Re: [Leica] Bessa T, 29/1,9 and 21/4 (long!)

[Dante Stella <dante@umich.edu>]

Tom,

What is your feeling on the small maximum aperture?  I have been looking
at the various 21s (21/4 Cosina, $350; 21/2.8 Kobalux ($650); and the
21/2.8 Leica $!!!!), and although the Cosina product is tempting, I am
worried about that f/4 maximum is going to be a handicap (I do a lot of
shooting at f/2.8 and wider indoors, and sometimes f/2.8 is a strain).  so
in your observation,

How do the various lenses compare at f/4?  I assume that witin "spitting
distance" of the Leica 21 means when the Leica is stopped down?  Or is it
the COsina at f/4 vs the Leica at 2.8?

What is the handicap of a 21/2.8?  Is it just the width of the lens?

Thanks
Dante

>  The 21/4 Color-Skopar. The all time bargain lens by Voigtlander. At $ 350 
> with the finder, it is a jewel. It is small, same barrel as the 25/4 
> Snap-Shot Skopar and lightweight. It does couple to the rangefinder on the 
> LTM or  M camera. It has a similar focus lever as the 28/1,9. The finder is 
> as good as the Leica 21 finder (almost the same price as the 21/4+ its 
> finder!). Optical quality is very good. If you have used the 25/4 Skopar, you 
> will recognize the quality. Sharp and contrasty with a remarkable lack of 
> fall- off in the edges. Just from looking at the negs, less fall-off than the 
> 21/3,4 has. It has now found a permanent home in my camera bag. It is small 
> enough that you can stick the lens/finder combo in the pocket and have a 
> really wide lens available, without the burden of a 21/2,8. It is not a 
> 21/2,8 Aspherical, but it probably comes within spitting distance at about 
> 1/6 of the cost. It has an another advantage, it is a lens that you probably 
> will leave in the pocket of your jacket or in your bag. This means that 
> rather than going "Boy, do I wish I had a 21 here now" - you now have one 
> along. The 21/2,8 Asph is not a lens that you drag around frivolously - the 
> 21/4 and its finder occupies about the same space as 2-3 rolls of film! Oh, 
> remember, you can use the 21/4 on a LTM Leica too!