After listening to the insanity of other Photography channels. and not often Leica related channels too, it is always a pleasure to watch your channel. It is a safe haven of tranquility, well-chosen words, truthful solid information, supported by nice photography samples and not a lot of girls showing a lot of skin to compensate for a weak story or the lack of knowledge on a subject. We often take quality like your channel for granted cause we are used to it but I think once in a while it is useful to mention it, and make it aware to everybody. Thanks so much Thorsten for sharing your thoughts, knowledge and sample pictures. Have a great day !!
Thanks for 21mm lens review. Years ago, I shot a Contax G1 35mm rangefinder with the following lenses: 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon 45mm f/2 Zeiss Planar 90mm f/2.8 Zeiss Sonnar Today, I shoot a Leica M6 and an M10 with the following lenses: 21mm f/1.4 Leitz 35mm f/1/4 Zeiss Distagon 90mm f/2 Leitz These three lenses allow me to capture about 80% of the images I need to capture.
Very useful insights into how you shoot: cinematic style, narrow depth of field, playing with light, storytelling. I always learn from your videos. Thank you.
I like telling the story in my photos also . I like to give context to the subject. I have called it the backstory in my live music photography of videography. Thank you for your teaching.
I bought this exact same lens late 2022. I have not used it too much since however when I have the results are magic (mounted on my M10R). Thanks for this video "review"… you've affirmed my decision about this lens.
7:23 Bokeh does not come from wine... but nice analogy there. 暈け, bokeh or boke is, as you said, Japanese and is a common word in that language which means "blur" or "unsharpness". Nice and insightful video.
Are‑Bure‑Boke (pronounced ah‑reh bu‑reh bo‑keh) is a Japanese term, coined to describe a particular style of photography that became increasingly influential in 1970’s Japan.
Thank you. Wil be back in LA for workshop November 11-13 www.overgaard.dk/the-thorsten-overgaard-Los-Angeles-photo-seminar-and-advanced-workshop-for-leica-photographers-and-digital-photographers.html
Wonderful video and gave me new ways to think about using the 21mm. I recently got the 21mm f3.4 Super Angulon and love the more vintage rendering of it, combined with the extreme wide angle. I am normally a 50mm guy so this has been opening new possibilities.
Thank you for the information about lenses and lighting. You talked about adjusting skin colors for the M11. Are you satisfied with your color correction?
GREAT VIDEO: Held me off from going with the 21mm SEM. QUESTION: What is the ND Series 8 Filter you used with the ORIGINAL Lens Shade? I need the exact specifications, if possible. I have been shooting 21mm with the Zeiss Biogen and want something faster with the possiblity of bokeh. But need the ND Filter to exploit this lens potential with the M10M.
It is simply called Series 8 filter and should be 3-stop (also sometimes calked 0.9. For example from BH Photo: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/937140-REG/b_w_66_1070631_series_8_103_nd.html/BI/5483/KBID/6298 or any other place. Called "Series 8", "Serie VIII" and so on and is always that size (no matter if they say 77mm or 82mm or something. Serie 8 is a size.
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard Thank you, Thorsten, for underscoring the point about the Series VIII being a unique size, and of course, the number of stops you suggest. I will make sure to use the link. KR Jörg
Great video, Thorston! I was hoping you could speak to the viewfinder issue on the M camera. I have to focus with the rangefinder and use the viewfinder to frame. Do you do that or do you just used the cropped photo.
I use the EVF on more recent cameras, and have also used the 21mm optical viewfinder a lot together with the rangefinder. Somehow you just get into the habit of the 21 optical viewfinder and RF. Faster and easier for me. (is called "Leica Brightline Finder M-21")
If I'll constantly trow some lens in a bag or a pocket (hence I'll not have the time to put a cover on) than I'll screw a protective / UV filter onto it. Course the pain of getting a slightly softer image is far lesser than having permanent scratches on the front of that lens, period. Especially if we arae talking about expensive one...
My 2 cents on this lens.....it isnt a good lens for landscape, it also isnt a good lens for architecture photography. it is way to soft for both usecases, even stopped down it isnt a very sharp lens. where is shines though is streetphotography, either stopped down but especially wide open, when in the hands of a skilled photographer or simply in luck, when the subject is in focus images pop nicely. but there is another downside of the lens, the minimum focus distance of 70cm, the fast aperture cant work well enough at that distance, i really wish leica would rework the optical formula and give such a lens a much close mfd so the bokeh is much stronger. many new M lenses got a closer mfd, since it seems many people work mostly with the EVF these days. and thorsten you should really mark the images in videos with the info on what lens was used. of all the images with a brutal silky smooth bokeh, none where taken with the 21lux, those were likely 50mm high aperture lenses or longer.
I cannot afford this lens but am looking at the Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 .
The quality of rendering of this Leica 21mm is beautiful. Love it
After listening to the insanity of other Photography channels. and not often Leica related channels too, it is always a pleasure to watch your channel.
It is a safe haven of tranquility, well-chosen words, truthful solid information, supported by nice photography samples and not a lot of girls showing a lot of skin to compensate for a weak story or the lack of knowledge on a subject.
We often take quality like your channel for granted cause we are used to it but I think once in a while it is useful to mention it, and make it aware to everybody.
Thanks so much Thorsten for sharing your thoughts, knowledge and sample pictures.
Have a great day !!
Thank you for pointing that out 🙂
Imho one of your best photos are taken by this lens. Also this is one of your best video. Thanks
Thanks for 21mm lens review.
Years ago, I shot a Contax G1 35mm rangefinder with the following lenses:
21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon
45mm f/2 Zeiss Planar
90mm f/2.8 Zeiss Sonnar
Today, I shoot a Leica M6 and an M10 with the following lenses:
21mm f/1.4 Leitz
35mm f/1/4 Zeiss Distagon
90mm f/2 Leitz
These three lenses allow me to capture about 80% of the images I need to capture.
Very useful insights into how you shoot: cinematic style, narrow depth of field, playing with light, storytelling. I always learn from your videos. Thank you.
I like telling the story in my photos also . I like to give context to the subject. I have called it the backstory in my live music photography of videography.
Thank you for your teaching.
The video title suggests a typical "gear" review but you give us so much more! Thank you for an excellent video!
I bought this exact same lens late 2022. I have not used it too much since however when I have the results are magic (mounted on my M10R). Thanks for this video "review"… you've affirmed my decision about this lens.
7:23 Bokeh does not come from wine... but nice analogy there. 暈け, bokeh or boke is, as you said, Japanese and is a common word in that language which means "blur" or "unsharpness". Nice and insightful video.
Are‑Bure‑Boke (pronounced ah‑reh bu‑reh bo‑keh) is a Japanese term, coined to describe a particular style of photography that became increasingly influential in 1970’s Japan.
@@absonus Very true. there is that, and that 暈け is simply a word that every knows and uses (if blurriness or unsharpness is meant).
Therefore, a person intoxicated person pulled over for driving down the wrong side of the road, at 3mph, explains to the policeman:
"Bokeh Sir."
The three pillows and then the shadow of the man with the beam going through 👏
Always great video Thorsten! Can’t wait to see you back in LA.
Thank you. Wil be back in LA for workshop November 11-13
www.overgaard.dk/the-thorsten-overgaard-Los-Angeles-photo-seminar-and-advanced-workshop-for-leica-photographers-and-digital-photographers.html
Beautiful photos! Thank you. That really helped for understanding the potential of photography with 21mm, not only the lens
Wonderful video and gave me new ways to think about using the 21mm. I recently got the 21mm f3.4 Super Angulon and love the more vintage rendering of it, combined with the extreme wide angle. I am normally a 50mm guy so this has been opening new possibilities.
Another enjoyable episode Thorsten, thank you.
“Learn to speak that language “ I love that
There is something special about this SLX21. Of all the wide and ultra wide Summilux lenses that I own, this one paints the most vibrant colours.
Yes, it has a unique fingerprint.
Great video and review once again, I love your insights - really enjoyable.
Thank you 🙂
Thanks for your great review! Use it as my prime lens since the last 2 years. Worth every penny!
Thanks so much for this video. So educational and it totally sold this lens to me (rather than going for the 3.4/21)
It is a beautiful lens!
.. superb images. 👌
Thank you for sharing, Thorsten.
Thank you 🙂
Inspiring, Thorsten - I'm dusting off my 21!
That's so bizarre, I have just received this lens after wanting it for years, and then you drop this video 🤯
Better late than never :-) I think its a lens to keep for many years 🙂
Please can you do newer videos on 35 APO F2 and 50 APO F2 with M11. Also can can do videos on the M11 thumb grip , optical viewfinder and grip please.
Thank you for the information about lenses and lighting. You talked about adjusting skin colors for the M11. Are you satisfied with your color correction?
No, I am never really satisfied with the M11 colors.
GREAT VIDEO: Held me off from going with the 21mm SEM.
QUESTION: What is the ND Series 8 Filter you used with the ORIGINAL Lens Shade? I need the exact specifications, if possible.
I have been shooting 21mm with the Zeiss Biogen and want something faster with the possiblity of bokeh. But need the ND Filter to exploit this lens potential with the M10M.
It is simply called Series 8 filter and should be 3-stop (also sometimes calked 0.9. For example from BH Photo: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/937140-REG/b_w_66_1070631_series_8_103_nd.html/BI/5483/KBID/6298
or any other place. Called "Series 8", "Serie VIII" and so on and is always that size (no matter if they say 77mm or 82mm or something. Serie 8 is a size.
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard Thank you, Thorsten, for underscoring the point about the Series VIII being a unique size, and of course, the number of stops you suggest. I will make sure to use the link. KR Jörg
Is the Leica Super-Elmar-M Wide-Angle 21mm f/3.4 suitable for Leica M11 ?
The new one, yes. The Super-Angulon is not.
Great video, Thorston! I was hoping you could speak to the viewfinder issue on the M camera. I have to focus with the rangefinder and use the viewfinder to frame. Do you do that or do you just used the cropped photo.
I use the EVF on more recent cameras, and have also used the 21mm optical viewfinder a lot together with the rangefinder. Somehow you just get into the habit of the 21 optical viewfinder and RF. Faster and easier for me.
(is called "Leica Brightline Finder M-21")
Thank you. Informative and inspiring.
I am thinking of starting out. In super wide angle. I am considering purchasing an 18mm. Is 18mm to wide for most situations?
If I'll constantly trow some lens in a bag or a pocket (hence I'll not have the time to put a cover on) than I'll screw a protective / UV filter onto it. Course the pain of getting a slightly softer image is far lesser than having permanent scratches on the front of that lens, period. Especially if we arae talking about expensive one...
My 2 cents on this lens.....it isnt a good lens for landscape, it also isnt a good lens for architecture photography.
it is way to soft for both usecases, even stopped down it isnt a very sharp lens.
where is shines though is streetphotography, either stopped down but especially wide open, when in the hands of a skilled photographer or simply in luck, when the subject is in focus images pop nicely.
but there is another downside of the lens, the minimum focus distance of 70cm, the fast aperture cant work well enough at that distance, i really wish leica would rework the optical formula and give such a lens a much close mfd so the bokeh is much stronger.
many new M lenses got a closer mfd, since it seems many people work mostly with the EVF these days.
and thorsten you should really mark the images in videos with the info on what lens was used. of all the images with a brutal silky smooth bokeh, none where taken with the 21lux, those were likely 50mm high aperture lenses or longer.
I think the answer is the 21/3.4 for architecture and other where you want ot stop down anyways. Or the new 21mm APO-Summicron for the Leica SL.