built quality of the VL lenses , on m8

[RobertB]

I'm new to the rangefinder camera's and lenses.

I have a CZ ZM 28 biogon now and really like the build of it.

For the future I'm already looking for my next lenses.
Now I have a 28 (aprox 35 on m8), later I would like an 50 (35 or 40) and wide angle from 20 to 28.

Price wise the voightlanders are really interesting. The 35/1.4 and 15/4.5 together cost about the same as one 35/2.5 from leica.

But how is the build? Are the 15/4.5, the 35/1.4 and 40/1.4 full metal lenses like the leica's and zeiss's.

And what is the big thing that makes the VL so much cheaper?

Does anyone has experience with the 35/1.4 or 40/1.4 on a m8? I'm more leaning forward the 40/1.4 because of the focal length on the m8 and because there is a bigger cap with my 28mm (I find the 35 and 28 a bit to close for having 2 lenses.
But the m8 does not have 40 framelines, so thats a big plus for the 35..

 

[Al Kaplan]

I picked up a barely used 15 VC shortly after they hit the market. The black finish isn't very wear resistant and the focusing mount has a "sticky" place at about one meter. I just leave it there all the time unless I'm shooting distant things outside. It's the perfect setting for hyperfocal focus for all of my people pix inside and outside, even wide open at f/4.5. It seems to be an all metal mount. It's my carry everywhere every day lens.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[RobertB]

I picked up a barely used 15 VC shortly after they hit the market. The black finish isn't very wear resistant and the focusing mount has a "sticky" place at about one meter. I just leave it there all the time unless I'm shooting distant things outside. It's the perfect setting for hyperfocal focus for all of my people pix inside and outside, even wide open at f/4.5. It seems to be an all metal mount. It's my carry everywhere every day lens.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

Thank you. Is the lensbody itself also made off metal?

 

[Al Kaplan]

It seems that everything I can see is made of metal, other than the lens elements of course.

 

[RobertB]

thank you, seems like a nice option

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'm new to the rangefinder camera's and lenses.

I have a CZ ZM 28 biogon now and really like the build of it.

For the future I'm already looking for my next lenses.
Now I have a 28 (aprox 35 on m8), later I would like an 50 (35 or 40) and wide angle from 20 to 28.

Price wise the voightlanders are really interesting. The 35/1.4 and 15/4.5 together cost about the same as one 35/2.5 from leica.

But how is the build? Are the 15/4.5, the 35/1.4 and 40/1.4 full metal lenses like the leica's and zeiss's.

And what is the big thing that makes the VL so much cheaper?

Does anyone has experience with the 35/1.4 or 40/1.4 on a m8? I'm more leaning forward the 40/1.4 because of the focal length on the m8 and because there is a bigger cap with my 28mm (I find the 35 and 28 a bit to close for having 2 lenses.
But the m8 does not have 40 framelines, so thats a big plus for the 35..

Moulded hybrid aspherics. Batch quality control, not piece-by-piece. Focusing mounts not hand-lapped. Bigger (mechanized) production runs. No floating elements (as fas as I know).

Each trivial in itself, and all making CV superb value for money; but adding up to Leica lenses being just that little bit nicer and more durable. Are they worth the extra money? Only you can decide that...

Cheers,

R.

 

[varjag]

You will not be disappointed with build quality. On avarage, Cosina's own offerings are better built than their OEM work for Zeiss. Speaking of mechanics here of course, optics is different story.

 

[Paddy C]

I may be off here, but is there a good reason to use Leica glass (if you don't already own it) on an M8?

 

[ferider]

Moulded hybrid aspherics. Batch quality control, not piece-by-piece. Focusing mounts not hand-lapped. Bigger (mechanized) production runs. No floating elements (as fas as I know).

Each trivial in itself, and all making CV superb value for money; but adding up to Leica lenses being just that little bit nicer and more durable. Are they worth the extra money? Only you can decide that...

Not disagreeing, but, AFAIK, modern Leica lenses also use moulded hybrid aspherics. See for instance http://shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/lenses/0809techtalk.

To the OP: some CV lenses are better built then others: all M-mount lenses and the 28/3.5 & 50/2.5 LTM lenses feel well built to me.

Roland.

 

[varjag]

As Roland says - moulded aspherics are probably standard in the high end of the industry now, at least for serial manufacture. But, in lower end, lens makers use optical resin (i.e. plastic) to mould aspherical surface for glass elements. I haven't checked if the ASPH part in my Ultron 35 is resin, but given its retail price, it very much have to be it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not disagreeing, but, AFAIK, modern Leica lenses also use moulded hybrid aspherics. See for instance http://shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/lenses/0809techtalk.

To the OP: some CV lenses are better built then others: all M-mount lenses and the 28/3.5 & 50/2.5 LTM lenses feel well built to me.

Roland.

Dear Roland,

Yes, moulded -- but moulded glass, and only the smaller glasses: the bigger ones are still ground. I may have misunderstood the term but I thought that hybrid aspherics referred to the resin-onto-glass variety (which I believe are also easier to mould bigger).

Cheers,

R.

 

[ferider]

I take your word, Roger, about Leica lenses not using hybrid resin/glass aspherics.

I would appreciate a reference on the respective Cosina/Voigtlander statement that you made, though.

I personally believe there is no drawback to the use of hybrid resin/glass elements inside a lens. It is certainly used by other manufacturers for their highest quality lenses (for example the Nikkor 35/1.8 AFS) and not synonymous to "cheap".

Roland.

 

[Makten]

I just got my first "real" lens for the M8; a Voigtländer 28/2 Ultron. It's very nicely built, all metal barrel with smooth focusing and superb fit and finish. The surface finish (black anodized aluminium) is not quite up to new Leica lenses, but at least as good as most usual old MF SLR lenses, from Nikon, Canon, Olympus, whatever. The aperture has 10 non-rounded blades and the ring has clicks for every half-stop, even between f/16 and f/22.
I've also got the Ultron 40/2 for Nikon SLR:s, and it is just as well built, so I expect the other (recent) Voigtländers to be the same. Image quality from both these lenses is stellar.

In the case of Voigtländer lenses, I'd say you get more than you pay for. 🙂

Edit: Between 35 and 40, I'd choose the latter because the 35 mm framelines of the M8 is kind narrow, and resembles 40 mm better, whenever focused a few meters away.

 

[rlouzan]

Yes, the 40mm/1.4 is all metal (brass & aluminum)
Opticaly excellent but mechanically mediocre (I hand-lapped mine the old way). Look for the hard to find special edition 35mm f1.4 Nokton.

My 2 cents