Hi, Can anybody out there help me to understand what I have to do? I have a 24 asph and a 28 asph and now I desire to have an extra large wide angle. Have I to buy a 21? Which one? Or is it better that I buy a Voigtlander 15 mm? Shot me your gentle suggestion! Thanks, Joe

-- pelizza giuseppe (pelizzagiuseppe@interfree.it), February 23, 2002

Answers

15mm voigtlander. Great lens.

-- Travis koh (teckyy@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

I was quite impressed when that Vöigtländer camera appeared a few years ago, and I actually went and bought one. I have to admit though, that I have only shot one film! a colour negative and I was not that impressed with the optical performance from those results. However to give it a fair chance, one should of course do some slides.

-- george arthur (pbmiljoe@1031.inord.dk), February 23, 2002.

Pelizza, have a look through other threads on this below, it has been discussed many times in recent weeks.

The 15mm is an fantastic lens, tiny, beautifully made, a virtual give away at the price, optically incredible and very, very useful.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), February 23, 2002.

I personally found the 15 to be so wide I never used it, and preferred my Leica 21. But the 15 was a very good performer for the money and it doesn't take up much space in the bag. IMO, a 19 for the M would be just about right, but of course this isn't an option. I find that I can generally accomplish any of the ultra-wide work I want to do with the 21, but I will generally not carry both the 21 and the 24 as they are quite close in perspective. So it is always a last minute decision as to which of them makes it into the camera bag.

;-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 23, 2002.

Well Pelizza, after a 24/28 first rate combo, I'm not sure you'll be satisficed with any thing less than another asph from leica, although 21 seems so close to 24; 15 will be a wide enough choice, sorry but can't write a word about it's quality of image, have you think in 12, seems to be a gret performer for such a wide.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

If you already have a 24 and a 28 (whichever one of the two 28s is superfluous) and are interested in a 21, then there are only two possibilities: (a) trade the 24 in for a 21, or (b) trade both (24 plus 28) in for a 21. (I have only the 21A which made/makes both the 24 and the 28 -- for me myself -- unnecessary. That's why I didn't get all two or three in the first place. Moreover, it's not only a question of money but also one of weight and volume (in your bag).

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), February 23, 2002.

Mike:

I might agree that you can get by without a 21 and a 24, or a 24 and a 28; but IMO a 21/28 is not a bad combo. Also, I always thought that with the 24 and 35, the 28 became superfluous -- but now that I've been messing around with the 28, I'm not so sure anymore. Although, I don't think I'd ever carry around a 21/24/28 combo, while I might carry a 21/28/35.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 23, 2002.

Hello!

If you can afford a 24asph and 28asph you can get a cute little Voigtlander 21/4, finder included (to save on weight) AND the 15/ 4.5, finder included. Both are very good lenses and both are great in specific situations. I recently got a 12/5.6, which is mechically better than the 15/4.5. The lens hood is adjustable and removable. You can put on a special filter adaptor to protect the front element if for no other reason. Enjoy!

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 23, 2002.

i fought hard with myself to decide between the leica and the voigtländer 21mm. i went for the voigtländer and went on holiday with the saved money. didn't regret it yet. the voigtlander is a great lens and i prefer the finder to the leica one (and you don't have to pay extra for it, as it comes with the lens). maybe a bit slow. but as you already have a 24, i would go for the 15. buy the dedicated leather case for it. it's a real bargain.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002.

As for slowness, a bit of bounced flash will work wonders.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), February 25, 2002.