Zeiss ZM Distagon 2.8/15 or 4.0/18 used

[herzie]

Hello, who can say something about the Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZM and may have a source? ( for a used )
Is it much better as the Distagon 4.0/18 ?
Thank you.

 

[Tom A]

Pick up a 18f4 and for the money saved, get the VC 15f4.5 M mount. I have tried the 15f2.8 - it is a very good lens, virtually distorsion free, little fall off and all that - but it is HUGE and unless you absolutely need the speed - the VC 15 and the ZM 18 are better choices.

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

From what I've seen and read on the 15, it's also a very nice lens; but has two things going against it... A) The price is steep, and B) it's not rangefinder coupled. The latter some folks overlook because of it's huge DoF, but there it is. You're better off with the CV lens if you ask me; unless of course you need the speed. But a small/light lens it is NOT.

I don't understand why the Zeiss version doesn't have RF coupling and the CV one does. Wouldn't RF coupling be needed more at the Zeisses f2.8 than the CVs 4.5?

 

[Photon42]

The 4/18 is a very nice lens indeed. Not too large a lens, and draws the image in a sharp and pleasant manner. Build quality leaves nothing to complain. I've hand-coded for the M8. Mine came with the 50/75 frameline flange, so I turned it into a Leica 3.8/18.

As for the hyperfocal setup, I still found it inconvenient at times with the first version CV 4.5/15, not to have a verification of the actual distance. Close up focus errors become quite visible even with that kind of lens (on an M8).

The Distagon 4/18 decouples at about 70cm with recent rangefinder models and can be focused further down to approx 50cm.

Regards
Ivo

 

[Photon42]

Hmm interesting to read this, as I had thought the ZM 15/2.8 was coupled. So it is not only Largely HUGE, it is scale focussed as well? LAME I say...If I were after a 110 degree pov, I go with the cv 15/4.5 in M-mount; I understand one can use standard filters with it?

Thomas,

the second version Heliar takes normal 52mm filters. As I've never used the lens, I cannot comment on the vignetting here. I reckon it would not matter on the M8, but for full frame you would like to verify this. Maybe a slim filter would help here. The old Heliar works fine on the M8 even with a filter. No issues with color shifts. The new one is most likely the same and comes with a coding friendly flange (with groove).

Cheers
Ivo

 

[Tom A]

There are lots of samples with the 15f4.5 Heliar (both M and LTM) on Flickr. It does have some vignetting, but we are talking a 110 degree wide angle here. Far less though than the original Hologon and most (as far as I know) SLR 15mm lenses.
The Distagon 18 is remarkably good when it comes to lack of corner fall-off - but does show a minor amount of curvature in the edges. Not enough to make it problematic, even for architectural photography.
I did a comparison with the Leica WATE (16-18-21) and my 15 Heliar, 18 Distagon and 21 Biogon f4.5. No significant difference between the lenses in image quality - and you could buy the 15/18/21 new and with finders AND a good used M6 for what the WATE cost!!!!

 

[semrich]

Here is a shot with the 15/2.8 I posted today. Shot hand held, Tri-X at 400, and at full size you can read the sign above the door on the building in the background.

This lens always goes with me, big, heavy, not coupled, 2.8 helps, and everything past 7 feet is sharp and the photos are worth it.

 

[fuwen]

I have to agree that the ZM 15/2.8 is very good and completely usable at f2.8 already. Centre filter will make the light fall off even better but not necessary most of the time.

For Leica users I dun see the price is an issue, but for non-Leica users price is definitely an issue. But the 18/4 will be a very good ZM superwide alternative.

 

[herzie]

Thanks to all and Merry Christmas.

 

[kzphoto]

Used source: www.camerawest.com -- No affiliation, but they're near my area, and they have both of the lenses you're looking for used as of 12/30/09
15mm f2.8 ZM - $3,495 USD
18mm f4 ZM - $850 USD.

 

[Hacker]

Why not consider the Leica 18mm f/3.8? It is a viable alternative also and cheaper than the 15mm f/2.8 Distagon. It is also very distortion free.