El Jonbre Grande
Established
I have a chance to add a 15mm Super Wide Heliar (screw mount) or 25mm Snapshot skopar (screw mount) to complement the 35mm I normally shoot with.
The question is what would you guys suggest I do? I have the 15mm borrowed at the moment and shooting 1 roll it is mind blowingly wide! My gut feeling is that I should go for the 25mm - which should be easier to use?
Any ideas/comments/suggestions? Cheers!
The question is what would you guys suggest I do? I have the 15mm borrowed at the moment and shooting 1 roll it is mind blowingly wide! My gut feeling is that I should go for the 25mm - which should be easier to use?
Any ideas/comments/suggestions? Cheers!
Austerby
Well-known
If you follow the argument that your lenses should be roughly doubles or halves of a focal length (to get the most versatility with fewest lenses) then as you have a 35mm go for the 15mm.
If you had a 50mm then the principle would direct you to the 25mm (and then the 12mm).
The 15mm plus 35mm combination will offer a lot more variety than the 25mm and 35mm together.
If you had a 50mm then the principle would direct you to the 25mm (and then the 12mm).
The 15mm plus 35mm combination will offer a lot more variety than the 25mm and 35mm together.
Archlich
Well-known
Try it out. To me even the 25mm is too wide.
The 25/4 Snap-shot Skopar (the LTM one) is not rangefinder coupled but has three click stops on its helicoid at 1m, 1.5m and 3m. A very handy feature for street works.
The 25/4 Snap-shot Skopar (the LTM one) is not rangefinder coupled but has three click stops on its helicoid at 1m, 1.5m and 3m. A very handy feature for street works.
Fotohuis
Well-known
Just a matter of taste, of course. You can also consider a 21mm or even 18mm.
BTW I have an Elmarit 2,8/28mm and the C.V. SWH 4,5/15mm in M-mount. I think a good combination.
Best regards,
Robert
BTW I have an Elmarit 2,8/28mm and the C.V. SWH 4,5/15mm in M-mount. I think a good combination.
Best regards,
Robert
Robin Harrison
aka Harrison Cronbi
I'd vote the 25mm. The gap between 35 and 15 wideangles is a large one. 25mm seems 'very wide', 15mm seems 'super super wide', and requires more care to make good photos, in my opinion. I find I need to get in the right frame of mind to shoot a 15 - it requires a different approach to a 35 (being more aware of camera angle, constantly seeking interesting foreground, keeping in mind it's almost impossible to create separation through dof effects).
Tim Gray
Well-known
If you have the option of other lenses, I'd get a 21.
If you don't, I think I'd probably end up with the 15. In fact, that's what I did several years ago. I had a 50 and a 35, then bought a 15. It was super wide, but it got me thinking in different ways. I eventually sold the 35 and got a 28.
If you don't, I think I'd probably end up with the 15. In fact, that's what I did several years ago. I had a 50 and a 35, then bought a 15. It was super wide, but it got me thinking in different ways. I eventually sold the 35 and got a 28.
haempe
Well-known
15 vs 25:
25 wins most of the times... for me.
25 is my favorit WA lens.
15 is rarely used, but I won't miss it for special purposes.
25 wins most of the times... for me.
25 is my favorit WA lens.
15 is rarely used, but I won't miss it for special purposes.
peter_n
Veteran
I have 35, 24 and 15mm lenses. I use the 24mm a lot more than the 15mm because I also find the 15 to be very wide. I use 50 and 35mm focal lengths a lot because most of my subject matter is just everyday stuff that is happening around me. Occasionally I'll have a scene that is too wide for the 35 and that's where the 24 is really useful; the 24/25 focal length works extremely well with a 35mm lens, at least to my eye.
If I know that I'm going to be in a very tight space like a small plane or something I'll take the 15, but it's the kind of lens that you almost need to go looking for suitable subject matter for. For me it's not a carry-round lens like the 24 as the gap between 35 and 15 is too wide. I'd get the 25mm.
If I know that I'm going to be in a very tight space like a small plane or something I'll take the 15, but it's the kind of lens that you almost need to go looking for suitable subject matter for. For me it's not a carry-round lens like the 24 as the gap between 35 and 15 is too wide. I'd get the 25mm.
El Jonbre Grande
Established
Thanks everyone for your very useful thoughts! I'm just waiting for the roll I shot with the 15mm to dry but I have a feeling I'll be going back to the shop to swap it over for the 25mm tomorrow (or at least to test out the 25 as well).
I would take a look at the threads on this site for ultra wides... these lenses are very hard to use well and the threads show it. Unless you are up close and in cramped quarters, there may be no need for either of these.
bigeye
Well-known
The 15 is a very special lens. It's always mounted to the IIIf. Perhaps counter-intuitively, it is the most versatile lens I have. Held flat, it can shoot a wide scene that doesn't look ultra-wide, it just covers a lot of view, if you know what I mean.
Cock it a bit or jam it to the foreground subject until it touches the front element and it can add interest to the subject. By 'adding', I mean that it is very useful in making the mundane subjects interesting.
It takes adaptation to shoot - simplifying composition is difficult and largely achieved by being careful with the foreground and corners - but it can produce magic and I believe just thinking about how to see with it makes you a better photographer.
- charlie
Cock it a bit or jam it to the foreground subject until it touches the front element and it can add interest to the subject. By 'adding', I mean that it is very useful in making the mundane subjects interesting.
It takes adaptation to shoot - simplifying composition is difficult and largely achieved by being careful with the foreground and corners - but it can produce magic and I believe just thinking about how to see with it makes you a better photographer.
- charlie
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
The extreme the focal length, the less frequently the lens is useful. There are many times when I need a lens wider than 35mm. There are very few times (if any) when I need a 15mm. Even on a remote mountain top, trying to use a 20mm, I have run into objects I didn't want included in the picture. In the case I'm thinking of right now, there was a remote weather station shack I didn't want in the picture. Switching to a 24mm solved the problem. In other situations, a 20mm included too much foreground rubble.
I think if you get the 25mm, you will get plenty of use out of it.
I think if you get the 25mm, you will get plenty of use out of it.
delft
Established
Rogier
Rogier Willems
15mm on film is extremely wide!
You really have to embrace that angle and make it work.
I am considering selling mine for that reason and go with a 25mm.
You really have to embrace that angle and make it work.
I am considering selling mine for that reason and go with a 25mm.
Scandium
Member
15mm is Special
15mm is Special
The 15mm lens gives a very different perspective compared to normal vision. I find it especially useful for street photography. A lens this wide requires practice with regard to framing.
Example: http://gascherb.zenfolio.com/paw2011/heee51f3#heee51f3
At close distances it can produce some unusual perspective: http://gascherb.zenfolio.com/paw2011/h1e9fd4b#h1e9fd4b
If there are no straight lines for reference at a greater distance from a subject, the perspective distortion is less prominent:
http://gascherb.zenfolio.com/paw2011/h2626f9d0#h2626f9d0
It can be used to pull the viewer into a scene.
$g
15mm is Special
The 15mm lens gives a very different perspective compared to normal vision. I find it especially useful for street photography. A lens this wide requires practice with regard to framing.
Example: http://gascherb.zenfolio.com/paw2011/heee51f3#heee51f3
At close distances it can produce some unusual perspective: http://gascherb.zenfolio.com/paw2011/h1e9fd4b#h1e9fd4b
If there are no straight lines for reference at a greater distance from a subject, the perspective distortion is less prominent:
http://gascherb.zenfolio.com/paw2011/h2626f9d0#h2626f9d0
It can be used to pull the viewer into a scene.
$g
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
The 15f4.5 is more of a speciality lens. However, when you need ultra wide - it is about as good as it gets. After a while you will also learn how to keep fingers and feet out of the image area!
You probably would not use it all the time - but it does give a rather unique look to the image. The LTM version is also remarkably small and easy to carry along.
The snap-shot Skopar 25 is a great "street" lens - but going from a 35 to the 25 is not that big step. My recommendation would be to pick up the 15 and enjoy it. Just keep people away from the edge of the image as they tend to look a bit distorted - or just tell them that that's how they look!
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Snap Shot Skopar 25 mm on a M2. TriX/D76. Havana, Cuba.
Tango group from Buenos Aires - Tanguardia.
robbeiflex
Well-known
I tried both 35 and 21 and didn't get along with them. I eventually decided that 50 is my normal, and I like the 28 for my wide. As a result I sold the 21 and bought a 15. I don't use the 15 often but it is loads of fun! Check out my Flickr for samples.
Cheers,
Rob
reaperman
Established
Tompas
Wannabe Künstler
I have both of them (well, my 15mm is in M-mount, but both versions are believed to be the same optically) and I like them both very, very much.
The Snapshot Skopar I consider a perfect 'street' lens, and the Super Wide Heliar is, well, special.
You have to be into wide angles, though...
Here is one with the 15mm:
The Snapshot Skopar I consider a perfect 'street' lens, and the Super Wide Heliar is, well, special.
You have to be into wide angles, though...
Here is one with the 15mm:
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