25mm f/4 SC Skopar anyone?

darkkavenger

darkkavenger

Massimiliano Mortillaro
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Hello, has anyone tried this Contax/Kiev bayonet mount lens? What do you think about it? Any photos to show ?

Thank you!
Max
 
I just got mine yesterday! Haven't run any film yet as it is cold, overcast and threatening to snow today. First chance I get I'll put it through the paces.

I also got the 28/f3.5 as a companion lens yesterday as well. Don't know why but it made perfect sense since I already have a 21/f4.

I can tell you the 21/f4 is not the sharpest lens I have. The edge sharpness drops off but it still is a funky lens. I like it a lot but sometimes I'd like a wide lens that does not have so much wide angle visual perspective. Thus the choice of the 25/f4.

Cheers,

Russ Pinchbeck
 
HI Max, I have the CV25 f4 lens in LTM. I don't use it much, but it is a good lens giving fun results.
 

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Thank you Russ and Frank for sharing your experiences. I like the fact that there is no perceptible distortion in the photo :) Russ, keep us informed :)
 
SC same glass as Leica Mt, in NRF mount

SC same glass as Leica Mt, in NRF mount

The Voigtlander SC lenses are the same glass as their Voigtlander Leica mount counterparts, the SC 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5, 35/2.5 and S 50/3.5 Heliar in internal mount, 50/1.5, and 85/3.5. All in external bayonet Nikon rangefinder mount except the 50/3.5, and all RF coupled. The SL 12/5.6 and SL 15/4.5 can also be used on NRF or Contax bodies, with the appropriate adapters.

So the SC 25/4 is RF coupled while the Leica version is not.

The SC 21 and 25 VF are dedicated to Nikon RF bodies, with different offsets than the Leica versions.

The SC lenses are made for Nikon Rangefinder bodies, which means slightly different from the Contax/Kiev bodies. for diff see http://cameraquest.com/NRF-Contax.htm

real world however, the difference was considered so slight for the wide angles that they are taken to be interchangeable.

3 SC 35/1.2 prototoypes were also made. Tom A has one, Mr. K has one, and I have one. Will eventually put up pics.

Stephen
 
Stephen,
If you get tired of the 35/1.2 and you feel like giving away charity, think of me!

Raid
 
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Bought one so I would not need to carry my Leica 21 and 28. It is a nice compromise.

Since I bought a 111C and 111f, it now works just fine on those cameras too.

The 24 2.8 form Leica is better, but it is not screw mt and costs 10x. I will keep it.
 
Hi,

I got the SC version and it is a fine lens. Maybe not as great as the 25/2.8 Distagon in C/Y mount but it really the only affordable 25mm for Contax.

Ciao

Joerg
 
I like the 25mm focal length because of its minimal distortion at the edges. I tend to use a vintage Nikkor 28./3.5 more often just because I don't like separate finders. But the 25/4 CV is a great lens. The mount is very smooth, and I like having an RF-coupled lens. I was just out using it today on a Nikon S3. Attaching some shots from earlier this year.
 

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My lovely wife gave me the SC 25mm last Christmas. Very fine lens and quite well made. Optics are excellent and images are crisp with very good contrast. I find the 25mm to be a great all around super wide lens that's wide but not too wide. I'm using mine on a new Nikon S3 and haven't tried it on the Kiev. Big bang for small bucks.
 
I'm convinced that's the wide I need :D I'll probably buy it way before my Contax III even reaches #10 position in M. Scherer's waiting list. My Kiev will be happy ;) I'm going to like my Christmas gift!
 
The more I look at 25/4 the more I want it too. Perhaps I should start saving :)
 
if I manage to sell enough prints maybe I can hope to buy it before I'll leave the Czech Republic. I'm slowly planning to return in France to work/live, but before that, I hope to visit Novossibirsk for at least one week in April-May. and I'd love to go there with the Skopar!
 
Max,

I've had the 25/4 for about a year now, and just recently used it. I like the results I've gotten in both B&W and color. The distortion isn't too bad. I just wish I had the newer viewfinder with the brightlines, and also that the aperture ring had a little more resistance.

Some recents pics with that lens: http://deathcountryblues.com/pixelpost/index.php?x=browse&category=11

Forgot to add - I have the LTM version
 
When I got my S2 the next lens I got was the CV 25/4. I have the lens in LTM and as Stephen says, they are the same, no optical difference. The mount in the Nikon/Contax is much better (it's RF coupled and feels stronger), but I have never had a problem with my LTM (which I got used on EvilBay with a 15mm and a Bessa L many moons ago).

If you ever go 15mm, get the F mount version and use adapters to mount it on your Contax, IMHO, much more felxable that the LTM version. Though the LTM version I think is a bit smaller.

Worry not about the 25, it's one of the best. While I am very happy with my Leica lenses, the CV lenses are better values. The Leica 24 might be a great lens, but I think my CV is a much better lens than my Nikkor 24/2.8 and that was the best years back. The CV has less distortion and is much more resilliant to flair.

B2 (;->
 
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