Avenon 21/2.8 Pics

[foto_fool]

Can't decide if I love this lens or if I should sell it and get a ZM 21/2.8 Biogon. Anybody else have one? Post some pics!

http://images22.fotki.com/v816/photos/1/1126243/4871630/Avenon_1-vi.jpg
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8, Lucky 100

http://images30.fotki.com/v477/photos/1/1126243/4871630/Avenon_2-vi.jpg
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8, Efke 50

http://images30.fotki.com/v1037/photos/1/1126243/4871630/Avenon_3-vi.jpg
Leica IIIf, Avenon 21/2.8 (probably wide open), Efke 50

http://images32.fotki.com/v1044/photos/1/1126243/4871630/Avenon_4-vi.jpg
Zeiss Ikon, Avenon 21/2.8 (w/adapter), Delta 400 - f22 hyperfocal point-and-shoot

- John

[Bill58]

Great shots--I can't see how a Biogon could be an improvement. Daughter sleeping is my favorite!!!!! Frame it and put it on the wall.

[akptc]

Absolutely get the Biogon (I will take the Avenon off your hands :))

[xayraa33]

those are fine photos, this 21mm lens seems to preform very well, how much more preformance do you think the Zeiss product will give you over the Avenon?

[jlw]

Also, you wouldn't be able to use the Biogon on your IIIf, would you? I thought the Zeiss lens was available only in M mount, and while you can adapt a screw-mount lens to fit an M-mount camera, you can't go the other direction.

[foto_fool]

Good question xayraa. I don't know the answer. Shots are zero-crop so it is clear vignetting is not an issue with the Avenon on these bodies. I would say there is maybe more corner distortion with the Avenon than with the Biogon on my Contax G - but I have not done a direct comparison. I'd like to see some other people post pics to compare.

- John

[foto_fool]

jlw - true. But I'm working my way down to three 50mm lenses for the IIIf. I really love the Avenon on the Ikon or Hexar - set it at hyperfocal and (ab)use it like a p&s. But I can do that with the Contax already.

- John

[ferider]

Looks very good, John. Great photos, I like the photo of the girl
sleeping best. And the lens has a great signature.

Best,

Roland.

[xayraa33]

Good question xayraa. I don't know the answer. Shots are zero-crop so it is clear vignetting is not an issue with the Avenon on these bodies. I would say there is maybe more corner distortion with the Avenon than with the Biogon on my Contax G - but I have not done a direct comparison. I'd like to see some other people post pics to compare.

- John

if you can meet a fellow RFF member in your area that owns a 21mm Zeiss f2.8 M mount lens then you can take shots with both lenses to compare the final prints, or if a Zeiss dealer near you has this lens you might do some trials shooting at the store.

[PetarDima]

I think that answer is simple: you don't need another lens, just use Efke and
Ilford delta films :)

[pdx138]

I love using wides on screwmount bodies as "point-n-shoots." The need for an external viewfinder is counterd by not having to use the rangefinder window at all. The Avenon and IIIf is a much more portable combo than the Biogon on the Ikon. I cant see the advantage to switching for this style of shooting. I agree with the consensus. Keep it!

[Roger Hicks]

Put it this way. I have the Kobalux (= Avenon = Pasinon) and I have tried the Zeiss 21/2,8. If I didn't already have the Kobalux I'd buy the Zeiss. As it is, the advantages of the Zeiss are small enough that I'll stick with the Kobalux.

I should add that I had the Leica 21/2,8 (stolen in Moskva) and an original 21/4.5 Biogon, and I've tried the new Biogon. They're all better, and I'd prefer 'em, but they're not so much better I can afford the change for a focal length I don't use much next to 35/50/75. If I DIDN'T own the Kobalux... That's another matter.

But my first choice would be the 16-18-21 Tri-Elmar.

Cheers,

R.

[Sonnar2]

Hi foto-fool, you can't decide to keep a lens capable of taking pictures like your #3??
I cannot believe that.
If I give away my Avenon, then just for $$$ sake, because it's a rare black last version. OK, the colors aren't so clear when used wide open with slide film, but for B&W???
In terms of handling and short size, it's by far my best wideangle lens.

[shadowfox]

Nah, keep the lens, it's your IIIf that's a problem. Come on, toss it to me, let me suffer with its bad quality :p

PS: Really nice pictures... thanks for sharing.

[Sonnar2]

I throw in some pictures just made with my 21/2.8 Avenon on my Bessa-L.

A 21mm can be really useful when shooting in a crowd of people -- the whole set (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14734139@N00/tags/streik/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/2031803164_1803dbae7b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2030999405_2180aeb952_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2030998633_a2c47d7b46_o.jpg

[crawdiddy]

I <heart> the Avenon 21 2.8.

[laptoprob]

The newer lens will probably give you more contrast, besides sharpness and all that modern stuff. Do you want more contrast? I usually don't.

[rogue_designer]

I'm bidding on one of these now. *hopes wildly*

d'oh - I thought I was, but I'm actually bidding on the 28mm 3.5. Ah well, I can use that too.

[foto_fool]

Sonnar2 - thanks for the comment on shot #3 but I probably could have made that image with any 21mm - it was the light, the subject and the film that made that one special for me. BTW - great shots of the demonstration.

Rouge - that 28mm looks like it could go for CHEAP - good luck!

I have checked out my own results with the Biogon G on the Contax vs. the Avenon on the various M bodies and IIIf. It is a limited set and not a side-by-side test, but the Biogon has a clear edge (so to speak) in terms of corner distortion. Also slightly better contrast. Later I hope to post some representative shots.

That said, I've decided I'm not going to sell the Avenon to get a ZM Biogon. If I want the Biogon characteristics I have the G. And for the other bodies, the Avenon is shorter and lighter than the ZM. I've decided that alone is enough to make it a keeper.

- John