CV 15mm vs CV 21mm

[iMacfan]

Hi,

Sorry if I'm boring anyone about asking another x vs y question, but here goes:

I'm going to buy either the CV 15mm or 21mm lens. I have never seen both, but everying I have heard on both accounts seems positive. They both cost the same here, so that does not help choose, and as the widest lens I own is a 28mm on a Ricoh GR1v, they will both seem very wide to me. The 15 has the aspheric element going for it, as well as the extra width, while the 21 skopar is a bit faster, has a filter thread and is RF coupled(though this is not that important). Never having seen real prints (only online scans), do any of you think there is a significat difference in results one way or the other?

Thanks,

David

 

[Pherdinand]

David, i think jorge m. trevino has some nice examples posted on photo.net he made with the 15mm lens. Just look for him there, in the "directory" menu.

However, i'd not get the 15mm unless i can try it out or get it second hand cheaply. 15mm is really really wide. 21 is already far from the 28 you have; I have a 17mm (slr mount), it was shockingly wide. I needed a few monts and several rolls of film to get used to that monster and not produce "empty" or too cluttered frames, or terrible pig-faced portraits. (We are good friends now, but i use my 24mm much more).
You really have to take care of composition and lines and people and every detail with lenses this wide, there's no way around. Cropping, photoshop, these stuff won't help much to rescue a lost frame. But it's fun to use them🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

BTW, sorry i can't comment on the optical quality of the two lenses in question. However, i've heard only good things about them.

 

[iMacfan]

Thank you - that really is what I needed to know. I tend to prefer longer focal lengths, so the 21 will be challenge enough. If anyone could put my mind to rest re the optical quality of the 21, I'd appreciate it very much.

Thank you,

David

 

[rover]

David, the optical quality of the 21 is excellent. It is a sharp little lens. Wide open in uneven lighting conditions I have noticed some vignetting, but it is not in every shot. Here is a link to a very untechnical review I did of this lens.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1010
In addition to my experience, I have only read good things about this lens. If you asked me, I would say buy it.

 

[sfaust]

I'll be picking up a roll of film I shot yesterday with the 21mm on the R2. I'll post here with my opinion when I get a look at them. However, from everything Ive heard, its a nice sharp lens.

 

[iMacfan]

Thank you Rover, those shots are pretty good, especially since they are from the first roll on such an extreme perspective lens. I particularly like the 'pop' 3d effect on the gravestone shots. One thing, though, is that there seems to be a fair bit of flare - but maybe that was just the conditions at the time.

David

 

[peter_n]

Everything that the Pherd said. These super-wides are tough to get used to but a great challenge to find subject matter suitable to the lens then take a meaningful picture. I have a 21 (not the CV) and love it. I've heard nothing but good things about the CV 21mm and I've seen some really cracking photos taken with it. Despite what you say, having a rangefinder coupled lens may come in useful, it is possible to get an OOF background wide-open... 🙂

 

[don sorsa]

Hi David -

I considered the 15 but then bought the 21 since my previous experience had been with a 28 and the 15 seemed like a world I was unprepared for. I've put several rolls through the 21 and like it very much although I do have a tendency to tilt it one way or another. I'll try to attach a shot from my second roll, Tri-X, EI 1250, souped in Diafine and the negative scanned. Most of the photos posted on my gallery were shot with the 21. You'll spot the ones where I could have used the spirit level.

In case my upload doesn't work or the photo is too tiny, the shot is also posted here. http://homepage.mac.com/donsorsa/album2/library.jpg. You'll see there's some detail in the shadows of the ceiling while the trees in the bright light outside aren't blown out.

Regards,
Don

 

[iMacfan]

Thanks very much Dan - an excellent example of what the lens can do, and enough to make my decision up.

David.

P.S. Ironically enough, I can see the RF forum image, but not the .Mac version, even though I'm using a Mac and Safari!

 

[don sorsa]

David - Yeah, I screwed up the url. Remove the period after "jpg"
Be sure to post your pix!

Don

 

[iMacfan]

Wow - I only just realised - an extremely nice setting for a library! I guess it makes studying just that little bit more tolerable.

David

 

[don sorsa]

I like the lens and it's plenty wide for me (and very light, especially mounted on the L) but I've also seen stunning images from the 15. BTW, this is our village library (Oak Park, Illinois, USA), heavily used by local students and the community as well. As for studying being tolerable... well, I'm on the other side of the classroom and always thought studying was one of the pleasures in life! # ^ }

Don

 

[Dingo]

I got both of them, both are great stuff. If you can only pick up one, pick the 21. Reason :

1. Easier to handle, the 15 has greater distortion of objects in close corners.
2. 21 wins in resolution and contrast when wide open and f11 to f22.
3. 21 is smaller, easier to add filters, and a little faster.
4. I shoot less and less with the 15, not easier to find a suitable scenery for it.

Go see some samples :
http://www.pgallery.net/dingo/folder-list.html
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/516/ppuser/192

Get both sooner or later...

 

[sfaust]

I agree the 15mm is a harder lens to handle, and it requires suitable subject matter. I find the 21mm a more usable length, easier to deal with, and produces less distortion which makes for a more pleasing image. I just went through the same buying decision, and finally went with the 21mm. The quality is there, so there shouldn't be any qualms with that.

 

[rover]

Thank you Rover, those shots are pretty good, especially since they are from the first roll on such an extreme perspective lens. I particularly like the 'pop' 3d effect on the gravestone shots. One thing, though, is that there seems to be a fair bit of flare - but maybe that was just the conditions at the time.

David

Dave, the gravestone shot was taken directly into the sun. It was a worst case scenerio. The stones were shaded under the canopy of some trees, but the flare is from the sun directly ahead slightly to the left of center. The gateway to the cemetary was taken in similar conditions, the sun was more off to the left, but strong and more behind the subject than in front.

 

[iMacfan]

Thanks everyone for the help - I finally took the plunge and bought the 21/4. Also a heads up for those in the UK: Robert White are offering a Bessa L for £25 with any CV 12,15 or 21 lens, so how could I resist? Made it a palatable three hundred quid in total, including postage and our draconian 17.5% of valuless added tax.

David

P.S. Does anyone think I should post a seperate thread to tell everyone about the deal?

P.P.S. Don: I'm actually a medical student, but I think we're all allowed a bit of cynicism from time to time!

 

[don sorsa]

David - Well done. Post your photos.

You're a medical student, eh? Doctors without Borders is one of the finest organizations in the world - a true source for hope and change.

Best regards,
Don

 

[laurentvenet]

Hi David. Thank's for your posting, I was also in the same questions, 15 mm or 21. This summer I wanted to buy a Russian Horizon 2002 but it's big and too specific. 21 mm seems to be perfect with my scopar 35, and jupiter 8.
BTW, your promotion for www.robertwhite.co.uk is amazing ! thank's, I'm hesitating now between cameraquest in Us, and this Uk shop which is close to France.
Cheers, Laurent

 

[Marc Jutras]

For those interested, I just got a 15/4.5 and posted results frrom my first roll in my gallery.

I went for the 15mm because I wanted at least a 110º field of view. The X-Pan was out of my league and I didn't feel like investing in something like a Horizon 202. I figured I should stick to my R2 and simply add a lens.

I knew the 21mm would be nice but my previous experience with the superb 20-35 Nikon lens showed me I often needed more FOV.

The 15mm is not easy to master but it's not that hard either (or I'm a bit weird and see like that...). The only real problem I had was with fingers in the frame in horizontal pictures. You have to hold the camera by the edges only with nothing touching the front at all (if that makes sense to you).

Conlusion: I love the 15 and I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun with it. But it's not for everybody or every project.