Contax Biogon 21mm f4.5 example images

The 21mm Biogon shot on my Nikon S2

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Ice cream
 
largedrink said:
Contax IIa, Carl Zeiss Biogon 21mm f4, 1/250 f16, Ilford FP4 125
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What a great shot!

And the image quality is absolutely world class. Even more impressive considering this lens is from the early 1950s and the first lens to offer such a wide angle on 35mm cameras!
 
davidswiss said:
How do people think they compare with the more modern skopar 21mm that were on offer a few years ago ?
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They are both excellent lenses in my experience. Having click stops on an easily seen f/stop ring on the Voigtlander lens is certainly more convenient than the placement of the f/stop settings and lack of click stops on the Zeiss Biogon, but optically I think I like the Biogon just a little bit better. This is subjective and based on the two lenses that I own--others may feel differently.
 
Cascadilla said:
They are both excellent lenses in my experience. Having click stops on an easily seen f/stop ring on the Voigtlander lens is certainly more convenient than the placement of the f/stop settings and lack of click stops on the Zeiss Biogon, but optically I think I like the Biogon just a little bit better. This is subjective and based on the two lenses that I own--others may feel differently.
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Thanks for that.
 
davidswiss said:
How do people think they compare with the more modern skopar 21mm that were on offer a few years ago ?
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I think they are very different lenses. There are 2 Color Skopar 21s, and both are modern high contrast lenses. The 21mm f4.5 Biogon is not high contrast and appears to be less sharp at larger apertures. If you are considering the Biogon, then you are either shooting a Contax or Nikon RF, so the choice is fairly simple: get the Biogon for classic rendering or get the Color Skopar for modern rendering.
 
WJJ3 said:
I think they are very different lenses. There are 2 Color Skopar 21s, and both are modern high contrast lenses. The 21mm f4.5 Biogon is not high contrast and appears to be less sharp at larger apertures. If you are considering the Biogon, then you are either shooting a Contax or Nikon RF, so the choice is fairly simple: get the Biogon for classic rendering or get the Color Skopar for modern rendering.
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I do have an F4 Skopar and am happy with it on my Contax IIa, but have seen a Biogon at a local auction so wondered about the differences.
 
Any Biogon that has never been serviced probably needs service today. A good time for the tech to check the focus at the same time. I've been debating getting mine converted to RF-coupled M mount as I never use Contax or Nikon RFs. But it's a $$$ conversion.
 
Pichincha pyramids, Pichincha province, Ecuador 2005. Wide open, Contax IIa, Fujicolor 200. Yeah the lens vignettes/darker corners a bit at f4.5, but I still love this lens. Not too bad on mirrorless digital, but really shines on film.
 
I posted some pictures taken with the 2.1cm Biogon to the gallery several weeks ago. Seems to be an excellent lens. Ergonomics kinda' suck.
 
Yes, applying modern expectations for system ergonomics overall to the Contax rangefinder system in general, much less one specific lens; well, that’s why there aren’t more users in addition to there being a relatively small number of 21mm f4.5’s ever produced, much less still available to choose from today.

In the next couple of weeks I plan on doing a dual-system shoot that’ll last a few days, carrying the IIa and 21mm f4.5 and s Leica M4 with 21mm f3.4 Super Angulon, both loaded with FP4 Plus.

I enjoy both systems for what they are.
 
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