Which 21mm M mount lens?

[Al Kaplan]

They got the lens but not the finder, which I everntually sold. They also got my 150mm f/2.3 Astro Pan Tachar with the Visoflex II adapter. They were mounted together with a Leitz plastic holds-two-lenses-base-to-base ring, with the extended rear of the 19 sleeved inside the 150. I really miss that lens too. The pawn shop probably didn't give them ten bucks for both lenses!

 

[Tom A]

Just to give you an idea about sizes. In the foreground, the VC24f4 LTM, The Ricoh 21f3.5 and the VC 21f4 P-mount (M-mount).
In the back the 21f4.5 C Biogon, The 21f3.4 Super-Angulon, The Zeiss Biogon 21f2.8 and dwarfing them all, the new 21f1.4 Summilux (not mine, just borrowed it for a couple of days).
The one that gets the most use is the 21f4.5 C Biogon.

 

[kxl]

Tom - where's the Kobalux 21/2.8?? 🙂

Just to give you an idea about sizes. In the foreground, the VC24f4 LTM, The Ricoh 21f3.5 and the VC 21f4 P-mount (M-mount).
In the back the 21f4.5 C Biogon, The 21f3.4 Super-Angulon, The Zeiss Biogon 21f2.8 and dwarfing them all, the new 21f1.4 Summilux (not mine, just borrowed it for a couple of days).
The one that gets the most use is the 21f4.5 C Biogon.

 

[Krosya]

I dont have a Kobalux anymore, but here is Avenon 21/2.8 😉 :

I love how it fits M5

 

[kxl]

sweeeeeeeet 😀

I dont have a Kobalux anymore, but here is Avenon 21/2.8 😉 :

I love how it fits M5

 

[oldoc]

Well, I guess I am soul less in the neweer Zeiss glass, but I prefer the sharpness.
Guess that's why some like love Impressionism, some realism.
I prefer Monet painting, and the sharpness in the images I included in my photographs.
You say to-May-toe, I say to-MAH-toe....

 

[Tom A]

Tom - where's the Kobalux 21/2.8?? 🙂

I used to have one, but it was an early one and the front element kept coming undone. A more careful friend got it,
It was a good lens, the finder was funny - HUGE and looked somewhat like a miniature garbage can, Very bright though.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I was considering a 21mm lens and <snip> This set me looking for more info on 21's for the M.
Mike

OK, you don't own a 21mm lens but are "considering" one.

There seem to be about 3 choices, all good. One is around $350, one around $1,000 and one around $2-3,000.

So buy the "good" one for around $350. If you find you like the focal length but think the optical quality is just not enough for you (highly unlikely) then consider one of the more expensive ones.

Would it not be a shame to spend several thousand dollars and find the focal length doesn't suit you? It is a lot better to test the focal length first before you drop seriously heavy coin on one of the others.

FWIW, I have the CV 21mm (the $350 lens) and it is close enough to my ContaxG 21mm Biogon (about the perfect 21mm lens but not M mount) that I would not consider replacing the CV 21mm.

 

[meven]

I love the Kobalux too, here it is on my CL with the stupidly big viewfinder!

And here is the result on the M8

 

[oldoc]

Bob, you are absolutely right.
I don't use mine very often, and when I do, I need it.
I am not convinced that a 24 Leica wouldn't do nicely for the M7, but the 21 plays 28 mm on the M8.
Unless he uses an M8, a 25 or 25 would probably do, don't you think?

 

[Bob Michaels]

Bob, you are absolutely right.
I don't use mine very often, and when I do, I need it.
I am not convinced that a 24 Leica wouldn't do nicely for the M7, but the 21 plays 28 mm on the M8.
Unless he uses an M8, a 25 or 25 would probably do, don't you think?

He did say he uses a M6. l I use my 25mm a lot more than I do my 21mm. But I find that I can't get rid of either although I usually only pack one or the other to go along with my normal 28mm & 35mm set. (all on ZI bodies)

 

[mgd711]

OK, you don't own a 21mm lens but are "considering" one.

There seem to be about 3 choices, all good. One is around $350, one around $1,000 and one around $2-3,000.

So buy the "good" one for around $350. If you find you like the focal length but think the optical quality is just not enough for you (highly unlikely) then consider one of the more expensive ones.

Would it not be a shame to spend several thousand dollars and find the focal length doesn't suit you? It is a lot better to test the focal length first before you drop seriously heavy coin on one of the others.

FWIW, I have the CV 21mm (the $350 lens) and it is close enough to my ContaxG 21mm Biogon (about the perfect 21mm lens but not M mount) that I would not consider replacing the CV 21mm.

Good advice Bob.

I have to admit I'm favoring the Biogon 21/2.8 but 2 things concern me about it. 1. It being too contrasty and 2. Its size. After seeing Tom A's photo I'm not so sure about it.

As you said the old CV21 is cheap, easy to buy and have it shipped over from Cameraquest but I generally prefer to do a bit of research on my purchases and then buy what I think is the best for me, (with in a given price range) as I have to import just about everything I want for photography.

I appreciate the responses and photo's.

 

[back alley]

zm 21/4.5 on the rd1

 

[back alley]

 

[mgd711]

My main use for the 21 would be tight space's in and around the markets and street's of South East Asia. So lighting will be harsh and extreme. Full sun and deep shadows.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Does anybody have a 21mm finder they want to get rid of? Cosmetics mean nothing. I just need something to replace my VC finder with its broken foot. My pristine cherry looking chrome 21/3.4 Super Angulon with its ding free shade will keep anyone from noticing the finder I'm sure.

 

[Palaeoboy]

I just need something to replace my VC finder with its broken foot.

With all the shoes breaking is Voigtlander themselves not producing them as a readily available spare part?

 

[Palaeoboy]

Just to give you an idea about sizes. In the foreground, the VC24f4 LTM, The Ricoh 21f3.5 and the VC 21f4 P-mount (M-mount).
In the back the 21f4.5 C Biogon, The 21f3.4 Super-Angulon, The Zeiss Biogon 21f2.8 and dwarfing them all, the new 21f1.4 Summilux (not mine, just borrowed it for a couple of days).
The one that gets the most use is the 21f4.5 C Biogon.

Ok Tom, can the humble $350 Voiglander hope to challenge the $6000 Summilux from f4 to f8? That really is David vs Goliath in both price and size!

 

[Karefin]

The one that gets the most use is the 21f4.5 C Biogon.

Can you elaborate a bit why?

 

[Al Kaplan]

It would be nice if the VC finders had replaceable feet, but if they used a fiber reinforced plastic it would solve most to the problem, and probably at a much lower cost.
Spending $128 plus shipping is way too much money to pay every time a foot breaks, and it's not something that a dab of epoxy will repair. Plastic VC finders aren't an item that people buy to fondle. They get purchased by people who USE them.