Color-Skopar 21 f/4 - what's it like?

it's quite a nice lens, and comfoprtable to iuse on the street - in daytime, i set it around f/8 and 2 meters and use only the external 21mm finder, no need for critical focusing.
 
Pherdinand said:
On the opther hand, keep in mind that it will be difficult to selectively focus on something - which will mean very busy shots on the street with difficult to isolate main subject.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=85541&size=big
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Noted. Although I do think that that picture is all about the woman with the eyebrow pencil...I think with the proper framing you can make stuff stand out. I've been shooting with the Sigma DP1 a lot lately...the lens is 28mm...it's just been a matter of getting into a different mindset.
 
Pherdinand said:
On the opther hand, keep in mind that it will be difficult to selectively focus on something - which will mean very busy shots on the street with difficult to isolate main subject.
Click to expand...


I’ve always thought of super-wides as being more about celebrating space rather than trying to isolate anything.
 
Thanks for the flood of responses :) Not a negative thing to say, sounds like a winner!

I meant say that I'll be using it on a IIIf, CL, M3 and a P. I've actually found one online that's cheaper than the $500 retail so I may be in luck.

Is this lens scale focus or linked to the rangefinder?
 
The 21/4 is rangefinder coupled in LTM and M forms.

How does the 21/4 compare to the 25/4 (other than focal length and RF coupling of course)?
 
it's very useable. and with such a price tag, there's practically no excuse not to have a 21 (ok ok, if one doesn't like 21's....)

the finder is a little dull though, but again - with such a price tag it's practically not allowed to bitch about it..
 
TheHub said:
I found the Skopar 21 with VF thrown in that's pretty cheap (new.) I'm wondering how the lens performs? I'd be using it on a IIIf, CL and M3.

Any input appreciated :)
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Good lens. Well made, very small. nice hood, metal cap and viewfinder. One heck of a bargain.

You have to stop it down to at about f11 to really make it sing.
Below that it it's a little flat. F4 is a little murky, but again - one heck of a bargain.
 
a little soft in the extreme corners, good contrast, plenty sharp enough overall, tiny, light and generally wonderful. there are some dodgy ones about with decentering etc, but most users seem very happy. sure a 21 asph might be better, but at 10x the price and about 4 times the size.
 
Harry Lime said:
You have to stop it down to at about f11 to really make it sing.
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Don't stop it down further though because below f/11 you already get problems with diffraction. Diffraction is dependent on the physical size of the aperture opening, and f/11 in a 21mm is approximately like f/22 in a 40mm and f/45 in a 90mm lens.

f/8 to f/11 is pretty much the sweet spot in this lens (and most likely in any lens of this focal length).

Philipp
 
I quite like

I quite like

Pherdinand said:
On the opther hand, keep in mind that it will be difficult to selectively focus on something - which will mean very busy shots on the street with difficult to isolate main subject.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=85541&size=big
Click to expand...


...that focus isn't directed to one specific spot or subject. It gives more of a street feel, the way you can scan many things happening at once, the prime and the supporting, the way you would if you were a casual wandering observer.

It certainly works brilliantly with this shot.


(However, it is important to note the point about selective focusing in discussion.)
 
I have the lens in Nikon S mount and its wonderful sharp and light. As you know it comes with a beautiful finder. I don't have a scanner so I don't have a sample to show but I have lots of gear and I love the CV lenses especially the 21.

Ray
 
I love my 21mm Skopar. I have the 25, too, but I use the 21 more, because it's RF coupled- even though I scale focus almost as much as I fine focus lenses this wide. LTM mount in cheaper and more versatile than the M-mount P version, and comes with the finder. Everyone should have one- this is one of the best in the CV's excellent line-up.

Here's a shot I did in December. Shot at dusk, this was a quick hand-held snap, looking up, without any perspective control; it was pretty dark, and I think I took this wide open at 1/8th or 1/15th of a second- so this was done under nothing like optimal conditions, and I think it still looks pretty good.
 

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