. Very helpful.
I think you're the third person I heard saying that the elmarit is more contrasty, but I also read that the summicron is sharper corner to corner at f2 than the elmarit is at f2.8, albeit negligible.
Try the Voigtlander 28mm Ultron II. Especially if you don't use 28mm a lot, the Ultron is a no brainer. Sharp, compact and f/2. No Leica of course, but it does the job as good...
Thanks for the suggestion.
With modern digital sensors, the extra stop is only useful for slightly more background blur, and if that’s the case, the 35/1.4 is the way to go. Conclusion: The 28/2 is not worth twice the price and bigger size compared to the 28/2.8.
Thnaks for sharing and I agree
24 mm rules! Both 35 and 28 are too tight/narrow for me. So the Elmar-M 3.8/24 was my choice and is a perfect match with my LUX 50 and Summarit 2.5/90. All three lenses have the same filter thread, which is very handy. Keep on rolling!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Peter, Great benchmark of the different 28mm Leica lenses. I would also keep the f2,8 given my budget constraints. I have another question for you, what do you think of the Zeiss Biogon 28mm f2,8? Thank you!
I have not tried the Zeiss Biogon. I’m sure there are a bunch of reviews. I would probably go with which appeals to you most, looks, feel. Then just go and shoot.
Very nice video,
I bought the 2.0 cause I need a faster lens. 1.4 was definitely to heavy and to expensive, so 2.0 is the right decision for me.
👍
Also I. I had a Q and 28 Elmarit on M. Sold the Q and was “compelled” to get a 28 Cron asph v1. I’d love the v2.
Thank you for this comparison! I've got a pre-asph elmarit and I love it, but I want an asph version, so I'm kind of stuck.
Just buy another one. Can never have too much gear.....
@Adventure8 Looks like I'm already heading down that path lol.
Hi Peter, thanks for the video! Not sure if you mentioned it in the video somewhere but there appears to be a colour cast in the elmarit images? The cron seems closer to true white? Is this accurate or am I seeing things? Thanks!
No colour cast with either lens. Could be in my editing.
Having shot Film formany years an extra stop was always useful, but with digital, increasing iso to a higher figure negates that extra stop. Of my five lenses the 28/2.8 aspherical is the best of the bunch colour and sharpness,and without the hood so compact
👍
Very enlightning. Surprising conclusion but very positive. Great video - thx!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for a helpful the review! One question though, is that 5th Gen 2.8 Elmar or the latest version ? Much appreciated!
The version of the Elmarit I have (typ 11606) is the one prior the current (typ 11677). Here is the summary from Ken Rockwell.
The typ 11606 version was made from 2006~2016. The newer typ 11677 version has been made from January 2016~ date, it uses the same optics and is the same size and weight and differs only in that it takes a metal hood instead of the plastic one of this lens.
Only Leica Elmarit 28mm f2.8. Very sharp and compact for me!
🙂
Frankly speaking, under what conditions a Summicron 28 is really an added value against an Elmarit 28 ?? The gape of price between those 2 is difficult to understand. Just like the summilux 28 vs the Q3, or the M11 vs the Q3.
In short, I'll keep my M262 and my Elmarit 28 + Summilux 50 as long as possible 😉
Agreed. Having said that, if Leica released a 28mm Summicron (gloss black paint to suit my Leica M10-R Black Paint) I would probably buy it. I'm a sucker for gear.
@@Adventure8 Fair enough
Interesting video. I always thought the summicron was better than the elmarit. Maybe a comparison with the Zeiss biogon 28mm? I hesitated between Leica and Zeiss. I am happy with the second one…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Wide open is the major factor for telephoto. For wide angle there's only the low light issue.
And since the 2.8 is so compact I'd favor the 2.8 over the 2.0 since it takes up less space in my bag (which is small).
👍
Thanks for the vid and comparison, would Elmarit work well with a m10m ?
Yes, absolutely. In fact that is why I got the Elmarit 28mm to use with my M10-M. I experimented with colour filters, eventually settled on a Leica Orange filter as the standard set up.
Hi Peter. Which lens would be suitable for film, using an M6. Wanting to use a 28mm. Thank you !
Either lens would be great for the M6. Personally, I like the small size of the f2.8.
@@Adventure8 Thank you!
Excellent. I’ve been struggling with extra size and price of cron. I tend to choose lenses that are more compact.
So do I
I have the 35 Lux and the 28 Elmarit - a great pairing if I say so myself. The 35 is a better indoor focal length and is of course much faster than the Elmarit. The Elmarit is a great landscape and street photo lens - and I do not not require the speed given I am shooting outdoors under natural light - typically in the mid aperture range 4.0 to 8.0.. If I do need speed at night - I go back to my 35 Lux. Your findings are of no surprise - Leica does not produce lower quality lenses - simply, they produce a slower lens which is also cheaper - but of very high quality. In addition to the 28 Elmarit, I have the 35 lux, 50 cron, and 75 cron/apo. By far - my favorite lens is the Elamrit - I love its size, sharpness, and depth of field, and quick focus - simply, it satisfies on every front I value regardless of cost - without sacrificing performance and quality - to the Elmarit - I say BRAVO! For me - the 28 2.0 would simply be paying for an f-stop I don't need or want. If I did not have the 35 Lux - I might have different needs. With Leica and the M system - you can really match your lenses to your needs.
Thanks for sharing your experience with your Leica M lenses. Much appreciated.
How often do you use you 75 APO? I’m thinking about selling mine since I already have the 50 Lux, but the 75 is superb.
@@sc1 Rarely - with the ability to crop in a meaningful way and still yield larger prints - the opportunities (or the need) for the 75 are limited. In 18 months of owning it - I have used it once with stunning results. But, I have not used it again. I do take it out of its case and lust at it😂
@@kevinmallory5237 Me, too. I rarely take out my 75 APO, because of the size. But it produces great portraits and car photos.
keep the 2.8
Yep
On the M11, diffractions is visible starting at f/11
👍
Nice video
Thanks
f2.8 is a good lens. Small and light and good value (for Leica). I use mine without the hood and it looks awesome!
do you use a cap or an uv filter to protect the lens?
@@pshelnh no, I’ve taken my chances with this lens and it’s been fine. I probably would if it was three times the price it costs.
Totally agree!
As long as it looks good.
I chose the elmarit R 28 version...Its cheap and available...and I can use it on some DSLR bodies as well as mirrorless...plus...I have owned it before...Cheers
Thanks for your thoughts
I skipped the Summicron 28 and got the Elmarit and Summilux.
👍
Your modern M camera should not need that extra f stop for the 28 mm Elmarit lens.
True
I leave Leica because its ridiculous expensive, and there is nothing special in Leica lenses. Many other manufacturer lenses are more more better.
Ok
@@Adventure8 I’m looking for a Leica lens that has a vintage style and that is sharp, but that is not so expensive, Series M would be great, What do you recommend? I want for portrait.
@@EduardoMaradiaga-s5w Vintage style and sharpness are usually opposite in character. For example, the new Leica M 50mm Noctilux f1.2, sharp in the middle, then quickly fades off (vintage look) away from the centre to the edges. 50mm is a great portrait lens that can be used in most other situations also. In the Leica M line up, the 50mm f1.4 Summilux is probably the best value for money lens, any variant. (probably the best combination of sharpness, bokeh and best all round focal length).😀
Leica lenses are pricey, but if purchased used, they are a bit more affordable.
Voigtländer has some nice M mount lenses that are less costly (e.g., Nokton 60 mm f/1.5 and Nokton 35 mm f/1.2), but several super wide angle ones I tried didn’t perform the way I had wanted.
I tried a TT Artisans 50 mm f/1.4, but didn’t like its optical performance and character, so I got a new Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH v.2 (I’m very happy with it.