Nokton and Ultron for first lenses (M8)

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steelduck

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Hello, I am just taking the leap from Canon 5D to Leica M8 and I am looking for my first lens(es).

I got an offer to swap my Sigma 12-24 + 320euros to these lenses:

40mm/1.4 Nokton
http://www.voigtlaender.de/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_asan6m4dvt.html

28mm/2.0 Ultron
http://www.voigtlaender.de/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7j7h5j.html

and Leica IR filters for them. Then I read about some focus issues on these lenses. What is your take on this deal? Should I go for the swap or consider something else for my first lense?
 
kshapero said:
Use the classifieds
Click to expand...

This might be a language thing, but I am a bit confused why I should use classifieds? I am not buying or selling anything here? I am just asking a newbie question about these lenses? Is this a wrong forum.

I really like to use the 50mm/1.4 on my Canon 5D and I am looking for a same kind of experience (except the rangefinder part) from the M8, so I am looking for a best lense in price/performance in the 35-50mm range.

My budget is about 500e for the lense, but as I said in the post above. I got an offer to trade my Sigma to Nokton AND Ultron.
 
They are good lenses, and the offer sounds good. The only issue they have is that they don't have Leica written on the beauty ring. Rely on your own experience; i.e., try them, and if you don't like them, you can sell them without loosing money.

Roland.
 
"Use the classifieds" means, I think, that you should put up a WANTED ad. But you probably won't need to do that as you are getting what Roland correctly describes as good lenses. I have heard of no focus issues in 5+ years, and the three CV lenses which I have myself used, focussed correctly on Leicas.
 
I'd steer you to Sean Reid's "Reid Review's": http://www.reidreviews.com/reidreviews/articleindextable.html
it is a subscription site but there is a wealth of information about lenses for the M8. SR has in particular found some problems with with the 28 f2 Ultron, that didn't seem to be found with the f1.9 screw mount predecessor....I can't remember his view on the 40mm, I haven't tried one but obviously there will be an issue with the framelines (Ithink it can be made to bring up the 35mm or 50mm lines with modification required for one). I would go for CV 35mm f2.5 as a start (great and tiny lens) or a 35mm f1.7 if you need the speed, and then a 50mm f1.5 which I think is a gem of a lens. I don't use the wide end so much but the 28 f1.9 is good. In other words...no I wouldn't take the trade! You seem to be in Europe, I have used Ffordes in the UK to buy several used lenses and been very happy each time.
 
Not sure if others have had similar experiences, but I had focusing issues with the CV 40/1.4 on my M8. The focus was just off at shorter distances.
It's possible I had a bad copy.

But on the larger subject, there's nothing wrong with CV lenses. Some of them may not be quite as well made as Leica lenses, but considering how much less expensive they are, I wouldn't consider that an issue at all.
My own kit contains a CV28/1.9. Great lens.
 
you can't be wrong at such a price, and with a cropped sensor camera like the M8 with an average pixel count (by today's standards), these lenses should really shine. They're very good choices if you like the VC's feel (bokeh is typically smooth as well as medium contrast with high resolution and lower correction of aberrations).
 
cv lenses

cv lenses

Me I have used voigtlander lenses and I would steer clear of them. If you do not have the funds for leica glass , and need to go cheap go to zeiss lenses better build and better and image quality that is close to leica voigts are muddy, flare too easily and purple fringe easily.
 
I would go with the 2/28, mainly because I have preference for a regular wide versus a 40 which is normal on the M8 (closer to 50mm)

There have been much debate over the 28's shift, but you will read in the forums that in practical shooting you would not encounter such problems. And maybe you'll have luck and not find the problem at all.

The 40 is a very nice lens as well, but I think the Ultron is a better value in the trade.
 
With all due respect, I have shot thousands of photos with Voigtländer lenses and they are 98% of the way to Leica in build and image quality and head and shoulders above any 35mmm-form-factor DSLR. They are about as far from "muddy" as lens can get.
 
maggieo said:
With all due respect, I have shot thousands of photos with Voigtländer lenses and they are 98% of the way to Leica in build and image quality and head and shoulders above any 35mmm-form-factor DSLR. They are about as far from "muddy" as lens can get.
Click to expand...

I have to agree on the lack of muddiness. I've used, during the past couple of years, at least 10 different CV models. And the vast majority have been wonderful pieces of glass.
I won't dispute the idea that Leica lenses are better. But you pay a heck of a lot of money to get that extra 10 percent worth of performance.
If you feel like spending the money on Leica glass, go for it. But don't feel like you have to in order to create great photos.
 
Don't try to do it on the cheap steelduck, buy a proper Leica lens. When you know how one performs you will know what the downsides, or upsides, to using other manufacturers lenses really are without hype or listening to people who never compared them.

Sean Reid (Reidreviews.com) shows the 28mm f2 Ultron to have bad focus shift at medium apertures. And despite opinions expressed to the opposite, I found the same thing, and its not a quality control problem, its a characteristic of the lens (RF focusing shows up problems in lens design that are masked in SLR focusing). It makes focusing the 28mm Ultron guesswork, which is OK if nothing is critical, but it depends on your expectations. But the Ultron is a nice lens for bokeh and sharpness, but not stellar. Conversely a 28mm Summicron, or Elmarit, gives no focus shift so they can be reliably used, they are very sharp, and have superb bokeh.

Steve
 
I've enjoyed the CV 40/1.4 quite a bit, but recently sold it. The one I had focused well on the M8, RD1, and M6, and had negligible focus shift.

I was thinking of getting a 35/1.4 CV to try, but am more likely to get another 40/1.4. It has less distortion and focus shift than the CV 35/1.4s (All four samples that a leading subscription review site tested suffered significantly between f2 to f8). And finally, if you're using an M8 classic, or Epson RD1, the 40 fits the 35 framelines of these cameras better than a 35mm lens, once you are viewing out past a meter. Also, the 40/1.4 costs about $200 less than the CV 35/1.4.

Here's a great image I took wide open with the 40/1.4 last week.
 
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