21/4 Color Skopar Feedback requested

Simple answer - I like wides - really do. I also have the 15mm and love it, but it is an extreme wide angle. I also wanted RF coupling - while not critical with these wides, I did think it could come handy.

There might still be a 25 in my future:angel:

I am also thinking ahead in terms of going digital one of these days with either the RD-1 or the M8 if they get the problems fixed (I have a big round birthday coming up in October and a digital RF would make a really nice birthday present.) The 21 would make a nice 28mm on the M8 or a 32mm on the RD-1.
 
I bought a bunch of Bessa L's a few years ago but the only lens I have picked up is the 25/4. I love it! I think that the next logical one would be the 15. I am rethinking the 21 after these posts , though! Roger Hicks from Shutterbug got my attention years ago with his reports on the 21 and several other lenses. What a group of bargains! Why have I not gotten more?
 
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Hi
Here are couple of sample shots with the 21/4 VC lens. Film is Tri-X in my home made developer.

The 21/f4 VC is one of the best 21's i have ever used (and I have tried most of them). Resolution is marginally less than the 21/2,8 Asph Elmarit but distortion is less!

The f4 turns some people off, but I find that I can handhold it down to 1/8 sec and get sharp negs.

It has some vignetting, but so do all 21's. It is a function of the angle and if you want one without it, you most likely would need a wheelbarrow to haul it around.
 
 
Damn tom that photo of that classic car is stunning! Do you have a topic on your homebrew developer somewhere?
 
Great shots!

How is it, distortionwise, compared to the Super Angulon 21/3.4?

Tom A said:
The 21/f4 VC is one of the best 21's i have ever used (and I have tried most of them). Resolution is marginally less than the 21/2,8 Asph Elmarit but distortion is less!
Click to expand...
 
Ewoud said:
Damn tom that photo of that classic car is stunning! Do you have a topic on your homebrew developer somewhere?
Click to expand...


There is a folder on our Flickr site with a lot of variations on film/developers. Pls go to

http://flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/sets/


For the Alfa I used Tri-X (as usual) and my PCK developer. The original formula was concocted by Patrick Gainer (unblinking eye.com) and is very simple to mix. It uses Ascorbic Acid (Vitamine C), Phenodine (Ilford) and in the 2nd solution, it is Kodalk or balanced Alkali. Gives a tighter grain than D76 on TriX and decent speed. Usual times are around 9 minutes at 20+C. It is currently my standard developer, although I occasionally drift into Beutler when I want grain.

The PCK is a two part developer and you mix the volume needed just before using it and dump it afterwards. 500ml of A and a 1000ml of B is enough to do 30 rolls.

Cheap too once you got the components. The local health food store was very impressed when I specified pure Vitamine C powder and the girl extolled the virtues at length, until I told here that i only used it for developing film.

It might be good as cold cure - my Tri-X hasen't had sniffle or a cough for long time!
 
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wilt said:
Great shots!

How is it, distortionwise, compared to the Super Angulon 21/3.4?
Click to expand...


The 21/4 is better than the 21/3,4 S-A. Less distortion and less fall-off (which is easy as the S-A has some rather dramatic edge fall off. You will never need to edge burn a S-A print!). The distorsion is even less than the 21/2,8 Elmarit Asph, although center sharpness is marginally less than that lens. There are few instances that i have missed the 21/2,8Asph when using the 21/4VC. Most of my 21 shooting is done in daylight and usually at mid-range apertures and then you be hard pressed to see the difference between the 21VC, the 21 Asph, the Zi 21/2,8 or the tiny Ricoh 21/3.5. If you are looking for distortion free absolutes - get the Biogon 21/4,5 in the Contax mount and stick it on a Nikon S2 as a dedicated body. the old Biogon is still an outstanding performer. You will go slightly batty trying to read the tiny aperture markings and distance scale though. It will couple to the S2 and the long throw of the Nikon focus helicoil does improve accuracy.
I am looking forward to the new 21/4 VC. I do hope that i will have an opportunity to try it out later this month (as well as the coupled 25/4).

All of this said, I still keep my 21/3,4 S-A. It has a nostalgic look to the images and it is a great M2 accessory! Just shot a roll this morning with it. Mine is a/extremely well seasoned one and b/ most likely one of the last ones made # 2.9xx xxx. I am not shy about the #. but just too lazy to find in the camera cabinet. I put the ZI 21 on that M2 when I reloaded. Just an informal test with all my 21's for no particular reason.
 
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