goliathus
Well-known
Hi there 
I'm a fan of Nikon Rangefinder system. So I've tested many of Nikon RF lenses. Luckily I got three 25mm f4 lenses recently. Lengendary Zeiss Topogon and W-Nikkor C 2.5cm F4(my favorite), SC Skopar 25mm F4. Check below pictures for a result of the test.
I posted resized pics for comfortable viewing. I linked hi-resolution images for someone who wants to check the pictures in detail.
CLICK HERE for Hi-resolution images
W-Nikkor C 2.5cm F4 (F8, 1/250)
This is my favorite lens. I think this is the first pancake lenses of Nikon. Very contrasty and shows harsh vignetting with great resolution. Love fresh colours of this lens.
Zeiss Topogon 25mm F4 (F8, 1/250)
Zeiss Topogon 25mm F4 is an original of the Topogon type lens. Prone to highlight, so it shows some glowing point. But showing less vignetting and it makes very sharp each corners.
SC Skopar 25mm F4 (F8, 1/250)
This 'young' lens renderd very sharp, high contrasty image. Vignetting is already gone at f5.6.
If you have these lenses in your pocket, which one do you want to keep?
I'm a fan of Nikon Rangefinder system. So I've tested many of Nikon RF lenses. Luckily I got three 25mm f4 lenses recently. Lengendary Zeiss Topogon and W-Nikkor C 2.5cm F4(my favorite), SC Skopar 25mm F4. Check below pictures for a result of the test.
I posted resized pics for comfortable viewing. I linked hi-resolution images for someone who wants to check the pictures in detail.
CLICK HERE for Hi-resolution images
W-Nikkor C 2.5cm F4 (F8, 1/250)
This is my favorite lens. I think this is the first pancake lenses of Nikon. Very contrasty and shows harsh vignetting with great resolution. Love fresh colours of this lens.
Zeiss Topogon 25mm F4 (F8, 1/250)
Zeiss Topogon 25mm F4 is an original of the Topogon type lens. Prone to highlight, so it shows some glowing point. But showing less vignetting and it makes very sharp each corners.
SC Skopar 25mm F4 (F8, 1/250)
This 'young' lens renderd very sharp, high contrasty image. Vignetting is already gone at f5.6.
If you have these lenses in your pocket, which one do you want to keep?
gavinlg
Veteran
I like the Nikkor and the Skopar going by that little test...
I imagine the Skopar has the best ergonomics (?) and man... can't go wrong with that IQ!
I imagine the Skopar has the best ergonomics (?) and man... can't go wrong with that IQ!
ruby.monkey
Veteran
I had the Voigtlander for a while until I finally traded away my pair of S2s - it was a great little lens, sharp and contrasty and with little to no distortion. Handling was good (much improved by the detachable quick-focus ring), and it had a neat feature of being able to spin the lens quickly to any distance for scale focus instead of having to wait for the focussing gears to catch up - at least I hope it did, because otherwise I broke something without realising.
Can't cry too much about its passing, though - there's a Snapshot-Skopar on my MDa as I type.
Can't cry too much about its passing, though - there's a Snapshot-Skopar on my MDa as I type.
The Nikkor of course, but I wouldn't mind the CV 25/4 either. Interesting comparison, Park-shi
The Nikkor sure knows how to do vignetting. The shot below was taken at about f/9.5
rbsinto
Well-known
I have the CV 25, and am pleased with the pictures I get from it.
And based on what I see here, if I had all three, (and not being a collector) I'd stick with it and sell the other two.
And based on what I see here, if I had all three, (and not being a collector) I'd stick with it and sell the other two.
David Murphy
Veteran
Nice comparison. They are all certainly worthy lenses, but I think the CV 25/4 demonstrates better contrast due undoubtedly to progress in coating technology since the 1950's.
goliathus
Well-known
Thank you for the comments guys! esphecially Jon, your sample is
always nice. I'm jealousy:bang:
I decided to keep my Nikkor! not sure for the SC Skopar but corrently
I'm positive for keeping it.
always nice. I'm jealousy:bang:
I decided to keep my Nikkor! not sure for the SC Skopar but corrently
I'm positive for keeping it.
kds315
www.macrolenses.de
A great comparison, thanks for that! I see you also have an Orion-15 6/28mm,
so it would have been nice to have that one included in that test too, as the
focal length is not so different (and it is a Topogon design).
And maybe I should send you over to include in that test my Canon 3.5/25mm
Topogon clone
so it would have been nice to have that one included in that test too, as the
focal length is not so different (and it is a Topogon design).
And maybe I should send you over to include in that test my Canon 3.5/25mm
Topogon clone
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shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Wonderful comparison of uncommon lenses. Thanks for that.
I like vignetting and I like pancake lenses, so I'm with you, the Nikkor would be my favorite too.
I like vignetting and I like pancake lenses, so I'm with you, the Nikkor would be my favorite too.
goliathus
Well-known
A great comparison, thanks for that! I see you also have an Orion-15 6/28mm,
so it would have been nice to have that one included in that test too, as the
focal length is not so different (and it is a Topogon design).
And maybe I should send you over to include in that test my Canon 3.5/25mm
Topogon clone
Thanks kds315, Yes I have Orion-15 too, Why I forgot including Russian beauty :bang:, Do you have any examples of Canon Topogon? love to see them
goliathus
Well-known
RanceEric
The name is Rance
Love the Nikkor.. Hope to add that to my kit eventually.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Hot Rod show in West Vancouver earlier this year. The Nikkor 25f4 is actually a very good lens - considering that it is 50+ years old! Sharpness is superb, so it can flare a bit - but it does have a distinct look to the images which I like.
Nikon S2, 25f4 Nikkor, Kodak 5231 +X moviestock.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
From a technical point of view - the Color Skopar 25f4 is a better lens - but the Nikkor has a distinct look to it. I like both of them - I have tried the Topogon years ago - and yes I would like one - but for now the Nikkor and the Skopar suffices. Which one comes along, more often than not the Nikkor for the look, particularly with slow and medium speed film. The Skopar when I want to be sure of no flare and f4 performance.
kds315
www.macrolenses.de
Thanks kds315, Yes I have Orion-15 too, Why I forgot including Russian beauty :bang:, Do you have any examples of Canon Topogon? love to see them
I'll make a comparison using the Canon and the 28mm Orion - and maybe even add the 26mm HYPERGON I recently discovered (and converted)
@Tom: great shots!
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BillBingham2
Registered User
I loved the snap shot skopar for handling and the resistance to flare. But the way that Nikkor paints, damn that's a nice lens.
B2
B2
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Yes. I know, the Snap Shot Skopar is not a S mount lens - but it is one hell of a 25mm lens. This shot is from Havana,Cuba and a couple of members of an Argentinian Tango group "Tanguardia" gave my friend Chris and me a private show. We wandered for 4 hours with the 8 members around old town Havana and shot them dancing in various locations.
M2, D76 1:1 for 10 min.
JonR
Well-known
I have several of the CV lenses and overall think they give excellent result but somehow I leave them at home and use only my Nikkor lenses, probably 90/10 in favour of the Nikkor lenses. Really do not know why, probably just the "feeling" to use the original !??
Jon R
kds315
www.macrolenses.de
Canon 35mm f3.5 (Topogon clone)
infinity @f8
closeup @f3.5
closeup @f8
infinity @f8
closeup @f3.5
closeup @f8
lawrence
Veteran
Personally I don't like vignetting and neither do I like the blue cast of the Nikkor -- to me the Skopar wins this hands down. But that Canon in the last post is also pretty wonderful (I think Winogrand used one of these for his Public Relations project).