CV 28 3.5 - I'm sold.

[kaiyen]

RayPA here on RFF was kind enough to let me use his M4-P with a CV 28 3.5 this past Saturday. We were shooting some of the vintage SF Muni cars in the city, and it cried out for a wide angle. For the heck of it, I loaded up my Canonet with some TXT as well for comparison's sake.

I've always thought my Canonet was sharp "enough." Not as sharp as my best Nikkors on my SLR, but more than acceptable for a camera in my bag. But WOW. The pictures from the CV lens are noticeably sharper right off the bat, even in preview in Vuescan.

This is one impressive lens. I am basically sold on getting a new RF system in the near future, anyway, but this makes it all the more imperative. I'm saving up for 2 systems right now - a Bronica 6x6 and a new RF system. Not sure which will come first. But damn that CV lens is sharp.

I'll post some images later.

allan

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I've read equal if not even louder praises for the CV 35 f/2.5; it, of course, is not as wide as a 28mm.

I'm looking for a wider lens, but I'm not sure whether 28mm makes sense when I have the 35 Ultron. I'm thinking about the CV 21, even the 15, but that may be too extreme for my style, who knows.

I'll keep this one in mind, though. I think it's also one of the cheapest from CV's lineup.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

And, btw, I was caught in traffic an hour longer tonight by some stupid mismanagement by the Transp. Dept. (they closed a tunnel here before 9pm when they clearly said 10pm). I was late for this little auction...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7604074515&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1 :bang: :bang:

 

[wlewisiii]

I had the CV 35/2.5 in contax mount. What a scalpel! Almost too sharp, though I got some really great shots with it. Since I've had my CL, I've been thinking bad thoughts about eventually getting the CV 28/3.5 for it as the whole VF is supposed to be a good 28 VF. These comments don't help my wallet much ... 😀

I guess I'll know for myself, soon enough, if the CL VF really does do 28mm well :bang: :bang: :bang:

😉

William

 

[wlewisiii]

Sheesh. Just had to thwack 3 extra responses. I know that jorge is trying and I'll be damned if I want to be in his shoes but this is getting a bit much... 🙁

William

 

[RayPA]

I had the CV 35/2.5 in contax mount. What a scalpel! Almost too sharp, though I got some really great shots with it. Since I've had my CL, I've been thinking bad thoughts about eventually getting the CV 28/3.5 for it as the whole VF is supposed to be a good 28 VF. These comments don't help my wallet much ... 😀

I guess I'll know for myself, soon enough, if the CL VF really does do 28mm well :bang: :bang: :bang:

😉

William

I have the CLE, and the CV 28/3.5 is a perfect accompaniment. 28 vf lines on the CLE are very good, and together the CLE and the CV 28/3.5 are an excellent compact package! Then again, if you want another nice combo for the CL, try the Nokton 40/1.4 (SC version)! 😀 A sweet lens, especially for b&w, and again, good vf framelines.

🙂

 

[Tim]

FWIW, I'll add my voice to the praise for the CV 28/3.5. Actually, I'm yet to meet a CV lens I didn't love, and so far I've had 21/4; 28/3.5; 35/1.7; 35/2.5 (twice); 75/2.5; 90/3.5. Oh, and the 15/4.5 - great lens but it and I couldn't get along.
They've all been beautiful lenses, and for the price they're absolutely unbeatable.

The CV 28 particularly is a _great_ landscape lens, lovely and sharp, and amazingly compact. I only had mine for a little while, got some great shots with it. Only reason I got rid of it is spelt "Tri-Elmar".

I have one big complaint about CV gear in general tho - it's led me on the slippery slope into Leica lenses, which is a bit of a mixed blessing......

 

[RayPA]

FWIW, I'll add my voice to the praise for the CV 28/3.5. Actually, I'm yet to meet a CV lens I didn't love, and so far I've had 21/4; 28/3.5; 35/1.7; 35/2.5 (twice); 75/2.5; 90/3.5. Oh, and the 15/4.5 - great lens but it and I couldn't get along.
They've all been beautiful lenses, and for the price they're absolutely unbeatable.

The CV 28 particularly is a _great_ landscape lens, lovely and sharp, and amazingly compact. I only had mine for a little while, got some great shots with it. Only reason I got rid of it is spelt "Tri-Elmar".

I have one big complaint about CV gear in general tho - it's led me on the slippery slope into Leica lenses, which is a bit of a mixed blessing......

All true. I've half the CV lenses listed above (including one other), and I too haven't found a CV lens that I didn't find agreeable, but their low(ish) price, and great quality does lead one to look outward, toward Leicaland.



🙂

 

[Doug]

I sure do agree with Ray that the great little 28 Skopar is a natural companion for the great little CLE... Example below.

 

[Fred]

Another voice of praise for the little or to be more accurate, tiny 28 Skopar. I love this lens in so many ways. Very high contrast and really sharp but the size was the icing on the cake, and does not intrude into the VF if I recall.

I also find that it works well as a companion for my most used 35.

Other CV lenses I have used with no complaint are 15, 21, 35 (1.7) and 90. Pondering a 75 when my bank balance recovers.

 

[taffer]

From the 4 pics I submitted to RFF books 1 and 2, three of them are taken with the 35/2.5 Skopar, and probably it's the lens with which most of my fav pictures are taken.

Sharp as hell and contrasty beast. I love the old looks from more classic lenses, but the paragraph above says it all for me 🙂

 

[back alley]

take a look at the 25/4 also.

i don't have the cv lens but i'm really liking the 25 fov, it's just a touch wider than the 28 but is significantly different in impact.

i'm lovin' it!

joe

 

[wrenhunter]

Joe, I was just thinking the same thing. I've seen a number of 21 vs. 25 threads, but not this one. Anyone who's used both the CV 25 and 28 care to comment?

For my part, I have the 21 and 35 and wonder if the 28 might slot in there.

 

[Richard Black]

28mm is my favorite w/a lens for general photo work. The CV 28 f3.5 borders on a permanent attachment to the Bessa R I use. I have had several SLR 28mm w/a and I can say it is sharper than all of them except for the Minolta MD mount. But for carrying around the Bessa R and Color Skopar work the best. Contrast and sharpness are the rule in this lens. I give it 2 thumbs up!!!!

 

[RayPA]

Joe, I was just thinking the same thing. I've seen a number of 21 vs. 25 threads, but not this one. Anyone who's used both the CV 25 and 28 care to comment?

For my part, I have the 21 and 35 and wonder if the 28 might slot in there.

I have no issues carrying both 35 and 28 FL. I think they compliment each other just fine. I carried both this past weekend when shooting in a cramped railyard full of trolley cars, and ended up using both. I never wanted to go wider (I actually wanted to go closer—macro-like closer). So, I think the 28 slots in nicely next to the 35.


🙂

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Check out RFF's own Vincent Benoit who has some great shots with his 28/3.5 VC. Of course, he is an exceptional photographer, in my humble opinion.

 

[back alley]

if i could afford it, i think i'd like a 25/28/35 set for wide angle.

in the future i'm thinking i might look for a used 28/3.5 cv or canon again.

joe

 

[wtl]

can anyone also comment on this lens to cv 28/1.9 i am currently considering?

 

[Doug]

can anyone also comment on this lens to cv 28/1.9 i am currently considering?

Hi -- Only that the speed is useful both in dim light and otherwise to limit depth of field, and that the lens is rather large and will obscure the lower-right corner of the viewing field. The only alternative with comparable speed is the Leica 28mm Summicron, with the advantage of being much more compact balanced against the much higher cost. Wanting both speed and small size, I found a "new old stock" Summicron at a less painful price last May. I don't really need the f/3.5 Skopar now but it's such a tiny gem I'm reluctant to part with it!

 

[pdx138]

if i could afford it, i think i'd like a 25/28/35 set for wide angle.

in the future i'm thinking i might look for a used 28/3.5 cv or canon again.

joe

That is what I wound up with. I started with the 25 and 35 but decided I wanted to split the difference, so I bought the 28. Now the 28 is my favorite of the three, probably my favorite focal length overall. But I'm one of those guys who thinks a 50 is kind of long.