75mm f2.5 Heliar vs f1.8 vs f1.5 vs Summarit f2.5

[Archiver]

The 75mm f2.5 Heliar LTM was my first 75mm lens, and I like it a fair bit. A couple of years later, I got the Leica Summarit 75/2.5, which is also a great lens, although heavier and chunkier. Now we've got the f1.8 and f1.5. Does anyone have experience with these, and how do they compare with the f2.5 Heliar?

 

[filmtwit]

I had the voitander 75mm f1.8, decent lens, I used it mainly for wedding work where I could shoot over a person's shoulder and get a little closer then I'd get with a 50mm. But the minimum focal distance of 0.9m limited it a bit for me as straightup portrate lens for me. So sold it and picked up newer 75mm f2.4 summarit with the 0.7 minimum focas, which is perfect for me. The Summarit is slightly broader and shlightly shorter then the Voitland 75mm 1.8 too.

 

[pyeh]

I had the CV 75/1.8 for a while. it was one of my first M-mount lenses. I didn't find it particularly lovely. I got the CV 75/2.5 next, and now have the new 1.5 as well. I like them both.
As you'd expect, the 1.5 is very capable. Much more crisp than the 2.5, but obviously also quite a deal larger. I also have the 75 Summicron Asph, which is a monster, metaphorically and physically. I prefer the colours out of the Summicron.
I've used them on my M9 and my film Ms with colour film.

 

[Archiver]

The f1.8 seems like it's a good price if you can find one, but the reports and images coming from the f1.5 Vintage look great, albeit several hundred dollars more...

 

[Doug]

I had the Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 and liked the compact size and handling, but for me it didn't seem to resolve detail as I'd like. Many users express their liking for it so I wonder if mine was a sub-par sample. I sold it on after getting the f/1.8 lens, which is larger and heavier but I really really like the crisp results it gives.

 

[Doug]

Cinnamon "Cindy" a favorite now long gone to the happy hunting ground

Leica M2, 75mm f/2.5 Voigtlander Heliar, Ilford XP1

 

[Doug]

Red and green dress?

Leica M9, 75mm f/2.5 Voigtlander Heliar

 

[Doug]

Pushing asphalt

Leica M9, 75mm f/1.8 Voigtlander Heliar

 

[Doug]

A favorite tree, Honokowai Maui Hawaii

Leica M9, 75mm f/1.8 Voigtlander Heliar

 

[Archiver]

@Doug - thank you for the sample images. Cindy looks lovely, too. Do you have another kitty?

 

[mike rosenlof]

two photos with the Voigtlander 2.5. I haven't used any of the others in the list. The 2.5 is nice and compact, I like it, but have at least been thinking about the f/1.5

The wood carver is probably close to wide open. Less certain about the garden conversation.

 

[blan01]

Summarit is great, compact and sharp, but the rendering can be harsh. The 2.5 and 2.4 are the same except the 2.4 focus a bit closer. 75 is not my go to focal length so I decided to save a few bucks with VC.

The new VC 1.5 is great. Optically it’s a little better than the 1.8 but the 1.8 is more than good enough especially considering it’s current price used. I kept the 1.5 for 0.7 minimum focus distance.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I wonder how the VC 1.5 compares to the older Leica 75mm 1.4...as that is one of my faves that I never actually bought..
Maybe the VC 1.5 is a good compromise..

 

[sevres_babylone]

I bought the 75mm F1.8 when I bought my M9, because I had been shooting a lot with 50mm (75mm equivalent) on my RD1. I never bonded with it. I also had problems getting proper focus wide open or close to wide open. I later bought the 75mm F2.5 and really like it a lot, to a large extent because of its size. But I haven’t been disappointed by its quality. I also use it quite a bit on my Sony, and it makes for part of a nice compact travel kit. So the F1.8 got kind of lost in the shuffle: when I wanted character on either the Leica or the Sony, I put on an old Canon 85mm, and now, when I want sharpness (on the Sony), and don’t need compactness, I go with my recently purchased Sony 85mm F1.8.

 

[robert blu]

I bought many years ago the 75/2.5 LTM first version which I very rarely used.

In the lockdown time I dedusted it and tried a little bit on the M10,

here a couple of portrait of my wife.

full open, iso 1600

F4, iso 1600, cropped to square

I am not sure what to think of this lens: sometimes I like, most of times I do not. I am curious to try a different 75 to see if it is better for me, but due to the limited use I prefer not to invest money in it ! Perhaps a not expensive...

 

[retinax]

Lovely! How the mask works to draw all attention to the eyes!

 

[sevres_babylone]

The 75mm F2.5 ltm on the Sony A7SII
Dancing to Beams by sevres babylone, on Flickr

Andrea Ramolo - Annex Hotel by sevres babylone, on Flickr

Dilly Dally - A Show of Hands by sevres babylone, on Flickr

 

[sevres_babylone]

The 75mm F1.8 on the Leica M9

Kayla Howran Band by sevres babylone, on Flickr

Ami Spears, Robyn Phillips - Lou Reed Tribute by sevres babylone, on Flickr

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I've only owned three 75mm lenses in my lifetime. The first was the last iteration of the 75mm Summilux-M; the second was the 75mm Summicron-M; the third was the 75mm Heliar Classic f/1.8. The 75mm FL is a 2% lens for me (maybe), so for my purposes I find the Heliar more than capable.

Leica MP, 75mm Summilux f/1.4

Leica MP, 75mm Summicron f/2

Leica M10-P, 75mm Heliar Classic f/1.8

 

[DwF]

MM Voigtlander 75mm f1.8

I have had this lens for several years now and am very happy with it. I expected that the newer 75mm f 1.5 would be significantly more compact and thinking that is not the case.