Leica M (Typ 240): Leica Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH.

On these pages you can find my first personal experiences with my M-mount lenses at the Leica M (Typ 240). This page is devoted to the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens (model 11648; S/N 4082358), the fourth lens that I bought after purchasing the Leica M (Typ 240), and which replaces my Voigtländer Snapshot-Skopar 25mm f/4 lens, because the latter shows serious color shading at the Leica M. Also note that this is my second coded lens.

Introduction

Since the Voigtländer Snapshot-Skopar 25mm f/4 lens exhibited strong magenta color shading on the Leica M (Typ 240), I decided to exchange it against a Leica 24 mm lens in December 2016 in order to have less trouble and work with color shading. I found a used Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens in the buy/sell section of the l-camera-forum, contacted the owner, and bought this lens, although it was more expensive than I am typically willing to spend. This lens has a maximum f-stop of 3.8 and is larger and heavier than the Snapshot-Skopar, which is a pancake lens.

This lens (model 11648) is made in Germany since 2008. My sample has the serial number 4082358, which means that it was built in 2008 (source: Leicapedia); it was originally sold in 2010 in the UK.




6-bit coding at the bayonet	6-bit coding at the bayonet	6-bit coding at the bayonet

Photos: Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens (bottom row: with lens hood)

Body with Lens Attached




With lens hood

With lens hood		With lens hood and cap

With lens hood and cap		With lens hood and cap, near-by

Photos: Leica M (Typ 240) with Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH.

Some Technical Data

Model number	11648
Focal length	24 (24.5) mm
Angle of view (35mm film)	84° diagonal
Maximum aperture	3.8
f-stop range	3.8-16
Number of iris blades	9 (not specified by Leica)
Number of lenses/groups	8/6
Shortest distance	0.7 m
Weight (Leica/myself)	260 g / 239 g
Length (overall/from flange)	56.6 mm / 40.6 mm
Maximum diameter	53 mm
Filter thread	46 mm (E46)
Lens hood	12465 (rectangular hood)
Smallest object field / magnification	922 mm x 615 mm / 1:25.6 (Leica), 976 mm x 651 mm / 1:27.1 (calculated), 920 mm / 1:25.7 (from photo) )

DOF Table

Distance (m) V	Aperture
Distance (m) V	3.8	5.6	8	11	16
0.7	0.623-0.802	0.592-0.862	0.556-0.959	0.517-1.118	0.465-1.560
0.8	0.600-0.939	0.660-1.024	0.615-1.167	0.567-1.419	0.503-2.242
1	0.843-1.234	0.786-1.391	0.721-1.679	0.654-2.277	0.569-5.781
1.2	0.978-1.563	0.900-1.829	0.814-2.37	0.729-3.815	0.623-∞
1.5	1.163-2.129	1.053-2.667	0.936-4.047	0.823-11.77	0.688-∞
2	1.436-3.338	1.269-4.926	1.100-13.73	0.946-∞	0.769-∞
3	1.876-7.731	1.596-32.20	1.335-∞	1.110-∞	0.872-∞
5	2.484-∞	2.012-∞	1.608-∞	1.290-∞	0.975-∞
∞	4.838-∞	3.298-∞	2.324-∞	1.704-v	1.188-∞

The data was taken from the Leica technical data sheet for this lens.

Simplified DOF Table

Distance (m) V	Aperture
Distance (m) V	3.8	5.6	8	11	16
0.7	0.62-0.80	0.59-0.86	0.56-0.96	0.52-1.19	0.47-1.56
0.8	0.60-0.94	0.66-1.02	0.62-1.17	0.57-1.42	0.50-2.24
1	0.84-1.23	0.79-1.39	0.72-1.68	0.65-2.28	0.57-5.78
1.2	0.98-1.56	0.90-1.83	0.81-2.37	0.73-3.82	0.62-∞
1.5	1.16-2.13	1.05-2.67	0.94-4.05	0.82-11.77	0.69-∞
2	1.44-3.34	1.27-4.93	1.10-13.73	0.95-∞	0.77-∞
3	1.88-7.73	1.60-32.20	1.34-∞	1.11-∞	0.87-∞
5	2.48-∞	2.01-∞	1.61-∞	1.29-∞	0.98-∞
∞	4.84-∞	3.30-∞	2.32-∞	1.70-∞	1.19-∞

A few simple Rules

f/3.8: If you set distance to...
- 5 m: DOF = 2.5 m to ∞
- inf: DOF = 5 m to ∞

f/5.6: If you set distance to...
- 3 m: DOF = 1.6 m to nearly ∞
- 5 m: DOF = 2.0 m to ∞
- inf: DOF = 3.3 m to ∞

f/8: If you set distance to...
- 3 m: DOF = 1.3 m to ∞
- 5 m: DOF =1.6 m to ∞
- inf: DOF = 2.3 m to ∞

f/11: If you set distance to...
- 2 m: DOF = 1 m to ∞
- 3 m: DOF = 1.1 m to ∞
- 5 m: DOF =1.3 m to ∞
- inf: DOF = 1.7 m to ∞

Color Shading and Vignetting

Lens Detection Option, Selected Lens	f/3.8	f/8
"Off" None
"Automatic" Elmar-M 1:3.8/21 ASPH. 11648

Photos: Calibration shots with Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH (taken with EV +1).

Without a lens profile ("Off"), the calibration shots show more vignetting (and less at f/8) and maybe slight color shading (if at all). With the correct profile, vignetting is very low even wide open.

Conclusion: This lens should be used in automatic mode (since this is a "modern lens", a manual setting does not exist for this lens).

My status: "Lens Detection" set to "Automatic."

Sample Images

Here are some first samples taken with the Leica Elmarit-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. lens (click the images to view the unprocessed original files in a new window).

A Few First Shots - Automatic Lens Detection

The "Standard Walk" Plus Some Sun Stars - Automatic Lens Detection

Some Sun Stars










Already presented above...		Already presented above...

Already presented above...		Already presented above...

Already presented above...		Already presented above...

Already presented above...		Already presented above...

Already presented above...

Close-Up Behavior

Smallest Object Field / Magnification

Smallest object field /	922 mm x 615 mm (Leica); 976 mm x 651 mm (calculated); 920 mm (from photos*)
Magnification	1:25.6 (Leica); 1:27.3 (calculated); 1:25,7 (from photos*)

*) See photos below, mean value taken:

w = 910 mm; magnification = 35.8/910 = 1:25.4 (1:25)

w = 931 mm; magnification = 35.8/931 = 1:26.0 (1:26)

Photo: Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 lens (1050 mm)

With Quenox Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M

Distance >	Infinity	0.7 m (closest)
Smallest object width	85 mm*	77 mm*
Magnification	0.42 = 1:2.4 => approx. 1:2.4	0.47 = 1:2.15 => approx: 1:2.2

*) See photos below:

Photos: Test shots with Leica Elmar 24mm f/3.8 and Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M; distance set to infinity (left) or closest distance (right)

Closest Distance

As a wide angle lens, the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH. is not a "winner" in the close-up realm. This improves, however, dramatically if you use an extension tube like the Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M, which is a replacement for the now "extinct" Leitz OUFRO (16469Y) (1 cm). Here are a few samples taken with the Quenox extension tube (no files in original size):




		Distance set to infinity

Distance set to infinity		Distance set to closest value

Distance set to infinity		Distance set to infinity

Distance set to infinity		Distance set to infinity

Distance set to infinity		Distance set to infinity

Note: For close-up shots you better remove the lens hood to avoid shading.

Conclusions

Disclaimer: I am not a lens expert who sees marked differences between various Leica and/or other lenses. I can check for soft corners, find differences in color rendition, and, in rare cases, may discover a "3D look," but that's all. Please regard therefore my conclusions as the verdict of a "layman."

At the moment, it is far too early to make any judgments about this lens. My first impression is, however, very good. And the lens seems to be a "sun stars champion"...

Appendix: Unpacking