Boldly going where I would go.

[Louisianaman]

Feeling very un-smart. Got my new(to me) Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm to use on my Canon 7. My first mistake was buying the lens and then asking a lot of questions y'all kindly answered. I realized it would be a challenge without a viewfinder. No big deal because I can center the image and use my peripheral vision thanks for that advice but when I screwed it on, the focus doesn't work. As a seasoned photographer I just figure most images are at infinity but I'm just guessing. Can y'all help me or do I need to list this lens for sale? I got a Canon 35 2 8, you'd think that and the 50 would be enough???

 

[Rob-F]

Need to hear more about why the focus doesn't work. You mean your pictures are out of focus?

I don't imagine your 35 is wide enough for you, not if you felt the need for a 15. However, going from 35 to 15 with nothing in between is a big step! A 24 or 25mm is nicely spaced from 35mm. And you can shoot a 25mm using your 35mm finder, with a little judgment.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

If I recall correctly, the M39 mount SW Heliar is uncoupled, so use scale focus.
Unless you are meaning the focus ring doesn't turn? If something like that is happening, return the lens immediately.

Phil Forrest

 

[retinax]

You can absolutely guess focus a 15 mm, the framing is the harder part.

 

[Rob-F]

If I recall correctly, the M39 mount SW Heliar is uncoupled, so use scale focus.

Phil Forrest

Is it? I have a CV 25mm that is uncoupled. The CV 15mm I had was coupled.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Is it? I have a CV 25mm that is uncoupled. The CV 15mm I had was coupled.

Was your 15mm M mount or LTM (screwmount?) The original LTM versions of the CV 15mm were scale focus only. OP's camera is a Canon, so the lens would be LTM.

Phil Forrest

 

[Louisianaman]

If I recall correctly, the M39 mount SW Heliar is uncoupled, so use scale focus.
Unless you are meaning the focus ring doesn't turn? If something like that is happening, return the lens immediately.

Phil Forrest

Exactly what I was thinking because after like 4.7 feet everything is infinity.

 

[Louisianaman]

Was your 15mm M mount or LTM (screwmount?) The original LTM versions of the CV 15mm were scale focus only. OP's camera is a Canon, so the lens would be LTM.

Phil Forrest

Screw mount. Another agreed with me to just use the scale. Anything after like 4 7 is infinity so hopefully I'm good.

 

[Louisianaman]

You can absolutely guess focus a 15 mm, the framing is the harder part.

Thanks everything on the scale is infinity after 4.7 feet so I'm thinking like you! I may become proficient with this camera and lens then again maybe no. Thanks.

 

[Louisianaman]

Need to hear more about why the focus doesn't work. You mean your pictures are out of focus?

I don't imagine your 35 is wide enough for you, not if you felt the need for a 15. However, going from 35 to 15 with nothing in between is a big step! A 24 or 25mm is nicely spaced from 35mm. And you can shoot a 25mm using your 35mm finder, with a little judgment.

Grateful my brother. I may become a star photographer learning to master this lens and camera. It may well become a movement. Imma give it hell.

 

[Rob-F]

Was your 15mm M mount or LTM (screwmount?) The original LTM versions of the CV 15mm were scale focus only. OP's camera is a Canon, so the lens would be LTM.

Phil Forrest

My 15mm I'm just about certain was M mount.

 

[dourbalistar]

My 15mm I'm just about certain was M mount.

There are 4 versions of the Voigtlander 15mm - one (uncoupled) M39, two M-mount versions, and one E-mount version:
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/revie...r-wide-heliar/#Specifications_Version_History

 

[Louisianaman]

Need to hear more about why the focus doesn't work. You mean your pictures are out of focus?

I don't imagine your 35 is wide enough for you, not if you felt the need for a 15. However, going from 35 to 15 with nothing in between is a big step! A 24 or 25mm is nicely spaced from 35mm. And you can shoot a 25mm using your 35mm finder, with a little judgment.

I mean the rangefinder isn't working.

 

[Louisianaman]

If I recall correctly, the M39 mount SW Heliar is uncoupled, so use scale focus.
Unless you are meaning the focus ring doesn't turn? If something like that is happening, return the lens immediately.

Phil Forrest

No sir focus ring turns smoothly and the lens is awesome it's just something I'd play with.