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Leica 18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar-M ASPH

Notes: 18/3.8 Super-Elmar-M ASPH

The Leica 18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar-M (about $2995) is an ultra high performance 18mm lens with an aspheric design. In fact, the 18/3.8 SEM appears to be the best 18mm lens available on any camera. Clearly it is far superior to DSLR lenses like the Zeiss 18mm f/3.5 Distagon, as proven in field comparisons on the Leica M Typ 240.

Although the 18/3.8 SEM is nominally faster than f/4, in practice there is negligible difference between f/3.8 and f/4; your author typically shoots it at f/3.8 rather than f/4.

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Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.

Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.

Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly the Summilux/Summicron/Elmarit choice and/or Zeiss ZM.
Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning. Processing parameters are discussed and shown.
Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.

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