Summicron, CV, Rollei lenses

[baycrest]

I tried out some ~ 75mm lenses at the local store:

• 75mm f 2 Cron
• 75mm f 2.5 CV
• 80mm f 2.8 Rollei

Based on the Reid Reviews I was expecting the CV and Cron to be close with the edge (no pun intended) to CV. I don't know if it was sample variation or what, but the CV was so awful, wide open, that it wasn't even worth the 10% cost of the Leica cost.
The Leica was razor sharp and incredibly easy to focus. Surprisingly, never having thought Rollei was a big player in RF lenses was a very close match to the Cron albeit a full stop slower, heavier, but only 35% the cost of the Leica lens.
Anybody else using Rollei lenses or similar to me, you hadn't ever seen them on the M8?
Rob

 

[ferider]

That Rollei lens is rare.

 

[cme4brain]

I tried out some ~ 75mm lenses at the local store:

• 75mm f 2 Cron
• 75mm f 2.5 CV
• 80mm f 2.8 Rollei

Based on the Reid Reviews I was expecting the CV and Cron to be close with the edge (no pun intended) to CV. I don't know if it was sample variation or what, but the CV was so awful, wide open, that it wasn't even worth the 10% cost of the Leica cost.
The Leica was razor sharp and incredibly easy to focus. Surprisingly, never having thought Rollei was a big player in RF lenses was a very close match to the Cron albeit a full stop slower, heavier, but only 35% the cost of the Leica lens.
Anybody else using Rollei lenses or similar to me, you hadn't ever seen them on the M8?
Rob

I believe the Rollei lens is made by Cosina! My CV 75mm lens is tack sharp, every bit as sharp as the Sean Reid review lens. I don't know what to tell you about the CV sample- it was a demo, right? Did some one drop it? Has it been abused? Here is a shot with the 75mm CV lens

 

[GrahamWelland]

I think that the CV sample you looked at must have been off-whack. I've had both and they are similarly excellent performers. I initially bought the CV but then had the opportunity to replace it with the Summicron so I did. The differences between the lenses was pretty minimal I found.

I sold the CV 75 to a friend who uses it on an R-D1 (which I also sold him 🙂 ). His feedback is that it is tack sharp, even after a FedEx journey from the US to the UK.

One area that CV does suffer is that there's a greater chance of sample to sample variation. I'd see if there's another copy of the lens that you can compare against for a second opinion.

The 'cron is a superb lens btw. I've had more keeper shots with it than any of my other glass.