Voigtländer 15mm f/4.5 M on Leica M8

jsrockit

jsrockit

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Anyone using this combo? How is it working out?

I'm only interested in getting the M mount version due to rangefinder coupling (yes, I know DOF is immense, but still...), the filter threads (M8 i.e. IR/UV Cut), and the fact that it just looks better to me.

Which finders are people using with it? I'm thinking of going all out and getting a nice Zeiss 21mm finder to use with it...
 
am using LTM version coded as WATE + 15mm finder, then approximate 21, has been working pretty well. its nice small lens, handy for travel. I use it mainly for architecture photos, sometimes on street, and its handy to give a stranger for tourist snap of yourself (no focusing issues with external finder 🙂 ).
 
got my VC 15 M-mount a couple of months ago. using the VC 21/25 finder (the little one with no "nose" relief 🙁) and a B+W 486 filter. learning curve aside, i really like it. i tried to use it without an external finder, but didn't like the uncertainty when trying to frame close subjects and strong diagonals. i guess i do like having a fair approximation of where my edges fall.

i've thought about the zm 18/4 as an alternative, but the VC 15 is a better bargain for what i need. its IQ is surely better than i am anyway. sharp right from F4.5, especially on center, vignetting is very manageable. great color saturation too.

i need to put up a few more pics with it in my gallery when i get some time. looking forward to shooting it over the US holiday weekend.
 
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Yes I've got this and using the 21 mm CV finder, setting at 16 mm on the M8.
Sometimes have trouble getting rid of the cyan fringing in the corners with lighter coloured backgrounds.
Perhaps I should combine "Cornerfix" and my irCut filters, but I'm a bit lazy to make up the profiles.
 
So, basically it works fine it just has a few little issues with corner fringing and vingetting? I can live with that... now, I just need to find one used and buy a nice VF for it.
 
jsrockit said:
So, basically it works fine it just has a few little issues with corner fringing and vingetting? I can live with that... now, I just need to find one used and buy a nice VF for it.
Click to expand...

I recall seeing a classifieds ad from back alley, who was selling his 15 and the D (crop view) model of the finder... I think it was within the last month or two. Don't know if they sold or not. Maybe send him a PM?
 
I use it a lot with a 21mm VF. It's great.
Alternatively if you want wider you could get the 12mm and team it up with a 15 mm finder.

The rangefinder coupling really isn't necessary though apart from the fact it is easier to fit a UV/IR to.
 
I love this combo. I have the m-mount. my original CV 21mm finder was run over a by a car (long story), so I replaced it with the kobalux you see here. the lens is hand-coded as a WATE. I've also got a 15mm CV finder for my M2.

4455256674_f99307950c_z.jpg
 
I use it with M8 and a masked down standard Voigtlander 15mm finder. Works fine, nice sharp pictures but need a bit of help from cornerfix in extreme cases.
 
I also use the M8 with the CV15mm. B&W UV/IR filter and I splurged for the Leica 21/24/28 viewfinder (for when I pick up a 21mm lens). My latest pics on flickr are with this combo.
 
4956755692_f7f7da2519_b.jpg

with the m8 and WATE handcoding, but i'm thinking of recoding it. it has somewhat issues with cyan drifts in the coners and some darkening in the corners, but it's not all that disturbing. (the pictrure has extra vignetting along the left side)
 
Unless I have a bad example, though film images taken with this lens are sharp and excellent, I find this lens to be one of the worst performing CV lenses on the M8.
 
I sold my 15mm CV when I got my M9 'cause I have a ZM 21 f/2.8. Still, the CV lens focused closer, had more depth of field and was less than 1/2 the size of the ZM lens. On the M8 as a 21, with a good 21mm finder, it was perfect. Sharp, tiny. the only reason I got rd of it was the extra 2 stops I gained with the M9 and the 21mm ZM. I coded it as a WATE at 16mm and using a filter, the vignetting was not an issue for me.

Phil Forrest
 
jsrockit said:
Any sample pics from the M8 with this lens?
Click to expand...
I think this is the only one I have online for now:

nectarine-orange-and-lime.jpg


I would need to check it to make sure, but I think I added some vignetting to this photo. (Ok, I checked this, there is indeed a very slight but still noticeable vignetting that I added in post.)

I have the LTM version and have not tried filters on this lens. I find the performance on the M8 just fine, meaning that I have never considered not using this lens or selling it. Of course, I use it also with film and the Epson R-D1, so I wouldn't be selling it only based on my experience with the M8 anyway.
 
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