Advice on Voighlander Bessa L

[Califfoto]

A few days ago, Santa brought me a Voighlander Bessa L with a 15mm/f4.5 lens
I really love the the design and opticals, but have not tried it yet.
Since the feedbacks on my last post were extremely helpful, I thought I should do the same and ask for some advice for this one also.
Question n. 1: I guess the best use of this camera is for landscapes?
Question n. 2: If yes to Q1, then wouldn't the horizon be curved, given the 15mm?
Question n. 3: If no to Q1, what else would you recommend?
Question n. 4: What is the optimal aperture?
Question n. 5: I welcome any other suggestions/recommendations ...

Thanks
Califfoto from http://www.califfoto.com

 

[Goodyear]

(Caveat: I've never used the 15, but I'm a superwideboy at heart. I heart my 21, and like wides and fisheyes on SLR.)

> I guess the best use of this camera is for landscapes?

If you're so inclined. SUperwides are fun for all kinds of things. I like my 21 for architecture, especially, interior and exterior.

> If yes to Q1, then wouldn't the horizon be curved, given the 15mm?

Not if it goes through the centre of the frame, I don't think. Which is probably a yes, then 😀

> If no to Q1, what else would you recommend?

Like I said, I like architecture. But they're also fun for general shooting. I like the exagerated perspective for all kinds of things.

> What is the optimal aperture?

Pass.

> I welcome any other suggestions/recommendations ...

You're a long way from normal ( 😀 you know what I mean 😉 ), and it takes time and practice to use such a wide lens well. I know I still haven't cracked this kind of shooting altogether. But the getting there is a lot of fun. DOn't restrict yourself in what you use the lens for: don't come with any preconceived notions of what you can and can't use the 15 for. Force yourself to use it for all kinds of shooting, and you'll discover the magic. But don't be put off with the first boring and pants shots - it'll come, and you'll be a wideboy for life.

 

[Goodyear]

The stretched alien head look can be quite fun.

 

[Theo-Prof]

I own the 15 and use it frequently. I use it for landscapes and architectural work. Many of the landscapes I shoot with this lens are "intimate" landscapes without a lot of sky, such as gardens, waterfalls, rivers, felled trees, fence rows and so forth. Thus, the curved horizon is not so much of a problem for me.

Popular photography did a lens test of the 15/4.5 several years back. Centrally, the lens did better than the 16mm f8 Zeiss Hologon. The Zeiss recorded 90 lines per mm centrally while the Heliiar recorded 97 L/mm centrally at 4.5 and 5.6. The corners dropped to 57 L/mm on the Heliar at these aperatures while the Zeiss lens could record 70 L/mm in the corners at its only aperture of f8. The resolution of the Heliar dropped off somewhat as the apertures decreased, but Pop-Photo still rated the center and corner performance of this lens as "excellent," through most of the aperture range until about f16 or f22 (can't remember which off the top of my head), where the rating dropped to "very good." Overall Pop-Photo was Very! impressed with this lens and rated it as perhaps the best super-wide that they had ever tested.

With my own shooting I have yet to shoot this lens at an aperture smaller than f8. Most of the light fall-off is gone by f8 and the images are still very sharp. Wide open or at 5.6, the lens is very sharp. You only have the fall-off with which to contend. However, when shooting B&W, a little fall-off in the corners just saves burning them in later in the darkroom.

I hope this helps. I recommend that you get out and shoot with this lens. I think you will find that it can be great fun. In fact, I want to get the Bessa-L just so I can devote a camera body to this lens.

If you will allow me, I have one other piece of advice for shooting with a super-wide lens. Make sure that you have some near foreground interest in the photo, otherwise your photos can appear very "empty" and without interest. The near foreground object can be anything from a person to a rock, or paving stones, a gate . . .

Kevin

 

[Califfoto]

Thanks so much for all the recommendations. I was also wondering if there is a link where I can see a few shots taken with Bessa L.

Califfoto