CV lenses

[janelle]

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Lens choices and money are issues. What is the opinion of CV lenses- any of them, but especially the 15. The lower prices make me a skeptic. Zeiss is expensive as Leica. I wish for Leica, but might have to have at least one lens non-Leica. Any opinions on CV lenses. I have heard/read two opposite views, so I thought to get more. This is all new to me.

[sean_reid]

Lens choices and money are issues. What is the opinion of CV lenses- any of them, but especially the 15. The lower prices make me a skeptic. Zeiss is expensive as Leica. I wish for Leica, but might have to have at least one lens non-Leica. Any opinions on CV lenses. I have heard/read two opposite views, so I thought to get more. This is all new to me.

 

Many of the CV lenses are outstanding. I've reviewed many of them on the Epson R-D1 at The Luminous Landscape and on the M8 on my own site. I'm currently testing the CV 75/2.5, CV 90/3.5, CV 35/2.5 Skopar and CV 35/2.5 Pancake II.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean Reid

[stunsworth]

The CV lenses are optically more or less equivalent to Leica lenses from a generation or two ago - it's a generalisation, but all that means is they are very good but not quite upto current Leica standards.

 

The 15mm, especially on the M8 is a steal.

[janelle]

thanks. I assume that the whatever benefit from coded lenses would obviosly not work in the CV situation?

[sean_reid]

Actually, in some respects and with some lenses, a given CV lens can perform better than a current Leica lens. With all due respect to Steve, the generalization he makes (though often repeated) isn't always correct. It depends on what aspects one is looking at, what the subject is, one's taste in contrast, center resolution vs. outer zone resolution, etc. I recommend looking at specific lens results rather than any generalization about CV lenses overall. Ditto for Zeiss. One really needs to look at side by result created with competing lenses (21s, 24/25s, etc.) to really get a sense of what's real and what's myth.

 

To code them, the lenses need to be marked by hand or the adapter/bayonet must be machined for the coding recesses.

 

Cheers,

[earleygallery]

I can only speak for the 25mm Skopar which I've used on my lllf (this lens is now discontinued but some shops still have stock) which is excellent. I've posted a few shots on the photo forum taken with it recently.

 

I've also heard very good things about the 35mm f1.7, I'll certainly be adding more VC lenses to my collection.

[janelle]

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thanks all. I guess sometimes something good comes for less cost...

[roubaix]

CV15 arriving next week since the WATE was a bit up there ($). By all reports, a "great little lens." I'd be interested in a critical eval from the pros of WATE at 16 vs CV15. My two worries were:

 

1. vignetting and the absence of lens coding.

2. fitting I/R filters

 

But, at the price, I had to try it out.

 

Peter

[Venkman]

Got my CV 15 this weekend and already love it.

Small and very sharp lens, easy to shoot from the hip and interesting enough far less trouble with magenta shooting outside than I am used to from my 2.8/28 Elmarit.

 

The adapter I use does not allow for homemade lens coding, but since I don't use a filter on it, I don't see the point anyway.

 

As mentioned above - the CV 15 is a steal

[tashley]

Many of the CV lenses are outstanding. I've reviewed many of them on the Epson R-D1 at The Luminous Landscape and on the M8 on my own site. I'm currently testing the CV 75/2.5, CV 90/3.5, CV 35/2.5 Skopar and CV 35/2.5 Pancake II.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean Reid

 

Sean, any preliminary thoughts on the 35 pancake II ? I am as you know having issues with Leica 35 lux and crons WRT backfocus and may add the pancake to my lineup. Am wondering if it's good and if it can be coded but can't find any real info for how it is on the M8.

 

Best Regards

 

Tim

 

ps awaiting your reviews on 35mm lenses with the most baited of all breaths!

[etienne_werner]

Have the CV 15mm, 50mm and haved used the 75mm. The 15mm is by far the lens I enjoy using most. The 50mm (nokton) is ok but I found that the leica 50 summicron is sharper (as far as I can tell). I was very pleasently surprised by the 75mm. It was small, easy to focus and gave a great performance in low light at full opening. I will order the 75mm next week together with the 12mm, which I've read gives even less vignetting.

Something I have read here , I believe, that QC is somewhat of a problem with CV. So make sure you check the lenses as soon as you get them. If they have a problem you can still return them for an other one. Eventhough I Live in Europe, I bought the lenses from CameraQuest. They are very fast with their deliveries and are easy to do buisiness with. Funny thing is that no Dutch shops want to represent them here anymore. In the last two years they have had to switch twice from representation and are now without. These shops both complained that they couldn't get supplies from CV.

 

Here an example of the 75mm

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This one is with the 15mm

 

Kind regards,

 

Etienne

[sean_reid]

Sean, any preliminary thoughts on the 35 pancake II ? I am as you know having issues with Leica 35 lux and crons WRT backfocus and may add the pancake to my lineup. Am wondering if it's good and if it can be coded but can't find any real info for how it is on the M8.

 

Best Regards

 

Tim

 

ps awaiting your reviews on 35mm lenses with the most baited of all breaths!

 

Hi Tim,

 

Stephen Gandy tells me that the 35/2.5 models are all identical optically. Right now, I'm testing two of them, the 35/2.5 Skopar and the 35/2.5 PII. I prefer the former because it's more compact with a hood mounted (although the hood on the latter is likely more effective) and esp. because the Skopar is thread mount which allows me to use it with a machined (for coding) adapter that John made me. All of the lenses travel daily in the a padded case in the trunk of my motorcycle. The Pancake II came apart two days ago (loose and wiggly when I took it out) but this is the first time I've ever seen a CV lens come apart. My bike is fairly smooth but I suppose there was just enough vibration to do the trick.

 

With respect to performance, either version of the 35/2.5 is exceptionally good. More specifics when I get into comparison testing. Right now I'm just using various cameras and lenses for my regular work to see how they perform in normal use.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

In any case

[tashley]

Hi Tim,

 

Stephen Gandy tells me that the 35/2.5 models are all identical optically. Right now, I'm testing two of them, the 35/2.5 Skopar and the 35/2.5 PII. I prefer the former because it's more compact with a hood mounted (although the hood on the latter is likely more effective) and esp. because the Skopar is thread mount which allows me to use it with a machined (for coding) adapter that John made me. All of the lenses travel daily in the a padded case in the trunk of my motorcycle. The Pancake II came apart two days ago (loose and wiggly when I took it out) but this is the first time I've ever seen a CV lens come apart. My bike is fairly smooth but I suppose there was just enough vibration to do the trick.

 

With respect to performance, either version of the 35/2.5 is exceptionally good. More specifics when I get into comparison testing. Right now I'm just using various cameras and lenses for my regular work to see how they perform in normal use.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

In any case

 

Thank you Sean! I've just this minute ordered the PII on the basis that I can code it with a sharpie (I think the mount allows for that, hope so anyway)

 

Much appreciate your feedback. I'll keep mine off the motorcycle!

 

:-)

 

Tim

[sean_reid]

Have the CV 15mm, 50mm and haved used the 75mm. The 15mm is by far the lens I enjoy using most. The 50mm (nokton) is ok but I found that the leica 50 summicron is sharper (as far as I can tell). I was very pleasently surprised by the 75mm. It was small, easy to focus and gave a great performance in low light at full opening. I will order the 75mm next week together with the 12mm, which I've read gives even less vignetting.

Something I have read here , I believe, that QC is somewhat of a problem with CV. So make sure you check the lenses as soon as you get them. If they have a problem you can still return them for an other one. Eventhough I Live in Europe, I bought the lenses from CameraQuest. They are very fast with their deliveries and are easy to do buisiness with. Funny thing is that no Dutch shops want to represent them here anymore. In the last two years they have had to switch twice from representation and are now without. These shops both complained that they couldn't get supplies from CV.

 

According to recent comparative testing I did, the Nokton 1.5 showed more resolution on center at F/2 than the Summicron. In the corners at F/2, both the Summicron and the Zeiss Planar showed higher resolution than the Nok 50 or the 50 Lux (although that test copy seemed to be off).

 

Again, generalized comments about CV and other lenses can be limiting. One really needs to look at specific aspects.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

.

[sean_reid]

Thank you Sean! I've just this minute ordered the PII on the basis that I can code it with a sharpie (I think the mount allows for that, hope so anyway)

 

Much appreciate your feedback. I'll keep mine off the motorcycle!

 

:-)

 

Tim

 

Hi Tim,

 

One can certainly code it with a Sharpie but that will wear off so you'll need to "refresh" the markings from time to time. I now favor LTM lenses (unless I'm using a coded Leica lens) because I can use the former with a machined adapter. Hand-coding can be unreliable...one never knows when the coding may wear off (possibly while changing lenses in the middle of a shoot).

 

Best,

 

Sean

[etienne_werner]

According to recent comparative testing I did, the Nokton 1.5 showed more resolution on center at F/2 than the Summicron. In the corners at F/2, both the Summicron and the Zeiss Planar showed higher resolution than the Nok 50 or the 50 Lux (although that test copy seemed to be off).

 

Again, generalized comments about CV and other lenses can be limiting. One really needs to look at specific aspects.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

.

Sean you are right, I shouldn't make generalizations like that. What I should have said is that I find it somewhat more difficult to get a really sharp picture with the Nokton then I did with the 50mm summicron. This can be attributed to a variety of things: The camera which might need further tweaking and certainly my failing eye-sight:mad:.

But overall I am very pleased with the VC lenses and will, as mentioned earlier, get the 75mm and 12mm to add to my collection.

 

Regards,

 

Etienne

[tashley]

Hi Tim,

 

One can certainly code it with a Sharpie but that will wear off so you'll need to "refresh" the markings from time to time. I now favor LTM lenses (unless I'm using a coded Leica lens) because I can use the former with a machined adapter. Hand-coding can be unreliable...one never knows when the coding may wear off (possibly while changing lenses in the middle of a shoot).

 

Best,

 

Sean

 

 

Thank you again Sean - you are ever-helpful!

 

I have found it hard to source either machined adaptors or even adaptors with a wide enough flange to take a sharpie code, so I was hoping the one with an M mount built in would be better for me though I must say that at 35mm the 'cyans' have so far not shown up for me!

 

Any idea when your 35mm review is due? I'll be fascinated to see if you've had the same issues that a host of us have had with 35 crons and luxes backfocussing so badly as to be almost impossible on an m8?

 

Best

 

Tim

[ChrisC]

....... the Skopar is thread mount which allows me to use it with a machined (for coding) adapter that John made me. ........

 

Sean - Does John know that some of us are politely wondering what his surname is, where he is, and whether he is interested in making [permanently?] codable adapters more widely available?

 

........................... Chris

[Hans Roggen]

Funny thing is that no Dutch shops want to represent them here anymore. In the last two years they have had to switch twice from representation and are now without. These shops both complained that they couldn't get supplies from CV.

 

Hi Etienne,

 

I got my CV 15mm from Combifoto in Noordwijk of all places. To my surprise they had every CV lens and accesories like viewfinders and adapters in stock. So if you want to get some more CV lenses...I always like to see and hold something before I buy.

 

Hans

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[Vivek Iyer]

They (Duncan/Nordwijk) were a dealer for the C-V line. I remember them dumping everything on eBay for bargain prices, >2 years ago. I don't know if they still sell any.