Suggestion on wide ZM

[bluebook]

I am debating between 21/2.8, 21/4.5, and 25/2.8. I personally prefer 21 but I am currently using M8 and ZI so 25 has an added benefit being ~35 on M8 for me. I am curious about the both IQ and built quality, and whether any of these has issues with M8/ZI. Thanks!

 

[segedi]

A personal preference, just sold the 21mm 2.8, would be 25mm. 21mm was a bit too wide and I found focusing and then reframing to lead to out of focus shots on the 21mm.

 

[segedi]

I've seen some great images with all of these lenses, so I should qualify my last comment by saying I was shooting wide open and with a camera whose viewfinder has a rather short EBL. Stopped down, the lens was great. If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have gone with the Voigtlander 21/4 P and saved a bundle!

Here's what stirs interest in the 25mm:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2009/11/18/the-zeiss-zm-25-2-8-biogon-lens-review/

 

[Mister E]

In this order: 21/4.5 18/4 25/2.8

 

[bluebook]

Segedi--how is Voigtlander 21/4? Can you comment on it? I welcome saving money idea :-D

Mister E--did you find 21mm to have problem with color casting, etc? Or is that problem exclusive to M9.

 

[Mister E]

Segedi--how is Voigtlander 21/4? Can you comment on it? I welcome saving money idea :-D

Mister E--did you find 21mm to have problem with color casting, etc? Or is that problem exclusive to M9.

Color casting is only a digital problem, film doesn't have those problems. The only reason I don't still have my ZM 21/4.5 was because it leaked light at the mount. It could have been fixed easily with a piece of tape, but I wasn't interested in doing that. There's a whole thread on these light leaks in the ZM forum. I'm not sure if it's an issue with all of the 21/4.5, but it was with the two I've used.

I kept my 18/4 because it didn't leak light and I generally prefer 18mm to 21mm, but I sort of regret not having the 21 as it shared the same 46mm filter with my Summiluxes.

 

[bluebook]

Thanks guys. Now I cannot decide ha ha between 21 (probably more useful for my ZI) vs 25 (more useful for my M8). May be I will sell my 35 Cron to buy both (your guys are such bad influences 😉)

 

[segedi]

Get the 25mm, will save you from the problem of wanting a 28mm in the future as well 🙂

I didn't have a voigtlander 21mm but after looking at all the reviews I ruled it out due to soft corners but had I bought it, I would have kept it and bought a 25 or 28 too. Despite the soft corners, it is a light, cheap and capable performer.

 

[Paul Luscher]

I'm a big fan of the 21mm F2.8. Need the speed, 'cause I shoot a lot in low light, and it's a bargain for the price (No way I can afford Leica's 21mm f1.4 unless I win the lottery).

I use the lens on my Ms and have been very pleased with the results. To my untrained eye, the image quality is every bit as good as anything from my Leica lenses.

 

[Archiver]

I have the 21, 25 an 28. All are excellent in terms of image quality.

The 21 has particularly firm focus, and the aperture ring clicks firmly as well.

The 25 was my general wide angle on the M9 for a few months, as I really liked the extra field of view compared with the 28.

The 28 is my oldest (2008) and most used RF lens. It appears to have developed a little wobble in the aperture ring and the focus ring is not as firm as the others. Sometimes it has a 'catchy spot' in the focus near to infinity, sometimes it doesn't.

I don't know if this increasing looseness will appear in my other Zeiss lenses as I continue to use them, but I hope not. The build quality is otherwise excellent.

 

[kdemas]

The nice thing about the 25 is you can just use all of the internal VFs on either camera to get close to the view of the lens - without resorting to an external VF. As long as you don't wear glasses, anyway. A very big reason (besides the IQ) that I got one.

Excellent point, I use the same technique for framing. The image quality is so good with the 25/2.8 that I have been able to forgive the two cases of the "Wobbles" mine has developed. Easily fixed and worth the trouble for the images the lens generates.