Any thoughts on using Voightlander lenses on the M10R?

[CS Gray]

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hello, Any thoughts on using Voightlander lenses on the M10R?

I have a bunch of their lenses and they work great on my M10 and 18mp Mono.

Thanks,

Chris

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[jaapv]

No reason not to...

[John Miranda]

I really like the Voightlander 50mm f1.2, really nice lens for the price.  I also have the Leica 50mm Summicron f2.  When I want shallow depth of field or walking in dark settings and don't want a tripod, I am happy with the Voight.  I haven't done pixel-peeping tests, but overall am quite happy with the Voight, well built, well balanced on M10x.  

[CS Gray]

Thanks, I really love the lenses but was worried the the new sensor might challenge them.

 

[jaapv]

That is an Internet-fed myth. Sensor-lens is a complementary system, not a weakest link situation. 

[jdlaing]

Use them. They work well.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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Remember that the modern CV designs or variations of them, are already used on high resolution cameras like the Sony's. There's no reason to think they won't perform on the M10R. I have briefly tested the 50mm 1.2 on my camera and the results are fabulous.

Gordon

[exit]

OK. Very useful insight on the CV lenses of recent manufacture. I am considering an M10r but what I have been using with my M6 and M5 for 10-20years are my 35 Summicron lV, 50mm Summicron circa 1985, and a 90 2.8 Elmarit. I also have a Zeiss 1.5 Sonnar. I had an M9 which I regret selling but with my Ms I  have been happily shooting film. Are these "classic" Leica lenses designed for film up to the speed for the the 40M sensor of the M10r? Thanks in advance for all that reply. 

 

[John Miranda]

more than a notion of resolution, the M10r will give you better ISO control, dynamic range, etc, you’ll immediately notice a significant advantage with any high quality lenses, even older ones.

 

[Herr Barnack]

Based on what I have read, the 35mm f/1.2 Nokton ASPH III is Voigtlander's best M mount lens in terms of image quality, and it is reasonably priced ($1049 USD).  That would be where I would start, although several of Voigtlander's other M mount lenses are also highly rated.

 

[250swb]

5 hours ago, exit said:

OK. Very useful insight on the CV lenses of recent manufacture. I am considering an M10r but what I have been using with my M6 and M5 for 10-20years are my 35 Summicron lV, 50mm Summicron circa 1985, and a 90 2.8 Elmarit. I also have a Zeiss 1.5 Sonnar. I had an M9 which I regret selling but with my Ms I  have been happily shooting film. Are these "classic" Leica lenses designed for film up to the speed for the the 40M sensor of the M10r? Thanks in advance for all that reply. 

 

It's more often the case that the photographer isn't up to speed. With every hike in resolution the photographer has to adapt their own personal formula of post processing to suit the newer sensor. It can take time to understand the technical side of what you are seeing pixel peeping an image from a new sensor, so things like sharpening levels will need reviewing all over again, also edge contrast (Clarity in ACR). I don't think older Leica lenses are ready to fail just yet, but for less good lenses a higher res sensor will bring out the faults.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

On 8/13/2020 at 11:08 AM, exit said:

OK. Very useful insight on the CV lenses of recent manufacture. I am considering an M10r but what I have been using with my M6 and M5 for 10-20years are my 35 Summicron lV, 50mm Summicron circa 1985, and a 90 2.8 Elmarit. I also have a Zeiss 1.5 Sonnar. I had an M9 which I regret selling but with my Ms I  have been happily shooting film. Are these "classic" Leica lenses designed for film up to the speed for the the 40M sensor of the M10r? Thanks in advance for all that reply. 

 

Lenses don't have a hard limit on resolution or detail. Even a coke bottle will resolve more on a 40MP sensor than a 20MP one. You really need to look at the optical system as a whole. That means the lens, aperture, any filters, sensor, colour array and sensor cover glass and sensor filters all work together to provide resolution, detail, sharpness and acuity. As resolution increases so does the need for improved stability especially at the pixel level. In some cases software corrections and the sensor DAC also need to be taken into account.

An improvement in one factor will lead to an increase in visible resolution but not necessarily contrast, sharpness or detail (detail is different to resolution but often mistaken for it - a whole other topic). So all other things being equal (they're not, quite) going from the M9 (18MP) to the M10R (41MP) will give an increase in visible resolution with the lenses you already own. You will probably see an additional increase by using lenses with modern designs as well.

The last thing is a sharper lens does not always mean better images. You may prefer the way an older lens renders or draws to a modern one. In which case you be better off with the older lens as increasing resolution will give you more of the same. Your Zeiss Sonnar is a perfect example of this.

Gordon

[TomB_tx]

Sean Reid tested the M10P, R, and M with the Voigtlander 21mm f4 Skopar, an older “film era” design noted for edge color shifts, etc. on digital. It showed best resolution on the M10M. The performance on the M10R shows how great that sensor is for older M lenses, and is the strongest reason I might consider one.