Hiyawaan
Particular Individual
HI,
To all user of the 21cv and 15cv lenses, how does their sharpness and resolving power compare?
A
To all user of the 21cv and 15cv lenses, how does their sharpness and resolving power compare?
A
A question of sharpness to users of the 21cv & 15cv lenses
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rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
Compare to what?
I've used the 21. Compared to the 21 leica lenses.. it's obvious that it's a less competent lens. Compared to 21mm(ish) SLR lenses by canon and nikon - it performs very well indeed - especially out at the corners, the VC is pretty sharp wide open, and stopped down to 5.6 it's very nice. I have to stop my SLR lenses down to f11 just to get the edges respectable, and by then the sweet spot for the center is gone.
I've used the 21. Compared to the 21 leica lenses.. it's obvious that it's a less competent lens. Compared to 21mm(ish) SLR lenses by canon and nikon - it performs very well indeed - especially out at the corners, the VC is pretty sharp wide open, and stopped down to 5.6 it's very nice. I have to stop my SLR lenses down to f11 just to get the edges respectable, and by then the sweet spot for the center is gone.
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dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
They're both good lenses for the money.
You have to know how to use the 15mm to get the most out of it and some say the 21mm is too wide for their tastes but both of them are great for wide angle shots and unless you want to spend triple or quadruple the funds on Leica or Zeiss glass then these offer outstanding value.
I own both.
Dave
You have to know how to use the 15mm to get the most out of it and some say the 21mm is too wide for their tastes but both of them are great for wide angle shots and unless you want to spend triple or quadruple the funds on Leica or Zeiss glass then these offer outstanding value.
I own both.
Dave
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I agree with Dave. These lenses are excellent and would be money well spent. The 21 CV seems to be as sharp as my 21 Super Angulon.
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oscroft
Veteran
I've got both lenses and love them, but I have nothing really to compare them to.
pizzahut88
Well-known
Compared to what!
Compared to what!
Rogue_designer here is on top of things.
I have the Super Wide Heliar 15mm, and there is nothing I can compare it to.
Zeiss has a ZM 15mm F2.8, but I have never seen it in stores,
Neither is it affordable by most people's standard.
Compared to what!
rogue_designer said:
Rogue_designer here is on top of things.
I have the Super Wide Heliar 15mm, and there is nothing I can compare it to.
Zeiss has a ZM 15mm F2.8, but I have never seen it in stores,
Neither is it affordable by most people's standard.
Bryce
Well-known
I have a 15mm and am quite happy with it. Sharpness in the F/5.6-F/11 range is better than my film, contrast is quite high, distortion is virtually zero. If the lens has significant optical limitations they are all about flare- both general loss of contrast and iris images are possible if the sun's in the frame. Of course I haven't seen results from a comparable lens...
x-ray
Veteran
I don't have the 21 CV but have had the 15 from the beginning. I've previously owned the Nikkor 15 3.5, Nikkor 14 2.8 and the Zeiss Distagon 15 2.8 in Rollei Mount. I've also shot a limited amount with the canon 14. The dog in the bunch is the Canon and second is the Nikkor. The Canon is terrible at the edges and the Nikon flares terribley. Any point source in or near the frame renders the image unusable. If there is no light near the lens it's good. The 14 nikkor is excellent in all respects and the 15 Distagon is a very fine lens. Possibly the Zeiss is the best but I would have to shoot the same subject side by side with the 14 Nikkor and Zeiss to tell. In the mix I feel the CV is up in the top three. It seems to be very flare resistand and exceptionally sharp out to the edges. I've shot directly into the sun with little to no flare and never had a case where flare was an issue. Contrast is excellent and on a scale of 1-10 I would rate it a 8.5 - 9. The only thing i would like to see is a little better construction. Construction isn't bad but there is a little room for improvement.
Hiyawaan
Particular Individual
Hi guys thanks for your input. I see that I didn't phrase my question correctly. When I asked how they compare I meant against each other and only in sharpness/resolving power. I don't know any thing about leica lenses and don't foresee getting any in the near future. Zeiss lenses I have use but only on 16mm and 35mm motion picture camera, like frosties , They're Great!
Alex
Alex
Ronald M
Veteran
I have 12-15-25, but no 21. The 21 and 25 are similar designs though.
The 15/25 are pretty much the same.
Compared to other lenses, they are generally like the previous generation of Leica glass, ie 1980.
I got the 12/15 because there are no Leica comparables ( both new when they first came out ) and got the 25 because it was a screw mount.
The 15/25 are pretty much the same.
Compared to other lenses, they are generally like the previous generation of Leica glass, ie 1980.
I got the 12/15 because there are no Leica comparables ( both new when they first came out ) and got the 25 because it was a screw mount.
wyk_penguin
Well-known
How would you rate the 12 and 15 CV?
I don't own any and this is a question about GAS. Do you think the 12 is too wide?
I don't own any and this is a question about GAS. Do you think the 12 is too wide?
kevin m
Veteran
The VC 21 is a scorching good value. I say that despite the fact that I think VC build quality is a notch or three below Leica, Konica and Zeiss lenses.
Its tiny size ensures that the thing will always be in your camera bag, unlike the 'do I want to drag this thing with me' size of the Leica 24 and 21 lenses. As a bonus, the old-style Leica polarizer for the E-39 filter lenses works fine on the VC 21 if you remove the lens shade. Sweet.
Its tiny size ensures that the thing will always be in your camera bag, unlike the 'do I want to drag this thing with me' size of the Leica 24 and 21 lenses. As a bonus, the old-style Leica polarizer for the E-39 filter lenses works fine on the VC 21 if you remove the lens shade. Sweet.
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Bill58
Native Texan
I have a CV/ VC 21 and it's plenty good for me--about the same as my 25 and 28-- 40 yr. old lenses. I'm seriously in envy of a 15.
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