Voigtländer 25mm f/0.95 for MicroFourThirds!

[shadowfox]

Since it's a true m4/3 lens and not an adapted one, there should be electronic contacts on the lens to;

1) activate the mf zoom function when you turn the focusing ring,
2) have exif data on aperture and focal length

These are good points. For $1000, I'd hope that this lens sports these features.

I am quite hopeful because my Nikon mount Ultron does have AF-confirm, so Cosina do know how to take advantage of electronic contacts in their manual focus lenses.

 

[funkpilz]

Focus confirmation would be a killer feature, but I still think this lens is a great step towards making MFT attractive for the prosumer market. Hopefully, they'll follow up with a 35mm equivalent or even something wider.

 

[Fujitsu]

Fujitsu, technically, it should be "But subjectively it still sucks." It doesn't suck at all, subjectively. But some people can't distinguish between subjective and objective, obviously ...

Nope. OBJECTIVELY manual focusing on a m43 camera sucks compared to a dedicated manual focus camera. Both Oly and Panny dont build cameras for manual focusing. They build cameras to be used with their own lightweight autofocus lenses. There is no manual focus lens from the inventors of the system.

So please stop spreading bs about how great manual focusing on m43 cameras could be. It is not. Ive been there, it sucks. Especially for anything but still life.

 

[Fujitsu]

It may suck for you, but I found it easy to be both accurate and fast (enough) with my 35mm f1.4L and 85mm f1.8 on an e-p1.

Do you have any pictures of moving subjects that were taken at 1.4 or 1.8 and are actually IN FOCUS? Would like to see some.

 

[morgan]

At this point MOST m43 cameras have live view EVFs either built in or available as options, and are therefore not "without a vf."

True, but then the value proposition starts to drop for me with the added expense. I was close on the GF1 a couple of times, but then I just wasn't sure what niche it filled for me given what else I had. If i had loved manual focus lenses on it then I would have went for it (I didn't try it with the evf though), but I didn't.

 

[david.elliott]

Do you have any pictures of moving subjects that were taken at 1.4 or 1.8 and are actually IN FOCUS? Would like to see some.

I take my macro photos wide open while running straight at the subject - and all are in focus.

 

[count_zero]

This is probably a stupid question, but is 25mm f0.95 on u43 darker than 50mm f0.95 on FF? Lets say I take a photo using both cameras at ISO 200 with the same exposure time, will the u43 exposure result in a darker photo than FF? I personally don't think so, but I can't explain why this is the case.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

This is probably a stupid question, but is 25mm f0.95 on u43 darker than 50mm f0.95 on FF? Lets say I take a photo using both cameras at ISO 200 with the same exposure time, will the u43 exposure result in a darker photo than FF? I personally don't think so, but I can't explain why this is the case.

except for possible vignetting, no, the shots will be equally bright at the same iso speed, aperture and shutter time.

 

[retnull]

This is an over-rated concept... most people don't use the same equipment for their lifetime. Some do, but most don't. Many things that we use in our lives become obsolete... but they do so only when you allow them to. 😀

It will be hard to stick with micro 4/3rds when a mirrorless full-frame camera is available. But I guess you'd be motivated to stick with it, if you'd dropped $1200 on a new Voigtländer lens that can't be adapted to any other format. 🙂

 

[jsrockit]

My point was that micro 4/3's cameras will only be obsolete when you decide to stop using it or there are none left in the world... outdated maybe, but still capable machines... just like some people still use Kodak Brownies. 😉

 

[Pavel+]

Fujitsu, I think you need to read up on the definition of subjective vs objective.
In you subjective opinion the focus sucks. Fine. In my subjective opinion the M9 sucks compared to the D700 focus. Lets try several moving subjects with each camera and see how they compare. But who cares ... really. The M9 may be much harder to focus in tricky situations and takes some skill and practice but many actually like it for that - myself included. Now I also have both the GF1 and GH1 and in my subjective opinion the focus is worse than an M8/M9 body in some situations and better in others. It for sure in its best situation (that would be a static subject with no direct light hitting the screen) be FAR more accurate in its results than the M9 focus.
Each system has its strengths.
If this is a true m4/3 lens then I expect that the moment the lens is turned that you can have the optional magnified screen come up for what I subjectively think is fabulous focus. You turn the lens, the screen magnifies and gives a fantastically precise focus and then when you half press the shutter you see the whole field. Works for me. Works for many others. You may not like it. Kind of subjective, eh?

 

[count_zero]

It will be hard to stick with micro 4/3rds when a mirrorless full-frame camera is available. But I guess you'd be motivated to stick with it, if you'd dropped $1200 on a new Voigtländer lens that can't be adapted to any other format. 🙂

That assumes you want a FF sensor. I personally like 4/3 because you get double the focal length, so my 150mm becomes a 300mm equiv in less than half the size and weight. On the flip side you can't go as wide, but Panny and Oly have solutions for that problem already with their 7-14mm and 9-18mm lenses. I could careless about paper thin bokeh effects. What I would really like to see from Voigtlander is a 7mm f1.7 manual focus made from a light weight plastic like the oly lenses are.

 

[Fujitsu]

In you subjective opinion the focus sucks. Fine.

You will always find someone to prefer something weird over the non-weird but basically, focusing on a screen with "live-magnification" where you have a compromise between seeing the frame or seeing focus is inferior to anything else. Thats quite an objective point and I wont repeat myself.

If you find the concept great, whyever, good for you. I think its stupid. Now if Cosina would come with a m43 rangefinder we would be talking though...

 

[wblynch]

The G1 is very easy to manual focus.

Here's the thing... I am very excited by the CV 25/0.95.

 

[coelacanth]

The G1 is very easy to manual focus.

Here's the thing... I am very excited by the CV 25/0.95.

I agree, G1/2/GH1 EVF and Oly's VF-2 are very high resolution and focusing even without magnification was very easy.

I've decided to switch to G2 from E-PL1 mainly to use EVF all the time (I couldn't stand detachable EVF) and will see how this system sticks around. I, too, am excited to see what CV 25/0.95 can do.

 

[ampguy]

What about IS

What about IS

Will you miss the IS on the EP?

I agree, G1/2/GH1 EVF and Oly's VF-2 are very high resolution and focusing even without magnification was very easy.

I've decided to switch to G2 from E-PL1 mainly to use EVF all the time (I couldn't stand detachable EVF) and will see how this system sticks around. I, too, am excited to see what CV 25/0.95 can do.

 

[coelacanth]

Will you miss the IS on the EP?

I'm planning to use only 20/1.7 (no in-lens IS) and OM/M/LTM lenses for now so I won't have IS whatsoever indeed.

Will I miss IS? I'll have to wait and see, but I'm expecting I won't. Here are my reasons:

I think the ergonomics of G2 and the eye-level shooting will compensate the lack of IS a bit. And for fast-moving subjects, IS won't do anything so faster lenses are the way to go. With no mirror shock, I think I'll be OK with mid-level ISO, F2.0 and faster lenses and traditional eye-level holding.

Now only if these m4/3 cams could take Tom's Softies! 😀


P.S. Well, after seeing the 25/0.95 announcement, I have a hope of Mr. K coming up with an m4/3 body in 1-2 year time. And if he does, I think we'd see a cable release socket instead of in-body IS. :angel:

 

[ampguy]

or even better than a cable release socket, a wireless IR remote trigger. That's what makes a NEX 5 worth $100 more than a NEX 3 (I don't care about the size or video differences).

Did you notice the ~3 stops benefit of the EPL1 on still scenes? Some folks have mentioned they haven't, so I'm curious aobut that EP-1/-2/L1 claim about the 3-4 stops benefit from their in camera IS - but I guess that would mainly show with longer lenses.

 

[coelacanth]

Not sure if I'd use IR remote or cable release socket for actually cable release myself (I was thinking of Softy use), but that's an interesting point. For the NEX, I'm still hoping to see built-in EVF on high-end model, though...

~3 stops of IS benefit: Can't be too sure with any test facts or anything, but I think I can safely say 3-stop is a bit of stretch. But I was using 20mm most of time and E-PL1 only had 21mm as the closest IS setting so that might be the reason. That said, for 20mm, either IS or my hand was working just fine. From my limited experience with longer lens (mainly 50mm), I could feel IS was working, but 3-4 stop is a lot to claim IMO. But again, my experience with longer lenses is quite limited.

 

[Paul T.]

Interesting that the launch of a new lens again prompts discission of the parent system. Personally, I don't love
Manual focusing on the gf1. But I'm encouraged to think that the entry of cosina might stimulate the introduction oof more/better/cheaper virtual finders.

Added to that, this lens will have automatic features plus a REAL focus scale, which will make zone focusing, for the first time, possible. Although personally I'd be hAppier with a smaller 25/1.4 thiS is a momntous development if you like m43.