Which Voigtlander lenses make M8 users happy?

E

eleskin

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I have the 40mm Nokton, and quit frankly, I have found my older Leica glass SUPERIOR, especially my 35mm Summicron V 4 Canadian. I wonder who had been surprised by the Voigtlnder lenses in a positive way when comparing them to Leica lenses when using them on the m8. Which Voigtlander lenses perform closest to their Leica cousins, especially wide open on the M8.
 
Image-wise, I am surprised by the CV 35/1.2 but I cannot compare it to Leica.
It was the only super fast 35 tested by Sean Reid that didn't have any focus shift on the M8, if I remember correctly. And the cyan corner effect is also quite muted.

I'm not sure if it makes sense to compare an f/2 lens to an f/1.4 lens...The Nokton is unquestionably SUPERIOR at f/1.4
A plug for ZM lenses: the colors on the M8 are wonderful!
 
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I've used the 15 quite a bit and like it very much on the M8. It requires coding (I did as a 21) the srew mount adapter and some creativity with IR cut filter. I've just put some tape around. The Nokton 1.2/35 is also a very nice lens, which I feel does not necessarily require coding. Both don't really have a Leica couterpart.
Especially the 15 is really hard to beat. Can't think of volunteerly selling it.
Cheers
Ivo
 
The 35mm Nokton is a must for the M8 due to it's indifferent high ISO performance, an f2 35mm can force you to use less than favourable settings in very low light ... it's probably the lens I use the most followed by the 15mm Heliar.
 
Voigtlaender at its best looks like an out of focus leica. I have nokton 40 too its f/16 is equal in sharpness to summicron 40 at f/2 and lets not talk about aberration on VC wide lenses. :bang:
 
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Hm, the title of this thread is "which Voigtländer lens makes M8 users happy"...

Despite my problems with two 28/2.0 Ultrons, I am happy with my 75/2.5 Heliar and quite happy with the 50/1.5 Ultron, which requires some adjustments.

Cheers,
Uwe
 
I'm very happy with my, extremely battered & bruised, black 28mm Ultron 1.9. Intitially it was coded using a pen kit but it's since rubbed off and I feel it works well without the coding.

That's the only CV lens I own now and certainly the only one I've used on an M8. I was intrigued by the 35mm 1.4 but as I have a v.4 'chron which I'm really happy with I see little point pursuing it further.
 
I don't scrutinse my happy snaps for sharpness too closely.

The 40/1.4 and 35/1.2 make me happy, along with the 50/1.5 and 21/4 - they're all great for me printing at 12x8 and sometimes 16x12. The 40/1.4 wide-open does not compare well to the 35/1.2 at f/1.4.

I don't think it's 'fair' to sit down and have a good squint at the phalli of Leica and CV lenses - they're different beasts - if you want absolute quality you pay more for Leica.
 
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The 28/3.5 is a fantastic lens and a great value at the price. Obviously it's not going to be the tool of choice for low-light situations, but it's a gem.
 
50mm 1.5 and 35mm 1.2 Noktons. They give the Leica 50 Summilux ASPH and 35mm Summilux ASPH a run for their money in terms of sharpness and vignetting. The 35mm shows very little focus shift on stoping down compared to my Summilux which needs a lot of care if used between f2.8 and f8 (Leica set it up for correct focus at full aperture.) Neither has a focus tab which I find an advantage. The tabs on both Leica lenses makes it feel as if you are pulling on the lens and can give rise to a jerky focus action for small focus adjustments.


Bob.
 
I can't say I've found a Voitlander lens that doesn't make me happy with respect to comparisons to Leica lenses. I currently have the 12 and 15 (for which there are no real Leica comparables), the 21 Skopar (LTM version, which I find every bit the equal of my 21 Elmarit and saves me the bother of hauling that beast around unless I know I'll need the extra stop), the 28 Ultron (undoubtedly the 28 Summicron is better but I have a 28 Elmarit I use predominantly, the Ultron is there just for the far-fetched times I want another stop, and I paid a whopping $250 for it), and the 75 Heliar (which may not be 100% as good as a Summarit but darn close, and for the $200 it cost me, about a seventh the price). All of my Voitlander lenses were bought used, and I've had no mechanical problems with them at all. And at one time I also had the 90 APO-Lanthar, which was an excellent lens, but at that focal length I like f/2.8 as a minimum.
 
I love the CV15 simply because its the nearest thing to a point and shoot option on the M8. DoF is so extraordinary, that at more than 3 meters,everything is pretty sharp, even wide open. Thus, you can shoot from the hip, behind your back or with your eyes closed - the shots always come out great - the quirkier the better - and there is something particularly creative about the images.

I think the CV15 is to some extent, an antidote to the clinical precision of Leica's optical masterworks. Love it.

Steve'
 
I have owned or try most of focals of CV lenses. In the end I switched to Leica. The stand outs (that I have kept) are the Nokton 1.2 and CV25 M. The first one for its signature, the second one for amazing sharpness and compacteness. Nevertheless both are substitutes for the Cron IV and 24 elmarit which are overall better IMO.
 
Well I have heard good things on the 40mm 1.4 and ordered one this week for b/w photography. I will let everyone know what I think after I get it and use it.


Bigfeet
 
I have both the CV 35/2.5 M mount version and the 35 Summicron version IV. The CV seems a hair sharper but I prefer the way the Leica lens draws. They are so close though that I could put two prints on the table, one taken with the CV and the other with the Summicron, and I doubt anyone could tell the difference.

The CV is a little smaller and lighter. Both have the same style focus tabs and feel alike on the camera. They both make for a very compact camera/lens package.

Still, I have my eye on the new CV 15 and having two 35 mm lenses no longer makes much sense.

Tom

Kauaisprintmaker.com

printmaker@hawaiilink.net
 
The tiny CV 15 Heliar makes me smile everytime I use it.

Mine wears a coded Milich adapter at the back end and a B+W 486 filter wedged onto its nose with a rubber O-ring I bought in the plumbing department of my local hardware store.

-g
 
Cosina were rather quickly aware of how good the 15mm CV was on the M8. When I bought my 15mm Heliar it was marketed as an M8 kit and came with the 21mm finder. I bought it from the Voigtlander distributor here in Oz who for some strange reason not only had them in stock before any one else but was also the cheapest in the world ... some $80.00 AUD less than our bartender and others who had them for sale at the time.

It would seem reading this thread that the two standout CV lenses on the M8 are the 15mm Heliar and the Nokton!
 
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