Ben, I love your work. Simply beautiful. I too have the 28 Summicron, but saved a bunch by going with V1, which I got for just over 2K$, so it certainly does not have to be an expensive lens. The lens hood may not be as nice, but the pictures are. And likewise, I've paired this with a 50 Summilux. Together they capture a huge set of conditions, and as you have commented here and elsewhere, the 50 Summilux delivers on many fronts. I agree, the Summicron may not have as much magic, but is sharp, allowing me to crop in as need, with great color and life to the images. I love using the Summicron, when things are full of action. I set it to f/5.6 and about 8' and shoot away. My other Summicron is the 90, for when I really want some compression in the image.
I admire those who makes a 28mm shine like you do. Always love those nice, environmental shots using 28mm although it isn't as much my natural FOV as 35mm.
I’ve never used a 28, but u make it shine as a wide and as a close up lens, really cool !! And I can see why you paid whatever u did to pair it with the Leica 50mm, a really delicious combination and one that I’m sure has clients Q’g up for yr services. Thks mate.
I fell in the love with the Q2, and thought an M11 would be even better! After dropping a load of coin, and trading the Q2 in for an M11 and a 35mm Summilux, a trip overseas confirmed how flexible 28mm is. With high megapixel sensors, 28mm can be cropped to an absolutely usable 35mm and 50mm framing. Whereas you can’t un-crop a 35mm lens to a 28mm one. Given the trade off, 28mm hits that sweet spot, making it a must have focal length IMO.
Until you realize you want tighter shots with more bokeh and need a 50mm... Then you want to reproduce studio high end portraits and grab a 90mm. The Q series is good for people that don't need those high end professional photos feel/look, that don't do landscape, portrait, etc. For the price... You're better off with a M series and 3 primes (more expensive but yeah).
My Q2 is my back up, or my 'one camera room'. It's nice and nefty but far from the versatility of a M (and even fsrhter than a SL). The AflF is nice for people that can't shoot manual.
@shadowblack1987 take everything you said, and throw it out the window. They’re all creative tools that work differently for different people. Working professionals just need the tools to do the job regardless of what that job is. Clients don’t care about bokeh or lens compression (except for a few cases) when they sign the check.
Great samples ! For me , I don't have any issues with the VC 28 Ultron on my M11. I think that the resolving power is there as I don't have any complaints. For less than $5000 , I was able to get a full kit of Voigtlander glass to enjoy . Thanks for the upload and samples!
I picked up a 28 Summicron V1 and a 50 Summilux ASPH from a Danish estate for about $4,000 USD for both and that was the best money I spent on camera related gear by far. Both lenses are so so incredible and like you said pair well with eachother.
Omeygod that is the best deal in Leica I've ever heard! I had my 28 Elmarit ASPH and the 50 Summilux ASPH for around that same amount, and I thought that was the best deal ever!
I have this lens and the 50 APO Summicron and the these two lenses with my M10R can go with me anywhere. I also have the Q2 and the drawing of the 28 Summicron is different with more character, a finer drawing and more texture. I like this lens a lot. I’ve had it for five years now and I’m a very happy owner.
I’ve had the 28mm Summilux and the Elmarit, wich I’ve been selling because of my Leica Q2. The 28mm Elmarit was a joy to use because of it’s lightweight. The 28mm Summilux was out of this world but has you said you pull it out for special occasion because of it’s size and weight but WoW ! That lens was a blast fron 1.4 to F11. Now I own the 28mm F2 V2 by Voigtlander and that lens fits all you need from a fast 28mm.
Man, your 28mm contextual portraits are amazing. 😮 You're clients are getting a great value from you no matter what you charge. I love the look of the neutral rendering. It feels more pro than subject speration and compression. It's feels like you care more about story in the wide shots. It's almost tactile in the photos. 28 x 45 is my favourite paring, but because they're so hard to find in many systems I default back to 24 x 35 it's not the same, but it works. I have my GRIII should I need it also. However, my dream lens is the 28 Elmarit. One day. 🤞
I have the Summicron 28mm ASPH as well, i use it since 2017 and still love it, for me it is the almost perfect combination with my M 240, my second carry lens for traveling is the Summilux 50mm ASPH ... it is really funny that a lot of photographers who have been commenting this video use this 2 lenses ... Just when i go out with my M9, i use the Summicron 35mm V4 , because this is a very nice light and small combination for walking around in the streets and the pictures are also very nice...
wonderful shots from a great lens. I use a different 28/2 on my analog slr and struggle a lot with focus dof and so wow to your shots! now i need to check out a 28 on my m6 😮
Hey Ben, I totally understand the rationale for wanting a consistent performance and staying within a particular system for that reason. After your excellent video, I picked up the Zeiss 35mm F2.8 for that very reason. I mostly do landscape (urban and traditional) so F2.8 works well and I value the lighter weight vs speed of the F2). In the future, I am planning on picking up the 28mm F2.8. The only issue is I don't like the rendering of either the Planar or the Sonar 50mm, LOL. I was thinking the Voigtlander 50mm F3.5 Heliar may fit the bill.
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Planar 50 is imho quite compatible with the C-Biogon, although not that contrasty. (Probably no lens is.)
Thank you for your insight. :-). After watching Bens review of the Planar I just don’t find the rendering inspiring. But the Voigtlander 50mm F3.5 is just WOW :-)
Thx a lot for the great content and for sharing your hands on experience! To set the context for my following comment, I am an amateur photographer, shooting bw film Leica on vacations, day trips, family reunions etc. with a focus on cityscapes, touristic sites etc. I own the Minolta 1.2.8/28mm M lens. That said, I have never particulary liked the 28mm focal length. For me it is either not wide enough or a little to wide - somewhat not a 24 and not a 35. In my bag you will typically find the 35mm cron and the 90mm cron. Just my 2 cents
It's a great lens for sure! i first purchased the 28 Elmarit. fell in love with the focal length, sold it and got the 28 Summilux. The summilux renders very different. slightly sharper and is my everyday lens! Felt large in the beginning, but now I just use and enjoy it. use it mostly om my M10-Mono, but also quite a bit on the Sl2. Enjoy your lens for a very very long time :)
Great vid, Benj, thank you! I’m trying to decide between 28mm Summicron and Elmarit. I will use it as daily driver for my family life documentary/reportage, so only personal work. All on M10 Monochrom. Can’t decide if the Cron is too big or not. Thoughts?
I'm more a 35mm person. I was lucky to get my hands on the APO 35 f/2 and it's been literally glued to my M11. I also have the 28mm f/1.4 Summilux but found that I don't really like that FOV, fall back to either the 35 1.4 (latest one with close focus) or 35 APO. IMO, the reason to use an M camera is to use the Leica lens. It's pricy but worth it.
Oh, and I was curious so I pulled out my Leica Compendium by Erwin Puts. The 'Rit ASPH and the 'Cron ASPH are very close in performance, the 'Cron resolves a touch more detail, the 'Rit has perfect flare control and zero distortion. And the 'Cron performs as good at f/2 than the 'Rit at f/2.8, and the 'Cron better at f/2.8 as well. His consensus was that the only reason you would choose the 'Cron would be if you have a high-resolving digital Leica and value uber detail and NEED f/2 instead of the same look but with zero distortion. I've been tempted by the Elmarit f/2.8 ASPH just because of the size. I'm also a HUGE 35mm Summarit fan for the same reason.
My top 4 lenses! #1 is the newest addition and is stuck on the camera (m10p) permanently!! The tiniest lens Leica makes (I think) and it has completely changed life 😅. 1. 28mm 5.6 summaron (wish I got the black one) 2. 35mm 1.4 summilux close focus 3. 50mm f0.95 noctilux (selling soon) 4. 21mm 3.4 SEM (selling soon) Want to try: 35 1.4 reissue!
you can get the the summicron apsh v1, version 1 works as good, (v2 is a bit better on a mirrorles), but thats about it. You will only miss the nicer hood :) if you go for v1 and will save you a considerbale amount of $$$
The 28/2/ASPH was considered, and continues to be considered, a brilliant design. Owning eight different Leica 28mm lenses over the years, I do have to say the 28/1.4/ASPH is at the top of the pack, so be careful not to get too much time with that lens or GAS might strike. An M10 with both the Leica baseplate and thumb grips and the 28/1.4/ASPH made a very satisfying, if chunky, setup for a winter photo vacation in Orlando a few years ago. Maybe try the accessory grips if you switch to the bigger lens.
Looking at this vs the newer summicron with close focusing, do you think this version is still worth going for? I primarily use my M11 with the rangefinder, if I want an EVF experience I can use my fuji, but it still makes me wonder.
I must admit the Summicron 28 is the Leica M lens I own that I enjoy the least. The main weakness is its performance with focus set at infinity. I sent the lens twice to Leica and it got a bit better but still it doesn’t convince me. I‘m looking for alternatives for this focal length.
Wow it’s crazy that the lens alone is nearly the price of the Leica Q3. A goal of mine is to start making money with photography and use the money to buy a Q3 but to learn that a single Leica lens can cost this much makes me want to rethink venturing into Leica territory
What’s even crazier is that the lens on the Q3 when purchased for an M system body costs ~$7500, and yet the Q3 can be had for $1500 less than that. Something to think about, particularly if you don’t need to switch lenses often.
Leica kit is generally expensive. However, if you don’t need fast glass, and don’t mind buying previously owned lenses, there are lower-cost options. I recently used a friend’s APO (very expensive( and non-APO (“affordable”) Summicron-M 50 mm lenses and found the non-APO to be impressive. In the 28 mm Leica world, the f/2.8 is compact and sharp (I bought one used). I just received the Summilux-M 28 mm f/1.4 (larger and heavier than the f/2.8) and will soon see how much different it is compared to its slower varietal.
fwiw the Leica Q lens is a Panasonic design and a true 26mm. It's pretty different from the Leica-made lenses. Not to say they're significantly better, just not comparing the same things IMO.
Beautiful lens, but a bridge too far for me. I went for the Elmarit instead, and haven’t regretted it. Very similar lens, just a stop slower. I can manage with the f/2.8 and usually stop down a little anyways. I’m in the same boat as you, 28 and 50 lux as my mains, 21 and 35 voightlander color skopars as my extras :) (and 50 is as long as I’ll go on an M).
Well if its worth depends but i had V1 and when it was absolute mint the front element start to wobbling and sold it and got Ultron II. VERY solid and 50%cheaper brand new than used Cron I. Then i did not loose even 1$ with Cron.
The files are gorgeous if you have a need for its improvements. And the bigger battery and lighter weight are a clear improvement. It would benefit from stabilization and a faster evf shooting experience.
5100$ is very expensive, in Europe is 4400€ the normal price. I have this lens and I’m very happy. Very sharp but not over sharp. Nice size and weight, perfect handling, I like it
I owned one of those (purchased used) for a short time, but the amount of the viewfinder blocked by the lens, even without a lens hood, seemed completely rediculous to me. I switched to the 28mm f/2.8, which had relatively minimal blockage of the viewfinder, and had much higher resolution and detail than the f/2 as a bonus. In the end, I switched to the 35mm f/1.4 with was the one magical lens and I pretty much never used anything else.
Hi Benj, id like to ask you something about the focus tab since i never had a lens with one but i do a lot of street photography. Where does the lens focus when the tab stays in the middle down position ?
Love the 28 summicron. Just manage to get the Matt black version for a very good price, no brainer. I agree summilux would be to large and heavy as an everyday carry if you want to stick with 28mm.
I'm not even a glasses wearer and on a M240 the 35mm lines are barely visible, on my M4 they are much more visible even though that apparently has a higher magnification, I think the m240 viewfinder is just smaller/not as good unfortunately, don't know what camera you are using
It’s worth it if it means you never think about it and it does what you need. It’s one of the reasons I cope with the downsides of the Sigma DP1 Merrill for what I do. Yes, the camera is slow, sometimes finicky but that 28mm equiv lens with the Merrill Foveon sensor is exactly the look I want. Luckily the camera was not $5k, but I also wouldn’t try to shoot weddings with it. :P
I tested out the elmarit and summicron when looking to get a 28 a few months back. The IQ difference i felt was minimal and as i mosty shoot stopped down i couldn't justify paying double for the Summicron, even with used prices. I will say the Summicron build quality did feel nicer than the elmarit but not enough to sway it
I think one of the biggest drawbacks is that, with glasses, the 28mm framelines are very difficult to use! Luckily i prefer 35mm, otherwise I would struggle a lot because it's the widest framelines I can see in the viewfinder of my m10, and in the m6 even a little better.
I considered this lens to pair it with my M11 for my street photography but instead I got a Leica Q2 all together for less. What sold me was the faster aperture.
I've had the v1 for ten years now and it was shockingly expensive for me to buy and justify back then. I bought it as an ex demonstrator and ten years later I could sell it for what I paid so it's actually turned out to be one of the best value lenses I've ever purchased. The same can be said for my 50mm summilux and 90mm macro elmar. I sold them now, they'd have cost me nothing to own. 28, 50, 90 is a great setup for M bodies and SL also. Buying used Leica lenses is the way to go if you don't want to lose money on them. 👍
this lens biggest question doesn’t from lens,it’s from Leica M,basically all of Leica ovf is 0.72.u can’t see entire 28mm frame even without glasses.and every Leica deeply user know the huge difference between ovf and lcd(or hotshot evf).In that situation ,I go for a haxer rf which have a 0.6 ovf.btw 28f2 wide open also need precise focus.
In the film world, yes. I generally know the 28mm focal length well enough to understand where the framelines are regardless. With the M10 and onward, the VF is larger which makes seeing the framelines MUCH easier as well.
Makes sense, every increase in stop of aperture requires a doubling of the diameter of the lens elements, also since more optical corrections are needed at wider apertures add to the size
The resale value makes it cheap- the price is only an opportunity cost. However, Given their current quality control and service situation, I decided the voigtlander makes more sense.
Not to insult anyone. But, why do so many photographers complain about the Leica cost. I am a retired Pro Photographer since 1974. Shot Nikon, Leica, Hasselblad, Sinar 4x5,8x10. We NEVER complained about cost of lens. We had to have them for the job. Heck the Best Nikon and Canon are only $1000 cheaper these days.
You are correct that this gear is not more expensive than it’s historical equivalent. What has changed? We’ve become accustomed to consumer technology being less and less expensive (whilst most normal living costs have not fallen).
I don't even know why Leica still bothers to make Leica M 28mm lenses other than the Elmarit. It makes little sense to buy the faster, expensive options. 1. Just get a Leica Q. It is the better value proposition. 2. Most Leica M bodies do not have a great viewfinder experience for 28mm frame lines due to the high viewfinder magnification - especially anyone with glasses will likely not be able to see the entire 28mm frame lines - unless you have the rare 0.58x viewfinder magnification in some hard-to-find Leica M6 versions. Shooting 28mm on Leica M bodies sucks. Just get a Leica Q. 3. On a digital Leica M body, nobody needs f2 or f1.4 with a 28mm lens. You're not going to get any meaningfull amount of bokeh anyway, also since you cannot focus closely on Leica M. And f/2.8 on the Elmarit is fast enough with digital - you will not see a difference by raising ISO by a stop when using the Elmarit, neither is a single stop of aperture making much difference for separation on 28mm. It just doesn't. Also, the Elmarit is so small, when not using the hood, it does not block the viewfinder at all. And the Elmarit is equally sharp, extremely well corrected - and it's the most affordable Leica M mount lens from Leica. If you need faster than f/2.8, get the Leica Q. I don't have a Leica Q. I shoot Leica M3, MP and M10, mostly with the 35mm Summilux and the 50mm Summilux. I do use the 28mm Elmarit from time to time, on film on the Hexar body since it has a lower viewfinder magnification which works better with the 28mm frame lines.
I have a .72 finder (in my old M4-P) and the full viewfinder covers about 25mm (perhaps 26mm). I wonder if people vary in how comfortable they are shoving that viewfinder right onto their eyeball? 😂
28 and 50, or 35 and 90. Historically I’ve been a 35/90, it I fell hard for the 50 about a decade ago and have flirted with 28 ever since as 35/50 isn’t versatile enough. That said, I think you’re consoling yourself when you say you don’t really want more character from this lens. Why not? Wouldn’t you want your 28 images to pop out of the screen and grab you like your 50 images? It’s a good lens, yes, and certainly you shouldn’t have to deal with color casts, mad focus shift, out of control aberrations, etc. But I for one sure wish Leica made a more characterful 28 2.0 or 2.8 that’s about this size. It just looks like a Q3 and that’s not bad, but not really good, either.
Wanted the 28mm summicron for absolutely ages; finally pulled the trigger to pair it with my M6. Ended up being quite disappointed tbh; the performance is nowhere near good enough considering the price difference to high quality alternative options such as the Voigtlander.
Lens hoods always were Leica’s weak spot (aside from 35Lux pre), glad they have finally come around since 2013 or so. That said, Leica M lenses look cool enough with cheap chinese hoods, so I’d rather buy a used v1 28mm than pay more than double for a new v2 28mm.
I am having a hard time justifying buying this lens. Whoever want to buy this should buy the Leica Q3. Buy 1 lens get one of the best cameras for free. And the Leica Q3 28mm has autofocus and macro capabilities. Also, it's technically a summilux because of f1.7 max aperture. I have the M10 but I just pair it with 35mm and 50mm. The M10 28mm frameline is not really easy to see for people with glasses anyway.
Fwiw, I’ve had the lens for almost 3 years and it’s probably worth slightly more than I paid for it. A Q-series camera would be worth about $1500-2000 less than I paid for it in the same timeframe.
And here’s where I’d love somebody like Benj to really look into the Q. The lens shoots a bit wider than 28mm and is corrected in body, so is the lens really THAT good compared to the 28 ‘Cron? Or is that magical combination of fixed lens and all the benefits of it fully matched to the camera body (like the Sigma DP series) make the Q lens a bit better than the Cron? Hopefully Benj does a video on the Q soon!
@@benjhaisch true true. Q does depreciate more quickly in this case. Leica lens can last many decades but the electronics in the Q would probably fail at some point.
I have to say, the idea that you would never carry around the Summilux due to the difference in weight is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard.
@@benjhaisch Yeah I have the Zeiss and am going to trade it on for that reason. Spectacularly good but a brick to carry around on the M. It matches up better on the SL2 but as you get older you look for ways to reduce the weight and bulk of your gear. Thanks for the vid Benj.
I found that it was not just weight it was also about look for me. I prefer for most of my photography the more documentary look of the 28 cron. The lux is an awesome lens but something I’d only use occasionally.
Your photos are insane dude. They look like a dream. Huge props for using a RF for weddings.
As someone who has shelled it out for the 28mm summicron v2 and the 50mm Summilux, I completely agree, perfect pairing for me, great video!
Ben, I love your work. Simply beautiful. I too have the 28 Summicron, but saved a bunch by going with V1, which I got for just over 2K$, so it certainly does not have to be an expensive lens. The lens hood may not be as nice, but the pictures are. And likewise, I've paired this with a 50 Summilux. Together they capture a huge set of conditions, and as you have commented here and elsewhere, the 50 Summilux delivers on many fronts. I agree, the Summicron may not have as much magic, but is sharp, allowing me to crop in as need, with great color and life to the images. I love using the Summicron, when things are full of action. I set it to f/5.6 and about 8' and shoot away. My other Summicron is the 90, for when I really want some compression in the image.
I admire those who makes a 28mm shine like you do. Always love those nice, environmental shots using 28mm although it isn't as much my natural FOV as 35mm.
I’ve never used a 28, but u make it shine as a wide and as a close up lens, really cool !! And I can see why you paid whatever u did to pair it with the Leica 50mm, a really delicious combination and one that I’m sure has clients Q’g up for yr services.
Thks mate.
I fell in the love with the Q2, and thought an M11 would be even better! After dropping a load of coin, and trading the Q2 in for an M11 and a 35mm Summilux, a trip overseas confirmed how flexible 28mm is. With high megapixel sensors, 28mm can be cropped to an absolutely usable 35mm and 50mm framing. Whereas you can’t un-crop a 35mm lens to a 28mm one. Given the trade off, 28mm hits that sweet spot, making it a must have focal length IMO.
Until you realize you want tighter shots with more bokeh and need a 50mm... Then you want to reproduce studio high end portraits and grab a 90mm. The Q series is good for people that don't need those high end professional photos feel/look, that don't do landscape, portrait, etc. For the price... You're better off with a M series and 3 primes (more expensive but yeah).
My Q2 is my back up, or my 'one camera room'. It's nice and nefty but far from the versatility of a M (and even fsrhter than a SL). The AflF is nice for people that can't shoot manual.
@shadowblack1987 take everything you said, and throw it out the window. They’re all creative tools that work differently for different people. Working professionals just need the tools to do the job regardless of what that job is. Clients don’t care about bokeh or lens compression (except for a few cases) when they sign the check.
@@shadowblack1987а ви його мали?
Great samples ! For me , I don't have any issues with the VC 28 Ultron on my M11. I think that the resolving power is there as I don't have any complaints. For less than $5000 , I was able to get a full kit of Voigtlander glass to enjoy . Thanks for the upload and samples!
I picked up a 28 Summicron V1 and a 50 Summilux ASPH from a Danish estate for about $4,000 USD for both and that was the best money I spent on camera related gear by far. Both lenses are so so incredible and like you said pair well with eachother.
Omeygod that is the best deal in Leica I've ever heard! I had my 28 Elmarit ASPH and the 50 Summilux ASPH for around that same amount, and I thought that was the best deal ever!
Truly outstanding editing in those images.
I have this lens and the 50 APO Summicron and the these two lenses with my M10R can go with me anywhere.
I also have the Q2 and the drawing of the 28 Summicron is different with more character, a finer drawing and more texture. I like this lens a lot. I’ve had it for five years now and I’m a very happy owner.
Looking forward to that comparison video with the Leica Q3 28mm 1.7 fixed lens. Thank you very much 👍
What about the 28mm and seeing the framelines with glasses on? Thinking of getting the 28mm but struggling whether this might be a problem...
I’ve had the 28mm Summilux and the Elmarit, wich I’ve been selling because of my Leica Q2. The 28mm Elmarit was a joy to use because of it’s lightweight. The 28mm Summilux was out of this world but has you said you pull it out for special occasion because of it’s size and weight but WoW ! That lens was a blast fron 1.4 to F11. Now I own the 28mm F2 V2 by Voigtlander and that lens fits all you need from a fast 28mm.
I bought the 28mm Summilux lens and got a free Q2 camera body attached for less money than the lens on its own. Very happy with it.
Man, your 28mm contextual portraits are amazing. 😮 You're clients are getting a great value from you no matter what you charge.
I love the look of the neutral rendering. It feels more pro than subject speration and compression. It's feels like you care more about story in the wide shots. It's almost tactile in the photos.
28 x 45 is my favourite paring, but because they're so hard to find in many systems I default back to 24 x 35 it's not the same, but it works. I have my GRIII should I need it also. However, my dream lens is the 28 Elmarit. One day. 🤞
I have the Summicron 28mm ASPH as well, i use it since 2017 and still love it, for me it is the almost perfect combination with my M 240, my second carry lens for traveling is the Summilux 50mm ASPH ... it is really funny that a lot of photographers who have been commenting this video use this 2 lenses ...
Just when i go out with my M9, i use the Summicron 35mm V4 , because this is a very nice light and small combination for walking around in the streets and the pictures are also very nice...
wonderful shots from a great lens. I use a different 28/2 on my analog slr and struggle a lot with focus dof and so wow to your shots! now i need to check out a 28 on my m6 😮
The q2 reporter made me appreciate the 28mm focal length and I’m gonna buy the apo sl28 for my sl system
what is the hand grip of your leica m10 ?
1:57
You forgot: the safari and black limited edition has a slicker lens hood design like the 50mm summilux.
Hey Ben, I totally understand the rationale for wanting a consistent performance and staying within a particular system for that reason. After your excellent video, I picked up the Zeiss 35mm F2.8 for that very reason. I mostly do landscape (urban and traditional) so F2.8 works well and I value the lighter weight vs speed of the F2). In the future, I am planning on picking up the 28mm F2.8. The only issue is I don't like the rendering of either the Planar or the Sonar 50mm, LOL. I was thinking the Voigtlander 50mm F3.5 Heliar may fit the bill.
Planar 50 is imho quite compatible with the C-Biogon, although not that contrasty. (Probably no lens is.)
Thank you for your insight. :-). After watching Bens review of the Planar I just don’t find the rendering inspiring. But the Voigtlander 50mm F3.5 is just WOW :-)
I felt the same way and bought a 50mm summicron. I love it and it’s not as expensive as many other Leica lenses
gorgeous wedding shots!
Thx a lot for the great content and for sharing your hands on experience! To set the context for my following comment, I am an amateur photographer, shooting bw film Leica on vacations, day trips, family reunions etc. with a focus on cityscapes, touristic sites etc. I own the Minolta 1.2.8/28mm M lens. That said, I have never particulary liked the 28mm focal length. For me it is either not wide enough or a little to wide - somewhat not a 24 and not a 35. In my bag you will typically find the 35mm cron and the 90mm cron. Just my 2 cents
28/50 or 35/90 are great Leica combos
It's a great lens for sure! i first purchased the 28 Elmarit. fell in love with the focal length, sold it and got the 28 Summilux. The summilux renders very different. slightly sharper and is my everyday lens! Felt large in the beginning, but now I just use and enjoy it. use it mostly om my M10-Mono, but also quite a bit on the Sl2. Enjoy your lens for a very very long time :)
Which grip do you have on your Leica?
Great vid, Benj, thank you! I’m trying to decide between 28mm Summicron and Elmarit. I will use it as daily driver for my family life documentary/reportage, so only personal work. All on M10 Monochrom. Can’t decide if the Cron is too big or not. Thoughts?
I'm more a 35mm person. I was lucky to get my hands on the APO 35 f/2 and it's been literally glued to my M11. I also have the 28mm f/1.4 Summilux but found that I don't really like that FOV, fall back to either the 35 1.4 (latest one with close focus) or 35 APO. IMO, the reason to use an M camera is to use the Leica lens. It's pricy but worth it.
Good morning. Can we compare it to the Voigtlander Ultron II 28mm/2.0?
Oh, and I was curious so I pulled out my Leica Compendium by Erwin Puts. The 'Rit ASPH and the 'Cron ASPH are very close in performance, the 'Cron resolves a touch more detail, the 'Rit has perfect flare control and zero distortion. And the 'Cron performs as good at f/2 than the 'Rit at f/2.8, and the 'Cron better at f/2.8 as well. His consensus was that the only reason you would choose the 'Cron would be if you have a high-resolving digital Leica and value uber detail and NEED f/2 instead of the same look but with zero distortion.
I've been tempted by the Elmarit f/2.8 ASPH just because of the size. I'm also a HUGE 35mm Summarit fan for the same reason.
My top 4 lenses! #1 is the newest addition and is stuck on the camera (m10p) permanently!! The tiniest lens Leica makes (I think) and it has completely changed life 😅.
1. 28mm 5.6 summaron (wish I got the black one)
2. 35mm 1.4 summilux close focus
3. 50mm f0.95 noctilux (selling soon)
4. 21mm 3.4 SEM (selling soon)
Want to try: 35 1.4 reissue!
1st class review!
... where can I get this nice baseplate for the M10?
I have this one to it’s the most used lens I own, also bought mine used
Супер! А що скажете про Leica Q3 з обʼєктивом 28 f1,7 ?
you can get the the summicron apsh v1, version 1 works as good, (v2 is a bit better on a mirrorles), but thats about it. You will only miss the nicer hood :) if you go for v1 and will save you a considerbale amount of $$$
What are your thoughts on voightlander nokton series III in either 28mm or 35mm?
The 28/2/ASPH was considered, and continues to be considered, a brilliant design. Owning eight different Leica 28mm lenses over the years, I do have to say the 28/1.4/ASPH is at the top of the pack, so be careful not to get too much time with that lens or GAS might strike. An M10 with both the Leica baseplate and thumb grips and the 28/1.4/ASPH made a very satisfying, if chunky, setup for a winter photo vacation in Orlando a few years ago. Maybe try the accessory grips if you switch to the bigger lens.
Looking at this vs the newer summicron with close focusing, do you think this version is still worth going for? I primarily use my M11 with the rangefinder, if I want an EVF experience I can use my fuji, but it still makes me wonder.
Have you painted the red dot on your M10 ?
What is the price of the camera withot the lense
I must admit the Summicron 28 is the Leica M lens I own that I enjoy the least. The main weakness is its performance with focus set at infinity. I sent the lens twice to Leica and it got a bit better but still it doesn’t convince me. I‘m looking for alternatives for this focal length.
How does it compare to the 28mm 2.8 zeiss?
Any upcoming reviews on the new Voigtlander 28mm color sokar ii ?
I have the Elmarit Summicron and Summaron i use the Elmarit most of the time
0:12
Yeah! WTF! 😂
better late than never!
Thx man!!
Wow it’s crazy that the lens alone is nearly the price of the Leica Q3.
A goal of mine is to start making money with photography and use the money to buy a Q3 but to learn that a single Leica lens can cost this much makes me want to rethink venturing into Leica territory
What’s even crazier is that the lens on the Q3 when purchased for an M system body costs ~$7500, and yet the Q3 can be had for $1500 less than that. Something to think about, particularly if you don’t need to switch lenses often.
Leica kit is generally expensive. However, if you don’t need fast glass, and don’t mind buying previously owned lenses, there are lower-cost options. I recently used a friend’s APO (very expensive( and non-APO (“affordable”) Summicron-M 50 mm lenses and found the non-APO to be impressive. In the 28 mm Leica world, the f/2.8 is compact and sharp (I bought one used). I just received the Summilux-M 28 mm f/1.4 (larger and heavier than the f/2.8) and will soon see how much different it is compared to its slower varietal.
fwiw the Leica Q lens is a Panasonic design and a true 26mm. It's pretty different from the Leica-made lenses.
Not to say they're significantly better, just not comparing the same things IMO.
I read that the f2.8 version does not block the viewfinder at all.
I’d be shocked if there was no blockage at all
Beautiful lens, but a bridge too far for me. I went for the Elmarit instead, and haven’t regretted it. Very similar lens, just a stop slower. I can manage with the f/2.8 and usually stop down a little anyways.
I’m in the same boat as you, 28 and 50 lux as my mains, 21 and 35 voightlander color skopars as my extras :) (and 50 is as long as I’ll go on an M).
Hi! Can you recommend a good 28mm for Sony E mount? The old 28mm f2 comes to mind but have heard not so good things about that…
Do you use a decal to cover your Leica logo? I tried gaff but it just doesn't look right.
Well if its worth depends but i had V1 and when it was absolute mint the front element start to wobbling and sold it and got Ultron II. VERY solid and 50%cheaper brand new than used Cron I. Then i did not loose even 1$ with Cron.
Still waiting about your thoughts about the M11
Still waiting to get one 😭
The files are gorgeous if you have a need for its improvements. And the bigger battery and lighter weight are a clear improvement. It would benefit from stabilization and a faster evf shooting experience.
5100$ is very expensive, in Europe is 4400€ the normal price.
I have this lens and I’m very happy. Very sharp but not over sharp. Nice size and weight, perfect handling, I like it
I owned one of those (purchased used) for a short time, but the amount of the viewfinder blocked by the lens, even without a lens hood, seemed completely rediculous to me. I switched to the 28mm f/2.8, which had relatively minimal blockage of the viewfinder, and had much higher resolution and detail than the f/2 as a bonus. In the end, I switched to the 35mm f/1.4 with was the one magical lens and I pretty much never used anything else.
Hi Benj, id like to ask you something about the focus tab since i never had a lens with one but i do a lot of street photography. Where does the lens focus when the tab stays in the middle down position ?
Great video. Have you tried 28 1.4 M? It’s my fav 28.
I love my 28 Summicron V2. I tried alternatives but they never matched up. Buy it used.
Could you maybe do a comparison video to the X100V 28mm conversion lens?
That would be interesting
Cool lens! 👍🏼
Cinematic... That is about rendering. Right? A lot of "the movies" use wide angle shots that definitely can labeled "cinematic" 😅
I had the 2.8 version and it was fantastic. For a working photographer, the 28 f2 makes sense and its a busines write off haha
Love the 28 summicron. Just manage to get the Matt black version for a very good price, no brainer.
I agree summilux would be to large and heavy as an everyday carry if you want to stick with 28mm.
Hi where did you get that and anymore left?
I have heard, Leica store Milano might have one (brand new)
As a glasses wearer, how do you see the 28 framelines? I wear glasses and want to shoot a 28 but I can barely see 35. Great video and images!
I'm not even a glasses wearer and on a M240 the 35mm lines are barely visible, on my M4 they are much more visible even though that apparently has a higher magnification, I think the m240 viewfinder is just smaller/not as good unfortunately, don't know what camera you are using
It’s worth it if it means you never think about it and it does what you need. It’s one of the reasons I cope with the downsides of the Sigma DP1 Merrill for what I do. Yes, the camera is slow, sometimes finicky but that 28mm equiv lens with the Merrill Foveon sensor is exactly the look I want. Luckily the camera was not $5k, but I also wouldn’t try to shoot weddings with it. :P
I tested out the elmarit and summicron when looking to get a 28 a few months back. The IQ difference i felt was minimal and as i mosty shoot stopped down i couldn't justify paying double for the Summicron, even with used prices. I will say the Summicron build quality did feel nicer than the elmarit but not enough to sway it
Elmarit is fantastic if you only need 2.8+ for sure
Mine is stuck at either f/2 or f/5.6. Not much in between ;)
I think one of the biggest drawbacks is that, with glasses, the 28mm framelines are very difficult to use! Luckily i prefer 35mm, otherwise I would struggle a lot because it's the widest framelines I can see in the viewfinder of my m10, and in the m6 even a little better.
I've been looking for a black dot for so long - where did you get yours from Benj?
I considered this lens to pair it with my M11 for my street photography but instead I got a Leica Q2 all together for less. What sold me was the faster aperture.
12/2/23. The 28mm Summicron is $4375 right now on Amazon. Still wildly expensive, but not quite as bad price-wise as it once was.
interesting. it's still $5095 on B&H. I'd be careful buying things like this off of Amazon unless it's through a verified retailer.
I've had the v1 for ten years now and it was shockingly expensive for me to buy and justify back then.
I bought it as an ex demonstrator and ten years later I could sell it for what I paid so it's actually turned out to be one of the best value lenses I've ever purchased.
The same can be said for my 50mm summilux and 90mm macro elmar.
I sold them now, they'd have cost me nothing to own.
28, 50, 90 is a great setup for M bodies and SL also.
Buying used Leica lenses is the way to go if you don't want to lose money on them.
👍
this lens biggest question doesn’t from lens,it’s from Leica M,basically all of Leica ovf is 0.72.u can’t see entire 28mm frame even without glasses.and every Leica deeply user know the huge difference between ovf and lcd(or hotshot evf).In that situation ,I go for a haxer rf which have a 0.6 ovf.btw 28f2 wide open also need precise focus.
In the film world, yes. I generally know the 28mm focal length well enough to understand where the framelines are regardless. With the M10 and onward, the VF is larger which makes seeing the framelines MUCH easier as well.
mate! you should get a Q2 or Q3
Q2 wasn’t fast enough in AF for my work. Hoping the Q3 has that solved
@@benjhaischand this is?
@@peetje28021970 for me, yes.
The difference in size between the lux and cron is wild. 😳
Makes sense, every increase in stop of aperture requires a doubling of the diameter of the lens elements, also since more optical corrections are needed at wider apertures add to the size
The resale value makes it cheap- the price is only an opportunity cost. However, Given their current quality control and service situation, I decided the voigtlander makes more sense.
Excelente video
Not to insult anyone. But, why do so many photographers complain about the Leica cost. I am a retired Pro Photographer since 1974. Shot Nikon, Leica, Hasselblad, Sinar 4x5,8x10. We NEVER complained about cost of lens. We had to have them for the job. Heck the Best Nikon and Canon are only $1000 cheaper these days.
You are correct that this gear is not more expensive than it’s historical equivalent. What has changed? We’ve become accustomed to consumer technology being less and less expensive (whilst most normal living costs have not fallen).
I don't even know why Leica still bothers to make Leica M 28mm lenses other than the Elmarit. It makes little sense to buy the faster, expensive options.
1. Just get a Leica Q. It is the better value proposition.
2. Most Leica M bodies do not have a great viewfinder experience for 28mm frame lines due to the high viewfinder magnification - especially anyone with glasses will likely not be able to see the entire 28mm frame lines - unless you have the rare 0.58x viewfinder magnification in some hard-to-find Leica M6 versions. Shooting 28mm on Leica M bodies sucks. Just get a Leica Q.
3. On a digital Leica M body, nobody needs f2 or f1.4 with a 28mm lens. You're not going to get any meaningfull amount of bokeh anyway, also since you cannot focus closely on Leica M. And f/2.8 on the Elmarit is fast enough with digital - you will not see a difference by raising ISO by a stop when using the Elmarit, neither is a single stop of aperture making much difference for separation on 28mm. It just doesn't. Also, the Elmarit is so small, when not using the hood, it does not block the viewfinder at all. And the Elmarit is equally sharp, extremely well corrected - and it's the most affordable Leica M mount lens from Leica. If you need faster than f/2.8, get the Leica Q.
I don't have a Leica Q. I shoot Leica M3, MP and M10, mostly with the 35mm Summilux and the 50mm Summilux. I do use the 28mm Elmarit from time to time, on film on the Hexar body since it has a lower viewfinder magnification which works better with the 28mm frame lines.
I have a .72 finder (in my old M4-P) and the full viewfinder covers about 25mm (perhaps 26mm). I wonder if people vary in how comfortable they are shoving that viewfinder right onto their eyeball? 😂
28 and 50, or 35 and 90. Historically I’ve been a 35/90, it I fell hard for the 50 about a decade ago and have flirted with 28 ever since as 35/50 isn’t versatile enough.
That said, I think you’re consoling yourself when you say you don’t really want more character from this lens. Why not? Wouldn’t you want your 28 images to pop out of the screen and grab you like your 50 images? It’s a good lens, yes, and certainly you shouldn’t have to deal with color casts, mad focus shift, out of control aberrations, etc.
But I for one sure wish Leica made a more characterful 28 2.0 or 2.8 that’s about this size. It just looks like a Q3 and that’s not bad, but not really good, either.
Wanted the 28mm summicron for absolutely ages; finally pulled the trigger to pair it with my M6. Ended up being quite disappointed tbh; the performance is nowhere near good enough considering the price difference to high quality alternative options such as the Voigtlander.
😊
hi,
I am sorry to brother you .but i belive you are a blessing to me.please us do a review on youtube,thankyou
!
Lens hoods always were Leica’s weak spot (aside from 35Lux pre), glad they have finally come around since 2013 or so. That said, Leica M lenses look cool enough with cheap chinese hoods, so I’d rather buy a used v1 28mm than pay more than double for a new v2 28mm.
Better off buying a Q2 or 3 at this price point😅
Shooting a wedding on one card makes me nervous
Why buy this when you can get a Q2 or Q3??? You get another camera for the price of this lens.
Value over time, usability on film, M-system compatibility, etc
I am having a hard time justifying buying this lens. Whoever want to buy this should buy the Leica Q3. Buy 1 lens get one of the best cameras for free. And the Leica Q3 28mm has autofocus and macro capabilities. Also, it's technically a summilux because of f1.7 max aperture. I have the M10 but I just pair it with 35mm and 50mm. The M10 28mm frameline is not really easy to see for people with glasses anyway.
Fwiw, I’ve had the lens for almost 3 years and it’s probably worth slightly more than I paid for it. A Q-series camera would be worth about $1500-2000 less than I paid for it in the same timeframe.
And here’s where I’d love somebody like Benj to really look into the Q. The lens shoots a bit wider than 28mm and is corrected in body, so is the lens really THAT good compared to the 28 ‘Cron? Or is that magical combination of fixed lens and all the benefits of it fully matched to the camera body (like the Sigma DP series) make the Q lens a bit better than the Cron? Hopefully Benj does a video on the Q soon!
@@benjhaisch true true. Q does depreciate more quickly in this case. Leica lens can last many decades but the electronics in the Q would probably fail at some point.
Cost is only an issue in the absence of value.
Why haven’t you shaved growing beard ?
I have to say, the idea that you would never carry around the Summilux due to the difference in weight is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard.
Any added weight being carried around during a 10+ hour wedding day kills. Every gram counts if you expect your shoulders to function the next day.
I mean, I don’t carry around the Zeiss 35/1.4 Distagon because of its weight and balance. To each their own ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@benjhaisch Yeah I have the Zeiss and am going to trade it on for that reason. Spectacularly good but a brick to carry around on the M. It matches up better on the SL2 but as you get older you look for ways to reduce the weight and bulk of your gear. Thanks for the vid Benj.
I found that it was not just weight it was also about look for me. I prefer for most of my photography the more documentary look of the 28 cron. The lux is an awesome lens but something I’d only use occasionally.
@@hellobrandonscottlol are you really that week? You need to do some push/pull ups.