Voigtlander or Zeiss ?

[angeloks]

Hi,

This must be a traditionnal question, but anyway... I'm buying an M6 and I'd like to get 2 lenses : 21mm and 35mm. This will be my first M (I've been using a Leica IIf for abour 2 years now). I previously owned a 50mm by Voigtlander and I used some ZF glass from Zeiss. I like both companies.

Now, here are my options (prices from BH) :

1) Zeiss 21mm f4.5 with the 21mm finder and the 35mm f2.8 = 2150$
2) Voigtlander 21mm f4 with the 21mm finder and the 35mm f1.4 = 1094.97$

Is there such a great difference in IQ that would justify the price difference ? For what I heard, the Voigtlander are really good and so are the Zeiss... Any other considerations ?

Thanks,
Julien

 

[cosmonaut]

I haven't used Zeiss lenes but I use Voigtlander 40mm 1.4SC, 15mm Heliar and the 75mm. Personally I would use Voigtlander and pocket the grand. The 40mm is a very sharp lens.
On the Voigtlander 35mm you would have an extra stop of light to work with as well.
Use the extra $1000.00 to buy a nice M3 for backup or even more glass. Good luck.

 

[mfogiel]

I think, if you are really comitted to the 21mm fl, then the C Biogon will always remain a reference lens there, so I would go directly to get the best - you can save up something by getting a CV 21mm finder, although the Zeiss one is also the best one around. Actually, the best idea would be to buy a Bessa R4A as a finder for the Biogon... In the 35mm there are lots of good lenses, and I believe it comes more to taste and type of usage, so a CV 35/1.4 is good, a CV 35/1.2 is even better, although quite big.

 

[Al Kaplan]

It depends mostly on whether you want "pretty" and "bragging rights" (Zeiss) or a pocket full of spare change and an aluminum mount with a black anodized finish that might start showing silver (Voigtlander) after awhile if you actually use the things rather than fondle them. As for optical quality? Voigtlander is putting their badge on some damned good glass. I've shot thousands of pictures with the 15/4.5 Voigtlander Heliar and the biggest problem it's given me is the front edge of the abreviated buit-in hood is now silver. I bought a 21mm Voigtlander for my son and it's sharper and has better contrast than my 21/3.4 Super Angulon, which is prettier, and even used is worth a lot more money than a new Voigtlander. It sure is nice to fondle though, and truth be told I picked it up for next to nothing in an involved and convoluted series of trades.Otherwise I'd have got myself a Voigtlander 21, and I use a Voigtlander 21mm finder with it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Julien,

A lot depends on whether you want 'good' or 'the best'. The Zeiss finder is vastly superior, the Zeiss lens somewhat superior. If you use 21mm a lot, and don't want a fast lens, and can afford it, the Zeiss is better, sweeeter-handling and all-round nicer. Both are pretty tiny, so that's not decisive.

Is it twice as good? Impossible to say. For my money, the finder is twice as good, but as 21mm is not a focal length I use very much (at best third choice after 35 + 75), I'm not that fussed about the lens. Also, I'd rather have more speed, but then, I have a 21/2.8 Kobalux. If I could afford it, I'd probably buy a 21 Summilux. If I had no 21mm, I'd probaby go for the Zeiss over the Voigtländer (and I've used both extensively), but if I had only a Voigtländer, I'd not go for the f/4.5... And I think I'd go for the 21/2.8 anyway.

It's all horses-for-courses and you'll get very differrent advice from rich vs. poor photographers; pennypinching vs. realistic photographers; photographers who keep trading lenses vs. photographers who buy for the long term; and so forth.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[presspass]

Zeiss lenses seem to flare less than CV and the mechanical quality is better. In CV's favor, their lenses are smaller and lighter - CV 21 f4 to Zeiss 21 f 4.5. I have noticed some CV lenses start to drag in focus after use; have not had that problem with Zeiss so far.

 

[Sam N]

I haven't used the ZM 35/2.8 but the 35/2 is excellent (if a little large).
I've never had flare issues with the 40/1.4 and it's about as close to perfect as any lens gets. The bokeh from 2.0 up is actually very nice, and you get that extra stop for when you need it.

The CV 21/4 is super contrasty and pretty sharp, but the ZM 21/4.5 is supposed to be basically the best 21 out there. The CV finder will be better than some old models, but it does have a decent amount of barrel distortion and the ZM finder will probably blow it away.

See if you can find the ZM 21/4.5 used... matsuiyastore (on ebay) often has very nice used lenses (I got my 35/2 from them).

 

[vieri]

Hi,

This must be a traditionnal question, but anyway... I'm buying an M6 and I'd like to get 2 lenses : 21mm and 35mm. This will be my first M (I've been using a Leica IIf for abour 2 years now). I previously owned a 50mm by Voigtlander and I used some ZF glass from Zeiss. I like both companies.

Now, here are my options (prices from BH) :

1) Zeiss 21mm f4.5 with the 21mm finder and the 35mm f2.8 = 2150$
2) Voigtlander 21mm f4 with the 21mm finder and the 35mm f1.4 = 1094.97$

Is there such a great difference in IQ that would justify the price difference ? For what I heard, the Voigtlander are really good and so are the Zeiss... Any other considerations ?

Thanks,
Julien

Julien, how about getting a mixed bag?

- Zeiss 21/4.5, CV finder, CV 35/1.4?

You would get the sharpest and less distorted 21, and a fast 35 for when you need it; I have the CV 21 finder and, though not Zeiss-like, is very very good (I use it with my 21/3.4 Super Angulon). This way you'll get a very strong setup and spend something in between your quotes, which would leave you some money for either a second body or a third lens.

Good lulck with whatever you'll choose, and enjoy your M experience! 😀

 

[Sam N]

HU: There's a 21/4.5 + CV finder in the classifieds right now:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/13029/limit/recent

 

[angeloks]

Thanks guys ! From what all of you said, I think that I'll go for the Zeiss 21mm f4.5 and the 35mm f1.4 Nokton. As for the viewfinder, since the Zeiss really looks gorgeous and I have no doubt that it will be better, I'll got for that !