I'm at a loss

[Artorius]

Which lens. I have 28VC, 40VC, 40 Cron, 90 Elmar, 135 Elmar.
I have the M3, M4-P, and M8. I think I want the 21m, but would also like more wide. I am going to get them all, I just don't know in which order.
I don't like the 50mm in any format.
I tjink I want in the following order
15 CV
21 CV M
75 CV

 

[jbf]

I say 15. I'd love having a 15mm for landscape shots, etc.

Right now im torn between the 40VC and the 50 Nokton... i like the idea of the 40 but i hate it's bokeh wide open. 🙁 I love the bokeh/lens characteristics of the 50 nokton... but i honestly wanted something inbetween 35 and 50. Aww. 🙁

 

[zuikologist]

The 50mm thing is funny - many either like the focal length or it is "just" too long.

 

[cmogi10]

I've heard good things about the CV 75 and I love the 75mm focal length, sensor crop or no sensor crop they both work for me.

Never used the wides and not going to comment on them because of personal preference.

 

[JonR]

Isn´t more the question What do you want to shoot most over the next months to come ?? If you want to strech your photographic skills in landscapes then go for a shorter lens like the 15 but if you want to focus on portraits then a 15 or 21 is pretty useless so you should of course go for the 75!

I do not know anything about the specific lenses but I think it is allways good to start from what you are really going to use it for !

Also - if you have a 28 why go for a 21 unless you just want it to have the whole suite so to say.... in practical usage I would guess there is little difference between those to lenses.

/Jon

 

[oscroft]

I've got all three of those lenses (and also the 25/4, 28/3.5, 35/2.5 and 50/2.5), and the lenses I find myself using most of the time are the 28, 21 and 50 (so much so that I may end up selling the 25 because I just don't use it). I love the 15, but it's too wide to use very often - there is a real danger of producing lots of "gimmicky" pics. And unlike some, I don't like the 15 for landscapes - there is a limit to the number of "something looking big in the foreground with the horizon as far away as the moon" type of shots I want to take (and with nothing prominent in the foreground, extreme wideangle landscapes just don't work for me).

The 75 is also a great lens - very sharp, if a little less contrasty than the others. But it doesn't get enough use - I much prefer wideangle lenses with RF and tend to use an SLR for longer lenses (My OM Zuiko 100/2.8 is always my first choice when I want a longer lens).

So I'd go for the 21, myself - it's a superb little lens, and is almost permanently attached to my Bessa R4A.

(But having said that, if I had an M8 I might think differently - the 15 on the M8 would give you near enough the equivalent of a full frame 21, and that would be a combination to be drooled over).

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Art,

Tri-Elmar. No contest. Identical field of view on MP (21) and MP (16). Hellish expensive but also VERY good. Frances Schultz (my wife) reviewed it for B+W (UK) and my Shutterbug review will appear in due course. If I could afford one, I'd have it. I'm even thinking of 'outing' gear to buy one.

The new Zeiss 18/4 is also very good: I have one at the moment. But I'm with the previous poster: I don'r really like super-wide-angles for landscapes. Probably my favourite landscape lens is the 135 on an M8, where it's 180mm equivalent.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Shootist]

Cv21 M

Cv21 M

I have the 21mm CV M mount lens at it is fantastic (especially for the cost).
I find the 21 wide enough for the type of shootiing I do. I don't see a reason to go wider at this time.
If you like taking shots of SOMETHING (not of views) then the 21 may fit you also. I tend to use 35/50/75 more then the shorter length lenses. 50 always worked for me with film and it still does with the M8.

 

[DaveSee]

I use 75 on the M8 as often as the 90TE with M4, infrequently. I have the CV 15 and 21/4 LTM, and use the 21 between Ms more often, but the 15 is a great M8-specific lens... a lot of fun! That "crop-factor-thing" does leave one wondering between film and digital... I like 21 in film so much I bought the CV 15; however, the CV 21 is easier to use between the formats.

As said, it would depend on your method/view, and given your current lenses, I'd look at the CV 21 versions, and also the ZM 21/4,5.

hth+rgds,
Dave

 

[Richard Marks]

I have to say the beauty if digital is you can try things out very easilly. Any half respecting shop should let you try out a few combinations. Dont take any one elses word for it!! Also without information on your chosen range of subjects its a little difficult to make a recommendation. Every lens has its purpose.

best wishes

Richard

 

[etrigan63]

I elected on a 3 lens kit: CV 25p f/4, CV 40 Nokton MC (body cap lens), and a CV 75mm Color-Heliar + Milich adapter (both coming soon). I love the speed and sharpness of the 40 Nokton and the 25p is a great little lens for the price. I eagerly await the Color-Heliar. I may need a new bag...

Dammit, I think I have GAS...

 

[Steve Bellayr]

From what you listed as owning only the 15mm is substantially different from the others in focal length therefore that is your best choice as you indicated.