Voigtlander lens test reports

[satbunny]

I have a M4, and have a 90mm Voigtlander (90mm F3.5 Apo Lanthar lens) and a 35mm Voigtlander (er the 35mm F1.7 Ultron lens). Does anyone have links for tests of these lenses? I am happy with them but I'd like to know they actually compare with what else is out there.. maybe I should have stuck with the 1934 90mm f4 Elmar that I first had as a loaner..

 

[thmk]

Erwin Puts has some information at his page:

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigtl01.html -> Ultron and others

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigt2890.html -> APO Lanthar

Cheers
Thomas-Michael

 

[phototone]

The Voigtlander lenses are top notch. Modern lenses in every respect as regards design goals. Perhaps not as robust as Leica lenses, but what is?

Your only downside is perhaps if you constantly wish to shoot images at wide-open apertures, where the modern ultra-expensive Leica lenses should excel over any others.

I own many of the Voigtlander/Cosina lenses, and I cannot fault them at all.

 

[Chuck A]

Check this out as well.

Photozone

 

[Roger Hicks]

If you're satisfied, DON'T read others' opinions -- you run too much risk of unnecessary, meaningless and worthless disillusion.

Are you as good a photographer as the lenses you own, i.e. can you get the best pictures they can deliver? Are you limited by your equipment rather than by your skill as a photographer? If not, STOP WORRYING!

I have several Leica lenses from old (50/3.5 1936) to new (75/2 2005), several Voigtlander lenses, a Canon, a couple of Jupiters... I've owned and borrowed many more. It really isn't THAT important. Certes, the bottles you have are more than good enough (a lot better than the Canon and FSU, for a start).

Voigtlander lenses are generally reckoned, even by Leica, to be optically equivalent to Leica lenses of a design generation back. Mechanically they are probably not as robust (I'm still using a 35/1.4 I dropped 6 feet onto granite, and a friend is using one he lost in the bilges of his boat for 6 months) and quality control probably isn't as good but unless you have a lemon you don't have anything to worry about.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

 

[doubs43]

I'll second what Roger has said. Reviews are only valid for the particular lens being examined. The same model lens one serial number up or down may give completely different results. Unless you have reason to be unhappy with your present lenses - or have lots of money to spend - work with what you now have and try to get the best they have to give from them.

Walker

 

[Doug]

Reviews are only valid for the particular lens being examined. The same model lens one serial number up or down may give completely different results.

Due to manufacturing variations, certainly conceivable, but the the more rigorous the quality control, the less likely variation becomes. A good review also will address factors other than center/edge resolution and optical aberations, things we'd like to know about conveniences and smoothness of handling and the character of the image drawn.

Certainly some magazine reviews are shallow and avoid criticism but there are other sources of good information too. I find reviews interesting, recognizing that the most interesting aspects are matters of the reviewer's own opinions. Most modern lenses will give excellent results and service... so any credible help in choosing is welcome!

 

[peter_n]

I third what Roger said. I also have Leica, Voigtlander & Russian glass and I'm thrilled with it all. 🙂 My Voigtlander lens is a now discontinued 35/2.5 and its just a wonderful lens! Don't worry be happy! 😉

 

[satbunny]

Thanks folks. I am actually very very happy with my Voigtlander glass, and I have a Russian 55m (or somesuch) in my cupboard to play with. I just enjoyed reading about the Leica 50mm in AP and idly wondered how the Voigtlanders compared. Am I as good a photographer as my lens, no, and that is what I want to focus on over the next few years. Roger's missives on 'stop playing and start shooting were very encouraging!'

I shall also read and enjoy the links you provided. Maybe one day I'll buy a Leica 'bottle' but I'm not going to stay indoors and cry!

 

[rich815]

I'm sure you've got great lenses there even compared to "what else is out there". I personally do not want the Lanthar as I simply find my 90/4 Elmar (m-mount) to be superb. Maybe not as contrasty and sharp as more modern lenses but that is not what I was after in a lens of this length. It's more than contrasty and sharp enough but has a nice character that I sincerely like, even more than my Contax G 90 Sonnar. Sharpness, contrast and MTF graphs can be good but none of it matters if in the end the lens does not have the character and "personality" you want for the subject matter you intend to take with any particular lens.

 

[djon]

I want a corner- sharp, contrasty AND rectilinear 35 LTM.... opinions?

My old 35 3.5 Summaron qualifies except for contrast, and another f-stop would be nice.

Has anybody compared the performance of the (gigantic) 35 Ultron to the Classic or Pancake...or to a Canon f2 or 2.8?

Anybody got one to sell...or to trade for a nice F1 or L1?

 

[Doug]

I want a corner- sharp, contrasty AND rectilinear 35 LTM....

Well, with those qualifications, what comes to mind first is the Voigtlander 2.5/35mm Classic. I've not owned one to praise, though I can say nice things about the 3.5/28mm and 2.5/50mm on either side of it.

 

[tedwhite]

I have, and use regularly, the 35/2.5 and consider it among the five best lenses I've owned during a lifetime of photography. I am also very pleased with the 25/4. I'm saving my money to buy more Voigtlander lenses, namely the 50mm and the 90mm. I've got the Bessa R, so it will have frames for all of these lenses (except, of course, the 25/4. But then, for $69USD I got the Bessa L. Such a deal). Having owned an M3 with 50mm Summicron, I am unable to see any difference in quality between that particular Leica lens and these Voigtlander lenses.

 

[phototone]

I want a corner- sharp, contrasty AND rectilinear 35 LTM.... opinions?

My old 35 3.5 Summaron qualifies except for contrast, and another f-stop would be nice.

While I think you would be quite satisfied with any of the Voigtlander 35mm lens, you should also consider the later Leitz Summaron 35mm f/2.8 These are still in the realm of affordability, and they have the same qualities as the Summaron you have, and is somewhat contrastier, so it should fit your requirements to a "T". The only drawback is that I do not know if they were offered in LTM, if you have a LTM camera, but if you have an "M" mount Leica camera, then you can use it, and you could even use the one with "eyes" which might be cheaper to purchase, and you do not have to have an M3 to use it, any "M" mount Leica would work.

 

[Rico]

While I think you would be quite satisfied with any of the Voigtlander 35mm lens, you should also consider the later Leitz Summaron 35mm f/2.8 These are still in the realm of affordability, and they have the same qualities as the Summaron you have, and is somewhat contrastier, so it should fit your requirements to a "T". The only drawback is that I do not know if they were offered in LTM, ...

The Summaron 35/2.8 is available in LTM: I bought one two months ago. It remains untested, since I need an adapter for my M4. Besides the classic chrome finish and awesome build, it offers aperture detents at full stops only - which I prefer.