VC 21mm/4 vs. 15mm/4.5

VC 21mm/4 vs. 15mm/4.5

  • 15mm/4.5 = wider lens

    Votes: 10 27.8%

  • 21mm/4 = rangefinder coupled

    Votes: 26 72.2%
  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
chris00nj

chris00nj

Young Luddite
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I have a 35/2.5mm Skopar, but looking to pick up a super wide angle lens for my Bessa R

The 21mm/4 vs. 15mm/4.5 both get solid reviews. (I really can't afford the 12/5.6). The 15mm is wider (and wider is better for me), but the 21mm is rangefinder coupled. Both are similarly priced.

Which one would you chose?
 
It was a very difficult decision to make. I enjoy the 21mm and the fact that it's rangefinder coupled. Works great on most of the newer Bessa R series rangefinder cameras, especially the R4A/M.

Whilst the 15mm is not rangefinder coupled, it's really not problem as most of the users here can testify. Vignetting can be a problem, and the unique perspective would make this lens a challenge to use on an everyday basis.

In the end, I still couldn't make a decision. I got both. And I'm happy.

Cheers,
 
I have the 35mm 1.4 and the 15mm. The 15 I find is not an everyday lens, like other above have said. In a situation in which you'd take one lens, the 15 stays at home. I'm saving for a 21 mm - which is coupled - and has a more practical field of view for everyday.
 
The RF coupling is of minimal value unless you have parallax-compensating framelines, as uniquely offered in the Bessa R4. Otherwise you'll be peering through a nice big bright external viewfinder... either lens has massive DoF and the RF coupling is a minor matter IMO. So I'd say go with whichever focal length will be more useful to you... I guess that'll mean the 15mm :)

You may eventually want a 21 or 24 as well.
 
I found them to be pretty different lenses, and chose both; I use the 21mm more. But since you say wider is better for you, why not just get the 15mm? It's an excellent lens, and should hold value, as well as be a useful tool.

RF coupling really isn't necessary with this lens- even close up. It's nice that the 21mm has it, sure, but for my own use I even find the 25mm Snapshot Skopar easy to focus- and it might even be a more useful FL....I wonder sometimes.
 
I have both (I got the 15 first, cos I was a w/a freak at the time, and the 21 next). I use the 21 a lot, but the 15 rarely. I don't like gimmicky shots that just say "Look how super-wide a lens I've got", and so I only use the 15 in situations that don't come across like that. And they do exist - it's not *just* a gimmicky lens. But I find far more situations in which the 21 is a suitable lens than the 15.
 
Oh, I forgot to say, the lack of r/f coupling on the 15 is not really relevant - the huge depth of field (even at f/4.5) makes focusing trivially easy.
 
Like the others who have both, I find the 21 more useful -- but the 15 is so tiny and light that I often carry it even if I don't think I'll need it. And when you need an ultra-wide, the 15 is hard to beat (though I'd buy a WATE if I didn't already have 15mm and 21mm lenses).

My wife, on the other hand, prefers the 18/4 Distagon to either the 21 or the 15. It's an intensely personal choice.

Cheers,

R.
 
I've had the CV21 for about 3 years now and because it is so small and light it always goes with me along with a 35 and 50 on my hiking trips. But since getting the 18 distagon the CV will mainly be reserved for that specific purpose. I've pondered getting the 15 but doubt it would see much more than occasional use. Get the 21.
 
I sold my 21 and bought the CV 15 instead and while I don't use it that often it is an excellent little lens. As Roger says it is so small and light you can throw it in the bag just in case. I replaced the 21 with a 24 and like that FL much better. Just personal preference I think.
 
A 21 mm lens is 1.4 times the focal length of a 15 mm lens.

Lens focal lengths that go up by a factor of around 1.4 are ideal to carry around for decidedly different perspectives and fields of view. So I would suggest everyone save money to carry a 15 mm, a 20 mm, a 28 mm, a 40 mm, a 75, a 105, a 135 etc up to a 600 mm lens ... as his/her primes go.

Therefore your poll is meaningless such as comparing a 50 mm with a 75 mm, a 35mm with a 50 mm etc etc.
 
whitecat said:
The solution, of course, is to get both.
Click to expand...

"...if money were no object," he meant to say! :D

Still somewhat on this topic: This may be an ignorant question, as I have never owned anything remotely near as WA as either of these lenses, but how much practical difference does the 15mm's extra 20 degrees of FOV (110 vs 90.9, per Steve's charts) make?

To that end: has anyone ever done one of those "how this scene looks with each focal length" sets of pictures with the whole range of CV focal lengths (12 to 90)? By that I mean something like what's on page 12 (PDF-wise; or page 33 as labeled on the page itself) in this manual to my other camera.

—Dave
 
Like Fred said in post #2. I were you, I would consider a 24-28mm lens instead.

To get a meaningful picture with 21 or wider you have to be VERY close in most cases. And keep your camera straight ...

Both lenses are great, though.

Roland.
 
A matter of taste

A matter of taste

I have the 21 and recently borrowed the 15 from a friend to "try it for size". While I got some cool shots with the 15, I find it too wide for my personal use and decided I'm not going to buy it.

A practical consideration on top: the 21 can use 39 mm filters, while for the 15, you have to rig a solution based on the 77 mm filter holder for the 12 mm lens...
 
Im someone who can go out all day with just the 21mm and use it effectively (used to be the VC now its the Leica version). I also have the VC 15mm and, for me, this is definitely only a sometimes lens.
 
AS said before, RF coupling is not necessary for either of these lenses. I use both with a Bessa L. I do however frequently use the 21/4 on a Bessa R4 body. I love both of these focal lengths, but find the 21 more useful on a regular basis. The 15 is great when the occasion calls for it. In my opinion, go for the 21 first. I believe you will find it a more useful lens. If you are still thirsting for wider views, you can always buy a 15 later. Keep an eye open for a used one.

Mike
 
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