voigtlander,the best leica lenses in the world

[mmradman]

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43 minutes ago, Simone_DF said:

 

That is true, but the Voigtlander brand cannot operate at a loss, and Japanse salaries are way higher than German salaries.

A lot of manufacturing for Leica is done in Portugal, that makes price differential between Japan and two EU countries at different end of wage scale even harder to understand. 

[lct]

8 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

Japanse salaries are way higher than German salaries

Are you sure? https://countryeconomy.com/labour/average-wage

[Ko.Fe.]

23 hours ago, cboy said:

It would be great idea if voigtlander made digital bodies to suit their lenses. All the better for competition and to promote their brand even though its a niche market. A digital body calibrated for their own lenses would have huge appeal as it did for their film line.

The epson rd series was a great camera to rival leica later down the track, despite being the first digital rangefinder with a high price tag at the start.

The complaints of the fuji xpro and x100v is that the lack of manual / coupled controls will never give a rangefinder experience that many want.

Imho the Pixii and Zx1 really are aimed too high a price to allow consumers to enter the digital rangefinder market and so are left to compromise to the above or a second hand m body....its a shame. Maybe because the r&d of first gen products are always high i guess. Perhaps a collaboration with Pixii/Epson and Voigtlander in the future?

Im quite sure many would shift off from leica if there was company would provide a similar product offering...

The status quo will forever be Auto everything...

Apologies for the rant.

Cosina is using more effective way than doing something they not really up to speed. They are making lenses for not just M mount. It makes more sense, rather than making digital rangefinder for very tiny market. 

I'd rather see EVF in the corner body with sensor accepting wide M lenses. IBIS, dust reduction.

My Canon RP with Nokton 35 1.4 II M is totally fine on IQ and EVF focusing is superior to RF.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

On 6/29/2021 at 8:51 PM, fotografr said:

Another question is why are the Voigtlander lenses a fraction of the cost of the Leica lenses when the quality and performance is so high? It causes me to wonder if Leica are pricing themselves into oblivion. I love the Leica brand but I've grown very tired of paying $7K to $10K for new lenses.

Leica Camera AG M lenses have became part of limited boutique sales strategy. And as everything sold in boutiques price must be very high. It is totally different market sector. Not for regular income, kids, mortgage, lease people who lives paycheck to paycheck and have some hobbies. Not it is for working photographers anymore. I know none near me and only one eight thousands kilometres east from my location. In different country. In my G7 country Leica not even exist. No Leica boutiques, no service. No wonder nobody from working for real photogs I know doesn't use Leica here.   

While Cosina is just re-porpoising name of not existing brand. And their lenses are for folks. And someone like Eggleston. I saw video with him using Voigtlander lenses on M body. 

 

[Ko.Fe.]

On 6/30/2021 at 9:12 AM, Simone_DF said:

That's my thought too. Why get a Summarit when you can get a Voigtlander with faster aperture, probably same or better perfomances, and still save money?

Leica killed Summarit-M line. They were last reasonably priced Leica Camera AG lenses.

I got mine 35 2.5 as replacement for Color Skopars. For slightly above of 1K USD, NIB NO. This is the only Leica labeled lens want to keep and use. Sold all bunch of 50 Crons. Not worth of money, IMO.  

[Ko.Fe.]

On 6/29/2021 at 9:29 PM, astrostl said:

The 35/1.4 II is part of the Classic line and has self-described copy such as, "The spherical aberrations that influenced image rendering on its predecessor are retained as is, intentionally so." It is purposefully making sacrifices on optics for the sake of lower cost/size/weight and kookier rendering. I think the 50/1.2, 50/1.5, and 50/2 APO would all make better comparisons with a Summicron in terms of what they are trying to accomplish.

This lens was always direct alternative to old Lux 35. Same exterior; glow, else WO and fine closed down. I was waiting for II to have their terrible focus shift of first version corrected. And while I was waiting for years, prices on trashed, old Lux 35 went insane. 35 1.4 II instead was no brainier to me.

[Ko.Fe.]

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On 6/29/2021 at 6:12 PM, earleygallery said:

It's a shame Voigtlander have dropped the LTM lenses, they offered a new lease of life for the Barnacks.

 

To keep this thread honest one thing must be mentioned...

Some LTM CV lenses are showing fogging now. Kind of fogging which might be not removable. 

[Guest Nowhereman]

On 6/28/2021 at 11:34 PM, rtai said:

The 21mm f1.4 Summilux is my most used lens and I am sure is one of Leica’s best. I would like to try the Voigtlander to compare. From experience as a user of both brands I can say *in general* the modern slower aperture Leica lenses are probably more or less equal to the Voigtlanders and if they are “better” then not by much...

No personal experience with 21mm f/1.4 lenses but I just read the following interesting, recent post by Ron Scheffler, who has looked carefully at 21mm lenses in the last few years: This CV does look really great. It's definitely a better technical performer than the 21 Lux (which is now somewhat 'old' in design)...As someone who was crazy about 21mm M lenses and at one time owned 4 at the same time (well before this CV reached the market). I'm now down to the 21 Lux and 21 SEM and use the SEM far more often, even in lower light situations. The only two things the SEM can't do is light gathering when you really need it and providing a shallow depth of field look. If you value these two features, then the CV is definitely the lens to get. The fact that the CV is such a great performer in general, means it could effectively be your only 21. The 'elephant' in the room is its size and weight. Given you can use the M10 in live view, it can make up for viewfinder blockage (of course the frame lines don't cover 21, but you can still guesstimate framing pretty well through the OVF). Balance on the camera may be a bit off and not really 'in harmony' with the M system design, but that's a subjective thing. It will also take up a fair amount of camera bag space, which will depend on how much stuff you usually like to bring along.
________________________
Frog Leaping photobook

[pedaes]

10 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

 

That is true, but the Voigtlander brand cannot operate at a loss, and Japanse salaries are way higher than German salaries.

I am sure that I read somewhere that the CEO of Cosina/Voigtlander has taken a personal interest in the rangefinder lenses as a pet project, and it certainly feels like it with so many finishes per lens and choice of single and multi coatings.

[pedaes]

44 minutes ago, Ko.Fe. said:

Leica Camera AG M lenses have became part of limited boutique sales strategy.

How have you come to that conclusion? Many regular camera shops still selling Leica.

Have you read the angst Forum members are going through because they can't get hold of latest releases quickly?

[Simone_DF]

2 hours ago, lct said:

Are you sure? https://countryeconomy.com/labour/average-wage

I am. A job in my sector (software / IT) is paid about 30-40% less in Berlin and 30-40% more in Tokyo compared to where I am now (Ireland). I know for sure because I have been looking at job offerings in both countries for a while.

Check also how much cheaper the cost of living is in Berlin compared to Tokyo

[Ko.Fe.]

30 minutes ago, pedaes said:

How have you come to that conclusion? Many regular camera shops still selling Leica.

Have you read the angst Forum members are going through because they can't get hold of latest releases quickly?

It is not my conclusion. It is market situation. Here is nothing wrong with boutiques products selling quick.  

[Simone_DF]

41 minutes ago, pedaes said:

I am sure that I read somewhere that the CEO of Cosina/Voigtlander has taken a personal interest in the rangefinder lenses as a pet project, and it certainly feels like it with so many finishes per lens and choice of single and multi coatings.

That could explain the dedication to the system

[Simone_DF]

35 minutes ago, pedaes said:

Have you read the angst Forum members are going through because they can't get hold of latest releases quickly?

And is this because of high sales or because of slow production in small batches?

Probably a combination of both, I think.

[pippy]

1 hour ago, Simone_DF said:

I am. A job in my sector (software / IT) is paid about 30-40% less in Berlin and 30-40% more in Tokyo compared to where I am now (Ireland). I know for sure because I have been looking at job offerings in both countries for a while...

Not trying to start a bunfight in the slightest, Simone, but perhaps your own particular job-sector speciality isn't entirely representative of the total global job market of each country when these are considered as a whole?

Extrapolating "Japanse salaries are way higher than German salaries" from one specific employment viewpoint is hardly an accurate position to adopt.

Just a thought.

Philip.

Edited July 1, 2021 by pippy

[pedaes]

1 hour ago, Simone_DF said:

Check also how much cheaper the cost of living is in Berlin compared to Tokyo

Surely this has an impact on compensation (salary) rates.

[duoenboge]

The Voigtlaender lenses are made by one of the very best and most flexible lens manufacturers in the world, which manufactures the lenses with a very high degree of automation. Hence the great diversity and fantastic quality of the lenses on offer. At the people at Cosina seems to be also extremely creative.

[fotografr]

2 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said:

To keep this thread honest one thing must be mentioned...

Some LTM CV lenses are showing fogging now. Kind of fogging which might be not removable. 

😱

[fotografr]

1 hour ago, Simone_DF said:

And is this because of high sales or because of slow production in small batches?

Probably a combination of both, I think.

I have heard from a very reliable source that there have been some serious problems on the lens production lines in Wetzlar.

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Hallo,

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[jaeger]

15 minutes ago, fotografr said:

I have heard from a very reliable source that there have been some serious problems on the lens production lines in Wetzlar.

no offend, Wetzlar is a park not a factory, not much producing from there.  It's for show, sales, marketing and service mainly.