CV lenses - an appreciation

[kshapero]

It might upset some RF purists here, but also let's not forget the CV range of SLR lenses. I have a number of CV RF lenses and have a particular liking for the 15/4.5, but I also have a 40/2 and 58/1.4 in the new series and the rare 75/2.5 in the first series for my Nikon SLR's. I wish I could afford to get the 20/3.5.

totally agree

 

[Bingley]

I currently have four CV lenses, all Skopars, and have had the 50/1.5 Nokton and the 75/2.5 Heliar in the past. All are good, but I agree w/ P. Lynn Miller that the 28/3.5 and 50/2.5 Skopars are particularly good, and not just b/c of their superb construction, handling, and compact size. I also really like the performance of these two lenses, both w/ color and b&w.

 

[Alnitak]

I have 11 CV lenses sitting on my desk at the moment... 2- 28's, 2 - 35's, 4 - 50's, 1 -75, and 2-90's, and the 50/1.1 and 75/1.8 have been lent to a friend for a week.

CV lenses represent great value and usability. The M-mount offerings are just plain hard to beat for everyday use. Yes, Leica and Zeiss are better lenses and should be and if you can afford or have a need for higher quality lenses, by all means buy them. CV has been able to provide an extensive range of working lenses at good prices which has benefited all players in the rangefinder market.

The real jewels are the LTM lens, the build quality of the 28/3.5 and 50/2.5 is just superb. The 12/5.6 and 15/4.5 are ridiculously cheap for super-wide angles and deliver amazing results. The 50/3.5 and 50/2 Heliars are simply in a league of their own in every way. The compactness of the 21/4, 25/4, 35/2.5 is amazing, these are definitely pocket lenses. The 50/1.5 is modern, sharp aspherical that can rub shoulders with the best, and the 75/2.5 and 90/3.5 are pure portrait gold.

The LTM lenses just beg you to forget all about the gimmicks and just take pictures... not the fastest, sharpest, glowful, bokehful, smoothest, closest focusing lenses in the world, but rather just practical and solid picture-taking goodness.

Yeah... I kinda like CV lenses!

Extremely well-said--I agree 100%.

Jeff

 

[Krosya]

I too like my CV lenses a lot. Have tried many and settled with 15M, 21M, 35/1.2M, 40/1.4m, 50/1.5 LTM and 75/2.5 LTM. All are great with 35/1.2 being the one-of-a-kind amazing lens. Also, after having my 50/1.5 adjusted to focus to 0.7m, I find it basically becoming my favorite 50mm lens - and I have a few really good and even legendary lenses like LTM Nikkor 5cm/1.4 and M-Hexanon 50/1.2 and 50/2. Sometimes I wish CV lenses were built better, but they have some amazing glass at very reasonable prices (in most cases anyway).

 

[Krosya]

PS. And lets not forget great little Bessa cameras - those 1:1 Viewfinders are such a pleasure to use on R3 series cameras!.

 

[Gary E]

I have the 15/4.5 (M mount), 28/1.9, 35/1.2, 50/1.5 Nokton & 50/2.5.

I wish I owned a 28/1.4 or even 1.2. Cosina Voigtlander, if you build it, they will come, including me. 😉

A 15/3.5 would be nice, too....

That's the problem, they keep building great value lenses, and we keep buying. I thought I was finished with a 21, 50 then a 28, but no they had to bring out the 75 (getting as soon as my shoebox reaches $750). I mean what's next a 21/2.5? They know I'll buy that too. I'm going broke already! :bang:

PS: they had me at the 21 ltm, my most favorite, small, compact, sharp and affordable lens to date.

 

[jsrockit]

I'd love to see a really fast 50mm from voigtlander... but in a small size.

 

[Hammerklavier]

I'd love to see a really fast 50mm from voigtlander... but in a small size.

Same here! An update to the LTM 50/1.5 with M mount and compact.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I like the 50mm f/2.5.

Leica IIIc, Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5, Tmax400-2, silvergelatineprint.

Erik.

 

[jsrockit]

I don't know if VC will re-release the 1,5/50 LTM in an M mount... They might have replaced it entirely with the 1,1/50 Nokton. I doesn't make much sense for them to do so at this point.

Make it a small 1.8 then... 😉

 

[Voe]

Currently I have the following CV lenses:
15mm f/4.5
25mm f/4
35mm f/2.5
50mm f/1.5
90mm f/3.5

I also have the Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH and the Summarit 75mm which are amazing lenses. But the CV lenses are offering the best bang for the buck, no contest.

Thank you Cosina for giving us affordable rangefinder lenses.

 

[ferider]

I don't know if VC will re-release the 1,5/50 LTM in an M mount... They might have replaced it entirely with the 1,1/50 Nokton. I doesn't make much sense for them to do so at this point.

They will make a new 50/1.4, but it will come under ZM label. My prediction anyways 🙂

... not the fastest, sharpest, glowful, bokehful, smoothest, closest focusing lenses in the world, but rather just practical and solid picture-taking goodness.

This might be true for your CV lenses. Not so however for one of my favorites, the 28/1.9 🙂

 

[kshapero]

PS. And lets not forget great little Bessa cameras - those 1:1 Viewfinders are such a pleasure to use on R3 series cameras!.

I just picked up an R3M (second time around), what a fine rig.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

This might be true for your CV lenses. Not so however for one of my favorites, the 28/1.9 🙂

Roland,

Not sure why... but I always seem to forget about the 28/1.9 and 35/1.7 as being part of the LTM lenses that CV produced. In fact, not sure I have ever even handled either lens. There is a 28/1.9 with a reputation that seems to haunt the RFF classifieds though...

I will have to add these two to my collection.

 

[Juancho]

Mr. K:
Could you consider sending the 75/1.8 as a gift for those of us who has bought the 50/1.1 and 35/1.2?
Thanks.

 

[Bavaricus]

I really appreciate Voigtländer lenses. When i was using them on film cameras there was aboslutely nothing to complain. But on M8 i have many problems with right focussing (LTM-adapter issue?) and CAs. There are "problems" which haven't been visible on film. So i ended up in seling all except one: the 2.5/50