Mirrorless compatible: S ANGULON R 21

A review and photo examples using the Leica Super-Angulon 21mm F3.4 with a mirrorless camera

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Gallery

Photo example （with HASSELBLAD X2D)

Review

Overview
Usability
Add info

1．Overview

The Leica R mount Super Angulon R 21mm F3.4 is a wide-angle lens of which 1530 units were produced between 1964 and 1968.

The F3.4 version was released for the Leica SL film camera, but when using it with a Leica SL film camera, it is a troublesome lens that requires the mirror to be raised in order to avoid the rear lens interfering with the camera mirror.
However, mirrorless cameras, as the name suggests, do not have a mirror, so there is no interference with the protrusion of the rear lens. Therefore, it can be treated in the same way as a normal lens. Therefore, the title is “Mirrorless compatible S ANGULON R 21”.

The minimum shooting distance is 0.2m, and the rotation angle from infinity to the minimum shooting distance is about 350 degrees, which is almost a full circle.
The operation parts of the lens barrel are the aperture ring at the base of the lens, and the focus ring at the front of the lens. The lens barrel is thin and has a tight layout, but there are appropriate steps so that it is impossible to operate it incorrectly.

The lens fixing method is also elaborate; the lens stopper part is aligned in advance, attached to the mount, and the lens is fixed by rotating the silver sliding part shown in the photo.

The aperture blades are the traditional four-blade Super-Angulon.

2．Usability

When attached to the mirrorless camera HASSELBLAD X2D, it looks like the left image below. Because the HASSELBLAD X2D uses a medium-format digital sensor, there is plenty of space in front of the sensor, so there are few issues with attaching lenses with protruding rear lenses such as the Super-Angulon.

The right image below shows the latest Leica L-mount adapter attached, and L-mounts can also be attached without any problems as long as they have full-size sensors. However, it cannot be used with the LEICA T typ601, which has an APS-C size sensor, as the side wall of the sensor interferes with the rear lens.

When using the Super-Angulon R 21mm F3.4 with the HASSELBLAD X2D, the image circle is not large enough, but there is no peripheral color cast, which is noticeable with some 35mm full-frame sensors.

When analyzing the usable part of the actual captured image, the usable range is on the framed side of the diagram below.

82% of the 44mm wide sensor is usable, which just about covers a width of 36mm.

There is no problem using it with a 35mm lens.

If you use a sensor that does not have peripheral color cast, you can enjoy the distortion-free depiction of a symmetrical lens.

LEICA SUPER ANGULON R 21mm F3.4 +HASSELBLAD X2D Photo example

3．Add Info.

There are two types of Super-Angulon R lenses. The F3.4 version is a symmetrical lens following the M-mount model, with the rear lens protruding significantly toward the mount. The F4 version has a retrofocus lens structure and can be used with general SLR cameras.

Both lenses are designed by Schneider of Germany.

When mounting the Leica R-mount Super-Angulon R 21mm F3.4 to a camera, it is necessary to make sure that there is a reasonable amount of space on the side wall of the sensor installation area. In the case of small sensors such as APS-C size sensors and Micro Four Thirds sensors, the protruding rear lens may interfere with the side wall. It is thought that there will be almost no problem with 35mm full-frame sensors, but it is still worth checking.

The market price of the F3.4 version, which has such quirks, varies greatly, and depending on the store, you can buy it for a price that is hard to believe for a Leica wide-angle lens.

Wide-angle lenses with symmetrical optical systems with protruding rear elements, such as the F3.4 version, are unpopular because when used with some 35mm full-frame sensors, not only do they suffer from vignetting, but also from color casts on the periphery.

Specification

Item	F3.4 Ver.	F4 ver	VARIO ELMAR
focal length(mm)	21	21	21-35
Maximum aperture	3.4	4	3.5-4
Minimum aperture	22	22	22
Lens configuration	8elements in 4groups	10elements in 8groups	9elements in 8groups
Leaf blade	4	4	6
Minimum distance(m)	0.2	0.2	0.5
Lens length(mm)	19	43.5	66.3
Lens max diameter(mm)	70	78	75
Filter diameter(mm)	Series 8	E72 or Series 8.5	67
Weight(g)	228	420	500
Lens Hood	14170W	12506 14145(Forent Cap)	12438
Production numbers	1,530-	10,850-	3,400
Release date	1964-1968	1971-1983	2001-