audible
Member
this is a pretty nice idea, thanks! i think i may have one of those shoes lying around...
15mm Super Wide Heliar
- Thread starter Tim Gray
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 49
- Views 6K
this is a pretty nice idea, thanks! i think i may have one of those shoes lying around...
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Yeah, Tom, that is brilliant!
I am actually thinking of selling my 21/4 now that I have the ZM28/2.8 and 15mm Heliar...the 15 is a better lens and works great on the R-D1 as well as on my film RF. It was really a huge surprise!
I am actually thinking of selling my 21/4 now that I have the ZM28/2.8 and 15mm Heliar...the 15 is a better lens and works great on the R-D1 as well as on my film RF. It was really a huge surprise!
Tim Gray
Well-known
Got a roll back from Walmart today. Moral of the story - Walmart sendout service stinks. Scratched unsleeved negs, horrible, horrible scans (very blown out and fuzzy), and, on top of it all, it cost $10. Boo.
But, the lens is fun.
But, the lens is fun.
oscroft
Veteran
I use a VL-1 lens case, which has a compartment for the viewfinder as well as the lens.
Tim Gray
Well-known
Well I'm currently in Paris and havebeen shooting a fair amount. I don't know if the photos will turn out good and if I'll like them, but I've had a great time shooting with the 15. It's small and so much fun. Totally deserves a spot in everyone's bag.
rogerchristian
Established
And if you don't hold the camera correctly, you WILL get to see your own knuckles in several photos!
Seriously, I love the lens, don't use it real often, but when you need the 15, you need the 15.
And, it IS sharp right to the corners.
Seriously, I love the lens, don't use it real often, but when you need the 15, you need the 15.
And, it IS sharp right to the corners.
KM-25
Well-known
I am strongly considering getting this lens for my trip to Cambodia in a month or so. I will be using it on my M6 with Kodachrome. When does it get sharpest in the corners? How is the contrast and color saturation? Vignetting?
I will be mostly using it for wide landscapes from a canoe, environmental people shots, interiors, things of that nature. While I suppose I might use it wide open, it is most likely to be F/8-16.
I will be mostly using it for wide landscapes from a canoe, environmental people shots, interiors, things of that nature. While I suppose I might use it wide open, it is most likely to be F/8-16.
Last edited:
Al Kaplan
Veteran
I've heard that some people are less than satisfied with the sharpness. There might be some difference between samples but mine is plenty sharp enough for good 11 X 14 prints.
I leave the distance set at one meter regardless of aperture, unless I'm shooting something really close. Yes, there's a bit of light fall-off, but I normally edge burn my prints anyway. My 15 stays on a Bessa L just about all the time. I do keep an M adapter in my bag.
Rather than worrying about distortion and crazy perspectives, work with them, make that part of your picture. Like the old saying goes "If you can't beat 'em join 'em!"
I have an extra 15mm finder if anyone is looking to purchase one.
I leave the distance set at one meter regardless of aperture, unless I'm shooting something really close. Yes, there's a bit of light fall-off, but I normally edge burn my prints anyway. My 15 stays on a Bessa L just about all the time. I do keep an M adapter in my bag.
Rather than worrying about distortion and crazy perspectives, work with them, make that part of your picture. Like the old saying goes "If you can't beat 'em join 'em!"
I have an extra 15mm finder if anyone is looking to purchase one.
Last edited:
Tim Gray
Well-known
Well, I just got back the first roll of kodachrome I shot with it. I'll let you know. I shot three more rolls of Kodachrome in Paris with the lens (25, 64, and 200) and about 5 rolls of color.
I tried to rough focus it, but was mostly around 1-2m and f/11 or f/16.
I still say for $350, you can't go wrong.
Beemermark
Veteran
CV made a nice little lens case for both the 15 & 25 skopar that held both the VF and lens. It's the only case(s) I ever use. I wish they would make one for the 28mm.
ZeissFan
Veteran
I've been playing around with a Zeiss Ikon Contarex Hologon Ultrawide. It has a spirit level on the top of the camera that also is visible in the viewfinder to help you keep your shots level.
This is a fixed f/8.0 aperture, so you control exposure by changing the shutter speed. There is no ability to focus the camera, and no need because depth of field is 18 inches to infinity.
15mm is very wide and obviously not the lens for all situations. But you sure can fit a lot of territory into each frame.
This is a fixed f/8.0 aperture, so you control exposure by changing the shutter speed. There is no ability to focus the camera, and no need because depth of field is 18 inches to infinity.
15mm is very wide and obviously not the lens for all situations. But you sure can fit a lot of territory into each frame.
Tim Gray
Well-known
Looked at my slides and I rather like them. Maybe its just the kind of photos I take, but it doesn't seem to be *that* hard to use without a level...
ZeissFan
Veteran
Tim, do you see much vignetting with slide film?
monster
Established
Tim Gray
Well-known
I haven't found it vignettes too bad with slide film. I should say that I don't shoot very much slide film. And I'm not that good at scanning it either, particularly kodachrome. I have problems with the shadows.
It seems to vignette worse on the frames that are too dense because I underexposed. In an effort to save some of those frames, I had to mess with levels a bit and it accents the vignetting. But its not that bad.
It seems to vignette worse on the frames that are too dense because I underexposed. In an effort to save some of those frames, I had to mess with levels a bit and it accents the vignetting. But its not that bad.
John Robertson
Well-known
This is the lens which started it all for me (C/Voigtlanderdom)!!
I bought mine in 1999, superb definition, great colour, addictive!!!
quality may be down as I copied these from another site, and don't fully do the lens justice.
I often use mine on my Leica CL, makes for a very compact outfit.
I bought mine in 1999, superb definition, great colour, addictive!!!
quality may be down as I copied these from another site, and don't fully do the lens justice.
I often use mine on my Leica CL, makes for a very compact outfit.
Tim Gray
Well-known
here are two from the last roll of Kodachrome 64. I need to work on my exposure a bit i think. haha.
oscroft
Veteran
I find exposure with slide film to be quite difficult with the 15. Slide film has very little latitude, and the FOV of the 15 is so wide it can be hard not to cover a wide range of different brightnesses with it.
KM-25
Well-known
Thanks everyone!
A 15mm is a lens I would use about 2-5% of the time on an R/F camera but when you need it and you are 8,000+ miles from home, what else is going to work, right?
So for the money, I think I will look into it.
A 15mm is a lens I would use about 2-5% of the time on an R/F camera but when you need it and you are 8,000+ miles from home, what else is going to work, right?
So for the money, I think I will look into it.
projectbluebird
Film Abuser
I like the 15mm, and have often shot whole rolls with it. Yes, it isn't the easiest lens to use and you will get your fingers in some shots; Usually at least one that is absolutely stunning, otherwise.
Here's a few examples:
Classic wide angle landscape panorama
Full size here.
and a tipsy, vignetted, into the sun one (that I happen to like)
again, full size here.
As for the finder, I was lucky enough to score an old leather case for a varifocal type finder, perfect size for the 15mm and keeps it right there at the camera (if you put it on the strap, that is)
Here's a few examples:
Classic wide angle landscape panorama
Full size here.
and a tipsy, vignetted, into the sun one (that I happen to like)
again, full size here.
As for the finder, I was lucky enough to score an old leather case for a varifocal type finder, perfect size for the 15mm and keeps it right there at the camera (if you put it on the strap, that is)
Similar threads
