foto_fool
Well-known
Can't decide if I love this lens or if I should sell it and get a ZM 21/2.8 Biogon. Anybody else have one? Post some pics!
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8, Lucky 100
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8, Efke 50
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8 (probably wide open), Efke 50
Zeiss Ikon, Avenon 21/2.8 (w/adapter), Delta 400 - f22 hyperfocal point-and-shoot
- John
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8, Lucky 100
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8, Efke 50
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8 (probably wide open), Efke 50
Zeiss Ikon, Avenon 21/2.8 (w/adapter), Delta 400 - f22 hyperfocal point-and-shoot
- John
Bill58
Native Texan
Great shots--I can't see how a Biogon could be an improvement. Daughter sleeping is my favorite!!!!! Frame it and put it on the wall.
akptc
Shoot first, think later
Absolutely get the Biogon (I will take the Avenon off your hands 
)
)
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
those are fine photos, this 21mm lens seems to preform very well, how much more preformance do you think the Zeiss product will give you over the Avenon?
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Also, you wouldn't be able to use the Biogon on your IIIf, would you? I thought the Zeiss lens was available only in M mount, and while you can adapt a screw-mount lens to fit an M-mount camera, you can't go the other direction.
foto_fool
Well-known
Good question xayraa. I don't know the answer. Shots are zero-crop so it is clear vignetting is not an issue with the Avenon on these bodies. I would say there is maybe more corner distortion with the Avenon than with the Biogon on my Contax G - but I have not done a direct comparison. I'd like to see some other people post pics to compare.
- John
- John
foto_fool
Well-known
jlw - true. But I'm working my way down to three 50mm lenses for the IIIf. I really love the Avenon on the Ikon or Hexar - set it at hyperfocal and (ab)use it like a p&s. But I can do that with the Contax already.
- John
- John
ferider
Veteran
Looks very good, John. Great photos, I like the photo of the girl
sleeping best. And the lens has a great signature.
Best,
Roland.
sleeping best. And the lens has a great signature.
Best,
Roland.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
foto_fool said:
if you can meet a fellow RFF member in your area that owns a 21mm Zeiss f2.8 M mount lens then you can take shots with both lenses to compare the final prints, or if a Zeiss dealer near you has this lens you might do some trials shooting at the store.
PetarDima
Well-known
I think that answer is simple: you don't need another lens, just use Efke and
Ilford delta films
Ilford delta films
pdx138
Established
I love using wides on screwmount bodies as "point-n-shoots." The need for an external viewfinder is counterd by not having to use the rangefinder window at all. The Avenon and IIIf is a much more portable combo than the Biogon on the Ikon. I cant see the advantage to switching for this style of shooting. I agree with the consensus. Keep it!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Put it this way. I have the Kobalux (= Avenon = Pasinon) and I have tried the Zeiss 21/2,8. If I didn't already have the Kobalux I'd buy the Zeiss. As it is, the advantages of the Zeiss are small enough that I'll stick with the Kobalux.
I should add that I had the Leica 21/2,8 (stolen in Moskva) and an original 21/4.5 Biogon, and I've tried the new Biogon. They're all better, and I'd prefer 'em, but they're not so much better I can afford the change for a focal length I don't use much next to 35/50/75. If I DIDN'T own the Kobalux... That's another matter.
But my first choice would be the 16-18-21 Tri-Elmar.
Cheers,
R.
I should add that I had the Leica 21/2,8 (stolen in Moskva) and an original 21/4.5 Biogon, and I've tried the new Biogon. They're all better, and I'd prefer 'em, but they're not so much better I can afford the change for a focal length I don't use much next to 35/50/75. If I DIDN'T own the Kobalux... That's another matter.
But my first choice would be the 16-18-21 Tri-Elmar.
Cheers,
R.
Sonnar2
Well-known
Hi foto-fool, you can't decide to keep a lens capable of taking pictures like your #3??
I cannot believe that.
If I give away my Avenon, then just for $$$ sake, because it's a rare black last version. OK, the colors aren't so clear when used wide open with slide film, but for B&W???
In terms of handling and short size, it's by far my best wideangle lens.
I cannot believe that.
If I give away my Avenon, then just for $$$ sake, because it's a rare black last version. OK, the colors aren't so clear when used wide open with slide film, but for B&W???
In terms of handling and short size, it's by far my best wideangle lens.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Nah, keep the lens, it's your IIIf that's a problem. Come on, toss it to me, let me suffer with its bad quality
PS: Really nice pictures... thanks for sharing.
PS: Really nice pictures... thanks for sharing.
Sonnar2
Well-known
I throw in some pictures just made with my 21/2.8 Avenon on my Bessa-L.
A 21mm can be really useful when shooting in a crowd of people -- the whole set
A 21mm can be really useful when shooting in a crowd of people -- the whole set
crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
I <heart> the Avenon 21 2.8.
laptoprob
back to basics
The newer lens will probably give you more contrast, besides sharpness and all that modern stuff. Do you want more contrast? I usually don't.
rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
I'm bidding on one of these now. *hopes wildly*
d'oh - I thought I was, but I'm actually bidding on the 28mm 3.5. Ah well, I can use that too.
d'oh - I thought I was, but I'm actually bidding on the 28mm 3.5. Ah well, I can use that too.
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foto_fool
Well-known
Sonnar2 - thanks for the comment on shot #3 but I probably could have made that image with any 21mm - it was the light, the subject and the film that made that one special for me. BTW - great shots of the demonstration.
Rouge - that 28mm looks like it could go for CHEAP - good luck!
I have checked out my own results with the Biogon G on the Contax vs. the Avenon on the various M bodies and IIIf. It is a limited set and not a side-by-side test, but the Biogon has a clear edge (so to speak) in terms of corner distortion. Also slightly better contrast. Later I hope to post some representative shots.
That said, I've decided I'm not going to sell the Avenon to get a ZM Biogon. If I want the Biogon characteristics I have the G. And for the other bodies, the Avenon is shorter and lighter than the ZM. I've decided that alone is enough to make it a keeper.
- John
Rouge - that 28mm looks like it could go for CHEAP - good luck!
I have checked out my own results with the Biogon G on the Contax vs. the Avenon on the various M bodies and IIIf. It is a limited set and not a side-by-side test, but the Biogon has a clear edge (so to speak) in terms of corner distortion. Also slightly better contrast. Later I hope to post some representative shots.
That said, I've decided I'm not going to sell the Avenon to get a ZM Biogon. If I want the Biogon characteristics I have the G. And for the other bodies, the Avenon is shorter and lighter than the ZM. I've decided that alone is enough to make it a keeper.
- John