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

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zm 21/4.5 c-biogon

 

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Beat me to it fbf!

 

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Here we have a winner 16/8 hologon

 

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The 16 is remarkably straight.

And as we see the G21 is not as straight as the C-Biogon.

But, to put it in perspective here is the SE 21/3.4, the same graph and actual distortion for 1/4 of the image area:

 

[Tom A]

Years ago I had the Hologon 15f8 - and yes, it is very straight but also a miserable lens to use! F8 if you could live with the dark corners - and f16 if you used the compensating filter. Limited use as an all round ultra wide.
I have shot with the Hologon 16 and also the G21 - but not enough to have any opinions about either lens.
I find that if I have to some something that requires straight edges and all that - I go for the C-Biogon 21. The Super Elmar is a good lens for "normal" shooting, i.e no tripod, no spirit levels etc.
Will be interesting to see which one which wins out in the end as my preferred user. It takes me quite some time to settle on a lens anyway. The 0.5 close focus on the C-Biogon is another thing that I like - and use. Probably will be a case where I keep both handy and use the alternating days or something like that - with the VC 21f4 and the SA 21f3.4 for other days!

 

[David Murphy]

Beautiful photos. Thanks for this informative presentation.

 

[Travis L.]

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!!!!

I had an M mount 21 f4CV for a while and it never really grew on me.
My f4 Super Angulon on the other hand.... I love!

M3 21 f4SA on HP5