21mm recommendations for Leica M mount?

Kodachromeguy · Mar 16, 2024

Hi Everyone,
I want to buy a 21mm lens for film use on my Leica M2. I'd like a reasonably compact lens with high resolution, even at the edges. I looked at some of the newer options:

1. Zeiss Biogon 21 ƒ/4.5 ZM. Said to be low distortion, but ƒ/4.5 could be a challenge sometimes. 46mm filter size. The other 21, the 2.8 ZM, is a bit larger than I want to carry.

2. Voigtlander 21mm ƒ/3.5 ASPH (newest style). Recent computation, but few reviews (?).

3. Voigtlander 21mm ƒ/4. Very compact. The 3.5 is said to be a major upgrade.

4. Leica 21mm Elmarit - the premium option. 60mm filter size: big lens and viewfinder blockage?

Do any of you have suggestions? Have you used the 3.5 ASPH or the Biogon? Thanks to you all!

Bearman · Mar 16, 2024

Depends on your budget and whether you'll ever use the lens with digital sensors. For film shooting, I'd vote for the Voigtlander f/4. It's about 1/2 what the f/3.5 goes for.
The newer 3.5 appears to be an upgrade, especially for digital.
And you'll need a finder. I've got the Voigtlander 21mm finder that works great, although it's plastic and not quite as bulletproof as the metal & $$$ versions from Zeiss and Leica.

ic-racer · Mar 16, 2024

I only have experience with the f4 Voigtlander 21mm. I am very pleased with the lens. Lightweight and compact. Excellent sharpness for my usual 35mm enlargements of 8x10 to 11x14. I don't know how these superwide lenses work on an M2 but this lens is great on my Bessa R4M with its 21mm rangefinder lines.

logan2z · Mar 16, 2024

If budget allows, I'd seriously consider the Leica 21mm Super Elmar f3.4. It's compact and has an E46 filter size. Very sharp and low distortion. I've been shooting with it for a while and absolutely love it.

grain elevator · Mar 16, 2024

ic-racer said:
I only have experience with the f4 Voigtlander 21mm. I am very pleased with the lens. Lightweight and compact. Excellent sharpness for my usual 35mm enlargements of 8x10 to 11x14. I don't know how these superwide lenses work on an M2 but this lens is great on my Bessa R4M with its 21mm rangefinder lines.

I have it in the LTM version. Very affordable. To be honest I haven't made larger prints from it yet, so no comment about resolution or such. It has more barrel distortion than I'd like and the focus/dof scale is hard to read at a glance (lacking lines to align with the aperture scale), It think the M mount version is better in that regard but optically the same. I don't love it but have no plans to replace it either, as I rarely use that fl and there isn't any alternative that's comparably affordable, although I just might go even wider with the 15mm Skopar eventually...
A few flickr examples (not mine) that show the distortion:

Laurent · Mar 16, 2024

I have the Voigtlander 21/4, and positively love it. Mine is the version which has a LTM/M ring provided with it, so I can use it on both my M4 and IIIa cameras.

On the IIIa, with a Minolta finder (the plastic VC finder gets in the way of the shutter dial) it makes a beautiful combo.

On both cameras, a light and easy to use lens.

Kodachromeguy · Mar 16, 2024

Has anyone here used the Biogon 4.5? Thanks.

summicron1 · Mar 17, 2024

I have the 21mm f4 Voigtlander version in Nikon mount and it is an amazing optic. Very compact

250swb · Mar 17, 2024

I love my Voigtlander 21mm f/4 and have no complaints. If I want a more clinical look I'll use my ZM 21mm f/2.8, both are great lenses but I use the Voigtlander the most. I'll add that the basic plastic 21mm finder by Voigtlander is brighter and easier to use (more space around the edge of the framelines for glasses wearers) than a Leica 21mm finder

guangong · Mar 17, 2024

I have only used 21mm lens for my M4 bought c. 1970 with finder. With such depth of field precise focus is unnecessary. Compared to today’s boutique prices for Leica, if buying today I would go with Voitlander. I haven’t been disappointed with other Voitlander lenses.

Hassasin · Mar 17, 2024

Is there a tally of all M/LTM lenses of all makes available ?

craigclu · Mar 17, 2024

I have the 21mm ZM and couldn't ask for better performance. My 35mm activities over the last decade are mainly black and white so I can't give good feedback on color work, though. As I write this, I realize that I don't use the lens very often and it gets very little exercise. I've got the Voigtlander 21mm viewfinder that I use with it and it works great. My other 21mm experiences over the years have been for slr's (Konica and Contax) and the G system and the little ZM stands up well to any of them.

GregY · Mar 17, 2024

The Voigtlander 21mm f4 is a gem of a lens. I've had both the M and LTM/M versions.

Rob Skeoch · Mar 19, 2024

This is my experience.
Years ago, like 1990, I owned the Leica 21mm f2.8. I bought it new, used it a bit, but not enough and sold it off. It's a great lens.
Then I bought the Zeiss 21mm f2.8 when it came out. Also a great lens, but too wide and I didn't use it much and sold it off.
At the time I owned the mail-order business 'The Rangefinder Store', selling mostly Zeiss and Voitlander lenses. Zeiss came out with the 21mm f4.5, which I never owned but sold a few of. It's likely the sharpest, best rendition, on the market, and is so small. However the back element is close to the film plane which makes it great for film but mushy for digital.

If you're only shooting film, with no plans for the M11 down the road, I would buy a used 21mm f4.5. Plus if you don't like the length, you can resell it for little lose.

You're mileage may vary.

Dali · Mar 19, 2024

Another vote for the Voigtlander 4/21mm lens. Pretty cheap, small, well built, not blocking the viewfinder, sharp enough for most of us, what else to ask?

TheFlyingCamera · Mar 19, 2024

I've used the Biogon 21mm f2.8 on a Contax G2, and it is a FANTASTIC lens. You can't go wrong with it as a lens. One thing about it - it is so sharp, wide open, that you can tell the difference between what's in and out of focus when you're focused NEAR but not AT infinity.

Richard Man · Mar 19, 2024

I have the latest Voigtlander 21/3.5 Color Skopar with both caps and box, and motivated to sell due to loss of job. I will put it up on the Classified shortly but if you are interested, you can also email me at richard @richardman.photo

Kodachromeguy · Mar 20, 2024

TheFlyingCamera said:
I've used the Biogon 21mm f2.8 on a Contax G2, and it is a FANTASTIC lens. You can't go wrong with it as a lens. One thing about it - it is so sharp, wide open, that you can tell the difference between what's in and out of focus when you're focused NEAR but not AT infinity.

I have read other glowing reports of this lens. But to use this version, you need a G1 or G2 camera (unless you find a rare unit that was converted to Leica M).

TheFlyingCamera · Mar 20, 2024

Kodachromeguy said:
I have read other glowing reports of this lens. But to use this version, you need a G1 or G2 camera (unless you find a rare unit that was converted to Leica M).

There is a current production version in M-mount:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/361539-REG/Zeiss_1365_650_21mm_f_2_8_ZM_Lens.html

The 2.8 Biogon is not a particularly large or heavy lens - it only requires a 46mm filter, and that extra stop of speed comes in handy when shooting interiors. If the price is not an obstacle, I would highly recommend it.

21mm recommendations for Leica M mount?

Kodachromeguy

Bearman

ic-racer

logan2z

grain elevator

Laurent

Kodachromeguy

summicron1

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