| Tom Abrahamsson of RapidWinder.com It is almost never that an inventor improves on a Leica product so that it is better than the original Leica product. Tom holds that distinction with his RapidWinder for Leica M rangefinders -- a bottom mounting baseplate trigger advance. In addition Tom manufacturers other Leica accessories such as his very popular Soft Release and MiniSoftRelease shutter releases. Tom is well known as one of the true Leica rangefinder experts, even by Leica.
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Need Toms 21mm Super- Elmar F3.4 review |
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09-10-2011
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#1
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Registered User
Mpmckenzie is offline
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 44
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Need Toms 21mm Super- Elmar F3.4 review
TOM we are all waiting to hear what you have to say, i know others feel the same way, we value your input,i cant keep hitting the refresh button to see if you have posted yet  i know its only been a day  |
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09-10-2011
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#2
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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I will be processing some stuff tomorrow - and shooting some more. need to mix up the Beutler too.
Probably by monday I hope.
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09-11-2011
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#3
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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Decided to finish a roll of 400 Arista in aR3M with the Super Elmar 21f3.4 (I think I will call it SE 21f3.4 in the future!). Not scientific or "lens testy". Just wanted to see how it behaves.
First impression, slightly higher contrast than the Biogon 21f4.5 - but not excessive. Edge fall is visible in bright sun (and stopped down to f11/f16) but modest. Sharpness is good, even very good. @ f3.4 and f4 - it is remarkably even across the image-area ( as born out by the MTF curves). It is a worthy successor to the SA 21f3.4!
Ergonomics are excellent. Easy to use the aperture ring. The nifty hood is nice as it "extends" the barrel a bit and gives you a better grip - it sits in the palm of your hand very comfortably.
Is it better than the old SA 21f3.4 or the ZM Biogon 21f4.5? Dont know in exact numbers (MTF/Lpmm/ etc - but it is certainly up there among the really, really good lenses for a M-mount.
None of the shots so far were done to check distorsion - need a tripod for that.
Is it worth close to $3000 - well, I dont know. I dont think it is twice or three times better than a ZM Biogon 21f4.5 - they are both superb lenses. It is all a matter of choice.
I took the plunge as ANY lens which is 21f3.4 is interesting to me ( I have used SA 21's since 1964) and it is almost 6 years since I last bought a new Leica lens.
If you check our Flickr and use the tag "Leica Super Elmar 21mm f3.4" - there should be 10-11 shots up now. More to come with the PanF+ - but probably not for a day or two (need to mix up some developer etc).
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09-11-2011
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#4
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.......sometimes i thinks
fixbones is offline
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 31
Posts: 765
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Thanks for that Tom.
Always nice to hear you talking about lenses esp 21mm since we all know that you area wide junkie!!
Looking forward to more  |
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09-13-2011
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#5
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Registered User
Mpmckenzie is offline
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 44
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Thanks Tom for a quick insight
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09-14-2011
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#6
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phound photography
noimmunity is offline
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lyon/Taipei
Age: 50
Posts: 2,366
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Thanks, Tom.
I am surprised it has higher contrast than the ZM C Biogon.
Based on the limited number of shots at the resolution available so far, I'd prefer the Elmar 24/3.8 to the Super Elmar 21/3.4.
__________________
jon 小強
搬到畫國後免疫系統變得超強，所過的生活宅到不行！
The old adage says: Seeing is believing. To me, that doesn't mean that the world seen is the truth, it means rather that seeing is a field in which the purity of heart is expressed--or not, depending upon whatever happens to cloud that purity at any given moment.
No-immunity Bodies: DP Merrills, Fuji X-Pro1, Leica M-E. Too much dust made me immune to film T_T
my neglected flickr
Flickr
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09-16-2011
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#7
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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Simon taught me how to post images - 1 st attempt worked too!!!
This is the 21 Super Elmar, Arista 400 in D96. |
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09-18-2011
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#8
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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The Super Elmar 21mm f3.5, stopped down to about f11. PanF+ in Beutler 1:1 for 10 min. |
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09-18-2011
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#9
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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Super Elmar 21mm f3.4 @ 3.4
Pan F+ Beutler 1:1 10 min
Last edited by Tom A : 09-18-2011 at 20:17.
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09-18-2011
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#10
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
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Nice display in a hair saloon - 21f3.4 Elmar @ 3.4
Pan F+, Beutler 1:1 10 min
Last edited by Tom A : 09-18-2011 at 20:18.
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09-18-2011
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#11
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.......sometimes i thinks
fixbones is offline
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 31
Posts: 765
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Those shot at f3.4 are very very nice!
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09-18-2011
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#12
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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Now when I have figured how to upload (thanks to Simon a.k.a. Simonsawsunlight) I can at least put up some samples of shots.
This is strong backlight - very good flare suppression. Pan F+ and beutler 1:1/10 min
Last edited by Tom A : 09-18-2011 at 21:02.
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09-18-2011
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#13
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Registered User
35mmdelux is offline
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,210
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Nice work, Tom. Many thanks -
__________________
Canon 5d MKII : 35mm f.1.4L
M7 : 35 Summilux : 50 Summilux
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09-18-2011
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#14
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Registered User
kosta_g is offline
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 229
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great work tom. you make it a very attractive lens! (visually...not price-wise!
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09-18-2011
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#15
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Registered User
tj01 is offline
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 550
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Actually, thank you Simon.
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09-18-2011
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#16
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Registered User
Fotohuis is offline
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: the Netherlands
Posts: 678
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Wow, I think I have to look at this Leica Elmar 21mm lens too. Maybe the price is in Germany / Solms / Kassel /Paderborn not too bad and within two weeks I have to go to the Paderborn Fine Art forum too.
http://www.aphog.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13977
Info about the fine art forum:
http://www.fineartforum.info/programm-faf-2011
Best regards,
Robert
__________________
"De enige beperking in je fotografie ben je zelf"
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09-18-2011
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#17
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Registered User
Rayt is offline
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 1,227
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These current Leica lenses have really high contract, too much for my taste. Thanks for saving me money Tom!
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09-19-2011
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#18
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Registered User
vb_vmb is offline
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
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thanks Tom, this is most awaited one, pl upload a few more pics of 'low light' conditions if possible, thanks again in advance
vinod
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09-19-2011
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#19
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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M6 Millennium with the Super Elmar 21f3.4 |
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09-19-2011
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#20
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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Size comparison between the Super Elmar and the Super Angulon. The SA 21 sits much deeper inside the body - but the hood is bigger. The Super Elmar is more comfortable in the hand. The short "Tube" at the beck if the hood extends the barrel a bit and lets it rest in the hand. It also has a much improved aperture ring - compared to the SA which is very close to the hood flange and difficult to access.
Just found out that you cant remove the image adress without loosing the image!!!!
Last edited by Tom A : 09-19-2011 at 08:18.
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09-19-2011
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#21
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Registered User
vb_vmb is offline
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
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great , thanks for comparison shot, TOM do you find, it has more contrast than SA, how is the details in blowups ?
vinod
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09-19-2011
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#22
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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Found it and reposted it. Caption as above. |
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09-19-2011
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#23
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Non-Registered User
axiom is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 691
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bokeh....
how's the bokeh?
C Biogon |
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09-19-2011
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#24
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Registered User
Tim Gray is offline
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,833
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Tom, if you want an easier way to post images from flickr, when you are on the photo page, click on the "Share" button above the photo. Then click on "Grab the HTML/BBCode". Select BBCode and the size (medium or large) and then copy the code in the box. Just paste that right into RFF. Doing it this way has the added advantage that we can click on the picture on RFF and go to your flickr page.
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09-19-2011
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#25
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RFF Sponsor
Tom A is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 69
Posts: 5,088
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Tim, thanks for the info - at the moment the way Simon taught me seems to work and when it comes to computer I am a luddite. Will try your way sometimes later.
Tom
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