SUPER ANGULON-R 3.4/21

This is a record of using the Leica Super angulon 3.4/21 with a digital camera.

Table of contents

Gallery
Impression
Lens specification
Reference links

Gallery
Photo example （with HASSELBLAD X2D)

Impression
There are two types of Leica R-mount Super Angulon lenses: the old type with an F value of f/3.4 and the new type with an F value of f/4. The f/3.4 lens is a symmetrical lens in the tradition of the M-mount lens, and the rear element protrudes significantly toward the mount. This protrusion is not so much of a concern with M-mount lenses, but it looks odd when viewed as an R-mount lens with a flange back of 47.15mm.
Before mounting the lens on a camera, make sure that there is enough space inside the mount, or it may interfere with internal parts of the mount and damage the inside of the mount. The LEICA T camera in my possession could not be mounted due to a structure inside the mount and in front of the sensor.
The lens fixing method is also elaborate: the lens stopper part is aligned in advance and attached to the mount, and the lens is fixed by rotating the silver slide part on the right in the photo below.

The f/3.4 version of this lens was released for the film Leica SL, but was difficult to use, requiring the mirror to be up when in use; the f/4 version is a common retrofocus lens and can be used normally with the R Leica. The quirky f/3.4 version has a varied market price, and depending on the dealer, it can be purchased at a price so low that it is hard to believe it is a Leica wide-angle lens.
And we believe that one of the reasons for the unpopularity of wide-angle lenses with symmetrical optics such as the f/3.4 lens, with its protruding rear lens element, is that it causes not only vignetting but also color cast on older full-size sensors.
However, the HASSELBLAD X2D, which is currently my main lens, has a large sensor, and although the image circle is not large enough for this lens, it is very good that color cast does not occur.
Since it just barely covers 36mm, or 82% of the 44mm wide sensor, it is considered to be a 35mm lens with no problem, and depending on the sensor used, this lens may be reviewed to enjoy symmetrical, distortion-free images.
The lens I own has a brass finish on the lens rangefinder part where the paint has peeled off.

Specification
The Super Angulon 21mm is a wide-angle lens offered by Schneider on an OEM basis.
The minimum focusing distance is 0.2m, and the rotation angle from infinity to the minimum focusing distance is about 350 degrees, almost all the way around.
The aperture ring is a hassle, the focusing ring is at the tip of the lens, and although the lens barrel is thin, I personally think the shape is designed to minimize misoperation.
In keeping with the Super Angulon tradition, four aperture blades are used.

Item	Value	note
focal length(mm)	21
Maximum aperture	3.4
Minimum aperture	22
Leaf blade	4
Lens configuration	4groups 8elements
Minimum distance(m)	0.2
Lens length(mm)	19	R-mount
Lens max diameter(mm)	70
Filter diameter(mm)	Series VIII
Weight(g)	228