Thinking about the CV 25mm f/4 Color Skopar

etrigan63

etrigan63

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Has anyone used this lens and can post their thoughts about it? I checked Sean Reid's site and his review covers the LTM version which is not rangefinder coupled. Some sample shots (or links to) on an M8 would be dandy as well.
 
etrigan63 said:
Has anyone used this lens and can post their thoughts about it? I checked Sean Reid's site and his review covers the LTM version which is not rangefinder coupled. Some sample shots (or links to) on an M8 would be dandy as well.
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I have this lens, it is a charmer! I will try to post some pictures taken with it. My only difficulty is that I cannot code it with a sharpie to be recognized by my M8, although others are successful in doing so.
 
I have had a LTM version for several years and have never been disappointed.

You can add a deeper shade for use on a reduced sensor for better light control.

It is a lot like 1980 vintage Leica optics. Definately not like Leica 24 2.8.

I wanted a 15/25/35 combo for thread mount and this fillled the bill for me. My opinion is 35/24 is better than 35/28/21 more most daily use.
 
The new coupled version is great on the M8. Optically it's the same as the old version (which I've been happily using for about 10 years) but is 1. coupled 2. Far, far better built 3. Handles much better.

I like the view it gives on the M8 which in theory is about 32-33mm but somehow "feels"more like a 28mm. It focusses down to 0.7m coupled and to 0.5m uncoupled - of course on the M8 that you can keep shooting and adjusting 'til you get it right.

I put the Leica 39mm IR/UV cut filter on it the the standard hood fits round that but then I found you can screw a heavystar? 39mm wide angle hood into the filter thread and it all mates up perfectly. It does reduce the flare you occassionally get with just the standard hood.

Coding. There's a trick to that: There's a screw in the way that messes up your hand coding but if you carefully fill the screw hole with something white (eg paint, but I used white filler) it will hand code fine.
 
Hi there,
If you want a coupled version, I have little to contribute.

I have the non-coupled CV 25/4 LTM Skopar. It is small, light in weight and one of the sharpest lenses that I own. NOTE: It mounts on my M2 with a Voigtlander Adapter. The guys tell me, you've got to file the Adapter a bit to bring up the 35mm frame lines on the M2 [I have directions]. The dedicated, shoe-mounted 25mm viewer, works very well with this lens.

See Links to photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikegoldberg/386924007/in/set-72157594385444024/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikegoldberg/386936696/in/set-72157594385444024/

Good luck with your purchase... a worthwhile lens to have!
Cheers
 
OK, I'm convinced. Next stupid question: besides the Voigtlander hood, is there another hood that can be used with this lens? Has anyone used the Voigtlander hood? I am not too keen on the locking screw concept (might grind the mating threads on the lens) and how much does it block the viewfinder?
 
The 25/4 really is a cracking little lens (I have the non-coupled LTM version), but it sounds like you're already converted.

I also have the CV hood for it. I don't have an M8, so I don't know how it impinges on the M8 viewfinder, but on my Bessa-R4A the hood really does block the view quite badly - so much so that I mostly avoid using it.
 
I have the LTM 25/4. It is a good value. I have used it both on my M2 and on a Bessa L, so I use the external finder. To my recollection, the hood that comes with the lens does not block much of the viewfinder on the M2, it's quite small and streamlined (but again, I used the external finder so I really didn't pay too much attention to this). The lens is a little flare-prone in my limited experience.
 
I am not too keen on the locking screw concept (might grind the mating threads on the lens)
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Sorry, I meant to reply to that too...

The locking screw appears to tighten a band that goes all the way round, so there's no actual contact between the screw and the thread on the lens. I would not expect it to cause any problems.
 
Can anyone provide me with links to the aforementioned heavystar hoods? Regarding coding, I had the same issue with my Nokton 40mm (screw hole where a mark should be) and I carefully painted the screw white. Works like a champ! I also had the flange filed to bring up the 35mm framelines instead of the 50mm ones.
 
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Found him on Ebay. Ordered one of his 39mm WA hoods. Here's hoping I didn't just send $10 down the toilet. (I have a very low opinion of Ebay).
 
The 24/4 is getting to be one of my favorites. I just got this slide back from Walmart --taken with a Bessa R with the Skopar 25mm F4 and Ektachrome 400. Taken at Las Campanas Observatory in the Chilean Andes this past July.

ScanImage3.jpg
 
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You'll have no problem with the heavystar purchase although it will certainly intrude in the finder a bit. What I do is to mostly use it with the standard hood then if I'm in a "flarey" situation add the heavystar hood on top. Works a treat.
 
Is the LH-1 hood still available? I looked for it on Cameraquest and could not locate it. I know this is kind of moot since I ordered the heavystar, but I am curious as to its availablility.
 
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