p.52 #2 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
A large number of people predictably didn't like its lack of cutting edge sharpness, unremarkable MFD, and slow aperture - easy criteria for rejection. A matter of months on from the (2018) release of the 21/3.5, the 21/1.4 appeared.
Cosina lavished attention on the faster lens and despite it it blowing out to 560 grams it sold well, with critical acclaim also. And that led to the sales demise of the now unattractive slower lens. A common outcome! Cosina's PR now markets the 21/3.5 VM as a 'snap shooter'. OK, guys, whatever you say.
p.52 #3 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
Fred Miranda wrote:
It's definitely not for everyone, but I use the LH-11 hood on my CV 21/3.5 Type II M-mount (Black paint on brass) lens. Since I mostly use it on the Leica M, the larger hood doesn’t interfere with the framelines as there are no 21mm framelines.
I appreciate the vintage look of this hood --- it looks fantastic on the lens. I have a similar setup for the Voigtlander 35mm f/2 Ultron with its vintage hood, and it’s equally impressive.
I love the look of this hood on my copy . . .
Dec 07, 2024 at 08:49 PM
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p.52 #4 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
philip_pj wrote:
A large number of people predictably didn't like its lack of cutting edge sharpness, unremarkable MFD, and slow aperture - easy criteria for rejection. A matter of months on from the (2018) release of the 21/3.5, the 21/1.4 appeared.
Cosina lavished attention on the faster lens and despite it it blowing out to 560 grams it sold well, with critical acclaim also. And that led to the sales demise of the now unattractive slower lens. A common outcome! Cosina's PR now markets the 21/3.5 VM as a 'snap shooter'. OK, guys, whatever you say.
Looking back this review still makes a good case for the Zeiss Loxia 21 f/2.8 over the Voigtlander 21 f/3.5. The Voigtlander 21 f/1.4 competes much better against the Loxia and is two stops faster. Size is all you really gain with the Voigtlander 21 f/3.5 and for people for whom that is paramount I think it is still a really good choice, but we have really had 3 strong lenses at this focal length for Sony E-mount for quite awhile and the thing I think that has held back the CV 21 f/3.5 is that the other lenses are both so good, this lens' only real advantage is that it is small.
It is a very different situation than with the new CV 50 f/3.5 APO, IMO. That lens is not only small, but performs amazingly well too. It really produces results that compete really well with the CV 50 f/2 APO. So between those lenses you can either choose size or a wider aperture and performance is a wash. At 21mm if you choose size you have to be willing to accept a bit worse performance. That makes choosing size a much tougher sell, for me at least.
p.52 #5 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
“this lens' only real advantage is that it is small”
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You forgot to mention it’s also inexpensive compared to the other two.
It’s biggest benefit is it’s great “bang for buck” performance 😉
Also let’s not forget it’s great sunstars from f4 onwards 😊
J
p.52 #6 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
jaybr wrote:
“this lens' only real advantage is that it is small”
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You forgot to mention it’s also inexpensive compared to the other two.
It’s biggest benefit is it’s great “bang for buck” performance 😉
Also let’s not forget it’s great sunstars from f4 onwards 😊
J
I believe it has stellar performance, with the only compromise being the shape of the field curvature. If you learn to focus with the field curvature in mind, it's one of the best compact 21mm lenses available, despite its size and price.
My current copy isn’t as well-centered as I’d like, so I’m getting a replacement. I’ll continue this review once I receive an optimal copy.
Dec 07, 2024 at 09:57 PM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.52 #7 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
jaybr wrote:
“this lens' only real advantage is that it is small”
-
You forgot to mention it’s also inexpensive compared to the other two.
It’s biggest benefit is it’s great “bang for buck” performance 😉
Also let’s not forget it’s great sunstars from f4 onwards 😊
J
That price advantage gets pretty small when you buy used (and the e-mount CV 21 f/3.5 is now only available used). I have seen CV 21 f/1.4 E-mount lenses regularly on the B & S board for around $425. I have seen Loxia 21 f/2.8 lenses for around $400. The Voigtlander 21 f/3.5 often goes for around $350, so for used prices the difference is often not huge at least to me, and at least as I have followed these lenses. And all three of these lenses have very similar sunstars from f/4 onwards.
p.52 #8 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
“That price advantage gets pretty small when you buy used”
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Fair enough.
I only buy new lenses due to previous decentering/tilting issues, so I only buy from vendors with the option to return or exchange. I’m glad I purchased a great new copy of the CV 21/3.5 when they were available 😊
p.52 #9 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
Not used often since I got the 4.5/15mm and having issues with sunstars with this little fellow (maybe it`s just me) but every now and then it does get used. These are from a tiny gorge Stoißengraben with a nice Stoißen waterfall at the end.
p.52 #10 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
I just received an excellent copy of the CV 21/3.5 Color-Skopar M-mount and will continue this review with a focus on the M-mount version instead of the Sony E-mount.
ILCE-7CRVoigtlander 40mm f/2.8 Heliar lens40mm1/13s800 ISO0.0 EV
p.52 #12 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
benwagnerphotos wrote:
Hey Fred any update to the M-Mount review or am I not seeing it? Been interested in getting the M mount version.
I've been a bit tied up with other lens reviews, but I'll share my thoughts on the M-version soon, as this review mainly focuses on the E-mount version.
p.52 #14 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
Fred Miranda wrote:
I just received an excellent copy of the CV 21/3.5 Color-Skopar M-mount and will continue this review with a focus on the M-mount version instead of the Sony E-mount.
I love my copy on the M11. Great colors . . . very Voigtlandish!
p.52 #15 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
My copy just arrived arrived today and first look I am impressed its rendition for such a tiny lens. Yes it might not be absolute The best ever 21, but it solves a problem. I am often out capturing wildlife with a Nikon Z8 and 100-400 or a 600 pf and that is heavy enough so it is a one lens outing. There have been photo opportunities, and wider is needed, I can put this, and a small 45/50 like my Contax Zeiss 45/2 or a LLL Rigid both already mounted on Z adapters in my jacket pocket and I am good to go for a quick switch. It is then a one lens outing + just in case, lens- prepared for whatever nature dishes up. I am thinking this plan is going to work.
p.52 #17 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
For some more unusual uses of this amazing little lens, photos below are 720nm IR with shot on a Kolari-converted full-spectrum Sony A7R III camera. I'm still new to this IR thing, and still trying to figure out a good processing technique ...
p.52 #18 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
secondclaw wrote:
For some more unusual uses of this amazing little lens, photos below are 720nm IR with shot on a Kolari-converted full-spectrum Sony A7R III camera. I'm still new to this IR thing, and still trying to figure out a good processing technique ...
p.52 #19 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
How do you focus with this lens? Previously I had A7III and 24MP is quite forgiving, but now on A7CR I had some issues, the center is tad sharp but from the midframe my images are quite soft. I assume there are three problems:
1. Lens sharpness not up to 60MP.
2. Proper focus distance, what is the best range at F8? Infinity (rotating the ring to knock the infinity), or barely below infinity? Well I can play with this with focus magnification with different distances.
3. Filed curvature: to handle it we are back at point 2, setting the best focus distance minimising field curvature effect.
p.52 #20 · Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Review
Lukacs wrote:
How do you focus with this lens? Previously I had A7III and 24MP is quite forgiving, but now on A7CR I had some issues, the center is tad sharp but from the midframe my images are quite soft. I assume there are three problems:
1. Lens sharpness not up to 60MP.
2. Proper focus distance, what is the best range at F8? Infinity (rotating the ring to knock the infinity), or barely below infinity? Well I can play with this with focus magnification with different distances.
3. Filed curvature: to handle it we are back at point 2, setting the best focus distance minimising field curvature effect....Show more →
Do you use e-mount version of the lens or VM version with adapter?
With my E-mount version I've settled on using the lens at hard infinity (i.e. rotating the ring to knock the infinity). I use it on my A7CII though so with somewhat less resolution, and I've settled on using f7.1 rather than f8. I haven't shot with it very recently but here some samples with A7CII: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ixAKVTSUvCUiJ2Ug6
My feeling is that the best results towards the edges come with hard infinity, whereas center might be best a bit before, but for overall best balance I found hard infinity to work quite well.
With a VM version on an adapter, the best focusing position might depend on adapter thickness and other things.
