First couple rolls with the 25mm Snapshot Skopar

[K14]

My snapshot came with me to a visit to New York last week. The lens ended up on my Zorki 1c. Eastman Double X @ISO200 using standard D76 developer, these negatives looked like chromes hanging on the line. This lens is very special not to part with.

Registry Room (Ellis Island)

Downtown Manhattan

 

[nightfly]

Anyone have one of these and the CV 28 3.5? I really like the look of this lens but since I already have the CV 28 pretty much glued to my camera, I'm wondering if the difference is enough to justify this one.

Maybe if I could fine one attached to a Bessa L with the viewfinder for not too much money...

 

[kossi008]

Thanks for the thread! I do not own the 25 and am not planning to get one, but you ARE encouraging me to shoot my 28 and 21 Skopars indoors more often! 😀

 

[MISH]

as I said before i just love this lens, I bought mine before going to New York to visit my daughter and here are a example from the first couple of rolls I shot with it

 

[randomtheng]

Hi guys, a question regarding this lens. I just got it yesterday, however, mine isn't rangefinder coupled. So how do i focus properly when i want to take a shot? if your 25mm snapshots are also not rangefinder coupled, please enlighten me!

Thanks.
yt

 

[Doug]

The Voigtlander 25mm f/4 Snapshot Skopar is not RF-coupled. Thus it has detents at several useful places in the focusing ring, and thus the "snapshot" name. The more recent one has an M-mount, is RF coupled, and named "Color Skopar".

To focus the Snapshot Skopar, you visually guage the distance to the subject, set that distance on the lens, and shoot. Unless you're wide open at a short distance, the depth of field with this wide lens is sufficient to cover modest errors in focus.

You can make good use of the depth-of-field scale on the lens to ensure your subject is within the range for the selected f/stop, and the focus click stops are handy for setting these distances by feel alone. Great lens, have fun!

 

[reala_fan]

Hi guys, a question regarding this lens. I just got it yesterday, however, mine isn't rangefinder coupled. So how do i focus properly when i want to take a shot? if your 25mm snapshots are also not rangefinder coupled, please enlighten me!

Thanks.
yt

It uses 'Zone Focusing'. The 25mm lens has lots of depth of field (areas that will be sharp...no critical focus needed).

You usually use a 25mm lens to take in 'the big scene'. Use the click stops on the lens. The first click stop from infinity works for most all 'big scene' shots. If you get closer...use the next over click stop.

Here is the 1st click stop at f4 (wide open)....very sharp...as I said...no need for critical focus (which makes the lens a blast to use):

.

 

[zgeeRF]

This lens is one of my favorites. So sharp and very useful.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgee/3391598554/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgee/2912944821/

 

[Bob Michaels]

Anyone have one of these and the CV 28 3.5? I really like the look of this lens but since I already have the CV 28 pretty much glued to my camera, I'm wondering if the difference is enough to justify this one.

I have both, plus the CV 21mm. I keep thinking I should not need 28, 25 and 21mm lenses. Especially since I typically shoot one lens all day. But I do use all of them and can't bear to part with any one of them.

I find the 28mm and the 25mm to have significantly different FOV's. The 28mm is a "normal on the wide side" for me while the 25mm seems to be more like a true wide angle lens. I frequently go to shoot with only the 28 knowing that I can deal with just about anything. But I will only set out with the 25mm when I know I am going to be in crowded situations.

I should mention that I am probably not the norm to which others should use for calibration.

 

[BillBingham2]

......if your 25mm snapshots are also not rangefinder coupled, please enlighten me! yt

Not a problem, all you need to do is learn four different distances from where you are, and one you already know.

The snap-shot version (the one you have and I did too) has three little dents inside on the focusing mechanism. The dents are at 1, 1.5 and 3 meters. With the little chrome screw you spin the dial and you will feel the stops. The fourth distance you need to learn is infinity (the one you know now), done. Take out a tape measure and a strand of rope, place some knots at 0, 1 meter, 1.5 meter and 3 meters and practice estimating distance. As you walk, estimate and test ever so often.

When you combine the great DOF with the lens you do not have to be perfect. If you want to get wild and crazy you might want to learn another distance, learn 6 meters too. There's not a click stops but it rocks when you want do slightly longer shots. It's on the lens so it makes it easy to hit. I did not do 6 meter as I already was pretty good at 15 feet (years of shooting basket ball in High School). That was close enough for me.

I love the 25 so much that I bought one for my S2 when I moved to Nikon RFs. My kit was a 25 CV and a 50/1.4 and 105/2.5 Nikkors. It ROCKED.

Hope this helps.

B2 (;->

 

[randomtheng]

wow... thanks for the info guys! will try it out asap and come back with the results!

bessa R and 25 snapshot!

thanks.
yt

 

[neelin]

Anyone have one of these and the CV 28 3.5? I really like the look of this lens but since I already have the CV 28 pretty much glued to my camera, I'm wondering if the difference is enough to justify this one.

I'm in the middle of 3 weeks in Paris. I left my cv28/3.5 at home & brought the cv25/4 on the R4M. I also brought a cv28/1.9 for evening and a cv15/4.5 for superwide & cv40/1.4 (hasn't seen any use). 90%+ are using the CV. I love the click stop focusing for walkaround.

The 25 feels cheap compared to the nice build of the chrome 28...but what can I say...it's at home, it didn't make the cut. I'm also carrying a Rollei35 with a 40mm/3.5.
______
robert

 

[chrishayton]

I have the m mount one and its great build quality. Love this lens

 

[tokengirl]

I have the Color Skopar version, might as well glue it to my M6. I typically shoot it at f16 with the focus set to 1.5 meters - everything from the end of my arm to infinity is in focus. Awesome little lens. 🙂









(Rollei Retro 80S film stand developed in Rodinal 1:100)

 

[Richard G]

Get my first roll back in a few days. That first one's a killer shot Clare.