CV Superwides (12, 15, 21)

[Wiechel]

I was just wondering if anyone in here has had the privilege of trying out more than one of these three lenses? If so, how do they compare (except for the focal length 😉)? Which is sharper, which is more contrasty, which has more or less distortion, etc? I believe only one of them is in the photozone.de lens archive, so that won't help me...

 

[rover]

I have not had the pleasure of using the 15 or 12, but I really enjoy the 21 quite a bit. To be honest with you, I am glad that I choose the 21 as I can't see myself truely mastering a wider lens. I lucked out and got it right when I choose I guess. That being said, here is a detailed account of my experience with the 21.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1010

I have not seen a lot of shots with the 12, and only a few with the 15. The 15 seems sharp, but of course, the wider you go the more distortion you get. The 21 is very sharp, compact, takes the same 39mm filters as many other CV and Leica lenses and gets you right into the shot. Very intimate when used to shoot people.

 

[laurentvenet]

Hi everyone.

I have only the 15 mm which is a great lens but hard to master, and I'm far from being able to produce great pitures with it. I'm now thinking that I should have bought the 21 instead.

Mango, I guess you use much more the 21 than the 15.

Laurent

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Weichel, check out Alan Soon's Istanbul / Jordan folder, where he uses the 21mm almost exclusively as a street lens. I think you will find it the most versatile and quite sharp.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=322503

good luck

 

[Way]

Very good thread with great links!

Way
Still awaiting delivery of my CL....

 

[mdg137]

Ive had all three, the 21mm is great if you can abide the aperture, compared to faster lenses-- Im back into Leica again, and trying to decide which 21mm to go with, and Im pretty sure Ill go with the Voigtlander.
As for the 12mm v 15mm issue, I started with the 15mm, and moved to the 12-- I think theyre about on par regarding sharpness, they both have much more light falloff than the 21, which I rather like. The build quality of the 12 is much better, and it is rangerfinder coupled, which is totally useless, given the DOF.
The 12mm is harder to use without just screaming attention to the wide angle effect. 3mm doesnt seem like much, but it is.
The finder in the 12mm is better built as well.
I love wide angles, and rarely use anything as long as 50mm- so I may be a bit biased. However, ther eis no question in my mind, if you are going to have only one of the 3, it should be the 21mm.
15+21, or 12+21 are great, but only one..21.

 

[mdg137]

One correction to the previous post, I dont think the 12 is rangefinder coupled, I was thinking of the 21...

 

[Wiechel]

Thanks for all the great input! I'll give it some consideration...

 

[laurentvenet]

I think that only the 21 is rangefinder coupled.

 

[iMacfan]

I can't give a comparison, but I definitely can give a thumbs up for the 21/4. It's tiny, cheap and the results are superb. Look below for a couple of examples, then think what some with talent could do!

Manolo - great shot of Wesley's chapel - it's a nice place, isn't it.

David