seeking out your thoughts...

[back alley]

as some might know from previous posts, i have sold off a bunch of gear in order to finance more gear in hopes of doing a bit better in my actual shooting.
but...

the zm 21 is maybe not going to fit the r4 so well (finder interferance) and i wonder about spending that kind of money on a part time lens, no matter how good it is.
for pretty much the same money i could get a 15/21/28 cv 3some and make the r4m a complete wide angle kit with no finder interference. and still use the zm 25 on it as well.

what ya all think?
joe

 

[Joe Mondello]

Dunno about the R4 but the 28 Ultron does impinge on the R-D1's finder FWIW.

 

[back alley]

i was thinking the slower 28.

 

[FrankS]

Sounds like a plan. You can later decide whether the ZM25 is worth keeping.

 

[back alley]

the zm 25 is staying.
it's the perfect wide angle.
more of an edge than a 28 fov and way easier to work with than a 21.

 

[JohnM]

To some extent, it almost looks like buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff. If you have and like the ZM 25, do you really need the 21 and 28? I don't think you'd use the 15 a lot, but at least it is a substantially different view than the 25. (Seeing that you have an excellent 25mm lens and an excellent 35mm lens, I think the 28 is just extra weight in the camera bag.)

If it were me, and this is highy subjective, I would either stand pat or just add the 15.

 

[biomed]

I ordered the 28/3.5 for my R4.

Mike

 

[back alley]

i'm thinking of making the r4m a complete wide angle kit with the intent of really exploring the world of wides.
i assume that i will eventually prefer some over others etc.

 

[JohnM]

There is always the option to go completely crazy and buy the CV 12mm....;-)

 

[back alley]

i don't think i have the talent to make that one work well for me!

i may never have the opportunity again (or soon anyway) to have all the wides at my disposal to work with side by side and really get to know.
in the end it may wind up being just the 25 that does it for me or i may turn into a 15 freak.
joe

 

[dazedgonebye]

the zm 25 is staying.
it's the perfect wide angle.
more of an edge than a 28 fov and way easier to work with than a 21.

I'm finding that I'm not getting much use out of my 21cv. You've got me thinking I need to find a way to try a 25.

 

[sockeyed]

The 28mm and 25mm fields of view are not that different, in my opinion, whereas the 21mm starts to go to more extremes (and of course the 15mm is much more so). I think that if I was in your shoes, I would prioritize and purchase the lenses in this order:
21mm (because you can use it with the R4A/M framelines)
15mm (because it's ultrawide but rectilinear)
28mm (listed last because you already have a 25mm)

Or you could just shell out for the 12! (kidding)

 

[back alley]

ben
your list is the same as mine.
i was thinking of getting them all at once though.

 

[GeneW]

I think the CV15 would be fun to use. I like the CV21 a lot (thanks BTW) but sometimes wish it were even wider.

Gene

 

[foto_fool]

I've been shooting "natural perspective" lenses sincce I started with film 30 years ago. Digital P&S zooms got me interested in "architectural" or "landscape" perspectives but none of mine go shorter than 28mm equivalent. Seeing some of the beautiful photos posted here has me convinced that I want to try something wider - 21mm - even if I only use it 2% of the time as some posters have noted in their own usage.

My dilemma - I like fast lenses. It's an obsession. With the exception of the Hexanon 50/2 I can't seem to part with, all my M lenses are 1.4 or faster. I know I am going to be using the 21mm mostly outdoors, but a bad case of cognitive dissonance has kept me from plunking down for a CV 21/4 and finder.

But then I could not muster the gumption to lay out for a ZM Biogn, much less an Elmarit. So I split the difference - KEH is sending me a 21/2.8 Biogon for my Contax G.

I'm wondering if I'm going to end up wanting to chew my arm off to get away in the morning.

- John

 

[BillBingham2]

Joe,

I found that I was carrying around way too many lenses to have fun years ago (I was in Nikon SLR Land at the time). Perhaps that is why my systems have so much space between lenses (e.g. 15/40/105 and sometimes a 25). I want to see a difference between my lenses, make it worth my while to switch.

I would not go with the ZI 21, I'd go with a 15. I have the old CV 25 and love it. My guess is that the ZI is only better. Perhaps the question is, do you go CV or ZI for your 15? What about the new ZI 18? I love my CV15 for what it does, it's a fun lens to carry and use from time to time. It did not set me back a house payment (as the ZI might), but like the CV 25, she is slow.

B2 (;->

 

[back alley]

i thought about the zm 18 but my lack of patience factors in - it's not available till june...
i like the idea of one camera bag with a complete wide angle kit in it and the cv lenses are small, light and except for the 15 need no finders.

and while the differences in focal lengths may not be all that different i think it would be great fun to see what they are, up close and personal.

joe

 

[oscroft]

i could get a 15/21/28 cv 3some and make the r4m a complete wide angle kit

I think that's exactly what I would do, and I also agree that 25mm is probably the perfect all-rounder as far as wideangles go (I currently have the 15/21/25 and am thinking of getting the 28, so all that will be missing will be an R4 🙂 ).

And as for only getting what you need - where's the fun in that? The fun is in exploring and experimenting, and I've had a lot of it with my lenses. Rather than take out a whole bag of lenses, I tend to think "I'm in a 21mm mood today, so I'll just take that one" (though I'll usually take a 35 or a 50 on another body too). That approach has definitely helped me get to know individual lenses over the years, and I have a much better eye for which lens would make the most of which shot these days.

So I'd say if you can afford those three lenses and you want them, go get 'em 😀

 

[rover]

the zm 25 is staying.
it's the perfect wide angle.
more of an edge than a 28 fov and way easier to work with than a 21.

Yeah, you have it, and it is a stop faster than the 21, 1/2 faster than the 28 so you get a little speed with it, and it still will work the same on your ZI. I don't know the diameter of the ZI 25. You may find it fine on the R4 for more than just when you are in a pinch.

 

[rover]

I have done the same thing, fashioned a nice small kit, with my R4. Mine is with the CV 21, 28/3.5 and 35 Ultron or Canon 2.8. I may pick up a CV 35 Classic Skopar at some time, but I am pretty happy with this little kit. I am interested too in shooting wide, and prior to Joe mentioning it, I have only had modest interest in the 15, but we shall see, maybe the time will come when I will want to give that a whirl.