The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH and the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH is the longer of the two lenses at 53mm. The Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH with a length of 46mm, is 7mm shorter. On the other hand, the Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH has a larger diameter of 58mm compared to the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH's 41mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH weighs 260g, 13% (40g) lighter than the Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH's weight of 300g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for size comparison purposes.
Wideangle Lenses in Leica M Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH has a 46mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH:
Lens Mounts
Both the Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH and the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH has the same Leica M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Leica M lenses are Leica M11 Monochrome, Leica M11 and Leica M10.
Focal Range
Leica Elmarit-M 21mm f2.8 ASPH is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 21mm.
On the other hand, the Leica Elmar-M 24mm f3.8 ASPH is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 24mm.