CV 15mm or CV 21mm?

[Nick De Marco]

I used to own a CV 15mm which I found an excellent super wide for my M8. I sold it when I sold the M8.

Now my widest RF lens for my film bodies is a Leitz Elmarit 21mm f2.8 (pre-asph). A very god lens indeed. But it is a bit bulky and one of the things I like about RFs is the small size. I'm thinking of the CV 21/4, which I have never owned before (but recently took an as yet undeveloped film with), or re-buying the 15. I think I might find 15 a little too wide on 35mm film. Does anyone else use it on film and how do you think it compares to the 21/4?

Thanks

 

[Mablo]

I'm shooting film only. I don't own the CV 15mm but I have the CV 21mm/f4 which for me is the ultimate as far as wide angle is concerned. I don't need anything wider.

 

[BillBingham2]

I owned a 21/2.8 from about 1986 and never really like it. While it gave me a great view, it was too distored for my tastes. I fell in love with the 25/4 CV that I picked up when I purchased a 15/4.5. I loved the 15 for ultra wide stuff and the 25 was wide enough for stuff I would have used the 21 for.

Having moved to an Nikon RF setup the 15 is the only lens I miss. I need to find an F to S adapter (hens tooth) and pick up an F mount 15. I have the 25/4 CV in SC mount and the rest of my glass is Nikkors.

I really liked the 15 when I found something I wanted to see everything. It's the kind of glass I would stick on an L and keep in the bag. Might end up doing that with an old F some day when cash frees up again.

The new ZI 21/4.5 that has become Tom A's favorite 21mm of all time. High words from Tom. You might look there too if you really like the 21mm focal length. I really like the 25 but that is me.

B2

 

[drewbarb]

I own both of these CV lenses in LTM, and for actual shooting, wouldn't trade either for any other lens. After using them both for years and getting to know them fairly well, I use the 21mm a lot more often. For me, the 15mm is so wide that it's basically just a special use lens; the 21 is far more of a regular use wide angle lens. Somewhat to my surprise, I've never found the relatively slow speed to be an issue- to the extent that I wouldn't spend the extra money or want to carry the extra size or weight of a faster lens.

Yes, there are better 21mm lenses for the Leica system, but not much better, and not unless you want to spend a lot more.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I think I can get the 21 for free and will settle for that for usual wide stuff. I love the size of the lens and its wide enough for 99% of stuff I would want. If the lens is half as good as it is cracked up to be I should be happy.

If I get hold of the Bessa l at a low price I guess the 15 would be a good 'body cap' on it. One thing I recall about using the 15 was not having to worry much about focussing.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Since buying a Bessa L with a 15 a few years ago I hardly use anything else. It "sees" the way my brain "sees" the world. I like to be right up there WITH people rather than hanging back and photographing them as "the subject". It's a very different way of enjoying and experiencing life.
http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com has lots of 15mm shots.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Nice pics Al

 

[oscroft]

I've got both, and really like them both, but they're very different lenses.

I use the 21/4 a lot (on an R4A), and I find it a very useful lens - it's great in crowded back streets of Bangkok, temples, etc.

The 15 hardly gets used. I love it when I do use it, but for me it's just not a lens for regular use, and it's hard for the results not to look a bit "gimmicky".

Hope that helps.

 

[Sonnar2]

Like Al I like the 15mm/Bessa-L combo a lot. In fact it was my first LTM camera.
15mm is 11x the field of a 50mm. Some of my favorite landscape pictures I have taken with it, but one need time to learn using it. The 15mm is one of the sharpest C/V lenses.

 

[uhligfd]

Beware: once you have mastered the 15 mm CV you will have to try the 12 mm CV as well. Happy exploration to you and enjoy these wide wide wide views!

It is just a steep learning curve. That is all.

 

[ampguy]

I would go 21 with film, 15 with crop.

I used to use an 18mm with SLR. It was perfect for an ultrawide.

 

[35mmdelux]

I have the 21/4 P m-mount and its a great lens. Small form factor and easy enough to take along in the bag or coat pocket. Most importantly it produces excellent resolution far above its cost. The 21mm is as wide as I want.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Having owned both, I believe it boils down to a very simple question of which angle of view you like / use. There are no other significant differences. It is a personal decision and what others like will have no bearing on what you like.

That means you need to buy both and probably sell one and keep the other. But no major financial loss if you just watch here and buy them used. That is what I finally did.

But which one I sold and which one I kept will be meaningless information to anyone but me.

 

[Austerby]

I keep a Leica IIIa specifically for ultra-wides - mostly the CV15 and CV25. Great, inexpensive, combination and lovely to use and avoids limitations of the vintage viewfinders.

I love the 15mm on film - as Al says, it gets you right amongst people - and definitely use it more than the 25.