p.46 #1 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
trigger08 wrote:
I really love the look of this lens! I'm a long-time hobbyist thinking about moving on from m4/3 and place a lot of priority on a lightweight kit, small lenses like this make it tough to decide between going to Fuji or all the way to full-frame. This and a few other small primes would be nice paired with the a7C.
I know focal length is a personal question only I can really answer for myself, but humor me anyway! Would pairing the CV 21/3.5 with the Sigma 45/2.8 be too much a gap for most of you? It's about a 2x jump, but I wonder if for general, walkaround shooting you'd need something like a 28mm as well. Of course, recent phones have that focal length covered and are pretty good for daylight snapshots…
I'm quite tempted by the a7C, CV21/3.5, Sigma 45/2.8, and Sony 85/1.8 as a compact, generalist setup (could pop my Raynox 250 on the 85mm for a decentish macro option too I think.)...Show more →
I have the CV21, CV40/1.2 & an FE85. As a small set up it works well although 40mm is my most used.
I am awaiting the 35GM so we'll see what that brings to the table & I would also like the 20G in exchange for both the Samyang 24/1.4 astro lens & this CV21.......
I do enjoy the actual process of using these Voigtlanders though ....
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p.46 #3 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
In a similar boat, with slightly different setup. I've parted ways with Sony for the time being, but I do miss all the native E mount Voigtlander glass, especially the 21mm. These days I'm using 80% M lenses on a Kolari-modded Sigma FP, but I'm a huge fan of the Sigma 45 and recently picked up the 24,which I also love. I swapped my Contax G90 for the M Hexanon 90/2.8, which suits my purposes better (less microcontrast, better bokeh and "portrait" rendering IMO) and use the VM 15/4.5 when I need to go reeeeally wide. Which, for whatever reason, I'm not doing much these days.
For the person who was asking about the spacing of 21 vs 45mm, I think it's a good gap. In a lot of situations, the Sigma 45 seems *too close* to 35mm and even 28mm. It gaps well with 24mm, but the other day I accidentally put the 24 on instead of the 45 - the lenses look virtually identical - and didn't even notice for several frames. Then I was like, "huh, oops" when the pelican I was shooting snapped at me for getting too close and I realized what I'd done. So I think 21+45 is a good, noticeable difference.
twelveish wrote:
The CV 21/3.5 is quite important in my set since I'm not much of a wide angle shooter. So for the times I do want one, it's nice to have one as small and light as this. I also have paired it with the Sigma 45/2.8 and I'm on the fence about adding the Sigma 24/3.5 as my AF wide option, or just stick with 21 and 45.
I tend to think of my lenses as belonging in a certain "kit", so the CV 21 belongs in my tiny manual focus kit: CV21/3.5, CV 40/1.2 and Contax G 90/2.8. The small AF kit would be Samyang 18/2.8, Sigma 24/3.5, Sigma 45/2.8 and, probably, the Samyang 75/1.8 (until Sigma hopefully makes a reasonably small and light 90-100 ish I series lens). I have yet to aquire a few of these.
I also have the Samyang 85/1.4 and an adapted Canon 70-200/4 L, not really part of a "kit" for travel etc. More specific use cases for those.
I think I could live with the 21-45 gap though. Stitching in post is always an option in a pinch. I think if I used wide angle more I'd pay more attention to the different look a 21 and ~28 will provide. ...Show more →
p.46 #4 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
I wouldn't want all and sundry to get the impression this one is good only due to its diminutive size and low weight. It's close to the easiest lens to post process because the colour is just wonderful OOC and like so many slow lenses it has very few faults, also a lot of 3D. Interestingly, Cosina call it a 'vintage' lens along with the 75/1.5, the 50/3.5 and the new 50/1.5.
p.46 #5 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
philip_pj wrote:
I wouldn't want all and sundry to get the impression this one is good only due to its diminutive size and low weight. It's close to the easiest lens to post process because the colour is just wonderful OOC and like so many slow lenses it has very few faults, also a lot of 3D.
p.46 #7 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
I love this little pocketable lens.
I love the fact that you get beautiful sun stars by stopping down one click to f4.
If you don’t want sun stars, just shoot wide open.
p.46 #9 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
I have been using a Color Skopar 21/4P since many years on Sony crop cameras like NEX5N, A6000 and A6600 now. Has anyone information on how the e mount 21/3.5 Color Skopar compares optically with the 21/4? Is it worthwhile to switch to the E-mount?
p.46 #10 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
Sorry to ask once more. I am quite new here and I wanted to find out if any of the members here have any information on how the Color Skopar 21/4 P LM mount, (which I have) would compare optically with the Color Skopar 21/3.5
jowul wrote:
Sorry to ask once more. I am quite new here and I wanted to find out if any of the members here have any information on how the Color Skopar 21/4 P LM mount, (which I have) would compare optically with the Color Skopar 21/3.5
p.46 #13 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
For me, 'consistency in delivery' and ease of getting the RAW file where I want it are very important. This is a very flexible and well-behaved little lens. Really, I couldn't want any more technically across a pretty wide focal distance range. And rather artistic, being a Vintage range lens, intimate colour and outstanding highlight handling - very important in the high places. It replaces the Contax 21/2.8D, which is perhaps a little better in places but gives a harder edge, less 'tonal' colour, less volume shaping and a more barren look that some Distagon's have. CV only used a 9/8 design, the D21 was a 15/13. That one is 650 grams w/- adapter, this one is 230 grams and 52mm filters -vs- 82mm. The D21 is very hard to keep the sun off the front element. All the little practicalities add up. Recommended.
p.46 #14 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
philip_pj wrote:
For me, 'consistency in delivery' and ease of getting the RAW file where I want it are very important. This is a very flexible and well-behaved little lens. Really, I couldn't want any more technically across a pretty wide focal distance range. And rather artistic, being a Vintage range lens, intimate colour and outstanding highlight handling - very important in the high places. It replaces the Contax 21/2.8D, which is perhaps a little better in places but gives a harder edge, less 'tonal' colour, less volume shaping and a more barren look that some Distagon's have. CV only used a 9/8 design, the D21 was a 15/13. That one is 650 grams w/- adapter, this one is 230 grams and 52mm filters -vs- 82mm. The D21 is very hard to keep the sun off the front element. All the little practicalities add up. Recommended. ...Show more →
You post excellent examples of this great little pocketable lens 👍
It’s biggest strength IMO is great sunstars from f4, shoot wide open at f3.5 if you don’t want them, or f4 if you do 😉
p.46 #16 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
I'll put these two lens-specific effects here, because they illustrate how well the 21's images respond to gross recovery at both ends, while retaining colour integrity. I had almost written them off at first, from looking at the RAWs. This one does fabulous 'extreme condition' highlights, for anyone needing that effect. (a7r sensor sure helps recovery too).
p.46 #20 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
Almost precisely 6 months after it was shipped back to the reseller it returned, fixed under warranty, in Japan as the reseller told me, via their provider & the EU importer. So presumably the same for all EU repairs.
"Replaced relay FPC. Checked resolution, infin focus, and each part's function/performance". Works very well, the slight regret is that I still don't know whether the failure was due to anything I did. It's the first electrical (or mechanical) issue of a new lens I've had since I started shooting in 2006. Anyway, it's not a one trick pony even if the below photos indicate I lack imagination, it is namely also very good at contrast and saturation : )
First is sunrise at a nature reserve that's mostly old pine forest and a couple of flooded iron ore mine shafts. The sun is a star by Grynna, on Flickr
The following two are from this morning, sunrise at 04:52 Voigtländer! by Grynna, on Flickr
