Which Voigtlander lenses make M8 users happy?

[noimmunity]

Sean Reid also noticed how well the CV 75/2.5 performs on the M8.
15 - 35 - 75 would make a great kit!

 

[Keith]

Not CV related but one lens I bought specifically to use on my M8 was my Zeiss Biogon 25mm f2.8 ... so far sadly it's failed to excite me. I thought it would be ideal for a 35mm equivalent but I seldom use it ... the Nokton 1.2 has the M8's eye for me! 😛

 

[meven]

The Heliar 75mm f2.5 is amazing on the M8, it is very very sharp!

No sharpening applied in PS

 

[noimmunity]

Also not CV related, but the 35mm f/2 Biogon really turned my crank. I loved the results that lens gave, but for the fact that it front focused. I tested it very carefully on two cameras. My other lenses all focused perfectly on those two bodies, and the Zeiss was consistently off. I tried a second copy of the Zeiss with the same results. I really wish it worked because I loved the color and contrast.

Ninety percent of my shooting is with aperture wide open, and I have the rather high expectation that the focus point should... actually... be... in... focus.

I had a 35/2 ZM Biogon that front focused, too. Sent it to Zeiss Oberkochen and they straightened that out out promptly.

 

[bobdubois]

I have the 15/4.5, the 35/2.5 and the 75/2.5. The 15 hand coded as the WATE, with an IR filter ( I stretched an O ring over the threads and pressed it into the lens hood) and 75 are excellent performers on the M8. The 35 is a very good lens as well, although I prfer the rendering of the 35/1.4 pre asph so it lives ont he RD-1.

 

[Krosya]

Hmmm

Hmmm

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:

I'm puzzled by this statement, to be honest. While CV lenses may not match Leica lenses, but to make a statement such as above is rather extreme. Maybe your particular samples were off, but I can say that having tried several CV lenses, glass is very very good. And lenses like CV 35/1.2, 15/4.5 are at least as good as Leica IMO.

 

[noimmunity]

Hmm. I would be tempted to try it out again. Would not want to have to send it away though... I see that freestyle photo has black ones in stock.... tempting.

Heh heh, I'm surely just pouring oil on the fire, but even from Taiwan the total turnaround time was quite reasonable, something like two weeks. Note that I was using the Biogon on an R-D1, not the M8, but I can't see why that would make a difference.
I miss having a 35 Biogon (having gone through both a 35/2 and a 35/2.8), butcha can't have everything (least I can't).

 

[mikenic]

The 12mm Ultrawide Heliar rocks ... its got gristle and girth. 😀

 

[JohnP1]

I have several CV lenses that I use on my M8. The one that consistently puts a smile on my face is the 28/3.5. Not all photography is in low light, and for times when you do not need a larger aperture this lens is outstanding.

Cheers

John

 

[notturtle]

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:

This is a gross generalisation and as such completely untrue. There are plenty of good solid tests which shows this to be the case, especially in the case of the M8, which is Sean Reid's testing platform (I recommend you subscribe as it will be the best $35 you will spend if you want to make informed choices with respect to lenses on the M8). Coding is a separate issue as this can in some cases be performed satisfactorily for CV lenses. QC variability can be an issue though, but at their best CV lenses can be incredible....

Shooting at F16 will cause a dramatic reduction of performance in your VC 40 1.4 due to diffraction. Try 5.6/8. If it performs badly in resolution and contrast terms, you may have a dudd.

QC can be an issue with VC lenses; however, ones that are performing up to their design potential often perform very close to their Leica counterparts. Often they are somewhat weaker wide open, but very very close a stop or two down.

Voigtlander at its best is in some cases every bit as good as leica... sometimes (heresy coming) better. An example of this would be a good copy of the 35 2.5 skopar or 50 1.5 Nokton (compared to 50 1.4 pre-asph even Erwin Putz admitted the CV was superior overall)

The longer the lens the less of an issue with coding. Screw mount lenses allow permanent coding of the adaptor. lenses many regard to be superb (incl on the M8), include:

90 3.5 (almost universally praised, incl Putz)
75 2.5
50 1.5 (some claim problems, other say INCREDIBLE)
35 1.2 (as above)
35 2.5 (almost universally regarded as a little gem)
28 3.5 (as above)
25 4 (less than perfect examples are not uncommon)
21 4 (ditto)
15 4.5

Presumably people don't regard the ZM lenses are being 'like Leica lenses shot through heavy stockings?' 😀

 

[myM8yogi]

I've only tried the CV75. I like it very much.
I can't think of anything bad to say about it.... sure, it would be nice if it were f/1.4....😱)
Really nice size and handling. Nothing to complain about in terms of optical performance.
Samples wide open:
http://www.pbase.com/stu_warner/image/110028551.jpg
Probably a little camera shake on that one - it was very dark!
http://www.pbase.com/stu_warner/image/110028534.jpg

 

[eleskin]

50mm Nokton

50mm Nokton

I have always been interested in the 50mm Nokton. It seems like a nice lens. Based on what has been said here, it may well indeed represent a superior value in my opinion. What I would like to see is a shootout between the 50mm Nokton and 50mm Summilux at all apertures . I have been somewhat turned off Voigtlander by my experience with my 40mm Nokton (does not hold up to my 35mm Summicron, (version 4 "King of Bokeh"). I would love to give Voigtlander another try, especially in these hard economic times. I am eyeing the 50mm Nokton and the 15mm Heliar. In my Leica used lens inventory I have the 28mm Elmarit Canadian (1979), 35mm summicron v. 4 Canadian, 90mm Tele elmarit Canadian (1979 or so), 135mm Elmarit with eyes, and the 280mm Telyt. These two lenses by Voigtlander would fill my gaps in my collection nicely, but again, will I be happy when I compare the files I will get on my M8 with the other lenses I have listed here. The 40mm Nokton has not performed as well as the Leica lenses I have listed. The Leica lenses I have were all made more than 20 years ago, and the 40mm Nokton is a NEW lens and is not as sharp, and has sat on my shelf as a consequence.

 

[kbg32]

I love the 50/1.5 Nokton and the 12/5.6 Heliar. Both produce fantastic files with the M8. Ooops, as does the 25/4P. The only VC lens I find problematic is the 15. There is a webpage devoted to this lens and how to solve many of the problems experienced with its usage on the M8.

 

[johnastovall]

12/5.6 , 28/3.5, 35/1.2, 75/2.5 all make me happy. 😉

 

[Aerospace]

I have the Ultron 2/28mm and I 'm happy with it 😉

 

[endrenovak]

So, for 900,- EUR what would you, mates buy:
Leitz Summilux 1,4 35 (1968) condition B- but glass OK
or
CV 35/1,2 new.

Thanks for the input.

 

[yanidel]

So, for 900,- EUR what would you, mates buy:
Leitz Summilux 1,4 35 (1968) condition B- but glass OK
or
CV 35/1,2 new.

Thanks for the input.

I am not sure it will help but I have two 35mm :
- the cron IV for day and travel light
- the Nokton 1.2, just because it is so wonderful at 1.2 and for low light (I have a few pictures on my blog at F1.2 if you would like to have an idea)
I would go for the Nokton and a cheaper light 35mm.

 

[endrenovak]

I am not sure it will help but I have two 35mm :
- the cron IV for day and travel light
- the Nokton 1.2, just because it is so wonderful at 1.2 and for low light (I have a few pictures on my blog at F1.2 if you would like to have an idea)
I would go for the Nokton and a cheaper light 35mm.

indeed, have checked your blog, actually before submitting my question and seen the type of images there which made me got into Leica, otherwise being a Canon geek. So, in a simpler way, beautiful. 😉
Seem to think the wider the better this time.
Thanks,

 

[Photon42]

I am not sure it will help but I have two 35mm :
- the cron IV for day and travel light
- the Nokton 1.2, just because it is so wonderful at 1.2 and for low light (I have a few pictures on my blog at F1.2 if you would like to have an idea)
I would go for the Nokton and a cheaper light 35mm.

I entertain myself with a very recently aqquired Nokton (uncoded so far) and a Biogon (coded). May I ask: Did you code your Nokton? If yes, what lens did you chose to emulate?

Regards
Ivo

Il y a quelques grandes photos sur ton blog, btw

 

[neelin]

I shoot mostly individual people so utimate performance-resolution-lpmm-etc. is not really high on my list.

75 2.5 (lgotten really good results, but I can slam dunk most stuff with the 50 1.5)
50 1.5 (pry from my fingers over my dead body on M8 mostly, soft OOF. Nice & soft at 1.5, pretty perky at f4)

40 1.4 (nice size, doesn't take up much space in the drawer where it never leaves)

28 3.5 (solid brass feel compared to aluminum feel of 25 4 LTM)
28 1.9 (much prefer to the 3.5)

25 4 (LTM- LOVE! the focus detents for walk around lens on z4 mostly)

15 4.5 (works good for me on M8 & z4) dremeled a 39mm filter mount & put the female threaded portion between the lens shade & dab of silicone caulk to adhere for a IR filter mount.
robert