15,21,25?

[Bertram2]

Could my fellow RFF-ers suggest the pros and cons of the three lenses? Is the 21mm somehow not just 4mm below 25mm,

I suspect I will still be doing a lot of people pics, town centres, pedestrian crossings, and also very wide portraits of groups. I am also trying landscapes, and that is a new area for me.

15, 21 and 25 are very different lenses, no alternatives. As you describe your intentions I'd recommend the 25 and to use it for a while. If you the find it beeing too narrow sometimes think about the 21. The 15 only if the 21 still does not cover your intentions..

Read my answer to Dijon
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=118915#post118915
maybe this helps a bit too.

Best,
Bertram

 

[John Robertson]

The field of view is more of an indication of what you will get.
15mm = 110deg
21mm = 92deg
25mm = 82deg
Using a protractor, draw these on a piece of card, so you can put your eye at the apex, and judge what they will cover. As Bertram says they are three very different lenses!! I know, I have all three!!

 

[pvdhaar]

I've looked at some galleries of 15 and 25mm shots, and I also have wondered why people rave about these but rarely mention the 21mm.

Could my fellow RFF-ers suggest the pros and cons of the three lenses?

Considering that you already hace a 35mm and 90mm, you could look at this from a teleconverter point of view...

The 35mm is 1.4x a 25 while 35x1.4 is 50
The 35mm is 1.7x a 21 while 35x1.7 is 60
The 35mm is 2.3x a 15 while 35x2.3 is 80

If you think the difference between 35 and a 50 is already really big, then you'll be more than pleased with the 25.

If you have never cared for anything between 35 and 90mm, then you'll not be satisfied with anything over 15mm

If you think there's rather a gap between 35 and 90 but not to the point where you've ever felt compelled to buy a 60 in between, then go for the 21mm

Hope this helps..

 

[Bertram2]

I suspect I will still be doing a lot of people pics, town centres, pedestrian crossings, and also very wide portraits of groups. I am also trying landscapes, and that is a new area for me.

What I want to add:
A 21 and of course the 15mm a hard to control without a level, I did not manage to keep my 25mm levelled reliably and when I was frustrated enuff about tilted and converging lines I finally bought a double shoe and a CV level. Much better than all the fiddeling with PS later.

The external finder gives you no real control if the camera is levelled and the prob brought me at a point whee I thought about going back to SLR , tho the RF lenses are so much better in weight, size price and are as good as distortion free.

If you shoot wides with RF add this level as an invest to the lens cost. Maybe someday you will be able to do it correctly without a level, I doubt I ever will.

Thinking about width never forget the huge ammounts of foreground and sky you get with the super wides and how very close to the object you must always be.

That's another world compared to your 35mm.

Good luck !

Bertram

 

[Gerold]

what many said so far; I also hold it's matter of personal preference. Your choice will be determined by your natural vision and seeing habits. I would go the trial and error way, downwards from 25/24. At current prices (the CV 25/4 is around 250 USD!) zeroing in will not force you to mortgage your house. I reached my endpoint already at 25: Me being a long-term firm believer in the 35mm focal length, the step to the 25mm feels huge. It feels unconfortably huge most of the time. Whenever I see something which could be for the 25, I start walking towards the subject, then change the lense and even then I find it difficult to deal with the amount of space in the frame. This is not so when I use the 35. There, in most instances, I know what's gonna be in the frame even before I pull out the camera. This feels good. And then, somehow it's possible in many instances to take a picture either with the 35 or the 25. The approaches to the subject may be completely different, but ultimately often both lenses can deliver the photo. That's why I only use the 25 if 35 is in fact impossible, and that happens very rarely. Hence my 25/4 doesn't get much fresh air. But I know I know. I you feel the lust after a very wide angle, nobody will talk you out of buying one, and that's alright. You'll have fun whatever you mount on your camera I hope. Happy testing !

 

[jdos2]

I personally have a "notch" in my own vision where 21mm (on 135) fits well- when I take in a scene, it's about 90 degrees at a glance, so the 21mm is for me.

Bought one for my (then) S2, and it works fine on the Kievs and Contax IIIa. Has a nice look to it, too. Even works for infrared.

I also had the 43mm for the Mamiya 7 (90 degrees across 6x7), and currently have the 50 for the Universal (90 degrees across 6x9). It's a nice focal length- and the distortion isn't always a bad thing. I have a shot in my gallery taken with the 43 in Oporto.

An interesting comment I've seen, though, was in reference to the 50mm 135 film "standard lens," that in the hands of some photographers, it can look tight, or wide, depending on how it's used. I've tried to think in those terms while on vacation and taking pictures, and of course there's no substitute for a good wide lens, but once things go below 28mm (again, 135) I quit worrying.

Besides, one can always stich...

🙂

I hate to say it, but now-a-days, the 50mm on the Universal is usually set to close focus, stopped way down, and big flash on Polaroid 667, makes for REALLY FUNNY pictures of friends. Shot from 1/2 meter, noses, eyebrow ridges, lips, and so forth are WAY out of proportion, and hilarious.
I got to get out shooting more.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I have a CV 21 and like the output, but as Bertram says it is a bear to keep level. I never had that trouble with my SLRs. Sorry can't sdd more advise than has already been given.

Bob

 

[peter_n]

The 21mm requires you to think quite a bit about filling up that gaping foreground. I really like the lens but it is my least used focal length. I'd like to try the 15 actually.

 

[rover]

The 21mm requires you to think quite a bit about filling up that gaping foreground. I really like the lens but it is my least used focal length. I'd like to try the 15 actually.

Well said, you do have to be very close to your subject to make it work. The images are so intimate though when you do use it right.

 

[peter_n]

When you get it right, yes. I've had a lot of dud shots with the 21... 🙁

 

[Bertram2]

It's a nice focal length- and the distortion isn't always a bad thing.

Do you mean the CV 21 ? This lens is free of any perceivable distortion, as the 25 is too ?

Bertram

 

[dcsang]

Bah.. 21mm.. (even though I have one on order); my new love is the 15mm 🙂
The only camera I can do this with (until now) was my little digi point and shoot. 😀

Cheers
Dave

 

[peter_n]

Cool pic, Dave!! 😀

 

[dcsang]

Cool pic, Dave!! 😀

Thanks Peter 🙂

I don't normally look that insane but I just LOVE that lens!

Cheers
Dave

 

[satbunny]

25 because it was cheapest.

Good point! But for me the difference is not enough to make the wrong decision.

 

[satbunny]

That the question is barely worth asking

With all respect, the answers I am getting tell me a lot, as people put their experience into context and I can then relate to that relative to what I know of myself. It's like film reviews, you may not agree with a reviewer but as you know their context it informs yours.

 

[satbunny]

Thanks for all the input.
I think I shouldn't go too quickly to very wide and as such I shall probably sell the Bronica kit and go for the 25mm, which I'll get a Bessa L thrown in with anyway.

 

[dcsang]

With all respect, the answers I am getting tell me a lot, as people put their experience into context and I can then relate to that relative to what I know of myself. It's like film reviews, you may not agree with a reviewer but as you know their context it informs yours.

OT: just noted your sig - added you to my friends list - LJ user=true_nexus

cheers
Dave

 

[chug]

I find the 15mm lens to be a fantastic lens to use. It gives damn decent results too. It all depends on how you use it 😉 You can find some of my piccies with my linkys down below.