Zeiss ZM 21/2.8 ?

[johnastovall]

[FONT=Geneva, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Any opitions on the Zeiss ZM 21/2.8? Puts seem to really like it in his review of it. Any one used it? I've found a new one for under 1000 (hood separate) and am looking at getting it as part of a 3 lense kit on an M8. Yep, buying lens and don't have the camera.

How is this lens with film on M bodies?


[/FONT]

 

[Nachkebia]

I have it, I love it, I love it even more with Zeiss viewfinder 🙂

 

[johnastovall]

I have it, I love it, I love it even more with Zeiss viewfinder 🙂

I saw where I have to get that also to go with it. The hood and view finder are almost half the cost of the lens.

 

[J. Borger]

I had a Biogon but use a Leica 21 Elmarit asph now .... i could make a good deal/ trade that's why. The Biogon is an outstanding lens.
That said i prefer the colorrendition of the Elmarit ....... colors are more in line with my other Leica lenses. Besides the biogon showed significant more vignetting compared to the Elmarit on an R-D1 (curable in the converter however)... we have to see on the M8.
Only if you plan to shoot mainly color and your other lenses are Leica i would perhaps reconsider.
Do not buy the chrome-painted Zeiss lenses .. they are ugly .. otoh that is perhaps just my taste 😉

Here are 3 samples from the 21 Biogon on the R-D1

 

[J. Borger]

2 more samples of the 21 Biogon on an R-D1

 

[arthury]

I thot the 21mm Biogon is a superb lens for the price. I have used it at 2.8 but did not see much vignetting. Clarity and resolution is superb. Feel free to look at my gallery (below) here in RFF, there are a few samples in there.

 

[arthury]

Here are a few :
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=30712&cat=500&ppuser=1990

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=30711&cat=500&ppuser=1990

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=30710&cat=500&ppuser=1990

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=30709&cat=500&ppuser=1990

 

[J. Borger]

II have used it at 2.8 but did not see much vignetting .....

Vignetting was on an R-D1 not on a film camera.
Not problematic .. but more than the Elmarit.
The vignetting of wa lenses is one of the main challenges with digital RF.
I can only recommend the Biogon .. it's an awesome lens.

 

[Nachkebia]

After checking J. Borger amazing gallery, I am reaaaly interested in Leica M8!!! 🙂

 

[rolfe]

I have the Zeiss ZM 21/2.8 and love it.

The finder is superior to the Leica finders by a large margin and the bayonet hood design is well thought out as well.

I've used it wide open a lot and haven't noticed any vignetting, although I'm sure there is some on any 21mm lens.