Distinguished by Unvarying Sharpness and Minimum Distortion
Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M Aspherical Super Wide Angle distinguished by unvarying sharpness and a minimum amount of distortion over the complete imaging area even at wide-open aperture. This was accomplished by employing a lens element featuring an aspherical plane. The lens allows for highly dramatic effects such as monumental foregrounds, strongly retreating backgrounds and a sweeping horizon.
Focus and meter operations are accomplished by looking into the camera viewfinder, while the real framing is done with an attached accessory viewfinder which mounts to the camera hot-shoe.
Leica lens new updated "6-bit" coding
This Leica lens features the new updated "6-bit" coding, that allows the M digital camera to optically read this information and then identify the lens being mounted. Optionally the M camera can then apply a software based "last stage" vignetting
adjustment (for images captured in RAW, the lens mounted is simply recorded,
with no changes made).
Read more.
May 10, 2011
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Features
• Compact wide-angle lens with an aspherical lens surface for excellent optical performance
• Includes "6-bit code" which allows the digital M8 camera to identify which lens is being used, and also to store this information in image metadata
Accessories
M Mount Adapters
The Leica M mount was introduced in 1954 at the same time as the Leica M3. It's been the mount of choice on every Leica M series thru the present day Leica M7 film camera and Leica M9 digital camera
and Lenses.
The M Mount was also the mount used for Minolta's CLE rangefinder, on the Konica Hexar RF, on the later versions of the Voigtlander Bessa family
and Lenses, the mount for the Rollei 35RF, also quite recently on the newest Zeiss Ikon
Rangefinder and Lenses..
Benefits of Lens adapters is versatility, and saving money with the continued use of the preferred lenses you already own.
Drawbacks of lens adapters is the inconvenience, no electronic connection between the adapted lens and your camera body
A couple of factors are necessary for a lens adapter to work properly. First, the camera body "lens registration" space or the expanse between the mount of the lens to the sensor or film surface. Two, the "throat size" of the mount or the mount diameter. An adapter flanked by the body of the camera and a lens from different brands, this registration distance of the adapted lens must be larger than the registration distance on the body; plus the lenses throat-size must be less than the throat size on the body mount.
M lenses can be adapted to Canon EOS, Nikon, Micro Four
Thirds, and Sony Nex Cameras.
Reviews
Sparkling and sharp to the corners - and small too, November 11, 2006
By Mark W. Bohrer "Technology Writer & Documenta... (Saratoga, California)
I've used Leica M-cameras since the 1960s. Leica optics have always been excellent, but with a price. I was able to pick up this lens a few years ago, and it's the best lens with 21mm coverage I've ever owned. In most images, you won't notice the two stops of vignetting at f/2.8. Contrast and sharpness yield pictures you want to reach into and grab. Stopped down to f/4 and beyond, the vignetting goes away and excellent image quality extends to the corners.
The 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH outperforms Canon's EF 16-35mm f/2.8L at 21mm. I prefer the Elmarit for food and some architectural photography, but if you're used to seeing exactly what you'll get on film or pixels, this rangefinder lens isn't for you.
You'll need a separate 21mm finder to use the Elmarit on M-series Leicas or one of Voigtlander's M-mount Bessas. Beware Leica's plastic 21mm finder, 12 008. The mounting foot has a tendency to fall off, and it's hard to find an adhesive to reliably fix it.
Much better is Leica's metal Tri-Finder, 12 013. It works for 21mm, 24mm, and 28mm lenses on 35mm cameras. Its only downsides are its slight field curvature at 21mm, and its somewhat large size.
