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Leica M (Typ 240): Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 versus Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8
On these pages you can find my first personal experiences with the lenses at the Leica M (Typ 240) and more. This page is devoted to the Leitz Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. and the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lenses, which have similar focal lengths, may compete with each other for "attention of the photographer", and are therefore compared here.
All lens pages: Voigtländer 15mm f/4.5 | Voigtländer 15mm f/4.5 III | Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/4.5 | Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. | Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. | Voigtländer 25mm f/4 (M39) | Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8 | Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 | Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 | Voigtländer 75mm f/2.5 (M39) | Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 | Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 | Leitz Tele-Elmar 135mm f/4
See also: Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. - Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. - Voigtländer Super Wide Heliar 15mm f/4.5 versus Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. versus Leica Elmar 24mm f/3.8
Introduction
I bought a Leica 21 mm lens in November 2016 as a replacement for my Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/4.5 in order to have less trouble and work with color shading. Via the l-camera-forum where I posted my interest in these lenses, an owner of the Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. contacted me, and finally I decided to buy his used lens, although it was much more expensive than I originally was willing to spend. This lens (model 11135) was made in Germany between 1997 and 2010. My sample has the serial number 3885634, which means that it was built in 2000, although Leicapedia states that only silver versions (model 11897) were built that year...
For the same reasons , I decided to exchange my Voigtländer Snapshot-Skopar 25mm f/4 lens against a Leica 24 mm lens in December 2016 in order to have less trouble and work with color shading. I found a used Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens in the buy/sell section of the l-camera-forum, contacted the owner, and bought this lens, although it was more expensive than I am typically willing to spend. This lens (model 11648) is made in Germany since 2008. My sample has the serial number 4082358, which means that it was built in 2008 (source: Leicapedia); it was originally sold in 2010 in the UK.
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Photos: Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. (top row) and Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens (bottom row) for comparison
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6-bit coding at the bayonet |
6- bit coding at the bayonet |
Lens hood |
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6-bit coding at the bayonet |
6-bit coding at the bayonet |
Lens hood |
Photos: Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. (top row) and Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens (bottom row) for comparison
Body with Lens Attached
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Photos: Body with Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. (left) and with Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens (right) for comparison
Some Technical Data
| Data | Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 SPH. | Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 SPH. |
| Model number | 11135 | 11648 |
| Focal length | 21 (21.3) mm | 24 (24.5) mm |
| Angle of view (35mm film) | 92° diagonal | 84° diagonal |
| Maximum aperture | 2.8 | 3.8 |
| f-stop range | 2.8-16 | 3.8-16 |
| Number of iris blades | 8 | 9 (not specified by Leica) |
| Number of lenses/groups | 9/7 | 8/6 |
| Shortest distance | 0.7 m | 0.7 m |
| Weight | 317 g / 300 g / 318 g | 260 g / 239 g |
| Length | 58 mm / 46 mm | 56.6 mm / 40.6 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 58 mm | 53 mm |
| Filter thread | 55 mm | 46 mm (E46) |
| Lens hood, hood cap | 12592 (rectangular hood), 14041 (hood cap) | 12465 (rectangular hood) |
| Smallest object field / magnification | 1.044 mm x 696 mm / 1:29 (Leica), 1123 x 749 mm / 1:31 (calculated), 1050 mm / 1:29.3 (from photo) | 922 mm x 615 mm / 1:25.6 (Leica), 976 mm x 651 mm / 1:27.1 (calculated), 920 mm / 1:25.7 (from photo) |
Sample Images
Closest Distance
For the Elmarit-M and the Elmar-M, "Lens Detection" was set to "Automatic", and the lens was correctly selected.
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
Similar Places, Different Times
The following photos were taken independently and about a month apart. They are just variations of the usual test photos that I took will all of my M-mount lenses.
For the Elmarit-M and the Elmar-M, "Lens Detection" was set to "Automatic", and the lens was correctly selected.
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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| Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. | Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
Same Places, Same Time
The following photos were taken on a walk with both lenses. They were taken at f/8 and sometimes f/16 for better sun stars.
For the Elmarit-M and the Elmar-M, "Lens Detection" was set to "Automatic", and the lens was correctly selected.
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. at f/8 |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. at f/8 |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
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Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. |
Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. |
Conclusions
Disclaimer: I am not a lens expert who sees marked differences between various Leica and/or other lenses. I can check for soft corners, find differences in color rendition, and, in rare cases, may discover a "3D look", but that's all. Please regard therefore my conclusions as the verdict of a "layman".
Overall, this page is not intended as a comparison page for both lenses. I just show how the lenses look and how they look at the Leica M (Typ 240), present their technical data, and last, but not least, present untouched photos taken with both lenses, which show more or less the same motifs. So feel free to download the original photos to make up your own mind.
There are obvious differences in how the lenses render sun stars - here the newer Elmar-M is at an advantage thanks to its larger number of aperture blades. The newer lens is also a bit more resistant against flare when you shot directly into the sun.
Links
- Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. (Ken Rockwell): www.kenrockwell.com/leica/21mm-f28-asph.htm
- 21mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M (Leicapedia): www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/21mm_f/2.8_ASPH_Elmarit-M
- Leica Elmarit-M 1:2,8/21 mm ASPH. (Messsucherwelt, Claus Sassenberg): www.messsucherwelt.com/?page_id=4133
- 24mm f/3.8 ASPH Elmar-M (Leicapedia): www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/24mm_f/3.8_ASPH_Elmar-M
- Leica Elmar-M 3.8/24mm ASPH (Erwin Puts): www.imx.nl/photo/leica/lenses/styled-6/
- The Leica 24/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH review (Joeri van der Kloet): joerivanderkloet.com/leica-243-8-elmar-m-asph-review
- Elmar 24 f/3.8: Is it any good? (Thread in l-camera-forum started by BjarniM): http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/267898-elmar-24-f38-is-it-any-good
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made by  on a mac! |
| 22.01.2017 |