kenneth Posted May 23, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is likely to ruffle a few feathers but I don't see why there are posting for Cosina Voigtlander products on a Leica forum other than to highlight thier inferior quality to Leica optics and Leica cameras. A dealer I spoke to sometime ago hit the nail on the head when he said that Cosina Voigtlander cameras and lenses are very popular with students just starting out on a photography course usually upgrading to the real thing (Leica M cameras and optics) as money comes available. They obviously also seem very popular with those relatively new to photography, dare I say those introduced via the digital method, as those more steeped in photography remember Cosina of old and would not consider the brand a serious contender Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 23, 2009 Posted May 23, 2009 Hi kenneth, Take a look here Cosina Voigtlander posts on a Leica Forum- Why?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bill Posted May 23, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 23, 2009 Kenneth, I shall try to explain. CV lenses have, until recently, differed from Leica lenses in focal length, maximum aperture or both. They have brought out the fastest 40mm ever, the fastest 35mm ever, the fastest 28mm ever, in LTM or M mounts. They revitalised the LTM market and allowed Barnacks to use modern aspherical lenses. By mass-producing lenses at a lower price point they have opened rangefinder ownership to new generations, new people. They have even produced the widest full-frame ever in LTM. Each lens has a unique signature. I sold my V4 35mm Summicron and replaced it with a CV 35mm 2.5 PII because I preferred it's tonal rendition for black and white. I bought a 75mm CV 2.5 because I wanted a) to use it on a Barnack and the Summilux - then the only other 75 available - was too expensive, and more to the point too damn heavy. When the Summicron and the Summarit came out I hung on to my CV - why? because the difference in performance is not enough to warrant a change. To ignore the CV lens lineup is narrow-minded at best. They have a place here. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 23, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted May 23, 2009 To ignore the CV lens lineup is narrow-minded at best- Thank you Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thephotofather Posted May 24, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 24, 2009 I am remarkably confused Kenneth, your profile equipment reads: M6 Classic Chrome- 35mm f2 35mm Summicron - M ASPH- Voigtlander 75mm f2.5Pradovit Projector This is likely to ruffle a few feathers but I don't see why there are posting for Cosina Voigtlander products on a Leica forum other than to highlight thier inferior quality to Leica optics and Leica cameras. A dealer I spoke to sometime ago hit the nail on the head when he said that Cosina Voigtlander cameras and lenses are very popular with students just starting out on a photography course usually upgrading to the real thing (Leica M cameras and optics) as money comes available. They obviously also seem very popular with those relatively new to photography, dare I say those introduced via the digital method, as those more steeped in photography remember Cosina of old and would not consider the brand a serious contender Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Rick Posted May 24, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 24, 2009 Just rechecked the calendar to be sure this wasn't April 1. As the old joke goes, "M'lord, the masses are revolting." "Yes, aren't they!" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antistatic Posted May 24, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 24, 2009 Kenneth, what is your opinion on the Leica 15mm or 12mm M mount lenses? I think Leica should offer thanks to CV for keeping rangefinders alive and dynamic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted May 24, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 24, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Kenneth's succeeded in ruffling a few feathers. Re-reading the OP his point isn't that he minds people using CV lenses or even thinks they're no good, but simply that we shouldn't mention them except to disparage them. Mods, can we please have a "fanboy" smilie? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 24, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 24, 2009 This is likely to ruffle a few feathers but I don't see why there are posting for Cosina Voigtlander products on a Leica forum other than to highlight thier inferior quality to Leica optics and Leica cameras. Because you can. Anyway, who says they are inferior? Cheaper, certainly. Different, certainly. Not necessarily inferior. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the.ant Posted May 24, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 24, 2009 Because there are also students and beginning photographers reading and writing here. If money was no issue, I would probably only buy Leica, not exclusively for the results they produce, but also for the look&feel. Alas, money is an issue. Not all CV lenses are similar, some I find lacking, some I find extraordinarily good. Thus, it's nice to talk about them. In that sense, it's even more to talk about than Leica lenses. They are all very, very good, all you can talk about is which one is even better Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alifie Posted May 24, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 24, 2009 We talk about different films, none Leica, CV lenses fit Leicas, why not talk about them too. I suppose we can also discuss CVs cameras as long as a Leica lens is fitted. And I have just spotted the title of this area... Film Forum The Film Forum is about everything regarding non-digital 35mm photography - films, dark room and slide projection Not a word about Leica specificity, but it excludes the Leica cine cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted May 24, 2009 I am remarkably confused Kenneth, your profile equipment reads: M6 Classic Chrome- 35mm f2 35mm Summicron - M ASPH- Voigtlander 75mm f2.5Pradovit Projector Very observant of you and as I have stated in the past I could not justify the expense of a 75mm Leica lens as this is not a focal length I use very much but I still stand by what I said and would be very happy to do a straight swap with anyone on this forum for a Leica 75mm lens in exchange for my Colour Heliar who believes they are as good as Leica lenses. I must update my equipment profile as I have added another M6 Classic body and a 50mm Summicron since posting it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted May 24, 2009 Kenneth, what is your opinion on the Leica 15mm or 12mm M mount lenses? I think Leica should offer thanks to CV for keeping rangefinders alive and dynamic. I cannot comment as I am not familiar with lenses of that focal length. as far as Leica offering thanks to Cosina Voigtlander I am sure they must be very happy with the amount of publicity they are already receiving inadvertently from this forum Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted May 24, 2009 Because you can. Anyway, who says they are inferior? Cheaper, certainly. Different, certainly. Not necessarily inferior. Thank you Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 24, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 24, 2009 As Bill has mentioned the CV lenses have really been a hit with LTM users because Leica stopped making any LTM fit lenses (apart from a few Limited edition collector pieces). I had pretty much stopped using my lllf, I had a not very good example of a Summar and never considered buying an Elmar for it. Then along come the CV's and I think that 25mm looks fun. Since then I've bought more Leica lenses for it and an M rangefinder/lenses. That little CV lens switched me back on to the benefits of a Leica rangefinder camera. Apart from that, many of the CV lenses are great quality regardless of the price. Yes Leica make fantastic lenses, but why ignore the CV's simply because they aren't Leica? We discuss all manner of Leica related equipment on this forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted May 24, 2009 As Bill has mentioned the CV lenses have really been a hit with LTM users because Leica stopped making any LTM fit lenses (apart from a few Limited edition collector pieces). I had pretty much stopped using my lllf, I had a not very good example of a Summar and never considered buying an Elmar for it. Then along come the CV's and I think that 25mm looks fun. Since then I've bought more Leica lenses for it and an M rangefinder/lenses. That little CV lens switched me back on to the benefits of a Leica rangefinder camera. Apart from that, many of the CV lenses are great quality regardless of the price. Yes Leica make fantastic lenses, but why ignore the CV's simply because they aren't Leica? We discuss all manner of Leica related equipment on this forum. James I am not ignoring them, in fact as I have mentioned previously and on this thread, I have one but I must say I am not impressed. I am proposing to shoot some more with it to see if I can improve on the results I have had and I am still open to anyone who is interested in a straight trade for a Leica 75mm but I think I might have a long wait Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomasis7 Posted May 24, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 24, 2009 This is likely to ruffle a few feathers but I don't see why there are posting for Cosina Voigtlander products on a Leica forum other than to highlight thier inferior quality to Leica optics and Leica cameras. A dealer I spoke to sometime ago hit the nail on the head when he said that Cosina Voigtlander cameras and lenses are very popular with students just starting out on a photography course usually upgrading to the real thing (Leica M cameras and optics) as money comes available. They obviously also seem very popular with those relatively new to photography, dare I say those introduced via the digital method, as those more steeped in photography remember Cosina of old and would not consider the brand a serious contender Im with you. Agree totally.. but I have some LTM cameras, so I thought it'd be fun use CV 25mm which I have. To have more choices for RF is great. But to call CV superior against Leica is mildly speaking, BS. Nissan GTR is faster than Porsche Gt2 on Nordschleife, yeah but who cares? Maybe rangefinder forum is overcrowded so we got folks here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 24, 2009 Share #17 Posted May 24, 2009 Film Forum The Film Forum is about everything regarding non-digital 35mm photography - films, dark room and slide projection Not a word about Leica specificity, but it excludes the Leica cine cameras. Actually, the whole point of the forum is that it is a Leica-centric forum. So this includes all Leica cameras, and the lenses that fit on them. It does not include, using a Bessa body with a CV lens, as there is nothing Leica in the equation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted May 25, 2009 Share #18 Posted May 25, 2009 Next thing you know, people will start talking about Zeiss lenses on Leica.... Where will it end! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted May 25, 2009 Share #19 Posted May 25, 2009 Let's see if I can remember the manufacturers of the various lenses that I have for my Leica cameras. Leitz, of course. Nikon, Canon, Zeiss (Sonnar in LTM), Topcon (the Simlar 5cm/1.5), Steinheil, Schacht, Colinar, Komura, KMZ, ZOMZ,... those are the ones I can remember without looking. That's the great thing about Leica Mount: more choice than any other mount. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share #20 Posted May 25, 2009 I guess that is fine if one subscribes to the more is better mentality. On the other hand fewer means compactness, less clutter and contentment. I know which one I subscribe to Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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