Voigtlander 21mm skopar

[Robert Seeney]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi

 

Looking to pick up this lens to try some wide angle shooting - I have checked Reid reviews and read the numerous threads on this forum and others. Can't justify the SE 21mm when I haven't shot at 21mm before. Couple of quick questions:

 

1. Am I right in thinking that red edge on the m9 only really applies to colour and it has no real impact on b/w? Also, later firmware minimises red edge anyway

 

2. CV have a reputation for inconsistent QC and so may have to swap lenses with a dealer if I get a poor one. Any recommendations for a uk supplier who people have found amenable to swapping lenses if I get a poor one

 

Thanks in advance

 

Rob

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[250swb]

Coming to point #2 first. When people give advice like 'I tried several at my dealer and eventually got one that seemed OK', they are assuming all dealers carry vast stocks of the CV 21mm Skopar. So that advice is nonsense for the vast majority of people on this planet at least.

 

But as ever bad stories far outweigh good stories on the internet because that is the way of the world, people like to complain but never like to praise, so in truth CV lenses aren't so bad and have a decent quality control.

 

Point #1, and yes red edge only really applies to colour, although this can be confused with a natural vignetting (darkening of the corners) wide open. The firmware upgrades haven't really got rid of it, only lowered the personal threshold that people see it at. Cornerfix will get rid of it, so there is no excuse not to try this excellent 21mm lens (although I don't use mine anymore).

 

Steve

[TomB_tx]

I've been using the 21 VC more, and with my sample and M9, with lens coded as 21 2.8 any red-edge is so slight that people don't notice in my pictures. I also use it only at ISO 160, where the edge corrections are most effective. I don't know why some people have more problems with red-edge; I just enjoy the lens and quit worrying about it. (When I bought it I didn't expect to use it on the M9, so this has been a happy bonus.)

[bocaburger]

I've been using the 21 VC more, and with my sample and M9, with lens coded as 21 2.8 any red-edge is so slight that people don't notice in my pictures. I also use it only at ISO 160, where the edge corrections are most effective. I don't know why some people have more problems with red-edge; I just enjoy the lens and quit worrying about it. (When I bought it I didn't expect to use it on the M9, so this has been a happy bonus.)

 

+1, and applies to both of my copies, an LTM and an M version.

[honcho]

I had a CV 21mm for a while and used it on an Epson RDS-1 and mainly a Leica MP when backpacking. It's quite well made, produces images with nice contrast and the focusing tab is a nice touch.

 

Unfortunately the CV21 flares badly and is not exceptionally sharp at any aperture in my experience. I got rid of it for those reasons.

 

The Zeiss options probably have a bit more performance to offer. If I had made a significant investment in an M9, I'd wait on and budget for an SE21 rather than risk compromising M9 file quality.

[madNbad]

I asked the same question about a year ago before buying one to use with my IIIc. There were a number of images made with the lens in response. Try searching past post and take a look.

[JWW]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I bought a used Voigtlander LTM version with M adapter last year to see if I like the 21mm FOV. I liked the FOV a lot so I later purchased the Leica 21mm SEM.

 

I was impressed with the Skopar's performance and did not get any red edges that I noticed. However I did not try to test or shoot white walls or whatever. In comparing the performance of the two lenses, the Leica wins hands down on wide open corner performance. Even stopped down, the Leica is better on corners. At f4, the Skopar has significant vignetting that may generate noisy image borders and effectively makes the Skopar about a stop slower than the Leica. However, the Skopar is very small and handy to carry and the price was right.

 

If I didn't have the Leica, the Skopar would be very acceptable to me for the percentage of time I use a 21mm.

[rramesh]

The 21 f/4 Color-Skopar is one of those amazing lenses from Voigtlander. For price-performance it cannot be beaten. I purchased one new (Because it came with the groove for coding. The older ones don't) for only a few hundred dollars. On the M9 with the latest firmware there is almost zero red edges and in fact I never had to correct it in post-processing.

 

Yes, the Super Elmar 21 is better but I cannot yet justify the difference in price.

 

Check our the review by Sean Reid.

[lars_bergquist]

I'll repeat my point: Of the four CV lenses I have owned, two have suffered from unacceptable decentering. I would not advise anyone to buy a CV lens unless they have access to a dealer who has lots of CV lenses on his shelves, and is willing to let you try them all until you find one that is good. Sean Reid seems to be in that enviable position. I am not.

 

So I bit the bullet and bought a SEM. I have never regretted it. It is a super-lens by its performance.

 

The old man from the Age of the Super-Angulon

[Ecar]

Robert,

 

1- Yes, no issues in BW, other than a slighly more pronounced vignetting, and latest firmware indeed minimises red edges. These may still bother you in particular lighting conditions, but Cornerfix or a very slight crop would typically get rid of them (my default is to crop, as I'm lazy and the image always extends a bit beyond the finder framelines anyway).

 

2- Yes, sample variations may be an isssue with CV lenses - however, in my experience (by no means statistically representative), you get either an OK lens or an obvious lemon. Out of the 5 CV lenses that I purchased, only one was in the latter category (decentered, as Lars mentioned, and unacceptably soft) and I got a replacement. Therefore, having access to a dealer who has more than one lens available would save you some time and hassle, but most dealers would replace a lens you are unhappy with.

 

The CV 21 is a good, small and affordable lens for street work. YMMV, but I would get the SEM only if you expect to use this focal lenght a lot and/or want or need the best possible quality - e.g., for architecture work.

 

Don't forget that you'll need an external viewfinder on the M9. On the M8, I found that, with a bit of practice, you could use the rangefinder window edges to compose. Again, YMMV.

[gyoung]

I bought mine secondhand, and its great. The only UK dealer likely to have large stocks would be Robert White I think. I bought a new 28/1.9 from them, no problems.

 

Gerry

[Robert Seeney]

Thanks for your comments everyone - much appreciated

 

Rob