Voigtlander lenses

[SteveYork]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

What are the standout VC lenses in an M mount? And how do they compare to the current Leica offerings? Thanks.

[earleygallery]

I can only speak for the two I've bought, the 35mm f2.5 and 25mm f4, and both are excellent lenses, by any comparison.

 

Mine are both screw mount but I use them on an M as well. The M mount lenses are identical optically.

[Sailronin]

I have a CV 15mm in M mount. So far have been very happy with it, sharp and good contrast. At that length there is nothing in the Leica line to compare.

Dave

[earleygallery]

Oh and I've heard good things about the 28mm 3.5. The 12mm is a great special effects lens.

[Xmas]

Hi

 

global site

 

There are the ZM lenses as well, Konica, Kobalux and LTM lenses from Canon and Nikon from 50s and 60s, and Russian LTM lenses.

 

If you cannot cope with a Leica lens e.g. because of focus ring etc. you should be able to get a sub, they tend to be more affordable as well, some are lighter, from aluminum barrels.

 

I think all the CV lenses fit & work, unlike some of the Russian ones e.g. a J12 wont meter on M6 and later and will foul a CL or M5 cell.

 

The ZM lenses are excellent performers but your technique needs to be real good to detect this, but the tend to be large and heavy.

 

Noel

[peter_n]

I've used the 35/2.5 - an excellent lens, and currently use a 15/4 v.2 which is also extremely good and better built than the first version which traveled a lot with me and turned out to be a bit flimsy. I've heard good things about the 28/3.5, also the 35/1.2 and 75/2.5 none of which I've personally used.

[tgray]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've got the 28/3.5 and the 15/4.5, both in LTM.

 

If you shoot film, the 15/4.5 is outstanding. Great price, tiny, and gives you an option that you can't get otherwise. I hear it has some difficulties on the M9 though.

 

The 28/3.5 is also fantastic. It's main appeal for me is it's tiny size. It is very good optically, but slower than a lot of the other lenses out there.

[adan]

Almost all the C/V wides have trouble on the M9 - just a function of the precise coded image processing needed for those focal lengths and the fact Leica supports only their own lenses. Since this is the film forum, we can ignore that issue.

 

I'd have to say that the c/v lenses are in general very good, and that the "standouts" thus are the short list of those that do not measure up.

 

On that list I would put the 28 f/2 - the 28 f/1.9 was "dreamy" wide-open - the f/2 is just plain mushy.

Also the 75 f/2.5 - not a bad lens, but limited close-focus ability and I had some focus-accuracy issues on various M bodies.

 

There are some lenses that were positive standouts until Leica caught up to them with new designs - 50 f/1.5, 25 f/4, - both of those (IMHO) equaled or bettered the Leica equivalent at the time they were introduced.

 

If it were not for the color-drift problems on the M9, I would definitely have either the 21 or 25 f/4 alongside my 21 f/2.8 Leica lens, for those times when I don't need the faster aperture and want something really compact to go with my 35 'cron and 90 Tele-Elmarit in a pocket.

 

On the whole I prefer the c/vs to the equivalent Zeisses - because they are usually more compact and the cosmetics (no chrome front ring) and ergonomics (1/3 stop aperture clicks) mix better with my Leica glass.

[Nikkor AIS]

I have the 28 1.9 ASAP Voigtlander and the 15 ASPH 4.5. So far no complaints with either one. In fact i must say Im blown away with the the results of both for the most part. The 28 1.9 is a real gem. Totally usable wide open and razor sharp at f 4. The 15 ASPH is so tiny and light and yet has zero barrel distortion and is a pleasure to use. I love the finder for the 15 as well. Check out the ranger finder forum Voigtlander bessa section as I have a thread with dozens of sample images.

 

28 1.9 ASPH Voigtlander on M7 Ektar 100 @ 1.9

 

 

 

15 4.5 Voigtlander on M6 on XP2 @ f8/11

 

Gregory

[underground]

I also have the 28 1.9

the only thing I don't like about it is the way it focus's and the weight, But man

it does well wide open. It's a great buy new, even better used.

I bought a 28 Elmarit and yes it is slower, I prefer it because of the smooth focus,

weight, size, and it has been fantastic from 2.8 through 22. (so far anyway)

[Nikkor AIS]

Compared to my Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D the Voigtlander 28 1.9 ASPH is light weight. And I personally like the focus on the 28 1.9. My copy is silky smooth and accurate. It's got a great metal hood as well. And so far I cant beleive how well it's resist flare, even with the sun shinning directly into the lens. I really like the 28 focal length on the leica M system and and thought and hard and did plenty of research on line before I bought the 28 1.9 Voigtlander second hand from a rangefinder forum member for a nice price. In truth I really wanted the Lecia 28 2.0 but thought the Voigtlander would tied me over until I could get the Lecia down the road.

 

 

Leica M7 with 28 1.9 on XP2

 

Taken with Nikkor 45 PC-E and D3

 

Gregory

[Xmas]

Hi

 

I got a set of (used) LTM ones cause they are modern glass & multi coated for my LTM cameras, but I'll use them on M adapters. They (all) seem to work better then Puts indicated, so I got an additional two M mount ones.

 

The 25mm's corner performance wide open is not as good as the ZM 25mm, but I'd not have expected that they would be the same, one is a statement lens.

 

Neither detected any focus problems, nor excessive flare..

 

They are smaller & lighter then most of the Leica lenses I have and they are are not collectors.

 

A lens that you don't have in gbag is not a useful lens, - additionally if the gbag vanishes I'd cry but not be depressed, replacements are readily available..

 

I have one that is slowly dismantling but it still works ok, eventually I'll strip and nail varnish its screws, it has had a hard life.

 

Noel

[Sailronin]

M6 with CV 15mm, Kodak Gold ISO 200, scan by Costco resolution unknown

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[tobey bilek]

VC does not sell equipment.

 

Cosina Voitlander does.

 

90 3.5 Apo

 

The rest are 1960/1980 Leica quality with much less robust build.

 

Zeiss lenses made by CV are better at a price.

[Xmas]

 

90 3.5 Apo

 

The rest are 1960/1980 Leica quality with much less robust build.

 

Zeiss lenses made by CV are better at a price.

Hi tobey

 

The reason I use the CV lenses is cause they flare less frequently and are higher contrast that my 60-80 Leitz lenses, they are smaller and cheaper as well. When street shooting where you are not able to always focus or hold steady lens resolution is less critical, I'm not saying they are not sharp just I wont see sharp, but flare and contrast are more critical.

 

My ZM 5cm f/2 is on a par for resolution with the type IV cron or late Elmar, but has a (the) heliciod travel problem that some people can't tolerate. The ZM f/2.8 25mm is just impressive in the corners wide open., but is really big.

 

Some people have the ZM and CV lenses 'fall apart' but some Leica lenses don't tolerate ham fisted people either...

 

Some of the CV lenses focus shift or are off from the box (with dig cameras) but leica lenses are reported with the same problems. Non of mine have had the focus problems, Leica or Cosina.

 

Buy from a good shop check carefully...

 

Noel

[bill]

The rest are 1960/1980 Leica quality with much less robust build.

 

Zeiss lenses made by CV are better at a price.

 

Sweeping generalisations and arrant nonsense. Have a look at Reidreviews for an unbiased view.

 

From personal experience, it depends on what "look" you are after (this from a man with half-a dozen 50mm lenses in LTM and M mount) - lenses should be viewed as an artist views his brushes I sold my 35mm v4 Summicron and acquired a 35mm 2.5 Color Skopar because it was - to me - a better lens for my needs and for the end result I wanted.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Xmas]

[irony alert]

 

But Bill had you merely sold the lens hood of the V1 35mm cron you could have gotten a 2nd hand CV f/2.5 35mm on the proceeds and kept the Leitz lens for 'special' effects, like London pea soup fogs...

 

[/end irony]

 

It is pretty impossible to get the LH1 CV lens hoods (for their wides) cause no body uses them...

 

Noel

[Pangur Ban]

For me, the standouts are in the wide-angle range.

 

I particularly like using my 15/4.5; 25/4; 28/2 and 40/1.4. I did have the 35/2.5 but I don't really like 35mm focal length so sold it - nothing at all wrong with the lens though.

 

I've not bought anything longer than 40mm as I've bought older Leica or new Zeiss lenses for some reason. Am tempted by the entire range though and often consider just buying the lot and being done with it!

[thrid]

I own...

 

Ultron 2/28 - If this isn't one of the biggest bargain around I don't know what is. Performance is extremely high. Even at f2 this lens is strong. The Summicron-ASPH 2/28 may be a touch better at certain apertures, but it also costs 6 times as much... Is it 6 times better? Probably not. Build quality is excellent. Cosina seems to have learned a lot from their partnership with Zeiss. Very compact design, so it doesn't intrude much in a .72 viewfinder (the Ultron 1.9/28 is noticeably bigger).

 

Ultron 1.9/28 ASPH - I sold this lens and got the 2/28. Excellent piece of glass. A little prone to flare, but in a pleasing way. Very sharp, even at f1.9. My main problem was that it blocked too much of the viewfinder on a .72 body.

 

Ultron 4/21 - This lens came with a 21mm brightline finder. I think I paid about $300 new. You are not going to find a better 21mm at this price that will work on a Leica. No, it is not as good as the Leica 21mm ASPH, but it costs less than the Leica 21mm brightline finder. Performance is very good. I shot a lot of K64 with this lens and around f8 / f11 it becomes extremely sharp. It's probably as good or better than the older Leica 21mm.

 

Zeiss ZF Planar 1.4/50 - I have several Nikkor 1.4/50. The Zeiss beats all of them. Sharper at 1.4, better tonality (less muddy), better flare resistance, smoother bokeh due to round aperture blade opening. This is a great lens.

 

Other VC glass:

 

2.5/75mm and 3.5/90mm are widely considered to be extremely good lenses. Very, very sharp and good tonality; only bested by the newest Leica ASPH glass.

 

3.5/28mm - Superb little 28mm that many people, including Tom A, hold in very high regard.

 

Nocton 1.5/50 ASPH - Widely considered to be a viable alternative to the pre-ASPH 50 Summilux. But it is a little on the large side and blocks a lot more of the viewfinder than the Summilux.

 

4/5/15mm - Until this lens arrived the only alternative was the Zeiss Hologon 15mm, that sold for a small fortune. Leica now makes the WATE, but it costs as much as a compact car.

 

The entire Zeiss ZF/EF/M line up offer outstanding performance that outperforms or matches any of the offerings from Leica, Nikon or Canon.

 

 

Voigtlander has made an enormous contribution to the photographic community by offering a viable alternative to many of the high priced offerings from Leica. The pricing of Leica glass has moved in to the stratosphere, putting it out of reach for most shooters. I would rather have a 2/28 that offered 90% of the performance of the Leica equivalent at a fraction of the cost, than no 28 at all.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Xmas]

4/5/15mm - Until this lens arrived the only alternative was the Zeiss Hologon 15mm, that sold for a small fortune. Leica now makes the WATE, but it costs as much as a compact car.

 

People have been buying and converting the more modern Zeiss Contax G1/G2 16mm Hologon to LTM, some one in Japan replaces the G mount.

 

Noel