Next ZM lens after 35mm and 50mm?

[Peter^]

I just came back from an Easter trip to Istanbul with my Zeiss Ikon and the 50/1.4, the 28/2.8 and my new 21/2.8. I really love the 21, and found it the most useful both for street photography as well as indoor shots (which is why I would also recommend the 2.8 over the 4). I use the 28 now as an allround lens like most people use the 35 mm.
I'll let my wife buy me the 85/4 in Fall for my birthday, then I will be complete.
- Peter

 

[Roger Hicks]

Actually, I've already reached that point. I'm not sure about speed, but I could have already used a wider lens.

Point well taken. Hence a new thread on my sub-forum, 'which lens to buy next?'

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=73135

I look forward to others' responses.

Tashi delek,

Roger

 

[peripatetic]

I use a 50 almost exclusively (well actually I only had a 50 so it was exclusive, but you know what I mean) but needed something for an occasional wide-angle shot.

One way of doing it is to kinda go-with-the-flow and see what crops up. 🙂

I decided to stick with 28 so that I didn't need an external finder, both for cost and also to avoid the composing in one window and focussing in the other issue. Though of course maybe you just zone focus.

Anyway, no need to repeat what I ended up with (and am very happy btw.)

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69410

In the end I think what matters most is that you are happy and having fun, which probably has a bigger effect on your final images than minor differences in lens quality.

 

[italy74]

Marek
beautiful shots, especially concerning composition

 

[noimmunity]

Any recommendations between the 28, 25, or 21mm options?
The impetus for the new lens is summer travel, and I was thinking about the 21mm C Biogon.

I myself would (and did) pick the 21 C Biogon (and I had all the others). BUT, Since you're willing to consider the 25, I take that to mean size isn't really an issue. In which case I'd recommend considering the 18/4, which is capable of some really stunning images and unusual perspectives. It has slightly higher contrast than the other lenses, and a touch of light fall off at the corners. Together with a 35 and a short tele, it would make a great trio (with the 50 Sonnar as a speciality lens).

 

[Paddy C]

With my ZI I have the 35mm Biogon and 50mm C Sonnar, both of which I love. To round out my preliminary 3 lens catalog I'd like to get something wider than 35mm. Any recommendations between the 28, 25, or 21mm options?

I'm new around here (just waiting to receive my ZI).

It's a very tough decision when there are so many options (18, 2x21, 25, 28).

For the last year and a bit I've been using a Contax G2 with four lenses—21, 28, 45, 90. And I've been using it primarily as a travel camera.

I ordered my ZI with the 35/2 and will be looking right away to add a wide angle (the 21 or 25). Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with the 25mm length though I suspect it might be very nice.

What I do know is the 21. It rarely left my camera. I would say 80% of the photos I took while traveling were with this lens and many of my favourites were taken with it.

The 21 really opens things up and sucks in a lot of scenery. In most cases I found the 28 didn't really do it for me...it was wide but not dramatic wide.

Never, when using the 21, did I think I needed something wider. The 21 really was always enough.

I would also add that I can't recall ever using it wide open. But then I don't take a lot of interiors. So for me the size difference between the 21/4 and the 21/2.8 might lead me to choose the slower lens. I would really want to mount both and make a decision. Of course, I don't know if there's an IQ difference between the two.

Good luck. I would like to hear what you end up with.

 

[andrewteee]

For the moment I've tabled the choice of a new lens. I have time. What I may end up doing for vacation is taking my DSLR because it has flexibility and I can use flash, and take the ZI with the 50mm C Sonnar and a bunch of Tri-X for my inner photog soul. In the end I'd like to keep my gear simple for travel yet be able to manage a range of circumstances.

Longer term, I'm leaning towards a 21. I've been studying a lot on Flickr (among other sites) and like what people are getting with the 21mm options. Plus, 21mm is more "different" than 35mm. I know it only matters what I would actually use, but 21mm is appealing.

 

[Bingley]

I use a 50 almost exclusively (well actually I only had a 50 so it was exclusive, but you know what I mean) but needed something for an occasional wide-angle shot.

One way of doing it is to kinda go-with-the-flow and see what crops up. 🙂

I decided to stick with 28 so that I didn't need an external finder, both for cost and also to avoid the composing in one window and focussing in the other issue. Though of course maybe you just zone focus.

Anyway, no need to repeat what I ended up with (and am very happy btw.)

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69410



In the end I think what matters most is that you are happy and having fun, which probably has a bigger effect on your final images than minor differences in lens quality.

Very nice shots w/ the 28 skopar! I'm a fan of it for the same reasons.

 

[mervynyan]

21/4.5, I'd say this is the most "smooth use" lens. I don't use eye focus anymore, hyperfocus all the time. Frame it and shoot.