Short test of R-D1 + CV Color Skopar 21/4 P

[LCT]

Short test of R-D1 + CV Color Skopar 21/4 P.
Nice little lens indeed. 136g, 39mm filters, nearest distance is 0.5 meter but the lens is coupled to the R-D1's rangefinder from about 0.6 m only. Mounted on the body, the size of the lens is rougly the same as that of the Summicron 35/2 IV below.

 

[einolu]

What viewfinder do you use with it?

I ordered a Rd1 over the weekend, though I am not sure if my order went through yet (I have heard that sometimes they cancel your order on monday), and I plan on getting the 25 P to go along with it. Do you find that you can see beyond the 28mm framelines?

 

[LCT]

As far as IQ the CV 21/4 P reminds me of vintage Leica lenses from the seventees or eightees at first glance. Reasonable sharpness and contrast and smooth bokeh. Not the same colour quality as Leica lenses though, not the same brightness either, but still very good results from this standpoint IMHO. The greens of leaves and grass look quite faithfull for instance, which is not that easy (FF and 100% crops at f/4, 200 iso, no filter).

 

[LCT]

The main flaw is vignetting, not surprisingly.
Here without correction at f/8.

 

[LCT]

Vignetting correction of the Epson raw plug-in proves quite usefull though. Of course digital noise does increase in the corners but the 28mm setting of the latter plug-in seems to offer a good compromise.

 

[LCT]

What viewfinder do you use with it?... Do you find that you can see beyond the 28mm framelines?

I don't use accessory finders sorry. Yes i can see beyond the 28mm framelines. I don't use spectacles though, only an eyepiece correction lens.

 

[Didier]

All CV wides that I use on the R-D1s (15/4.5, 21/4, 28/3.5) are vignetiing quite strongly, even when the two last ones are used without any hood, at f8 or higher. But as they already are vignetting on film/fullframe it is not only an Epson sensor issue - but at least partially it is as the crop should cut most normal vignetting away. BTW the 28mm Summicron is quite vignetting, too. But it's the combination of speed and compactness that makes it interesting. The 28 Ultron is unfortunately quite big. I find the Photoshop CS2 devignetting tool more effcient and less noisy.

IMO, in terms of contrast, saturation and sharpness, the mentioned 21 and 28 Skopars outperform the Leica Super-Angulon 21mm (version f3.4 and f4) as well as the 28mm Elmarits (v I-III), easily.

As for the external finder, the 28/35 minifinder does a good job with that lens on a Epson, at least when used at infinity (outdoors, landscapes).

Didier

 

[einolu]

I don't use accessory finders sorry. Yes i can see beyond the 28mm framelines. I don't use spectacles though, only an eyepiece correction lens.

so you use the 21mm and just estimate what will end up in the frame? being a 1:1 viewfinder i can see how you could use your other eye to help visualize the frame.

 

[LCT]

so you use the 21mm and just estimate what will end up in the frame?...

I do it instinctively i guess but i'm not sure if the entire VF frame is less accurate at 21 than the framelines at 28, 35 or 50.

 

[matt fury]

oh, my poor Skopar is not nearly as much fun anymore!!!

 

[LCT]

R-D1, CV 21/4 P, 200 iso, f/8, no vignette correction (FF & 100% crop):

 

[LCT]

Same with vignette correction (28mm setting):

 

[LCT]

Same with more vignette correction (21mm setting + 10 points):

 

[einolu]

i quite like the vignette, this is without the little mini hood, right?

 

[LCT]

...this is without the little mini hood, right?

No with the hood. Do you think that the latter might cause some light fall off despite of its small size and crop factor?

 

[einolu]

it's worth a try, i don't know.

my epson is in the mail, i will do some tests when i get mine too 🙂

 

[LCT]

Couple of street pics with the CV 21/4 P at f/4 (pics 1 & 2) and f/8 (pics 3 & 4).
Still FF and 100% crops, R-D1 at 200 iso.
Not a soft lens obviously.
Apologize if colours are off as i'm on an uncalibrated laptop here.

 

[LCT]

B&W's with the CV 21/4 P (pics 1 & 2) and a Summilux 50/1.4 pre-asph (pics 3 & 4) at f/4.
The Lux is great as always but the little CV does not sound ridiculous at all so far.

 

[tomasis]

the image of cv21 at f8 looks impressive. what dimensionality! but F4 images look somewhat soft 🙁 though I like price of cv lenses and it might help me to decide which FL suits me better 21 or 25 without needing put 2 grands out 🙂

 

[mn4367]

Have these shots been taken in Brittany/France and if so where?