Which Lens Would You Recommend?

[c.poulton]

Hi Guys,

Having just brought a new Bessa R3a + 40/1.4 Nokton after having used a Yashica GTN for years, I feel I need some advice on which wide angle lens to go for:

I shoot a lot of architecture, both internal and external, ancient and modern, in all kinds of lighting situations. The old GTN accessory wide angle lense was just not wide enougth and I always struggled somewhat with it.

I am tempted by the 12mm Ultra Wide Heliar - because it is SO wide! But worry that it may not be fast enough for internal work, and of course the vignetting.

The 15mm Super Wide Heliar is also an option. (and a considerably cheaper option at that!) But is it still too wide for me. - Am I better off with the 21mm Color Skopar?

 

[aizan]

i'm thinking 28/1.9 ultron. fast for indoors, not too wideangly.

 

[rover]

If speed is the concern the 28 Ultron is an excellent lens.

Zeiss is also offering 21 and 25mm lenses with a max aperture of 2.8.
They will run you about $900, but promise to be great performers.

http://www.cameraquest.com/ZM lenses.htm

 

[c.poulton]

Rover / Aizan

Thanks for your recommendations, I had not really considered the 28 Ultron, - it is very fast for a wide angle and I have read some good reviews on it.

Unfortunately Zeiss is out of my price range at the moment, otherwise I might have considered the 21 or 25mm lenses.

I guess as an all rounder perfectly suited for indoor work the 28 Ultron is the one, however I am still tempted by the wider angles on offer - perhaps I go for the 28 Ultron and start saving up for the Zeiss 21?

 

[hth]

Why not the CV 28/3.5? I use a 28/2.8 and have not felt any urge for a faster 28.

/Håkan

 

[BrianPhotog]

Thought about the 25/4? I love mine 🙂

 

[pvdhaar]

As much as I love my CV25/4, I don't consider it the ideal low light/indoor lens. Wide open at short distances (like you're confronted with indoors), focus guesstimation errors are visible if you look for them. The f4 max. aperture precludes handholding with anything less than 800ISO (indoors again). The meter always seems to indicate 1/30 at 2.8 or 1/15 at 4.0 when I'm at 400ISO, wreaking havoc with the 1/focal length shutter speed rule..

I'd give the 28/1.9 strong consideration unless you're going to use a tripod most of the time..

 

[Theo-Prof]

If you are trying to decide between the 12 and 15, it would be helpful to know that the distortion on the 15 is much less than on the 12 (per the reviews I have read on the 12, around 1.3% pincushion). This would certainly show up in architectural photos. I own the 15 and am very pleased with its performace with straight lines. If my memory serves me right the distortion is around .4% (barrell, I think).

Kevin

 

[dmchadderton]

I agree with Theo - the 15mm is a great lens and any advantages the 12 has over the 15, I think they'd be lost for your kind of work due to the greater vignetting. The 15 is also a f4.5 lens as opposed the the 12/f5.6 ... That said, surely you would need smaller apertures for recording interiors, rather than a limited dof provided by the (rather large) cv28 at f1.9?

Just some thoughts - you don't gain any speed by opting for the 21/4, 25/4 or even 28/3.5. The 28/1.9 is where you need to be if low light is an issue, but then you lose coverage.

I had a 15/4 (before it was stolen) and found it to be more than useful indoors with 400/800 film - I'm sure some users use faster films.

If you don't/can't pay Zeiss/Leica money, then the 15 is the best WA choice - I think the 21/4 is optically better than the 15.

 

[35mmdelux]

Its your CV choice for economy and they are sharp as well. depends on how much WA you need for the job. I owned a 25/4 CV and though it was great for what it was. Very sharp. What I just didn't like was the need for an external VF. Opted for a 28mmElmarit V.3 that I could use w/ my Hexar and M6. WOW.

 

[c.poulton]

dmchadderton / Theo

That is a very good point. Although the 12 is very wide, the sort of work I do would would show the distortion. As regards speed, dof would be an issue for me, and in low level lighting situations, resorting to a tripod with the slower 15/f4.5 would be a better overall solution.

The 15/f4.5 is now the front runner for me.........

 

[Nearsighted]

I had the CV 21/4. Too wide for me. Sold it. I am buying the CV 25/4. I'm thinking it will be just right. I like the 24mm focal length on my SLRs. The 28mm is nice too, but there are times it just won't do. Buy the way, the 21/4 is sharp and contrasty, but it is prone to flare and screams wide angle. I can't imagine what the 12 or 15 are like. You must have to be within arms length uf your subject or the subject will be miniscule on film. If you had the 1.5 crop factor as with digital sensors, they would probably be great.

 

[Theo-Prof]

If you set the 15/4.5 to the hyperfocal distance mark for f4.5, you will notice that, wide open, the depth of field extends from less than two meters to infinity. Wide angles are great!

Kevin

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

The CV 21 is a truly sharp compact lens, high build quality. Given that it includes a 21mm finder that is actually better than Leica's VF, it is easily the best bargain in the CV lineup.

I'd recommend the 21, wide enough to distinguish itself, not too wide as to give you distortions indiscriminately.

 

[c.poulton]

Nearsighted

The CV 21/4 is too wide for you? Interesting. There I am considering the 15!

I am coming to the conclusion that maybe I need two wide angles - the 15 for the sweeping wide angle architectural shoots that require the spead and dof, and maybe the 28 for the closeup shoots thet require the spead but not the dof?

Anyway, all you guys have been a great deal of help to me - a relative newbe to the interchangeable lense arena. -- Thanks!

 

[dmchadderton]

I think you've hit the right conclusion - the 15 for the really wide angle work, and a 24-28 for other, more general stuff.


I've not owned any of the following, but I believe that;

- the 25/4 Snapshot Skopar (with fixed focus range notches) is brilliant as a wide angle street shooter.
- the 28/3.5 is tiny and a good performer (perhaps the smallest cv lens?)
- the 28/1.9 is a great, fast wa lens but a bit big

Incidentally, I've used the 15/4 for shots inside fairly dark aircraft, and have achieved some more than acceptable shots with 2-800 iso film.

I've posted a couple of cv15mm shots that aren't too dark to show the vignetting.

 

[Fred]

The 15 (comes with the VF) is a very wide lens, there's a couple of shots in my gallery using it. This one was handheld in Malmesbury Abbey:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=10714&cat=500&ppuser=1521

I don't have the 28 Ultron but I have heard that its pretty good, but big. Given that you have 40mm lines for the widest frames you's need an external VF so the length of this lens should not be a problem for you (impeding into the viewfinder image). I do have the 28 F3.5 Skopar which is tiny. The following example was using this lens with a monopod:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=18255&cat=500&ppuser=1521

Hope this helps.

dmchadderton, love the aircraft shots!

 

[c.poulton]

Great shots - I particularly like the Riat4 - the tilted horizon and angle of the shot really adds dynamism to the subject matter. The turning of the pilots head works well as it leads the eye over to that side of the shot - very well taken!

As you suggested, I have decided to go for the 28/1.9 as a 'workaday' wide angle lens (not too worried over the size) and the 15/4 for the occasions when I really need that wide angle of view.

 

[c.poulton]

Fred

Thanks for the advice. The Malmesbury Abbey shots are the short of subject matter that I tend to shoot indoors - it's good to see that you can get away with handheld - I tend to not use a tripod if I can get away with it - I am very good at bracing myself when I take shots so usually I can do without - even for long 1/2s exposures.