"Wide" advice: VC 15mm or 12mm?

[Todd.Hanz]

I'm looking for opinions on the VC 15mm lens, build quality and such, any problems? Should I look at the 15mm or 12mm?
I'm thinking about getting one soon and would love to hear from any 15mm or 12mm owners, post some examples if you wish.

Thanks,
Todd

 

[sfb_dot_com]

Hi there!

I have the 12mm, and here is an example shot. (Pretty good if I say so myself) 🙄 .

The 12mm is considered better built than the 15mm and also has the ability to take filters via an adapter.

It can be a bit of a handful though as it is so extreme.

Andy

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=25708&cat=5695

 

[nemjo]

As I have the 15 only, can't compare them.
But I can say the CV15 is a great lens.
BTW cheeper and faster than the 12...

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5128

and here are some samples.

nemjo

 

[robert blu]

In the past I had the 15mm which I change for the 12mm. They are both very good, but the 12 is very extreme and not easy to use. But when it works is great ! Main problem, at least for me, because of very wide angles in sunny open place there are big differences in the exposure, shooting slides if you meter for the lights you'll have a lot of dark areas (or opposite). But again, doing braketing, throwing away mani pics, the ones left can be great. Of course it's my own opinion. I have some picts in my photos on RFF. ciao.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

great samples guys, I'm becoming more convinced the 15 is the way to go based on price and useability.

Todd

 

[RogerinVegas]

Hi I personally would recommend the 15mm it is wide enough and easier to get decent pictures from it, I think it is a great lens, I have made some great images, sorry I have none scanned and posted yet. The 12, it is extreme and more than you would probably need for most any shooting you will do. The other issue is the decentering -dark edges you will get with the 12, nice lens also, but the decentering bothers me every image comes with the dark edges which is to be expected. I would love to get a center ND filter for it, but they run around $250. +/- everywhere I have seen them. The best way to get decent images with the 12 is to either use black and white which forgives and works with the decentering to a decent looking image, and I find when I use the 12mm for long exposure yes night time type images 10 seconds or longer I seem to get the best results.

So really if you want an honest opinion, owning both lenses I would recommend the 15mm great images every time small lens, wide enough for anyhting, I love it. I have the spirit level which is an awesome accessory I recommend you get that with the dbl shoe also, it takes 1 min to get used to using it while composing, and you will be thankful to have it when you get your pictures back.

Roger

 

[CZeni]

The 12mm lens is an absolute hoot to use...very nicely made, super nice finder, astounding results sometimes.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/Zenistuff/hotdawgs - note that the woman on the right was moving - it's not lens distortion.

The 15mm is a bit easier to use as it's not as wide (duh)...but for extreme views the 12mm is tough to beat. Be aware that I'm a wide angle fan anyway 🙂

 

[RML]

I'd say, what are you willing to spend! You can get 2 15mm lenses for the price of 1 12mm lens, and have some change back. I handled the 15 last year. It felt the same as my CV 25/4. I'm guessing here but I reckon the 12 will be nearly similar in build.

 

[Alec]

Todd, I concur that the 15mm is tiny, lightweight, cheap and gives technically stunning results (aesthetically, you are judging the photog...).
I have no first-hand experience of the 12mm but the 15 is vastly superior to my huge Sigma 3.5/14mm for SLR.

 

[Doug]

The other issue is the decentering -dark edges you will get with the 12, nice lens also, but the decentering bothers me every image comes with the dark edges which is to be expected. I would love to get a center ND filter for it, but they run around $250. +/- everywhere I have seen them. The best way to get decent images with the 12 is to either use black and white which forgives and works with the decentering to a decent looking image, and I find when I use the 12mm for long exposure yes night time type images 10 seconds or longer I seem to get the best results.

Hi Roger-- It's certainly true that lenses this wide present special challenges and opportunities too. "Cosine-law fall-off" is a radial darkening away from the optical center that affects virtually every lens, but as the angle of view get extremely wide this effect gets ever more noticeable, to the point where a center-ND filter can be useful to even things out. "Decentering" is a quality-control issue where a lens component is not concentric with the rest, and has an effect on imaging quality of an assembled lens.

I have no experience with the 12mm, but I'm told that the difference between it and the 15 are considerable, so one can't be expected to substitute for the other, and if you're a super-wide fan then having both is reasonable. Maybe comparable to choosing between 28mm and 35mm... I use both of those quite a lot, but admit my 15 is seldom exercised.

 

[peter_n]

Todd I sold my 21 and eventually missed the super-wide and bought a CV 15mm. I instantly felt at home with it, somehow it feels more comfortable to use than did the 21. Can't explain it. I wish I had some pictures to post but I have a stack of film here ready for developing including stuff from the 15. Pretty good build quality and very easy to use - I really like it!

 

[Ronald M]

Roger means vignetting, not decentering.

The 12 does it more than any lens I ever owned except a 21 3.4 SA.

I overcome it by making the intitial portion of the printing exposure thru a circle that eliminates light striking the corners. Move it up and down during the initial 20% of the print exposure. With a little practice, the corner darkening can be largely masked

 

[chug]

For lots of piccies with the 15mm, check out the flickr group 🙂

http://www.flickr.com/groups/heliar/