25mm or 21mm paired with a 50?

H

horosu

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Hello,

I currently have settled on a 50 mm lens as my main workhorse (the Summi ASPH), however, there are situations where I need the extra width. This happens mainly when traveling, as I will use it to photograph architecture and cityscapes.

I am a bit torn as to which lens to buy, between the ZM 25/2.8 and the 21/4.5. This will be my two lens setup (with the 50) for some time. Please, do not suggest the 35, as I would like something wider.

Thanks, Horea
 
25 is exactly half the focal length. It's also about the widest angle lens that's easy to shoot without causing perspective problems due to the lens not being level when shooting.
 
Take the 25. I tried both and found the 21/4.5 too small for me. The thing is, while the lens is extremely compact, I found it very difficult to operate the focusing knob. It's just too close to the camera body!
 
nothing difficult about shooting a 21 "without causing perspective problems due to the lens not being level when shooting"

about the question...
choose either one. learn it. (damn i'm sounding like a mr.knowitall,-)
 
Horea, they're both excellent lenses from all I've seen. My camera bag current contains (practically permanently) the 50 pre-asph Summilux and the Zeiss ZM 25/2.8. It's a good pair -- they have the same filter thread (46mm), and they're about the same sort of physical size, though I think the 50 is a little longer. I'm very, very happy with the 25.

The 21 would give you the extra field of view -- which might be useful if you're planning to use it mostly for landscape, rather than street -- and quite a bit of extra compactness.

jv
 
I have both and they are both excellent. If you plan to stay with a two lens set up for quite a while, though, I'd definitely go for the faster lens, it better complements your 50 lux.

:D
 
For a two-lens kit, I'd go for 50/25 rather than 50/21 - I think 50 and 21 are just too far apart to use together comfortably. (Having said that, I love the 21mm focal length, but I tend to carry mine around accompanied by either a 35 or a 28/50 combo)
 
My other two cents, 50 lux plus ZM 25/2.8 and for the truly wiiiiiiiide architecture and landscape shots throw an inexpensive, small and feather light CV 15 into your bag and you have a great lens set up. This tiny CV15 is probably the one single lens for which I have read nothing but praise.
 
Agreeing with Justin,
The 21mm has it's advantages when it's city/architecture your after.
If you can keep the lens levelled, the extra height will really help avoid tombstone perspective distortion.

I would also consider the Zeiss f/2.8 - every fraction of a stop will help with interiors.

However the 21mm is too wide for street snaps - where a 28mm comes into it's own. The 25mm is neither one nor the other for me and offers no speed advantage.
 
I normally use the 50 and 25 combo when I am out of town, for a city context, I would suggest 50 and 28, as I have found the 25mm to be often too wide - I am now shootng my first roll with the 28/2,8 Elmarit ASPH ( I have chosen it over the 28 Biogon for compactness, and also because of an apparently superior MTF), and I hope it will not be too inferior respect to the 25 and 35 Biogons. For interiors, I would second the idea of throwing in the 15 Heliar. Buy the plastic air bubble leveller to keep on top of the camera for critical atchitectural tripod shots.
 
Maybe you have the chance to test drive both angles of view (e.g. with a DLSR of somebody) with the subjects you have in mind.

Three more things you may want to consider:

1. is this going to be your only focal length in the wide angle area? If not, why not go down the 28 / 21 route and buy a 28 first.

2. You don't state the finder mag of your MP. In case of a .58, the whole view finder can be used approximately for a 25 angle of view. Not having to use an additional finder would be an asset for me.

3. is there a chance you end up with a M8 and it's 1.33 crop factor in addition to your MP? the 25 makes a nice 35 here.

For myself, I've decided to skip the 50 focal length for now since I want to go a two lens approach, for budget considerations as well a for a compact outfit. So I ended up with a 35/90 setup, which I might occasionally extend with a 25. But then, there is this nice Sonnar 50 ... :rolleyes: Anyway nothing to think of this year.

Rgds
Ivo
 
I used to have a CV21/4 and now have CV 25/4. I prefer 25mm lens much better, as I found 21mm to be too wide too often. 25 seems to be more useful to me than a 21mm. That said, I'd pair either with a 40mm lens more so than a 50. If 50 is your main lens I'd go with either 28 or 35mm lens to pair it with.
But thats me. ;)
 
i like the 25/50 combo and have been using it when i want a 2 lens kit.

for a one lens outfit, i use a 35.

a 28 is good too and i sometimes will walk around with just a 28 but a 25 is like a 28 but with attitiude. and not so hard to use.
 
I would go with the 25. I had a 21/2.8 for years and never fell in love. I have a CV 15/4.5 and love it when I need something wider. I feel more at home with the 15 than I ever did with the 21.

B2 (;->
 
Many, many excellent suggestions here. I, too am leaning toward the 25 for the resolution and speed advantage, however the 21 is just so tiny :)

My MP is a 0.85 one, so I have resigned myself to buying the extra viewfinder.

Do you have one? Is it the Zeiss or the CV? Does the first offer a real advantage. Its price is very high, it seems to me.

Thanks so much, Horea
 
I'm with the others, a 25 (or 24 ;)). I also personally think that a 28 makes a great pair with a 50. You will need an external VF for sure. I use CV viewfinders but I have tried a Zeiss VF and they are amazing. So expensive though. In the future you might want to consider an R4 for the 25. If you like wide-angles that is the body to get.
 
horosu,
for the price of the 25 Biogon and the 25/28 external Zeiss VF (yes, it is fantastic, but it is always external...), you could buy the Bessa R4A with the CV 25/4 and the CV 21/4 or the 15/4.5, I reckon the R4A is the best "external" VF for wide angle lenses ever invented, and it costs so little now !
This is not to say that Biogons aren't good - I have both the 21/4,5 and the 25/2.8 and these are the best damned WA lenses I have ever used, and I am using also the SWC/M Biogon 38/4.5 which is a legend.
 
Marek,

I agree about the R4A/M, however, I do want/lust the Zeiss lenses....so I guess I will end up with a viewfinder on top of my MP :)

Did you all buy the VF at the same time as your lenses or afterwards. To me an external VF is indispensable, however, lately I noticed a LOT of offers for the 25 without the VF. How could they have used it? They do not own M8's all of them, do they?
 
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