CV15mm beats the WATE????

[punktum]

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When I compared my WATE with my CV15 I was pretty surprised. The CV15 seemes to be the better lens. It´s sharper and gives more details, as you can see in the 100% crop Images.

 

Both Images were taken at 1/250, f8 and 160 Iso, CV15mm and 16mm WATE. Shot in DNG, developed in capture one pro, both with the same settings.

 

I send the lense back to Leica. They fixed something but it´s still not performing as well as the CV15. So did I get a monday leica lense? Is the CV15 so excellent?!? What´s the experience of you forum users?

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[Guest guy_mancuso]

You may have a monday leica lens. Does not look right to me at all. Check if the focusing is off with the Rangefinder

[DaveEP]

I would do some focus bracketing with the WATE to see if you can get sharper images under any circumstances.

[gregkoz]

Nothing surprises about Leica anymore. You can't really tell anything from the low-res images. So to make it fair - scale focus the WATE just like the CV. When you read Sean Reid's tests comparing CV to Leica, Zeiss, etc. you gain quite a bit of respect for CV and realize the extreme value.

 

My system is composed maostly of CV lenses except for the 28'Cronmeister. Allows one to get into a complete system for less than $10k.

 

Greg

[andit]

I don't know if this has some bearing to the discussion here, however, could it be due to the fact that the cv15 is a prime lens, whereas the WATE is a multi focal length lens? I don't have any experience with the WATE so this may not be the case. I just remember when zooms first came out - they were never as sharp as primes (yes I know the WATE is not a zoom in the true sense).

 

My 2c worth

 

Andreas

 

PS: If Guy believes that you have a Monday lens, I would get in touch with your dealer and try to borrow a different lens and see if it is the same. Guy is very knowledgable and knows his stuff.

[Joe Mondello]

Nothing surprises about Leica anymore. You can't really tell anything from the low-res images. So to make it fair - scale focus the WATE just like the CV. When you read Sean Reid's tests comparing CV to Leica, Zeiss, etc. you gain quite a bit of respect for CV and realize the extreme value.

 

My system is composed maostly of CV lenses except for the 28'Cronmeister. Allows one to get into a complete system for less than $10k.

 

Greg

 

Exactly! I'd LOVE to have a bag full of Leica glass, but the M8 was expensive enough. So I have a nice little set of 4 CV lenses 2 of which I picked up as very clean used lenses at B&H and my total lens expense for these 4 is less than the cost of a single 28 2.8 Elmarit ASPH (if you could find one anyway!).

 

I have the 15mm 4.5 Super Heliar, the 28mm 1.9 Ultron, the 40mm .4 Nokton and the 75mm 2.5 Color Heliar. All excellent performers IMO.

 

These excellent CV lenses are real a lifesaver for me.

 

That said, the WATE really should out-perform the CV 15, so maybe there is something amiss with your "Monday" lens.

 

Hey my first M8 was a real "first thing Monday morning with a hangover" item! So it can, and sadly does, happen.

[sean_reid]

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The CV is a good lens and I haven't yet tested it against the WATE at 16 (coming up soon) *but* something seems off with that WATE sample. Check focus, etc. to be sure and then discuss with Leica. I'd do a few rounds more of testing to be sure though.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

Nothing surprises about Leica anymore. You can't really tell anything from the low-res images. So to make it fair - scale focus the WATE just like the CV. When you read Sean Reid's tests comparing CV to Leica, Zeiss, etc. you gain quite a bit of respect for CV and realize the extreme value.

 

My system is composed maostly of CV lenses except for the 28'Cronmeister. Allows one to get into a complete system for less than $10k.

 

Greg

 

Actually, an M8 plus a decent set of CV lenses is about $7K. I'm brand-agnostic when I test lenses and if one can look at results and ignore pre-conceptions, the CV lenses are usually very impressive.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[pelikan1931]

given the asking price, one would expect the Solms QC would have picked out any sub standard lens before it reaches the market.

[newyorkone]

My guess would be focus calibration. Some of the M8's need a little tweaking.

[rami G]

one thing is sure. Regardless of any question about the particular WATE you have got, the 15CV once again seems like a real jewel that worth any penny paid for it. What I do remember seeing in some comparison made here in the past is that the CV does have less curvation of the field than the 16mm,so it might be better for architecture work. (but I never tried the WATE. I am just reporting something that I remember reading)

[Photoskeptic]

I like my CV 15 just fine. The images you posted, IMO, appear as if the second photo missed the focus a tad.

[innerimager]

at f8 the depth of field should be more than enough to render the entire image sharply. looks like there's a problem with the lens to me. And... I love my CV 15, so much I can't see going for the WATE even if it were slightly better. I suspect the WATE outperforms the CV wide open (f4 vs 4.5), and in the corners of a film camera. But on the M8 with the cropped corners, and at 5.6 or down, I bet Sean will report the CV holds it's own quite well. best...Peter

[sean_reid]

at f8 the depth of field should be more than enough to render the entire image sharply. looks like there's a problem with the lens to me. And... I love my CV 15, so much I can't see going for the WATE even if it were slightly better. I suspect the WATE outperforms the CV wide open (f4 vs 4.5), and in the corners of a film camera. But on the M8 with the cropped corners, and at 5.6 or down, I bet Sean will report the CV holds it's own quite well. best...Peter

 

I just need another copy of the Zeiss 15 to get here and I can do the ultra-wides review: CV 12, CV 15, Zeiss 15, WATE. The interesting thing about the CV 15 (which is very much in vogue right now) is that other CV lenses perform as well or better than it.

 

That said, I expect that the WATE will test very well and already know that the Zeiss will (tested a previous copy).

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest guy_mancuso]

My bet the Wate will outperform the CV 15mm till about 6.7 than they will start to be pretty equal and all along the WATE may have better corners. But i do love the CV 15mm also and at it's price almost crazy not to have one

[misha]

I just need another copy of the Zeiss 15 to get here and I can do the ultra-wides review: CV 12, CV 15, Zeiss 15, WATE. The interesting thing about the CV 15 (which is very much in vogue right now) is that other CV lenses perform as well or better than it.

 

That said, I expect that the WATE will test very well and already know that the Zeiss will (tested a previous copy).

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

that being said, would you recomend cv 40 and 75mm?

 

thanks

misha

[sean_reid]

They're both very good lenses. The test of the 40 has started already and I worked with the 75 a lot in March. I need to put the 75 up against the Leica 75s for the article.

 

The challenge with the 40 has more to do with framing. Ask me for more info if you want details.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Joe Mondello]

that being said, would you recomend cv 40 and 75mm?

 

thanks

misha

 

Don't know about Sean, but I sure would.

 

Subscribe to Sean's website and read the best RF lens reviews around IMO.

[misha]

They're both very good lenses. The test of the 40 has started already and I worked with the 75 a lot in March. I need to put the 75 up against the Leica 75s for the article.

 

The challenge with the 40 has more to do with framing. Ask me for more info if you want details.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

Thanks Sean,

 

i am mainly looking for a prime portrait lens and the idea of "saving" by getting a cv75 and not 75 cron (not sure if this is an appropriate term in this context) a couple of grand is quite appealing.

misha

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[sean_reid]

Thanks Joe.

 

I'm testing a bunch of lenses with various filters tonight, 3 Leica and 6 CV.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean