CV 21/3.5 vs CV 21/4.0 on Leica digital CL

[lct]

CV 21/3.5 vs CV 21/4.0 on Leica digital CL

Quick comparo between the new CV Skopar 21/3.5 and the current CV Skopar 21/4.0 (M version) on the digital CL. 
In a nutshell, the CV 21/3.5 has more macro contrast, a bit more micro contrast, sharper corners but also more CA than the CV 21/4 at all apertures up to f/11 (f/16 & f/22 not tested). F/3.5 looks sharper on the new lens than f/4 on the CV 21/4 and the CV 21/3.5 flares much less than the latter. 
I have not tested distortion, which does not feel faulty at first glance, but the only significant flaw is CA on the new lens. The CV 21/4 looks clearly superior on this point. Now the 21/3.5's CA could be worse on my test pics below and is not difficult to fix in PP. Also the CV 21/3.5 is significantly more contrasty than the CV 21/4 which can be a problem for jpeg users or soft portraiture eventually. 
BTW the new lens doesn't suffer from red edges on the M240, let alone on crop cameras like the digital CL. So no red edge on the CL and no significant vignetting either for the same reason. Same for the CV 21/4 on the CL (not the M240) though.
As far as handling is concerned, i prefer the smaller size and weight of the CV 21/4 personally and i don't like much the focus stick of the new lens but it is a matter of tastes obviously.
As for accessories, i use the sturdy LH-4N bayonet vented hood (pic below) dedicated to the CV 35/2.5. Doesn't vignette at any aperture on the CL, thanks to the crop factor, protects well the front element, hides the glossy front bayonet mount and prevents the camera from nosing down when standing on a table or the like. 
Matching lenses: CV 15/4.5 v2, ZM 35/2.8, Elmar-M 50/2.8 and Summarit-M 75/2.5 besides the MATE v1 and my favorite Tessar 35/3.5 adapted by MS-Optical. 
Couple of boring test pics hereafter. Full jpeg resolution (≈25Mo). No 6-bit coding, no camera profile, DNG files developed with Silkypix, contrast & WB adjusted with PS CS3.

CV 21/3.5 @ f/3.5:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-wzCKGzZ/0/fed42289/O/i-wzCKGzZ.jpg
CV 21/3.5 @ f/4:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PMc7p8g/0/d8969eb8/O/i-PMc7p8g.jpg
CV 21/4 @ f/4:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-XGgNFCJ/0/1de69faa/O/i-XGgNFCJ.jpg
CV 21/3.5 @ f/5.6:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Vf2FZWF/0/c1212225/O/i-Vf2FZWF.jpg
CV 21/4 @ f/5.6:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-g5skXCv/0/d6551dff/O/i-g5skXCv.jpg
CV 21/3.5 @ f/8:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-8gnkqwZ/0/ec7c1a3a/O/i-8gnkqwZ.jpg
CV 21/4 @ f8:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Lm3wg4H/0/35e83bf3/O/i-Lm3wg4H.jpg
CV 21/3.5 @ f/11:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-58qwHbf/0/f9829a32/O/i-58qwHbf.jpg
CV 21/4 @ f11:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6rKvv86/0/a3e24e27/O/i-6rKvv86.jpg

 

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[Archiver]

It appears that the f3.5 has very slightly more smeary corners than the older f4 P when wide open, and the older lens seems sharper across the image overall. A little surprising, especially since they were shot on the CL, not a full frame camera.

[lct]

1 hour ago, Archiver said:

It appears that the f3.5 has very slightly more smeary corners than the older f4 P when wide open, and the older lens seems sharper across the image overall. A little surprising, especially since they were shot on the CL, not a full frame camera.

Interesting indeed. I had the opposite feeling. May i ask if you downloaded the full resolution files?

[Archiver]

@lct - Ha! Thank you for mentioning that. I looked at the full size files again, and realized that I had got them the wrong way around! I stand corrected. 🤯

[Archiver]

@lct - you wouldn't happen to have a Msomething to test this lens? I love the Zeiss 21mm f2.8 Biogon on the M9, but it would be nice to have a more compact 21mm that doesn't have a red edge problem.

Edited to add: I've found your M240 lens tests with the new 21mm f3.5. Really impressive. I think this will be my next wide angle M lens.

Edited Wednesday at 12:55 PM by Archiver

[lct]

Great little lens indeed. Just beware that it is not immune from chromatic aberration.

W/o and with CA correction in PP:

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[ramarren]

The new lens looks good.

Lateral chromatic aberration, and the purple edging in high contrast situations like this is so easy to correct with today's software, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I like the style they've adopted for the thumb tab, it's like the one on the Color Skopar 28mm f/3.5, which is my favorite Color Skopar of the ones I've had so far. 

Not sure I need another lens at this point, but it's nice to see these coming to market.