The "slow" 21mm's - Se 21f3.4/SA 21f3.4/C Biogon 21f4.5 and more

[sebastel]

dirk,

if you want to try it, use my ZM21mm/4.5 for a test ride. but be warned, the M9 shows nasty purple edges with it.

cheers,
sebastian

 

[menos]

With 21's it is more the subject and user skill that counts. They are all very good - and, possibly one benefit you would see with the SE 21f3.4 versus the Hexanon 21-35 is the smaller size.
I think it is more important to "shoot" oneself in with an extreme angle lens than anything else anyway.
Like your stuff too - the two guys on the bicycles are a good example of using a 21 to give a bit drama to the image.
If you go to Flickr and use the tag "Leica Super Elmar 21mm f3.4 Aspherical" there is some 60-70 shots done with the lens in the last month.
Tom

Tom, yes, there is still a long way to go, exploring 21mm - my interest is all there now ;-)
I think, I am not interested for now in another 21mm - the Konica is just a few days fresh.
Reason for asking was mainly, that I had no comparison for performance and saw some strange behavior.
It has been corrected now (collimation of the lens for use on digital cameras).
The first test shots show much improved sharpness - interestingly across the frame - I am surprised.

dirk,

if you want to try it, use my ZM21mm/4.5 for a test ride. but be warned, the M9 shows nasty purple edges with it.

cheers,
sebastian

Hey Sebastian - thanks for the offer ;-)
Are you in Shanghai these days?
Let's meet up and do some wide angle shooting maybe?

The M9 also shows purple corners, light falloff and distortion with the Konica, but you can code the lens in the camera as a 21 Elmarit pre ASPH and the files are amazing!

 

[menos]

edit [strange confusion of mind led me to believe of something weird regarding the Hex' focus coupling to Leica bodies]

Getting the hang of 21mm now - love that focal length.
It is just the perfect bit more wide than the 28, I never really got the feel for.
It has just the perfect wide angle distortion, to still look natural, but add that little drama, wide shots live from.

 

[Shab]

Here a photo that I made yesterday at night in the beach of Hendaye (Basque Coutry - France) with the C Biogon T* 4.5/21:

M9 + C Biogon T* 4.5/21 [ISO800 + F5.6 + 250seconds]

 

[bigeye]

Shab: Love the beaches in your area; wonderful surf.

.

 

[dsymes]

21mm f/4 SA - LTM

21mm f/4 SA - LTM

Any thoughts on the 21mm f/4 SA? My understanding is that it is the only 21 Leitz produced for LTM. I have a IIIg that I'd like get a 21mm for and have just been offered a 21 SA, but it is a bit pricy compared to the CV.

Douglas

 

[Tom A]

Douglas, no contest. Get the CV 21f4. Much better lens. I have had the Super Angulon 21f4 LTM - in fact I have had several of them and always found them a bit "bland" and not that good. Mind you - I used them against the SA 21f3.4.
I think only reason for a SA 21f4 is the fact that it takes 39 mm filters!!!!

 

[anu L ogy]

Tom,
Do you know if caps for the 3.4 sa w the hood on are manufactured by anyone? I
Jim

 

[35mmdelux]

Great photos! Tom you are on a roll.

 

[Tom A]

Tom,
Do you know if caps for the 3.4 sa w the hood on are manufactured by anyone? I
Jim

I have never seen a cap that would fit a SA's hood. There used to be a cap that would go on the lens (using the "pins" on the lens front to hold it in place). Had one, lost it (happens to most of my caps).

 

[Tom A]

Great photos! Tom you are on a roll.

When it comes to 21's - i think I have been on a roll for the last 50 years!!!!!

 

[Tom A]

New York, Super Elmar 21f3.4 on a Bessa R4M. Dont exactly know what they are doing - but they did it with gusto!

 

[jan normandale]

Tom those hand held shots in "Falling Water" are amazing considering the speeds you have used for the shots. Makes me want a 21mm. I'll have to think about this now you've planted a seed..
;D

Jan, I used a Bessa R4M (with a minisoftie) - gives about a stop slower speed capability. I am lucky in that I have a "steady" hand. I would like to attribute it to "clean" living - but I suspect it is dumb luck.

 

[fbf]

Hi Tom, you pictures from Super Elmar 21f3.4 look super sharp to me.... I like the look a lot.

 

[kermaier]

Tom,
Do you know if caps for the 3.4 sa w the hood on are manufactured by anyone? I
Jim

The Leica 14040 hood cap for the 35/1.4 Summilux Asph will fit nicely on the 12501 SA hood.
Ari

 

[Tom A]

Hi Tom, you pictures from Super Elmar 21f3.4 look super sharp to me.... I like the look a lot.

The 21f3.4 SE is sharp even wide-open - but having looked at some of my other 21's - not sharper than the 21f4.5 C Biogon - just a stop faster. Where it shines is in how even it is across the image field, even at f3.4.

 

[dsymes]

Douglas, no contest. Get the CV 21f4. Much better lens. I have had the Super Angulon 21f4 LTM - in fact I have had several of them and always found them a bit "bland" and not that good. Mind you - I used them against the SA 21f3.4.
I think only reason for a SA 21f4 is the fact that it takes 39 mm filters!!!!

Thanks, Tom. I'll continue using a 21mm Contax Biogon with an Amedeo adapter (centered, not 1mm low) that goes on my If or Ig - however, it's one of those that has very faint aperture markings and really drives me nuts, even with bifocals.

Douglas

 

[Tom A]

Doing some close up stuff with my V-Elmar 65f3.5 and decided to look for something more interesting. This is the "troika" of 21's that I am currently using.
The SE 21f3.4 is the largest, but not too large. The C Biogon 21f3.5 is the most compact and also the most "linear" of the three. The SA 21f3.4 is the oldest (a1979/80 version - last of a line).
They are all good and will do what you want a slow 21 to do - with minimal fuss. Both the SE 21f3.4 and the C Biogon are about as good as you would ever need - and the SA 21f3.4 is a trip back to 2 stops edge darkening and 60/70's style images.

 

[Richard G]

Is the G 21 as straight as the C Biogon?

 

[sepiareverb]

Don't have the graph for the C Biogon, but here is the G 21.