widest lens on a CL VF aka choosing between CV 21/25/28

[-kk-]

Whats the rough size of the entire CL VF? would it be about 28?

Im quite keen on getting a wide angle lens, and really like the 21 for its compact size. has anyone tried either of the CV 21/25/28 lenses on the CL without the external finder? Im curious to hear your experiences.

thanks in advance.

 

[borismach]

For quite a lot of time that I have the CV21 stuck onto my CL. It works very well with the external VF. Using hyper-focusing (or hypo?), all I have to do is point and shoot.
Never compare the external VF with the camera VF, though. Believe it is more like 28mm FOV.
Cheerz
🙂bm

 

[Palaeoboy]

Some users have stated that they use the whole viewfinder for 28mm but I dont believe it is wide enough to be accurate and use and external finder for this focal length on a CL.

 

[oscroft]

Yes, the full VF on a CL is approx 28mm

 

[Captain]

Yes, the full VF on a CL is approx 28mm

Sorry I disagree, its not even close, more like a 35mm. Rolling your eye around to get a great view is not the same as an equivalent view. If you look at it straight on then its more of a 35mm.

 

[ferider]

kk,

I guess it depends on your eye sight. Look at the 90mm framelines. If you
can replicate them once on their left and right, you see the full viewfinder
as 28mm. I did. 21 and 24 is definitely too wide.

And the 28/3.5 is also the best of the Color Skopar family, IMO.

Roland.

 

[oscroft]

Sorry I disagree, its not even close, more like a 35mm. Rolling your eye around to get a great view is not the same as an equivalent view. If you look at it straight on then its more of a 35mm.

The question asked for the rough size of the entire viewfinder, and I just answered it as it was asked.

The widest lens one can comfortably use is a more subjective question, and I find I can use it with a 28 reasonably well - what I can comfortably see is certainly wider than 35.

Best regards,

 

[oscroft]

And the 28/3.5 is also the best of the Color Skopar family, IMO.

I find it impossible to disagree with that - it really is a gem.

 

[-kk-]

ive been really interested in getting that color skopar.... and judging from what you guys are saying its probably between the 28 and possibly 25 PII.

will decide when i see the lenses in the flesh. thanks for your input.

 

[Andy Aitken]

Depends. If you wear glasses the full frame is about 35 but without glasses (and if you really push your eyeball into the finder) it's almost 28.

Good wides on the CL IMHO are cv21mm, cv25mm and presumably the cv28mmf3.5. But I really, really like the Kobalux 28mm f3.5 because it is soooooo flat that it makes the combo tiny. Bear in mind that the new versions of the cv 21 and 25 don't come with a finder any more. To be honest you can't go far wrong with any of the lenses mentioned so far in this thread. And I have to say the new cv25mm pII is very, very nicely put together (yeah, I have both versions - pathetic isn't it?)

 

[-kk-]

how would you guys describe the 28 color skopar?

Im preferably looking for a compact wide lens, perhaps something with a c-sonnar like signature, but in a compact 28mm package.

would the 28/3.5 fit the bill?

 

[MP/CLE]

Speaking of 28s, has anyone tried the leica f2.0 on a CL? Works really well on the CLE, but I am being seduced by a CL and I do mostly wide angle work and my CLE doesn't even typically use a normal/telephoto. What do you think?

 

[John Noble]

Speaking of 28s, has anyone tried the leica f2.0 on a CL? Works really well on the CLE, but I am being seduced by a CL and I do mostly wide angle work and my CLE doesn't even typically use a normal/telephoto. What do you think?

I think you'd want an external finder for anything wider than 35-40mm. Even with my glasses off I can't see the whole 28mm scene without moving my eye around. With glasses, it's hard to see the 40mm lines all at once. Good thing I prefer a 50 on this body!

I like my CL, but I don't think it's a great wide angle platform unless you can get along with external finders (which I happily do with my CV 21P).

FWIW, the extreme (and I do mean extreme) corners of the CL's finder roughly correspond to a 21mm field of view, but you can only look at one corner at a time. 🙂

 

[-kk-]

here's a question from the unitiated. lets say you DONT use an external viewfinder for any of the above lenses ie either 21/25/28, am i correct in assuming that focussing will be accurate if you use it as per normal, only that what you get in your print is a wider view than what you actually see through the VF?

Ive never used/ seen through an external viewfinder, so if it only provides you with the appropriate view and doesnt affect focussing at all, then thats fine for me (i plan to use the wider lens for grab/street/hip shots). I dont mind if the print grabs a wider view than what i see through the VF, since for these type of shots, it'll be set to ~f16, infinity focus and snapping form the hip anyway.

 

[Bailey]

You would need to use an external finder for either the 21 or the 25. But I would highly recommend the 21 with the CL, especially if you can get one with the finder. The lens isn't coupled, so you wouldn't be focusing with the regular viewfinder anyway.

For me, the CV 21 plus the 40 and 90 that came with the CL make a perfect set.

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

I use the 21 PII sans finder and just shoot from the hip with the lens set at 8ft and usually stop down to f8. 21mm looks great when shot from the hip. just my 2 cents.