From a 35mm film camera perspective: considering the Voigtlander 15mm 4.5 V1 screw mount and VM/V2 M mount, other than rangefinder coupling of the V2 (which arguably is not needed at 15mm) any reason for choosing the V2 over the V1?

[Jodad]

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From a 35mm film camera perspective: considering the Voigtlander 15mm 4.5 V1 screw mount and VM/V2 M mount, other than rangefinder coupling of the V2 (which arguably is not needed at 15mm) any reason for choosing the V2 over the V1.

 

Few notes:

To be used on 35mm film (colour and B&W) or Digital M9 (B&W)

The V1 focuses closer at 30cm while the V2 focuses closest at 50cm. This makes a difference in relative subject size in the frame.

V1 cant take filters but V2 can

V1 shorter and less wide

V1 VF easier to look through but plastic fantastic. V2 VF lovely, compact and all metal. Well made. But more difficult to look through.

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Final point and just for fun: If you weren't using on film but rather only on digital and colour, would it make a difference for the above and your final answer?

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[Alberti]

I bought the V1 on my M6. Great. Just guess the close focus (like the length of a hand or elbow).

On the M8 it became an incredible 21mm - no IR/UV needed! And I could check the focus if needed by review. On any Monochrom it is great too.

On the M240/M10 the sides were nastly coloured. Too bad. --> the V2 was supposed to improve that. But for film that new version is not needed.

So my feedback is: go for the V1. Small. Versatile.

[J S H]

Have a look at the Laowa 15mm F/5. This lens is at least equal, if not superior to the V1 and V2. I own it and tested it against my V3 15 F/4.5 and it performed about the same. The Laowa is a little better close up and the Voigtlander was just a bit better at infinity. Those differences will not show up on film and the Laowa is incredibly small with 39mm filter threads. It also focuses to just under 5 inches!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1861635-REG/venus_optics_ve1550mblk_laowa_15mm_f_5_cookie.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh0Sk__YEVfT9Ut6zyiRCet2K&gclid=CjwKCAiAjp-7BhBZEiwAmh9rBUZcNwVzJY7-GGLZIQcIhKSQzHxs9-wLO3s0Zw3jrU2hid40rZUzlhoC5UkQAvD_BwE

Bastian's review is here: https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-laowa-15mm-5-0-cookie-tiny-and-useful/

[lct]

Heliar 15/4.5 v1 and v2 share the same optics according to Cameraquest so the only interest of v1 would be a closer MFD and a lesser price possibly but i have no clue about that. The v1 needs an adapter to work on M-mount cameras though. BTW the Heliar 15/4.5 v2 doesn't exhibit color shifts on M11 contrary to some ill-informed statements.

Edited December 22, 2024 by lct

[Jodad]

11 hours ago, lct said:

BTW the Heliar 15/4.5 v2 doesn't exhibit color shifts on M11 contrary to some ill-informed statements.

Thank you. I suppose you've tested this?

[Jodad]

15 hours ago, J S H said:

Have a look at the Laowa 15mm F/5. This lens is at least equal, if not superior to the V1 and V2. I own it and tested it against my V3 15 F/4.5 and it performed about the same. The Laowa is a little better close up and the Voigtlander was just a bit better at infinity. Those differences will not show up on film and the Laowa is incredibly small with 39mm filter threads. It also focuses to just under 5 inches!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1861635-REG/venus_optics_ve1550mblk_laowa_15mm_f_5_cookie.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh0Sk__YEVfT9Ut6zyiRCet2K&gclid=CjwKCAiAjp-7BhBZEiwAmh9rBUZcNwVzJY7-GGLZIQcIhKSQzHxs9-wLO3s0Zw3jrU2hid40rZUzlhoC5UkQAvD_BwE

Bastian's review is here: https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-laowa-15mm-5-0-cookie-tiny-and-useful/

I didn't know about this lens until this week... 

That close focus is impressive! Ill have a look for one, thank you.

[Ecar]

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Had both. You'll get nasty (and often asymmetric) red edges with the v1 on the M9. The v2 improves on that. That's perhaps somewhat less important if you shoot for BW only.

Edited December 23, 2024 by Ecar

[lct]

4 hours ago, Jodad said:

I suppose you've tested this?

CV 15/4.5 v2 on M11 at full aperture with vignetting adjusted in PP:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Diverse/n-QFBj4/Leica-M11-CV-1545-v2/i-HqfJcxS/1/cda2ea82/X4/M1003242_sips-X4.jpg

[J S H]

8 hours ago, Jodad said:

I didn't know about this lens until this week... 

That close focus is impressive! Ill have a look for one, thank you.

Yes, for a film M, it’s probably the ultimate solution. It shows no extra vignette with 39mm filters and even comes with a nice rectangular lens hood. 
 

Edit - I would also add that it’s a good performer on the M11 with absolutely no color shift at the edges. It sounds like you are mainly thinking about use with film, so digital performance may not be pertinent. 

Edited December 23, 2024 by J S H

[t00l1024]

On 12/22/2024 at 9:52 AM, J S H said:

Have a look at the Laowa 15mm F/5.

This lens is now in stock at B&H.

I'm taking a gamble and purchased one.

[J S H]

You will be amazed just how small it is. Definitely the best bang for the buck on the M mount ultra wide front and undoubtedly the smallest full frame option. I was using mine for some interior architectural images yesterday and noticed that my normal 39mm polarizer created noticeable extra vignetting that was not a problem with thinner filters. I tested with a very thin polarizer and the vignetting is much better, but maybe still a little bit more obvious than with my thinner UV/IR filters. Not a dealbreaker though and easy enough to frame images with thicker filters a bit wider and crop, if necessary.  

[david strachan]

I use the V1 15mm f3.5 on my M8 and find it's excellent.

On my M-P 240 the red edges are an irritation and must be removed.  I've got very used to using Lightrooms Flat Field Correction which is easy to use and totally removes the red edges. I need it for 21mm  and 35mm lenses too.

I won't be buying another version 15mm as this one is OK.

...

[J S H]

This thread has quite the title!

If anyone is interested, click the photo below to go to a small album of landscape images made with the Laowa 15mm F/5.

Laowa 15mm F/5 on Flickr:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Edited December 25, 2024 by J S H
Fixed link

[BrettWayne]

Forget Voigtlander v2, the v1 comes in silver. So does the Laowa cookie. 

[Ne314satel]

On 12/23/2024 at 2:14 PM, lct said:

CV 15/4.5 v2 on M11 at full aperture with vignetting adjusted in PP:

I confirm - on m11 everything is fine with the color of CV 15/4.5 v2.