Jump to content

Voigtlander 15mm mkIII very disappointed


IWC Doppel

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I do so wish Leica would build a 15mm or 16mm lens (no I don't want the tri elmar, too big and too expensive)

 

I sent back my first copy of the Voigtlaner MkIII it had slack on the focus ring, so you had to pick up the small amount of play as you focussed. The second copy with I just haven't found as good, the first seemed very sharp, this one doesn't have the look of the first, and after some more investigation is clearly below par and what I had thought was movement showing corner smear is not movement after checking at 1/3000th.... the corner resolution and blur is poor and the first lens was fine, so this will have to go back and be sent to Voigtlander. I have used Voigtlanders before, has a 12mm and it was fine, has the mk II but hated the magenta cast and tbh that wasn't great either looking back.

 

I know Voigtlander are cheap but you clearly get the result of poor quality control and low cost production........with a lottery between good, okay and bad it seems

 

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've not had any issues with my Voigtlander lenses. 

 

There are enough examples on the forum of people having to return Leica lenses for QC issues to show that the 'lottery' of getting a perfect product is not a matter of price. I think you've just been unlucky.

 

So they work well on your M digital bodies?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I was happy with the 12mm but the 15mk ll had a strong magenta cast. I have a friend that had a 28mm screw mount with an adjuster and it was terrific not really embarrassed in the prescence of my 28 summicron

 

 

Quite liked the 50 1.5 when I had s go too

 

I hope I have been unlucky. One strong point with Leica is the number of service specialists and ofcourse Leicas service facility itself. If I can I stick with Leica

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I do so wish Leica would build a 15mm or 16mm lens (no I don't want the tri elmar, too big and too expensive)

... 

I know Voigtlander are cheap but you clearly get the result of poor quality control and low cost production........with a lottery between good, okay and bad it seems

 

 

I've had generally good experiences with Voigtländer lenses, but generally excellent experience with Leica lenses such that I prefer to buy the Leica lenses when I can afford them. I had the Heliar 15/4.5 Aspheric first version when it came out in the last century and it was a nice, light, little lens (the later versions are much bulkier and seem to be better made, on average, but I haven't owned one of them). The original one I had was very sharp on center, with corners and edges that became a bit smeary. And that was on my film cameras of the time—I don't know how well it would perform on a digital sensor. 

 

I bought a second-hand Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH (WATE) recently and find that it performs beautifully right out to edges and corners. The WATE's price, even second-hand, was high but it is equivalent to buying three top-quality prime lenses, which would cost far more for similar build and imaging quality. 

 

"You pays your money and takes your chances..."  :rolleyes:

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Of the three ltm CV lenses I bought when Cosina launched them (21mm f4, 28mm f3.5 & 12mm f5.6), I still have and regularly two of them.

 

The 21mm f4 was a dog and I very quickly got rid of it, the 12mm is a great lens with suitable subjects and the 28mm f3.5 is so good that I never bothered with the 28mm f2.8 elmarit asph. CV lenses of that era are a mixed bag from my experience.

Edited by honcho
Link to post
Share on other sites

15mm. I got version 1 and it was unacceptable, then version III which is very good.

I should be receiving the 10mm very soon. Will report upon the experience.

.

Edited by pico
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had great experiences with CV lenses. I have a 75mm Helliar I adore and I'm contemplating selling my 50 Summilux, I like the Nokton 1.5 so much. However the 15mm v3 seems to have some issues. I tried three of the Sony versions before I gave up. All had significant corner smearing. It seems the 10mm doesn't have these issues and my older 12mm M, is just fine. It's a shame as the 15mm will be a popular focal length, I would think.

 

Gordon

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

 

I know Voigtlander are cheap but you clearly get the result of poor quality control and low cost production........with a lottery between good, okay and bad it seems

 

Sorry to hear you've had two bad experiences, but statistics don't always work well for you, and having two failures is very unlucky. Which is why I have to take issue with this sweeping ill informed statement about the quality of Voigtlander lenses. I have eight CV lenses and all are great build quality (for the price), not one has needed to be replaced, and optically three of them are better than the nearest Leica equivalent.

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

Steve, maybe you have been lucky then ?

 

I have owned three Voigtlander sense models from new and bought 4 samples from new. One good, one okay, 2 bad. Thats my experience coupled with good experience of a 28mm from a friend, which incidentally has now broken (Without it seems any impact or damage)

 

I am sure I have been unlucky but can't lie about my genuine disappointment and personal brand confidence, your experience is encouraging and I hope to have the 15mm repaired or replaced as I was happy with the performance of the first sample just not the loose focus engagement.

Link to post
Share on other sites

............ The upcoming 10 does hold curiosity but I doubt it would see as much use as a 15.

It's been availble on and off for some time. I have seen dozens of images which were made with it on a Sony A7 and the results are impressive. The lens is beautifully made, as is the rest of the current CV range. The 10mm is probably more useable than many would think, especially for editorial images. Edited by honcho
Link to post
Share on other sites

Too many sample variations and QC issues with the VM. Curiously the ZM are made at the same factory and share a lot of parts, but have much fewer problems.

 

 

Not sure about that...

 

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97703

 

Sample variation just happens, digital just makes it easier to detect the almost okay lenses, while the internet amplifies it along with any QC issues such as the Zeiss wobble in the above link.

 

I'm not saying its not a real problem, and that just cause its always been there it's okay, just that not a lot of people go to online forums to start a thread about their lens that was working as expected without any issues.

 

But it does seem the number of problems with the new 15mm (and their variety) seem to point to a lens that was rushed.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Too many sample variations and QC issues with the VM. Curiously the ZM are made at the same factory and share a lot of parts, but have much fewer problems.

The 50/1.5 and 35/1.7 seem less plagued by these QC issues. I'd imagine the UWA might need more tweaking during assembly. When you consider that Zeiss kept their 15/2.8 in Deutschland for manufacturing, may be something to this.

Edited by james.liam
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I think some designs are more sensitive to assembling issues than others. The VM 35/50 seem to be very well built to a higher standard than previous designs. By the way, Zeiss wobble is long gone unless someone buys a very early production batch. I have owned more than 11 ZM lenses including 4 x 35 and 3 x 50 and none had any wobble issues but I always bought recent batches. However I have to say that many needed some minor calibration out of the box.

Edited by edwardkaraa
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...