New Wides Third Generation

[ernesto]

New Wides Third Generation

Cosina Voightlander is releasing a new series of wides. The most famous is the VM 12 mm / F 5,6 Ultra Wide Heliar aspherical III (third generation) but the 15mm III and a new 10mm will come to light too. I have read that this new generation is specially calculated for digital sensors. Aditionally they will be available in E mount.

I wonder if someone have a deeper knowledge on optical design, to explain me what is the diference between a lens of a previous generation, possibly calculated for film, and this new release specially for sensors.

I thought that both are sensitive flat planes, therefore there would be no diference, but I see I am missing something here.

Thanks in advance!

Ernesto

 

[Tom A]

The biggest difference is that the version III are set up for minimum distortion and edge fall off with digital sensors. Both the 15f4.5 and the 12mm f5.6 in its previous incarnation could accentuate this. The new ones also have "contacts" that will tell the ca,era which lens is on it.
The 10mm f5.6 is designed from scratch to do this, both in its M mount version and the E-mount. We are talking "pushing the envelope" designs here. I haven't gotten the 10mm yet - but has been promised one soon.

 

[ernesto]

Thanks Tom,

Let me see if I understood it right: So, it is not a change in the glass design but in the "codes" in the lens, so that the camera software can compensate the lighting fall off.

By the way I am really intrigued by the new 10mm. I would like to know your opinion, when you can test it.

Yours

Ernesto

 

[Robert Lai]

No, the lens designs are different. If you look at the element and group count with the 15 mm lens, for example, the old lens had 8 elements, and the new one has 11 elements.

My understanding is that the new designs are more telecentric. That is the light beams appear to come from a nodal point farther away from the sensor than the previous designs. This causes the light beams to hit the sensor at an angle closer to 90 degrees, especially at the edges of the frame. The older designs were meant for film, in which the extreme angle of incidence didn't matter as it does for a digital sensor.

 

[ernesto]

Oh I see now...
Thanks!

E

 

[Leica All Day]

I can't wait to see images made with the 10mm.

I have the 1st version 15mm and I am beyond happy with it, then again I use it on my film Leicas so I doubt I am missing anything if I "upgraded". The people who like these wide angle lenses must be happy that Voightlander made these new lenses.

cheers, michael

 

[CameraQuest]

hmm, guys
anyone read RFF News ?

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2574488#post2574488

 

[ernesto]

Here the glass diferences between the 12mm generation III and I

12 elements again 10 elements, and the aparent nodal point seems to be less close to film plane in the newer version, as Robert Lai explained.

 

[mirekti]

Has there been any updates on 10mm?

I noticed there is a group on flicker https://www.flickr.com/groups/2968289@N24/pool/

In regards to 12mm III, I thought the old one was good enough on Leica digital i.e. it didn't require Corner Fix or similar like 15mm II.
Has anyone compared 12mm II vs III on Leica M?

 

[Darthfeeble]

I've shot the V1 15 and now have the VIII and the difference is dramatic. My M9 just loves the new version.