CV 15 rangefinder coupled vs non-rangefinder coupled

[biglouis]

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Just weighing up the advantages of the rangefinder coupled CV15 versus the older non-rangefinder coupled (apart from the M-bayonet mount and filter thread). I'm in the market for a CV15 and I can't make up my mind whether the cost of a new CV15 (rangefinder coupled) is worth it over the cost of a s/h one of which there are a number available at present. I never had much of a problem using the non-rangefinder coupled version in the past and in fact most of my rangefinder photography is zone (or is it hyperfocal?) focussed.

 

LouisB

[richam]

I have the screw mount, non-coupled version. Manual versus coupled focus is not an issue, as far as I'm concerned. Anytime I use the lens, the distance scale suffices for scenes that I use 15mm for. Of more importance, if you have an M8, is the ability to take ordinary screw in filters on the new M mount lens. This is a conundrum for me since I use the lens mostly with my M8, but cannot mount an IR cut filter.

 

If you are going to use the screw mount lens with an M8 or M9, be sure to get a LTM to M adapter that can be 6 bit coded. Some of these adapters have the metal milled out where the coding is supposed to go. I coded mine for the Leica WATE, which allows me to select 16mm as the focal length.

[peter_n]

I don't think the ability to focus is the differentiator, unless you are very close up and wide open (I think closest focus is 0.5M). The fact that the new one takes 52mm filters made the difference for me though as I'm a Nikon user and that's a standard size. I sold the screw mount and bought the new one for that reason. The new one has much better build quality than the screw mount, there's no comparison actually. I don't know if other CV lenses are built as well but I'm impressed with the overall quality of the M-bayonet 15.

[jbl]

I got the M mount version primarily because of rangefinder coupling and the ability to take a filter (I use an MP and B&W, that's a big selling point). The rangefinder coupling proved less useful only because once you're at f/8, focusing is pretty much irrelevant. Even wide open, the hyperfocal distance is less than two meters.

 

I did get the Zeiss 15mm viewfinder instead of the CV one. I've used both and the Zeiss one blows the CV one away in terms of clarity, brightness and build quality. It costs almost as much as the M lens and more than the LTM lens + viewfinder package, but it's a really good viewfinder :-). The build quality of the lens itself is absolutely fantastic: that's true of the LTM version and the M version of the lens.

 

-jbl

[Philippe D.]

Hi Peter.

I don't think the ability to focus is the differentiator, unless you are very close up and wide open (I think closest focus is 0.5M)

Oh yes, focusing ability is a very nice feature.

I got one not too long ago for my M8 and appreciate this very much.

I just be so angry that Zeiss did not offer this range finder coupling on his Distagon, which is a ~10 times expensive lens than the Voigtländer.

 

Just waiting for the 12mm now.

[peter_n]

Philippe the estimated ship date here in the US is the 20th of this month.

[Philippe D.]

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Philippe the estimated ship date here in the US is the 20th of this month.

Well, let's make it June 30th.

It's also OK to me.

 

I just prepare (do-it-yourself job again) the center filter for it.

[Yogibear]

Of more importance, if you have an M8, is the ability to take ordinary screw in filters on the new M mount lens. This is a conundrum for me since I use the lens mostly with my M8, but cannot mount an IR cut filter.

 

I use the CV15 LTM with M-adapter on my M8 and have applied the following tip that I found here in the forum: by using narrow stripes of self-adhesive (black) tape around the 39mm UV/IR cut filter mount, you can increase the diameter of the mount and then 'click' it (inversely, to prevent the filter to touch the front lens) into the lens shade. It sits there permanently and really won't fall out; you can easily remove it if you want it.

 

To get back to the theme of this thread: manual focussing is no problem at all, with this focal length. The only two slightly annoying things are the focussing field, which is completely 'off', and (for M8-users) the fact that you must use a 20 (21)mm viewfinder.

 

Regards Johan

[farnz]

Louis,

 

I've very happily used the CV15 LTM with my M8 for about 3 years with a Milich LTM to M convertor that allows me to code the lens (as a 21 mm WATE), which is quite important with such a wide angle lens.

 

As mentioned by Yogibear, a standard 39 mm Leica UV/IR filter is easily wedged in back-to-front with a little tape and it's there until you take it out.

 

The Voigtlander 21 mm VF is quite good but, as jbl says, the Zeiss 21 mm is an unbelievable dimension better although it's 2 or 3 times the price. (I have cbretteville to thank for making me poorer by the amount of one Zeiss 21 VF. Thanks, Carl, it was definitely worth it ) Louis, If you need a CV 21 VF let me know.

 

Oh, by the way, the close focus distance is 300 mm not 500 mm.

 

Oh yes, and I particularly like the LTM version because its tiny and light and continually sneaks into my bag by pretending not to be another lens.

 

Pete.