p.2 #1 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Don't see any reason to change from Leica WATE.... If the CV 15 were great, then there would be the temptation of it plus Loxia 21, but as is, not tempted.
p.2 #3 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
jhinkey wrote:
Thanks for the comparative image Fred. Never going to own the Distagon.
What is the weight difference between the Native E mount and the M mount version (including the adapter)?
I have two Voigtlander adapters. The normal and the VM-E close focus.
The M-mount lens with the VM-E close focus adapter seems a little heavier, however with the normal adapter, they are about the same weight.
The new E-mount is very nicely designed. The de-clicking is very clever and works great. The focusing ring is closer to the camera mount and that could be an adjustment for some M-mount owners willing to upgrade. I thought that the focus throw would be shorter but it's really the same for both versions. It's also very nice to have in-camera corrections, auto-magnification and complete EXIF data.
Regarding the Distagon. It's another beauty but it's currently my heaviest lens. I mainly use it for night shooting.
Best,
Fred
p.2 #4 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
Yes, me too.
But...the Distagon is huge. See this companion.
CV 15/4.5III E-mount (left), CV 15/4.5III M-mount with CV adapter (Middle), Zeiss Distagon 15/2.8 ZE with adapter (Right)
Oh sure. By 'take' I meant prefer the IQ; I didn't mean pay for it or carry it.
I am a bit interested in the new Irix 15 2.4; it too is huge but much cheaper and the design at least looks promising. Seems like it's Samyang with a higher spec both in build and optics. Since Samyang manage amazingly good results with a lower spec it might be interesting. Anyhow, it looks cheap enough to keep as a more or less specialised Astro lens plus whatever uses for it there might be not far from home. For travel it's currently the FE zoom at this FL (though that might go if Batis 18 is nice enough - and I have a preorder for CV 10!)
p.2 #5 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
DavidBM wrote:
Oh sure. By 'take' I meant prefer the IQ; I didn't mean pay for it or carry it.
I am a bit interested in the new Irix 15 2.4; it too is huge but much cheaper and the design at least looks promising. Seems like it's Samyang with a higher spec both in build and optics. Since Samyang manage amazingly good results with a lower spec it might be interesting. Anyhow, it looks cheap enough to keep as a more or less specialised Astro lens plus whatever uses for it there might be not far from home. For travel it's currently the FE zoom at this FL (though that might go if Batis 18 is nice enough - and I have a preorder for CV 10!)...Show more →
The Distagon 15 has incredible micro-contrast. That's what sets it apart from the Samyang 14 which I used to own.
I'm hoping Zeiss will develop a native 15 for the E-mount. Until then, I will keep my Distagon. The Irix does look promising though. We'll see.
p.2 #6 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Hi, I just joined the forum.
Thanks for this report. I've been waiting for this lens for a while, and trying to decide between the new E mount and M mount.
Could you tell me, how close does the E mount version focus? Is it comparable to the M mount with close focus adapter?
It's not an essential feature, but it would be nice to have the option of doing some UWA macro with it
p.2 #7 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Kirin wrote:
Hi, I just joined the forum.
Thanks for this report. I've been waiting for this lens for a while, and trying to decide between the new E mount and M mount.
Could you tell me, how close does the E mount version focus? Is it comparable to the M mount with close focus adapter?
It's not an essential feature, but it would be nice to have the option of doing some UWA macro with it
p.2 #9 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Thanks again Fred, this will be my hiking lens (mainly for shooting waterfalls and streams.) I think for that purpose it should work fine. It will allow me to add a couple more primes to my bag that I would otherwise leave out due to the size and weight of the ZE 15. Like you, until a native Zeiss 15 comes out (hopefully a Loxia), my ZE isn't going anywhere.
p.2 #10 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Interesting we say crop to 17mm than all of a sudden the Batis 18mm becomes more interesting. Im trying not to think about this 18mm as it just makes a lot of sense owning the 24-70 plus a filter issue this 15 is 58 the Batis is 77 and the zoom is 82. Buy 82 filters and a step up ring from 77 to 82( makes sense). A 58-82 step up ring just makes it all to unwieldily to deal with. Than you got the Loxia at 52mm. A Lee filter 7 system does not work on the zoom so you would have to go 100x100 system or buy circular filters in at least 2 sets. Honestly this bugs me to no end.
Here is the rub, never expected the zoom to be as good as it is and it actually makes a great landscape lens. I did not count on this. I thought great for people, PR stuff and all that. This makes for a very interesting internal debate.
p.2 #11 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Fred, would you mind posting a crop of the lower left corner? If the weakness is primarily noticeable at infinity, I think it could be quite interesting to see the result at an obviously much shorter distance (though focused to infinity, but that may be covered by the deep DOF).
In any case, thanks for showing these comparisons.
p.2 #13 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Fred I have one question.
Do you happen to have an IR-converted camera to try the lens? The M-mount had some hot spot when stopping down and I was wondering how would the E-mount fare.
p.2 #14 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Of course, I keep my WATE. No intention selling it ever.
Nevertheless, I ordered the Voightlander as it is native FE.
I am curious how the two lenses compare.
I am also looking forward to the 12 and 10 mm FE lenses and wonder how they perform.
p.2 #17 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Thanks for posting the results, Fred. I love that you are hangin' with the alt crowd these days! I am a bit relieved that new version isn't smoking the old one.
p.2 #18 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
First I would like to thank Fred for his test and posts. I own both the WATE and CV 15mm M version. I was debating whether i should upgrade but at this point-- I see no reason. While i love the WATE-- I do not see it being that much better at 16mm.. I can go from 15 to 24 or 25 and just crop if I need something between 15-24mm. I own the Zeiss 18mm for Nikon and can always use an adapter if i truly need something in-between. Anyway will be selling my WATE soon.
One other point and reason to keep the M version--- I use the Voigtlander VM-E adapter and really allows one to get very close up.
k-h.a.w wrote:
Of course, I keep my WATE. No intention selling it ever.
Nevertheless, I ordered the Voightlander as it is native FE.
I am curious how the two lenses compare.
I am also looking forward to the 12 and 10 mm FE lenses and wonder how they perform.
p.2 #19 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
GMPhotography wrote:
Interesting we say crop to 17mm than all of a sudden the Batis 18mm becomes more interesting. Im trying not to think about this 18mm as it just makes a lot of sense owning the 24-70 plus a filter issue this 15 is 58 the Batis is 77 and the zoom is 82. Buy 82 filters and a step up ring from 77 to 82( makes sense). A 58-82 step up ring just makes it all to unwieldily to deal with. Than you got the Loxia at 52mm. A Lee filter 7 system does not work on the zoom so you would have to go 100x100 system or buy circular filters in at least 2 sets. Honestly this bugs me to no end.
Here is the rub, never expected the zoom to be as good as it is and it actually makes a great landscape lens. I did not count on this. I thought great for people, PR stuff and all that. This makes for a very interesting internal debate. ...Show more →
I am getting the Batis 18 for testing but from the MTF, I can already tell, it should perform much better than the CV 15 towards the edges. It looks like it could be similar to the Loxia 21 and that would be an incredible feat for a much wider lens. It will be interesting to see how it compares on field curvature and astigmatism. The Batis 18 could be the best native ultra wide for the E-mount but I still need 15mm for my needs. I hate to drag the Distagon 15/2.8ZE but sometimes, it's the ticket. Weighting less than 300g, the CV 15/4.5III is always on my bag and I've learned how to minimize its weaknesses.
I've never tried the WATE but one of these days I may rent one and see what's all about.
I am a bit relieved that new version isn't smoking the old one.