Very nice shots, Douglas - great lighting and the composition of the WWII memorial. I need to remind myself to spend more time around the monuments. I’ve lived here now for nearly a decade and I’ve only managed to visit a few. I’ve been able to drag myself down to shoot the frozen tidal basin during early morning light, but that’s really about it. Just bought a rack and bag for my bike, so I’ll try another approach that doesn’t require parking.
I have had it for 6 months and I am very happy with it. I take it with me everywhere and I really like the pictures. I am particularly impressed by the clarity (in LR I mostly leave clarity untouched).
This and the Loxia 21 have definitely some magic and pop on their own league. They deliver this richness of color/contrast without over saturation and with astonishing definition. I am curious to know from direct experience if the acclaimed Sigma 14-24 can deliver that magic or its manly top sharpness across the field?
imoretti wrote:
Very nice shots, Douglas - great lighting and the composition of the WWII memorial. I need to remind myself to spend more time around the monuments. I’ve lived here now for nearly a decade and I’ve only managed to visit a few. I’ve been able to drag myself down to shoot the frozen tidal basin during early morning light, but that’s really about it. Just bought a rack and bag for my bike, so I’ll try another approach that doesn’t require parking.
Thank you! That shot of he WWII Memorial is a 3-shot pano. I shot pano maybe once year but to include the whole fountain I had to shoot pano. I managed to get the whole fountain in one shot when I had the Voigtlander 10mm, but then it made everything looked so tiny. DC has a lot of interesting stuff to photograph. If you are into architecture, the interiors of the Library of the Congress and the Union Station are very classic.
I haven't really used the 21 much in the last 6 months. Here is another shot of the WWII Memorial from sometime ago when I first bought this lens aand a few other shots with the 21.
fplstudio wrote:
This and the Loxia 21 have definitely some magic and pop on their own league. They deliver this richness of color/contrast without over saturation and with astonishing definition. I am curious to know from direct experience if the acclaimed Sigma 14-24 can deliver that magic or its manly top sharpness across the field?
I had the Loxia 21 too before I got the CV 21. I also have the CV 15 which I haven't used for a long time because I didn't find proper subjects for the FL. I have been reading the comments on the Sigma 14-24 with great interest. If I get one eventually, I will still keep the CV 21 for the size, sunstar and easy use of filters. The Sigma 14-24 will probably be used mainly for architecture, which I don't shoot much at all. Will be interesting to see how huge and expensive the rumored Sony 12-24 f2.8 GM will be.
james3shin wrote:
I’m in the market for a 21mm lens for a M10; any suggestion on the CV 21 1.4 versus the SEM?
The SEM is more comparable to the CV 21/3.5 in size and optics. The CV 21/1.4 Nokton VM competes with the $8K Leica 21/1.4 Lux.
I just received my CV 21/1.4 VM copy today and it's just as impressive as the E-mount while being much lighter and smaller. The negative is that it does not behave well on the Sony sensor at wide aperture so as long as you only use it on your Leica M10, you will be fine.
Jun 16, 2020 at 04:24 PM
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Fred Miranda wrote:
The SEM is more comparable to the CV 21/3.5 in size and optics. The CV 21/1.4 Nokton VM competes with the $8K Leica 21/1.4 Lux.
I just received my CV 21/1.4 VM copy today and it's just as impressive as the E-mount while being much lighter and smaller. The negative is that it does not behave well on the Sony sensor at wide aperture so as long as you only use it on your Leica M10, you will be fine.
My take for what it worth (which isn't much) is that the Leica M 21 f/3.4 SEM is a pretty unique lens. It is just a bit bigger than the Voigtlander 21 f/3.5, but has performance that rivals and maybe even surpasses the Loxia 21. It has a lot of special glass (of the 8 elements, four are APD and one is a double sided aspherical; the Loxia has 11 elements with 4 APD and 1 single sided aspherical) and remarkably low astigmatism. Unlike some Leica lenses it also seems to have no mid zone dip, but just a gradual reduction of performance into the corners (a pattern I prefer over midzone weakness with stronger corners). Since the Leica M 21 SEM can be bought for about $2,000 used I also think it is a reasonably good deal. A very small lens that packs a big punch in landscape performance. It's performance is seriously compromised by the sensor stack on Sony cameras, however.
Steve Spencer wrote:
My take for what it worth (which isn't much) is that the Leica M 21 f/3.4 SEM is a pretty unique lens. It is just a bit bigger than the Voigtlander 21 f/3.5, but has performance that rivals and maybe even surpasses the Loxia 21. It has a lot of special glass (of the 8 elements, four are APD and one is a double sided aspherical; the Loxia has 11 elements with 4 APD and 1 single sided aspherical) and remarkably low astigmatism. Unlike some Leica lenses it also seems to have no mid zone dip, but just a gradual reduction of performance into the corners (a pattern I prefer over midzone weakness with stronger corners). Since the Leica M 21 SEM can be bought for about $2,000 used I also think it is a reasonably good deal. A very small lens that packs a big punch in landscape performance. It's performance is seriously compromised by the sensor stack on Sony cameras, however....Show more →
Yes, I've heard it's an exceptional lens. I just thought it's more comparable in size and aperture to the CV 21/3.5 than the CV 21/1.4.
Some really beautiful shots especially of the young lady with the view point. I've really started adoring this CV 21 1.4 so much lately. It's just incredible how you can get the amazing sunstars already at F/1.8 which is so fun for night street photography and the amazing even sharpness I get for landscapes. I just got a step up ring adapter so I can use my 82mm filters I have so looking forward to taking it out with me to valley of fire in 2 weeks. Boy I am so excited
This satisfied my need for a 20mm when I had the nikon 20 1.8G. I think in my eyes 20/21mm might be my favorite focal length for landscapes when I do not need to necessarily put emphasis on a foreground subject. It's very wide but not ultra wide.I just so wish that the lens was weather sealed.
My 21/1.4 replaces my 21/4 Color Skopar. I haven’t compared them side by side as I already packed up the old to make room for the new. (But there it still sits on my desk...) I’m really having a lot of fun with this new lens...
My nieces
My sons skipping stones at Edwards Ferry on the Potomac
C&O Canal Trust Lockhouse at Edwards Ferry
Young activist at BLM protest in DC
Gathering at speech on New York Ave NW during BLM protest in DC
Just bought a rack and bag for my bike, so I’ll try another approach that doesn’t require parking.
