Color Skopar 21mm

[kengai]

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You have experience of Color Skopar 21mm on Leica M-P 240? can be an alternative to lenses Leitz?

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[jim0266]

I own this lens and have used it on the M-E and now my 262. I purchased this lens in my film days because it was so inexpensive.  21 is a bit too wide for me so I recently added a ZM 25/2.8, which is excellent. Testing the the CV 21 against the ZM 25, the CV 21 holds its own. PM me and I would be happy to share some RAW files.

[Clactonian]

I purchased the Color-Skopar 21mm a few months back for my M240 to cover an infrequent need. I am delighted with the lens which performs pretty well. Most of my images are monochrome so any colour inconsistency in the corners is not an issue.

See a sample image below.

 

[lct]

You have experience of Color Skopar 21mm on Leica M-P 240? can be an alternative to lenses Leitz?

 

In black and white yes definitely. It has just a bit more softness and vignetting than Leica 21/3.4 asph at f/4 but otherwise i find them very close. In color, the CV 21/4 has more color shift (red edge on M240, cyan edge on A7s mod) than the Leica 21/3.4 asph but it is easy to adjust in PP if needed. Doesn't bother me in most cases personally but i'm no pixel peeper. Size wise, the CV 21/4 is easily the smaller lens compared to Leica 21/2.8 asph, 21/3.4 asph & even 21/3.4. The CV 21/4 is my most used 21 on both Leica and Sony bodies for this very reason. Beware that this lens may suffer from sample variation though, more so than its Leica competitors.

[lct]

Forgot to say that the CV's minimum focus distance is 0.5m vs 0.7m on both 21/2.8 asph and 21/3.4 asph. It is only beaten by Super-Angulons 21/3.4 & 21/4 (0.4m). On my A7s mod, the CV 21/4 allows shooting at about 0.3m focus distance with the CV close focus adapter (pic).

https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Samples/i-Gs8x2xw/0/X3/DSC02780_c1si-X3.jpg

[honcho]

You have experience of Color Skopar 21mm on Leica M-P 240? can be an alternative to lenses Leitz?

 

Of course it can be an alternative lens.  If you want an inferior lens that flares at every opportunity when better lenses won't, is never very sharp and has low contrast then you'll like it a lot.  I bought one of the original ltm versions on launch to take with me on a long-distance backpacking trip.  On Fuji Velvia, it was distinctly unimpressive and was not in the same league in any way as the 28mm f3.5 color-skopar that I bought at the same time and still use.

 

I got rid of the ltm 21mm f4 very quickly after my trip. If the latest m mount version has been greatly improved it might be worth considering if you don't want to pay Leica prices.  I would rather get a little more money together and look around for a Zeiss 21mm than settle for a CV 21mm lens.

[bocaburger]

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I have two of them, one screw-mount w/9cm Leitz adapter, one M-bayonet mount version.  I also have the pre-ASPH Elmarit, and had an ASPH Elmarit but sold it because it really didn't outperform the ASPH by enough to persuade me.  Coded as the pre-ASPH Leica 21/2.8, neither of my CV 21/4's have ever needed PP for a color cast.  Both samples I have are tack-sharp and do not vignette more than my Elmarit, and are remarkably flare-resistent.  I have heard of inconsistency among samples, especially with the older LTM version, which may account for the occasional bad report.  My advice is be sure you can return it for a full refund after a couple weeks if it turns out you got a bad one.

[lct]

My current CV 21/4 flares significantly more than Leicas 21/2.8 asph and 21/3.4 asph. Strong backlights are not its forte unless flare effects are looked after. It flares less than Leicas 35/1.4 pre-asph and "thin" 90/2.8 though. 

[bocaburger]

I've got the LH1 rectangular metal crinkle-finish lens shade which fits both the LTM and M version.  That probably mitigates any flare caused by light sources outside the FOV.   I've used these lenses for thousands of shots over the years and have yet to have even one image impacted by flare.  I can't attribute that to pure luck. 

[honcho]

The LH-1 lenshood makes no difference at all to the 21mm ltm color skopar's propensity to flare, I tried it as a last resort and came to the conclusion it's more of a nod to 'retro style' than any practical use as a lenshood.   I had a brief discussion about this lens on another recent thread where someone disagreed with my experience of it.  He then went on to post an image to illustrate how good it was....complete with a large flare right in the middle of his image!  

 

In it's favour, it is very compact, takes 39mm filters and focuses quickly with the finger tab.   I maintain it is one of the worst lenses for flare I have ever used.  Unless the latest version is greatly more flare resistant, my advice is avoid it, save a bit more money and get a better lens.

[Poki]

I use a 21mm CV Color-Skopar on my M. Since the M isn't able to do high-ISO long exposures anyway, I need to use a different system for my serious landscape work, which meant I needed a wide angle just for fun. For this purpose, the CV lens is perfect - very small and light, sharp and a joy to use. It does vignette a lot and isn't the most flare resistant lens, but depending on what you are looking for, it could well be your best choice.

 

Here are a few samples I shot with the Color-Skopar:

 

 

[lct]

[...] It does vignette a lot [...]

 

Not significantly more than other 21s. Much less than Super-Angulons 21/4 & 21/3.4 for instance.

[stephengv]

Has anyone tried the Lightroom 21mm Color Skopar Lens profile? will it eliminate the color cast?

[Jean-Michel]

I purchased the VC 21 a few years go to go with my film M's. It is the ltm version to which I added the M adapter. I have been using it with my M9 and now with my MP. I use the Emarit code on the cameras. The M9 images usually required a trip to Cornerfix. The MP (with the Emarit profile) eliminates most if not all the Italian flag issue; and applying the LR profile  for the VC 21eliminates that all together.

 

I can only compare it with the 3.4 Super Angulon that I used a few decades ago. The VC gives me exactly what I want and need from a 21 mm lens. I am sure that the Leica 21mm lenses are even finer, but the VC with the plastic viewer cost me less than a Leica viewfinder alone!

 

Using the VC 21 with the Leica EVF for framing is a pleasure, I still use the RF for focusing and switch back to the EVF for framing – much better than going from RF to the VC viewfinder.  

 

I have printed images as large as 20 by 30 inches made with this lens and I am very pleased with the image quality. I must add the images made at f/8 or f/11 are significantly better than those made at f/4 or f/5.6. This is probably where the Leica lenses would be much better.

 

Jean-Michel

[david strachan]

Has anyone tried the Lightroom 21mm Color Skopar Lens profile? will it eliminate the color cast?

 

Stephen...

Try the DNG Flat Field correction in Lightroom.  Just need to take a picture of a white piece of paper, and use that DNG file to calibrate your lens.  It gets rid of the edge colour casts and any vignetting.  It's very quick and simple and works perfectly for several of my (non) Leica ltm wide-angle lenses.  I tried some profiles from the develop module using Leica Profiles, but that didn't work very well, naturally.

 

I use the same calibration DNG file for both my Voigtlander 15mm and my 28mm...for all apertures.  I haven't tried my Voigtlander 21mm ltm yet, but don't expect any problems.  It's an impressive piece of software correction.

 

cheers..

[stephengv]

Stephen...

Try the DNG Flat Field correction in Lightroom.  Just need to take a picture of a white piece of paper, and use that DNG file to calibrate your lens.  It gets rid of the edge colour casts and any vignetting.  It's very quick and simple and works perfectly for several of my (non) Leica ltm wide-angle lenses.  I tried some profiles from the develop module using Leica Profiles, but that didn't work very well, naturally.

 

I use the same calibration DNG file for both my Voigtlander 15mm and my 28mm...for all apertures.  I haven't tried my Voigtlander 21mm ltm yet, but don't expect any problems.  It's an impressive piece of software correction.

 

cheers..

 

 

Thanks again. Does the lug in directly applies it to the DNG original file or just a "preview"? 

[stephengv]

By the way, how does this lens compare to the Leica 21mm Super-Elmar?

[lct]

Compared to the M 21/3.4 asph, the current CV 21/4 is a bit softer at f/4 but plenty sharp above. It has a bit more vignetting also and is more prone to flare but given its tiny size it is a must have irrespective of price IMHO. BTW the CV 21/4 can focus at 0.5m on mirrorless cameras and even 0.3m when using the Voigtlander close focus adapter on my A7s mod. Very well made lens with a small metal hood and a clever lens cap which doesn't add any bulk when the hood is on. I'm fortunate enough to use a couple of Leica M & R 21mm lenses but the little CV 21/4 is always in my bag i must say.

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Hallo,

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[david strachan]

Thanks again. Does the lug in directly applies it to the DNG original file or just a "preview"? 

 

 

It's all here in the instructions etc...

http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/lightroomplugins.html

[stephengv]

Your right, . I might delay the purchase of the M 21/3.4, thanks to you.

 

Compared to the M 21/3.4 asph, the current CV 21/4 is a bit softer at f/4 but plenty sharp above. It has a bit more vignetting also and is more prone to flare but given its tiny size it is a must have irrespective of price IMHO. BTW the CV 21/4 can focus at 0.5m on mirrorless cameras and even 0.3m when using the Voigtlander close focus adapter on my A7s mod. Very well made lens with a small metal hood and a clever lens cap which doesn't add any bulk when the hood is on. I'm fortunate enough to use a couple of Leica M & R 21mm lenses but the little CV 21/4 is always in my bag i must say.