21mm Color Skopar on IIf

[angeloks]

I'm thinking about getting a wide angle for my newly acquired IIf. I think the 21mm Color Skopar will do the job.

Is this lens perfectly compatible with the IIf? What about the LH-1 hood, does it help? Or will it block the viewfinder's windows?

 

[payasam]

The lens should fit all right, and the viewfinder will be an accessory one mounted in the shoe. The hood may block the R/F windows, but I don't suppose you'll need those much with such a wide angle.

 

[thafred]

Hi, I use that combo all the time (m39 leica and skopar21) except that my cam is a IIIa or Leica Standard.

about compatibility, the lens works perfectly, doesn´t block anything and IMHO is one of Voigtländers best!

Only issue with the Screw mount´s is that on the IIIa when I have the finder for the 21mm on it does prevent the Speed dial to be lifted and set! minor nusiance since I tend to set a shutter speed and stick with it for a while (I´ve shot in Budapest with the IIIa Skopar and it was OK) and I don´t know if this applies to the IIf (slightly different body style)
on my old Leica Standard the finder doesn´t block the speed dial and thus this is my most favorite combo for shooting Ultrawide!

if you´re interested, here are some shots with the Leica I or III (one or two with M6) and Skopar 21mm : http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=skopar&w=57493810@N00&z=t

cheers
fred

oh edit: I never used a hood and only got flare in more extreme situations!

 

[oscroft]

What about the LH-1 hood, does it help? Or will it block the viewfinder's windows?

I don't have a screw-mount Leica, but on my FED-1 (which is a Leica copy and the same size and layout) the LH-1 hood only blocks a little of the external 21mm viewfinder and isn't a problem for me (it does block almost half the view of the camera viewfinder, but you won't be using that with the 21).

It does just intrude into the RF spot though, but not enough to prevent its use for focusing. So if RF focusing is important you might need to check that on an actual Leica. But personally, I mostly use the 21 set to hyperfocal distance and don't bother with RF focusing anyway.

 

[richard_l]

As payasam wrote, focus is not critical with 21mm. If the hood blocks the rangefinder window, a rough estimate or hyperfocal distance will do just as well. I'm surprised the 21mm Color Skopar is even rangefinder coupled.

Richard

 

[angeloks]

Thank you for your inputs!

Is there anyone here that uses the lens without the finder, mainly to take snapshots on the street. I love the IIf size, but I feel that the finder will be a bit bulky... or is it small enough?

 

[thafred]

Sure you can shoot without the finder...I´ll bet you´d be surprised how much is on the Film 🙂)

doesn´t look too uncool for me 😎

 

[angeloks]

I admit that it kinda looks cool... I'm use to the Zenitar (16mm 2.8). It's sucking in the whole scene ! You better watch your feet...

How's Voigtlander built quality anyway? And is there a lot of barrel distortion? Or the image is moreless rectilinear?