Thinking about the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8

etrigan63

etrigan63

Rangefinder Padawan
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This lens has been on my mind of late and I have some questions for you folks.

I will not ask for sample images - I found plenty on Flickr.
  1. The M8 modified versions on Popflash are adjusted for framelines. What framelines do unadjusted Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8's bring up as opposed to adjusted ones?
  2. Does this lens suffer from any kind of barrel distortion? The samples I saw seem to indicate otherwise.
  3. What external viewfinder should I use to accommodate the M8's current crop factor?
Thanks for looking!
 
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The 21 in original from brings up the 50mm frame. In that form it can't be manually coded properly.

There is no visible distortion on the Biogon.

The finder for the M8 would be 28mm. I tried using the camera finder but the paralax was too frustrating. The finder is worth using.

The lens is outstanding, you will love it.

Best wishes
Dan
 
All you need doing is to get a 28/90 replacement bayonet flange from Zeiss and send it off to John Milich who will cut coding recesses in the flange so you van code it yourself as an Elmarit. Thats all you need to do to get yourself a nice lens that wil easily match the Elmarit at a fraction of the cost.
 
I would agree the Zeiss 21 is an excellent lens.
I have samples from a Japanese magazines . . . and the difference is hard to spot.
There is perhaps more potential in the Elmarit 21/2.8, but that potential will remain untapped under most handheld conditions. I am shooting street photography, not test charts.


Not to forget, the Voigltander 21/4 offers an even more higher costs/performance ratio. 1/3 the price for one stop less.

Then there is the ZM Distagon 18/4.
 
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Well Pizza,
I shoot available light exclusively on my M8, so the extra stop is important to me. If I could afford faster Leica glass, I would, but I cannot. The Zeiss glass has been giving me excellent results. I have CV glass as well (my 40 Nokton is a keeper), the 25P is a great little lens but it is not wide/fast enough for me. I picked up a Planar 50 from another RFF member and have been bitten with the Zeiss bug. I am not too keen on the Zeiss 85 on the long end and may opt for a Summarit 75mm to replace my Color-Heliar.

Stupid question: if the 21mm is modified to bring up 28mm framelines (because of the 1.33x crop), is the external 28mm viewfinder a necessity or a luxury? Which external viewfinder should I get? Tony Rose has a 21-24-28 Leica for a reasonable price and it wouldn't occupy too much extra space in my kit.
 
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fred, we finally agree on something;)

i have the cv 21 and doubt i would consider the zeiss lens mostly because i doubt i will use it enough to even justify the cv price.
it's nice to have though.
joe
 
etrigan63 said:
Well Pizza,
I shoot available light exclusively on my M8, so the extra stop is important to me. If I could afford faster Leica glass, I would, but I cannot. The Zeiss glass has been giving me excellent results. I have CV glass as well (my 40 Nokton is a keeper), the 25P is a great little lens but it is not wide/fast enough for me. I picked up a Planar 50 from another RFF member and have been bitten with the Zeiss bug. I am not too keen on the Zeiss 85 on the long end and may opt for a Summarit 75mm to replace my Color-Heliar.

Stupid question: if the 21mm is modified to bring up 28mm framelines (because of the 1.33x crop), is the external 28mm viewfinder a necessity or a luxury? Which external viewfinder should I get? Tony Rose has a 21-24-28 Leica for a reasonable price and it wouldn't occupy too much extra space in my kit.
Click to expand...

You should not feel that you are giving up optical quality with the Zeiss. There is no scientific reason why it is any worse than the Leica. Peruse the data sheets for both lenses and you will see they are for all practical purposes equal.

If brand is very important you will never be happy with any lens until you get the brand you want. (I have been that way so I'm not being derogatory). If you want to look strictly at the science of the thing the Zeiss will knock your socks off.

Best wishes
Dan
 
Sorry Dan, maybe I wasn't clear: I'm not put off from the Zeiss 85mm because of optical quality but because of focal length. 75mm is just right for me tele-wise and I feel 85mm would be too close to 90mm. I have seen some pics from the 75mm Summarit and like the way it renders plus (having handled it at the Leica Demo Day lat November) like the overall dimensions of the lens for keeping in my travel kit.
 
I have this lens and must say not very satisfied with it, resolution wise it doesn't compare with the Leica glass. In comparison shots with my 50mm Summicron and 35mm Summaron, these lens going back to the 50's, it doesn't even come close. If you can't afford the Leica glass right now my advise is save for it you will be happier in the end.
 
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