LEICA ELMARIT M 24mm ASPH.
Differences between focal lengths of +3mm and -4mm
A review and photo examples of the Leica ELMARIT M 24mm F2.8 ASPH.
Table of contents
Gallery
- The example was taken with LEICA M6 +KODAK E100VS +NIKON COOLSCAN ED V.
- The location was Oigawa Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Review
1．Overview
The Elmarit-M 24mm F2.8 ASPH. is a Leica M-mount wide-angle prime lens with a focal length of 24mm.
The Elmarit-R 24mm, which is said to have a focal length of 24mm for the Leica R-mount, was released in 1974 and was sold new until the mid-2000s, but this lens was the first to have a focal length of 24mm for the Leica M-mount, released in 1996.
The Elmarit-M 21mm ASPH., which uses the same aspherical lens, is a sister lens that was sold one year after this lens. Both lenses are no longer on sale.
As far as I can see on the used market, all Elmar-M 24mm lenses seem to have a 6-bit code. Even if it does not, the mount shape is new, so it can be changed at Leica support for a fee. However, since digital M-type Leicas from the M9 onwards have a menu for entering the focal length, the presence or absence of a 6-bit code is almost meaningless.
2．Usage
The Elmarit 24mm has no complaints about the image quality, and if the helicoid grease is appropriate, the manual focus ring movement is smooth and comfortable, making it a lens that can be used for everyday snapshots and travel records.
As the numbers indicate, the focal length of 24mm is -4mm wider than 28mm, leaving a little room, and +3mm narrower than 21mm, so it is a lens with an exquisite position that makes the wide-angle feel weaker.
This does not apply to me, who uses lenses at random, but for photographers who want to use one lens for a long time, the choice between 21mm and 24mm is quite difficult.
For photographers who mainly use 28mm wide-angle lenses, 24mm is an in-between focal length, and it would be reasonable to choose 21mm, which changes the angle of view significantly.
For photographers who mainly use 35mm, skipping 28mm and going to 24mm is one option. If you choose 21mm instead of 35mm, the change in angle of view may be too great.
This is largely dependent on personal taste, so if possible, it’s better to test it out before purchasing. With digital cameras, the cost of testing is almost zero, so you can try them out without any hassle.
3．Add info.
The two giants of European cameras, Leica and Zeiss, offer 24mm and 25mm focal lengths between 21mm and 28mm. I understand that 24mm and 25mm are a matter of error, and that the difference is small even when shooting with a different lens on a tripod, but when it is explicitly stated as 24mm and 25mm, it makes me feel like there is a big difference between the two, which is probably just the ramblings of a sick lens gourmet.
The main lenses with focal lengths of 24mm and 25mm are as follows.
- LEICA SUMMILUX 24mm
- LEICA ELMAR 24mm
- Carl Zeiss BIOGON 25mm
- Voigtlander Snap Shot Skoper 25mm
- Voigtlander COLOR SKOPAR 25mm
In addition, the focal length of 24mm, which is just the right width for a wide-angle lens, began to be adopted at the wide end of standard zoom lenses in the late 1990s as lens design evolved. Before that, 28mm was the mainstream for the wide end, and before that it was 35mm. When using an old Leica zoom lens that starts at 35mm, it feels quite narrow, which is because we are quite familiar with wide-angle lenses, including smartphones.
In addition, there is a movement to make the focal length of the wide-angle end of camera zoom lenses start at 20mm, and depending on market sales, other companies will probably follow suit, but with zoom lenses, distortion is inevitably a concern, so it seems like the angle of view is a little too wide, but there is a good chance that this will no longer be a concern due to the evolution of lens correction.
I no longer have this lens, and I would like to use it again if I have the opportunity.
This lens is not very popular in the used market, and depending on the condition, you can find it at a low price, but as of 2024, it is rising in price to be hung up against other Leica M-mount lenses.
Specification
| Items | ELMAR | ELMARIT ASPH. | BIOGON |
| Focal length(mm) | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Max aperture | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Min aperture | 16 | ← | ← |
| Lens Construction | 8 elements in 6groups | 9elements in 7groups | 9elements in 7groups |
| Leaf blade | 8枚 | ← | 10 |
| Min distance(m) | 0.7 | ← | 0.5 |
| Lens length(mm) | 40.6 | 46 | 46.6 |
| Max diameter(mm) | 53 | 58 | 53 |
| Filter Size(mm) | E46 | E55 | E46 |
| Lens hood | 12465 (Same as 21mm) | 12592(Same as 21mm /hood) 14041(Same as 21mm /Hood front cover) | Lens Shade 21/25mm Lens Shade 25/28mm |
| Release date | 2008 | 1996 | 2005 |
| Production number | – | About 7,000- | – |
| Weight(g) | 260 | 388(Silver) 290(Black) | 260 |
| List Price(Yen/No-tax) | ¥320,000- | – | ¥110,000- |
Reference links
- Description of the Elmarit M 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. by LEICA Wiki
- Leica lenses p48 has an introductory article (link to Amazon affiliate)
Update history
- 2024.03.21
- 2023.12.17
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