Voigtländer 12mm and 15mm

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bessasebastian

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Superwide or Super-Superwide? Does it make a practical difference at all?

I´m looking forward to buying one of these but havent decided yet. Maybe you can help with some experience? Thanks!

Ill be using these on an M6.
 
If you don't need the extra 3mm, the 15 is half a stop faster and 2/3 of the price. I would look at pics of both before deciding on 12mm.

Kim
 
And the VF is huge on the 12mm. I have the 15mm (although I use it on my M8 and Epson RD-1) and it is an excellent performer, and considered the lens that "started it all" for CV...
 
I had the 15mm a few years back, and really enjoyed it. But it was a bit too wide for me, so I'm using the 21mm now.
 
The choice depends to some extent what you will be shooting with it. The 15/4,5 is quite useful as a "scenic" and also as a street shooting lens. The 12f5.6 is more of a speciality lens. It is unbeatable for those impossible shots. It is not a lens to take likely and it takes a while to get the handle on it.
The optical quality of both lenses is impeccable and in spite of the extreme angles, they can do a great job.
Beware of "wideitis" - ie shooting everything with super wides. It is a phase that one tends to through with these extreme lenses. I suggest that once you have decided on the lens, set aside a handful of rolls and shoot them quickly - just to get over it.
 
And the other thing to remember is the 12mm or 15mm CV lenses are NOT rangefinder coupled. For general shooting you've got plenty of DOF to help you out. But it becomes an issue if you often shoot wide open with close focus foregrounds (I ended up adding extra distance markings with a sharpie on my 15mm's focus scale).

That said, the equally diminuitive 21mm CV is rangefinder coupled (and a smidgen faster at f4). LTM version comes with finder. New M mount version does not. Both have same optics.
 
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... and in case you need a nice solution for a filter adapter on the C.V. SWH 4,5/15mm THIS was my best alternative, 72mm:

346523423_1bc1182336.jpg



Best regards,

Robert

(PS. It works very nice, also with I.R. photography! e.g. Heliopan RG715, #88A IR filter)
 
I have the 12mm, but not, the 15mm.

Like it alot. Use it -sparingly-.

As Mr. A says, WIDEITIS must be overcome.

-Dan
 
I gave my girlfriend a 20/4 Nikkor to use on her FM2 and she quickly became a better and a great deal faster photographer because set at f5.6 to f16/ 2 meters she didn't have to focus anymore. I use my 20 CV and 25 Canon streetshooting w/ the same settings on my Model P's and they are awesome. I really can't justify going any wider.
 
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Thanks eyeryone for your advise. This is a great place with friendly people.

Beware of "wideitis" - ie shooting everything with super wides. It is a phase that one tends to through with these extreme lenses. I suggest that once you have decided on the lens, set aside a handful of rolls and shoot them quickly - just to get over it.

I´ll watch for that Tom!

If you go extreme anyway, go it all the way.

Thats what I´m thinking Icebear. Impressive shots.
 
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Just stick a superwide on set to F16 and shoot from the hip...you'll be a street photographer in no time.
 
I just posted some 12/15 shots on our Flickr site. these are recent shots from last week. All done with R4M and Acros 100. They might give you an idea of the difference in view between these two ultra wides.
 
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