Experience with 75mm 1:2,5 Voigtländer

[querstrommotor]

Dear Leica Fans,

has anyone experience with the 75mm Voigtländer lens in comparison to the Leica 75 mm cron from Leica????
I plan to use it with the M8 and also with my two M6 bodies - is there anything to keep in mind???

Another question will be the Heliar Collapsible, which Voigtländer brought out in a limited edition - has anyone this lens and how is the quality???

Thank you so much for your answers
Regards
Ekki

 

[GrahamWelland]

I have both lenses - I ended up buying the 'cron as it is rated as probably one of the sharpest lenses in the Leica range and I irrationally wanted the 'best' Leica 28 & 75 lenses for my M8 travel outfit since these are my most used focal lengths.

However, there's really very little difference between the lenses although I would say that I find the 'cron produces more of that intangible 3D 'pop' in images compared to the Voigtlander lens. I can explain it scientifically but i definitely see it in my shots and helps justify the expense for me. That said, I didn't have any issues with the Heliar in terms of sharpness, CA or colour rendering - it's also an excellent lens!

Sean Reid (www.reidreviews.com) just did a review of the two lenses as well. In summary, he found that arguably the Heliar had better sharpness into the corners than the Leica 75 'cron. That was a surprise. It's a subscription site but the cost of membership and the detailed reviews are more than worth the very reasonable price. If it convinces you to go with the Heliar then it'll have paid for itself 100x over!!

The Heliar is outstanding value for money and I found it to be excellent quality in terms of build and images. The 'cron seems sharper and easier to use wide open, plus image quality is outstanding. Is it $2000 more outstanding? Only you can decide.

 

[Joe Mondello]

Sean Reid (www.reidreviews.com) just did a review of the two lenses as well. In summary, he found that arguably the Heliar had better sharpness into the corners than the Leica 75 'cron. That was a surprise. It's a subscription site but the cost of membership and the detailed reviews are more than worth the very reasonable price. If it convinces you to go with the Heliar then it'll have paid for itself 100x over!!

Actually I'd say the Heliar is "inarguably" sharper in the corners!


This is why I always recommend anyone looking at RF lenses invest in Sean's site!

Want an unbiased look at these two lenses, look no further than Reid Reviews.

I had already purchased the Heliar (hey at $299 it's practically a no-brainer) only to later see that Sean's review conforms what I had already seen in my own images -- that this (and other Voigtlander lenses) are a stone cold steal!

 

[sherm]

I owned the Cron and the images produced by this lens were amazing. The pictures made with this lens had an almost 3D effect. The reason that I sold it was having a $2400 that you use sparingly didn't make sense.

It's been said many times before on this site but it's always worth repeating. The CV lenses and for that matter the cameras (R4M) are a terrific value for the money. Many of us own several CV's and nary a person that I can remember didn't agree that the perfromance of this equipment far outweighs the price.


Scott

 

[emraphoto]

it's already been stated that the 75 color heliar is an excellant performer for the $... it is as well a very compact 75mm by comparison. it has great handling character and doesn't weigh in toobadly. highly recommended!

 

[Fred]

I have the CV75 and have been very happy with it, It would be nice to get the Lieca Cron but funds will not permit it for a very long time.

[Edit] sorry, just noticed that this is a M8 thread. The example is from film.

Mods, feel free to delete this.
[End Edit]

This is the only example I have to hand scanned from a print. The screen image does not really do it justice. The pic isn't fantastic, just a snap of the bike but it'll give you an idea.

 

[KEH]

I agree that reidreviews is definitely worthwhile. Here is an M8 shot with the CV75/2.5 from my gallery.

Cheers,
Kirk

 

[StuartR]

I like Reidreviews as well. I have no doubt that the 75 voigtlander is an excellent lens, but I am a bit dubious about the corner performance of the 75 cron that they sent Sean. It just does not jive with my experience with the 75 cron...mine appears tack sharp corner to corner...perhaps I should give it a more thorough test. (Not more thorough than Sean, just more thorough than my normal picture taking! Just clearing that up...)

 

[AGeoJO]

My 75 Summicron ASPH is easily one of my sharpest lenses. As I also mentioned to Sean on the LUF, the sample he tested might not be entirely to specs. Erwin Puts tested the 75mm Summicron and did a comparison with the CV 75mm Heliar and Puts' raved about the Summicron as being the sharpest lens corner to corner up to that point (2005). Period. Puts tested the lenses on film however. Since I don't have a CV Heliar to compare it with I cannot render any opinion and we have to defer to the experts conclusions. Sean will ask Leica for a second copy for another test, BTW. Please don't get me wrong, for the money the CV 75mm Heliar is one heck of a lens and no, I am not in denial 😀.

 

[Ken Ford]

I have a 75 Heliar and like it very much, but would kick it to the curb in a heartbeat for a 75 Summicron. Not likely to happen anytime soon unless the Euro falls off a cliff.

 

[bherman]

Voigtlander 75mm F/2.5 Color Heliar

Voigtlander 75mm F/2.5 Color Heliar

All;

This goes out to everyone on the RFF who owns a CV 75mm F/2.5 Color Heliar. I'm looking to use it on my Leica M8.

I've heard that it is a great lens for the $$. I was toying with the possibility of getting a 75 Summarit, as I already own a 35mm F/2.5 Summarit and love it, but since it will not be my most used lens, I would love to be able to save some $$.

Anyway, a question on the filter and shade placement. I will need to use a Cut IR filter on the lens for use on my M8. I've heard conflicting stories on how the filter and shade fit together. Does the filter screw into the internal 43mm thread and the Lens Shade screw into the filter thread? Or, does the shade mount on an external thread on the Heliar, with the shade sort of going over the filter with the filter going inside of the shade.

I just can't visualize what is going on here.

Thanks, Brad

 

[roylance]

I had the Voigtlander 75mm F/2.5 Color Heliar and was pleased with its performance, but sold it. Bought the 75 Summarit which, for me I find is a better lens, actually I love this lens. On the 75 Summarit the filter screws in and the hood over it, I do not remember how it worked on the 75mm F/2.5 Color Heliar, but I think it was similar.

 

[judal98]

Hi, I have a CV 75 Heliar...very happy with it...in regard to the filter/hood arangement...they are independent...another way to put it is that the hood does not screw into the filter...it does help to remove the hood when installing/removing the filter although this is not required...IMO it gives the lens/hood combo a smooth/flush look (exterior view)...hope this helps.

 

[bobdubois]

Brad,
I own both the screw mount CV and the Summarit. Both lenses have external threads onto which the metal lens hood screws. Filters mount on internal threads just like almost every other lens. The CV is more compact, comes with a hood and to my eye looks cooler. The Leica is sharper wide open. Both can make beautiful images.
Regards,
Bob

 

[Doug]

...I've heard conflicting stories on how the filter and shade fit together. Does the filter screw into the internal 43mm thread and the Lens Shade screw into the filter thread? Or, does the shade mount on an external thread on the Heliar, with the shade sort of going over the filter with the filter going inside of the shade.

Hi Brad -- The hood screws onto external threads on the lens body.

I have not used this lens on my M8, as the resulting effective focal length is longer than I like. But it was the first lens I fitted to my M9. Performed well, consistent with Sean's test. I cannot compare it to another 75mm.

One thing that bugs me, though, is that the 75 Heliar is not a Heliar optically, more like a Planar.

You asked about the collapsible Heliars... Of course those are 50mm and come in several flavors, all limited production specials. They are true Heliars optically, and very well made. The 50mm f/3.5 Heliar originally came in chrome finish, but as of a year ago there's a new nickel-plated one, otherwise identical. Stocks are running low I gather.

The other collapsible Heliar is a 50mm f/2.0 in M-mount more commonly seen in black finish but some were made in chrome too. Both a limited production run. And again as of a year ago there's a new nickel-plated one that has an old-style infinity lock and focus tab, thread mount, looks collapsible but is actually rigid.

I just ordered a pair of nickel 2009 Heliar 50mm lenses, one f/3.5 and one f/2.0.

Anyway, I've had my black M-mount 50/2.0 Heliar Classic for some years, and used it on the M8. It's been to DAG for 6-bit coding and focus adjustment. I've been a little surprised at how much I like this lens; it has a nice "look." It too has been tested by Sean Reid, who detected a bit of focus shift. It doesn't collapse very much, only about 1cm, and in the collapsed position the lens still doesn't protrude inward from the mount flange.

 

[myM8yogi]

I have a 75 heliar. Exact opposite experience to the poster above. Loved it on my M8 as an effective 105/2.5, but never use it now on my M9. Can't fault the heliar at all, but I find 50mm far more useful on the M9. I suppose I should sell the 75mm because it's just sat in its box in the dark.

 

[noimmunity]

I had the Heliar and it's what got me into the 75 in the first place. The heliar is fantastic for shooting portraits, but I *always* came up against the 1 meter MFD with subjects with whom I am having a talking rapport. Made the lens almost useless in practice for me.

The cron has a bum rap as being clinical, but I don't find it anything but smooth and generous. Made my Nikkor 85/2, one of the most generous yet faithful portrait lenses there is, superfluous.

If you can live with 1 meter minimum focus distance and 75 isn't your sweet spot focal length, the Heliar is definitive.

 

[MCTuomey]

I owned both the Heliar 75 and the Summicron 75 at different times and used them on film cameras. Either lens will produce wonderful images, in my opinion. I felt that the Summicron was slightly sharper wide open, both on center and in the corners, than the Heliar. But by around f5-5.6 they were quite similar in sharpness. The Summicron seemed to have more "bite" in certain situations, what I think people call micro-contrast these days, but that may be how I justified the price tag to myself. I don't have either now because I found I don't use the 75 FL much and wanted other gear.

I'm a Reid Reviews subscriber and use/respect Sean's reviews a lot. It's interesting how one reviewer's conclusions, if not aligned with a reader's expectation, often gets attributed to an exception (usually a bad copy), while another reviewer's conclusion, aligned with a reader's expectation, doesn't get attributed to anything (other than truth or accuracy).

 

[Ben Z]

I have a 75 heliar. Exact opposite experience to the poster above. Loved it on my M8 as an effective 105/2.5, but never use it now on my M9. Can't fault the heliar at all, but I find 50mm far more useful on the M9.

+1. I knew from many years with full-frame 35mm film cameras that 70-75mm was an in-between length that I rarely ever used. Given that I knew my days with the crop-factor M8 were numbered, I didn't want to invest in an expensive 90-substitute. I got my Heliar for <$200 from KEH in Bargain, and I've kept it because it's not like having $2-3K sitting idle in a cupboard.