jamesdak wrote:
Shots from the Nikon 800/5.6 mounted either on my 5D or a D300:
[...]

I did not know the Nikon 800 was an APO.

cogitech wrote:
CV 125/2.5 APO-Lanthar:

kosmoskatten wrote:

This one and the other flowershot are both really nice, superb in contrast and saturation.
The Voigtländer at its best! It is almost like a marriage between Leica bokeh and Zeiss snap and threedee...



Thanks! Yes, it is very much a marriage of the best qualities of Leica and Zeiss.

No other lens I own offers such simultaneously neutral and saturated colours as does this lens. I assume this is one of the major benefits of APO.

That new Canon has its work cut out for it, going up against this CV and other macros from Leica and Zeiss.

Guys, you make me (a combination of) green with jealousy, hot to go out and shoot some more, itching to cancel my orders for Zeiss lenses until I find out if the y are APO, whatever that means, and a few other feelings too. Well Done, Wayne, Ziyadj, James, Paul and all the others. Just amazing shots!

cogitech wrote:
Andreas,

Would you like me to shoot some shiny/contrasty stuff just for you?

Seriously. You name it, I'll shoot it.

I would like to see shots with high contrast where the focus transition is, and at near wide open apertures! Stopping down is cheating because it doesn't reveal LoCA that might be there at larger apertures. I think lateral CA usually isn't much of a problem with macro lenses (it is with long teles).

Is the TeleZenitar 135/2.8 APO and/or 300/4.5 APO a true APO lens?

Leica 180mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt-R on Kodachrome 64:

AhamB wrote:
cogitech wrote:
Andreas,

Would you like me to shoot some shiny/contrasty stuff just for you?

Seriously. You name it, I'll shoot it.

I would like to see shots with high contrast where the focus transition is, and at near wide open apertures! Stopping down is cheating because it doesn't reveal LoCA that might be there at larger apertures. I think axial CA usually isn't much of a problem with macro lenses (it is with long teles).

OK. Like these?

All wide open on 5D, in full direct sunlight:

It really does. What adapter do you use for your 5D?

philber wrote:
It really does. What adapter do you use for your 5D?


No adapter. I have the native EF mount version. Auto aperture and all that good stuff. Like an EF lens but MF only.

Here's a more classic test, wide open on 5D again:

Well, I intended to buy a 100m macro lens, either the Zeiss 100 f:2 or the new Canon 100L f 2:8. You have now made this officially a 3-way contest with the Voïgtländer...
Any suggestions?

philber wrote:
Well, I intended to buy a 100m macro lens, either the Zeiss 100 f:2 or the new Canon 100L f 2:8. You have now made this officially a 3-way contest with the Voïgtländer...
Any suggestions?

Ummm, be patient and dig deep into your pocket/bank?

I just checked the Voigtländer homepage. Is your lens no longer produced? Now how do we call people who create desires that cannot be satisfied?

philber wrote:
I just checked the Voigtländer homepage. Is your lens no longer produced? Now how do we call people who create desires that cannot be satisfied?

Discontinued. Yes.

But they are out there

Yes, out there. In the hands of rightly appreciative, talented shooters like you... Well, back to the Zeiss Vs Canon then...

philber wrote:
Yes, out there. In the hands of rightly appreciative, talented shooters like you... Well, back to the Zeiss Vs Canon then...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Voigtlander-125mm-f-2-5-Macro-Apo-Lanthar-Canon-EF-MIB_W0QQitemZ190331580354

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Voigtlander-125mm-f-2-5-Macro-Apo-Lanthar-Canon-EF-MIB_W0QQitemZ190330613467

With due respect, those prices are higher than I would need to pay for a new Zeiss or Canon. Is it worth it, meaning better than the Zeiss, the Canon being an unknown at this time?

philber wrote:
With due respect, those prices are higher than I would need to pay for a new Zeiss or Canon. Is it worth it, meaning better than the Zeiss, the Canon being an unknown at this time?

I feel your pain. I didn't pay that much.

On the other hand, consider that it is a stellar portrait lens. For me, it is two lenses in one, which made the decision to buy it a no-brainer.

The Zeiss isn't APO and can't compete with the Voigtlander's bokeh (in my opinion), and I doubt the new Canon will either. But only time will tell. I'm sure the new Canon will be a pretty decent lens.

Wait a minute, which Zeiss 100 are you speaking of?

It is not pain just yet... and could be gain if it turns out to be the right choice... But you haven't given me your opinion on whether it outperforms the well-respected Zeiss 100, which also offers to same twofer advantage