New VC 18mm?

[loneranger]

I am hoping Cosina comes out with a 18mm M mount lens which is small and tiny, like their 21/24mm lenses. The Zeiss 18/4 is a great performer but too bulky for everyday use; Does anyone think we will see a VC 18mm anytime soon?

 

[Doug]

There was a prototype talked around a couple years back. I agree the Zeiss Distagon is unattractively bulky, heavy, slow.

If there were a Voigtlander 18 sized rather like the 4.5/15mm and 4/21mm, that could be interesting. Also, I think I'd only use an 18 on a digital RF, so a lens able to cover only the M8's sensor for example would be interesting because it could be made faster AND more compact. A small Skopar-D 18mm f/2.8 sounds pretty good...

 

[Roger Hicks]

I am hoping Cosina comes out with a 18mm M mount lens which is small and tiny, like their 21/24mm lenses. The Zeiss 18/4 is a great performer but too bulky for everyday use; Does anyone think we will see a VC 18mm anytime soon?

I saw the prototype a couple of photokinas back but I'd be surprised if it were made; I suspect that the market is not big enough, and besides, why offer two f/4 lenses?

Besides, the Zeiss isn't that big -- my wife has one -- and it allows easy use of filters; I suspect the 'baby' 18 would require an adapter. Certainly, she uses hers without being concerned by its size, and greatly prefers it to both the 15/4.5 and 21/4 Voigtländers.

Next, it seems likely that the performance of a tiny 18 would be significantly inferior to the big one, otherwise why build a big one?

Finally, in response to Doug, a digi-only lens does not seem likely to me as Kobayashi-san is no fan of digital; the market is tiny; and one day (3-6 years is my guess, but that's pure guess) there will be a full-frame M and a digi-only M-mount will be irrelevant.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mr_phillip]

There was indeed a CV18mm prototype developed a few years ago. It was built in the same body as the 21mm, 35mm Skopar etc. The consensus is that it was pulled (in part at least) at the request of Zeiss, who didn't want direct competition for their new 18mm from their own manufacturing partner. Those who used it seem to concur with Mr Hicks that the Zeiss is a substantially better lens.

 

[noimmunity]

🙂 😎 🙂