25mm lens choices

[Krosya]

Well, here I go again asking your advice. 🙄

I would like to get a 25mm lens for M mount (or screw mount, as I have an adapter).
So far I can recall :
1. ZM Biogon 25mm/2.0 or 2.8
2. CV 25mm/4.0 non coupled lens.

Are there any others that are good? I heard many good things of both lenses. I really like what I have seen from ZM lens. But at $900 I wonder if there any offering on a used market that would be cheaper? I like CV lens as well (not as much as Biogon), but I really would like to have coupled focusing. BTW, How nessesary is it on such a lens, anyway? Pricewise CV looks better and better. hehe.
Any suggestions?

 

[rvaubel]

Well, here I go again asking your advice. 🙄

I would like to get a 25mm lens for M mount (or screw mount, as I have an adapter).
So far I can recall :
1. ZM Biogon 25mm/2.0 or 2.8
2. CV 25mm/4.0 non coupled lens.

Are there any others that are good? I heard many good things of both lenses. I really like what I have seen from ZM lens. But at $900 I wonder if there any offering on a used market that would be cheaper? I like CV lens as well (not as much as Biogon), but I really would like to have coupled focusing. BTW, How nessesary is it on such a lens, anyway? Pricewise CV looks better and better. hehe.
Any suggestions?

The CV is a fine lens but the lack of rangefinder focus limits its usefulness in low light. Sure its wide angle so its got a good depth of field..and it only opens to F4 so who needs coupled focus? Well sometimes you do.

Rex

 

[trittium]

there is a vintage canon 25mm ltm, but it is rare and good which makes it really expensive

 

[Dougg]

24mm is pretty much the same as 25mm... so that adds a Leica 24mm f/2.8 Elmarit to the mix. 🙂 BTW, the Biogon is f/2.8 also. Strong rumor of a new Voigtlander 25 to replace the current version, apparently now out of production. Making the new one an f/2 Ultron (and RF-coupled this time) makes sense in this day of digital sensors, but nobody's telling yet.

 

[NL2377]

hmm.... take a spin w/ your 21 for a few frames while zone focusing it... that will tell you a lot more then what we can only try to describe.

 

[NL2377]

Strong rumor of a new Voigtlander 25 to replace the current version, apparently now out of production. Making the new one an f/2 Ultron (and RF-coupled this time) makes sense in this day of digital sensors, but nobody's telling yet.

Interesting... if this is true, it sounds like im going to have to start puttin pennies into my camera piggybank, again...

 

[SDK]

Nikon made a 25mm/4 in Leica thread mount, but it's fairly rare I think, so pricey. The Nikkor is an unusual 4 element design.

The Zeiss 25mm/2.8 is fantastic.

 

[back alley]

i think the zm 25 is great and worth saving for.
joe

 

[x-ray]

The 25 ZM is top of the stack. Zeiss claims it's the sharpest of their lenses. I owned the same lens in Rollei mount in the mid 80's and now have the ZM mount and can honestly say it's one of the finest lenses I've ever used.

 

[Krosya]

Thanks for all the input, guys. I think I need to start saving up for a ZM 25mm lens.

X-Ray - I found many complements on your photos - where can I find them online to take a look? If you could point out those with Biogon 25 - would be great.
Thanks

 

[Kim Coxon]

Another vote for the ZM. I had a CV one but the ZM is soooo much better.

Kim

 

[x-ray]

Thanks for all the input, guys. I think I need to start saving up for a ZM 25mm lens.

X-Ray - I found many complements on your photos - where can I find them online to take a look? If you could point out those with Biogon 25 - would be great.
Thanks

I haven't updated my gallery since getting the 25 but in a few weeks will be putting some new images up. I have a busy week with clients getting projects wrapped up before the end of the year and will have some time during the holidays.

 

[peter_n]

I have the Leica 24/2.8 and it is a stunning lens. Having said that I've seen some excellent online pictures from the Zeiss and with the rumors of the new CV lens it is a difficult decision. Luckily you don't appear to need it right now so plenty of time for research. Try flickr to see images by lenses.

 

[Nachkebia]

I wonder if zeiss is thinking about fast 28mm or 25 lens ( I know about CV but zeiss is different ) f/2 or even f/1.4 🙂

 

[Kim Coxon]

25/1.4 would be very difficult. Even though the filmplane/flange depth is less than on an SLR, it would still be a bit much for such a fast lens at that angle.

Kim

I wonder if zeiss is thinking about fast 28mm or 25 lens ( I know about CV but zeiss is different ) f/2 or even f/1.4 🙂

 

[shenkerian]

25/1.4 would be very difficult. Even though the filmplane/flange depth is less than on an SLR, it would still be a bit much for such a fast lens at that angle.

Kim

I was wondering about Canon's 24 f/1.4L lately. Why is there no equivalent in the rangefinder world? Would its girth block the viewfinder too much? I feel that the advantages of rangefinders shine in available light and wide angle, so I'm a little disappointed that the fastest 24mm is for an SLR.

 

[SDK]

Well Fuji has the Natura S 24mm/1.9 lens that is not so big on the point and shoot. It should be possible to build RF lenses like that economically.

 

[shenkerian]

That's true, I'd forgotten about the Fuji. If only it had more manual control -- it'd be a great addition to a Hexar+GR1 lineup.

I'm holding out a little hope for the rumoured CV lens, but I'm surprised there's been a
gap for as long as there has. Canon introduced the 24 f/1.4L almost ten years ago.

 

[Nachkebia]

I have nikon 28mm f/1.4 which is huge but it is a beauty, I think ultra fast wide angle would be much usefull than noct 😛

 

[dmchadderton]

The CV is a fine lens but the lack of rangefinder focus limits its usefulness in low light. Sure its wide angle so its got a good depth of field..and it only opens to F4 so who needs coupled focus? Well sometimes you do.

Rex

Am I not right in saying that the CV 25/4 is called a Snapshot Skopar as it doesn't have a standard focus ring, only about 4 different distance settings dependent on the users requirements. You get the subject in focus mainly by use of dof and guesswork - this makes it a great hip-shooter, but perhaps not so good when precision is required.

I've always fancied one myself !!