p.73 #1 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
aCIDfire wrote:
Can anyone upload some shots with extreme corners at f/4.5 or f/5.6 from a GOOD or EXCELLENT copy of this lens? I tried 2 more copies at local store (E-mount and M-mount) and both were bad, M-mount copy had more smearing.
I feel ive got an excellent copy of this lens as its sharp to the corners. I was looking for a suitable image to show you there so hopefully this one helps. This is the FE version and the image is uncropped
p.73 #3 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
xpfloyd wrote:
Sorry just realised this was f/8 but I get the same results at f/5.6
With a good copy of this lens, there is almost no difference between f/5.6 and f/8 towards the edges. Actually f/8 shows signs of diffraction at the extreme edge.
That's when you know if you have a great copy.
p.73 #4 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
I note with interest that the new "Dark CPL" announced by Breakthrough could be a good solution for stacking NDs and CPLs on this lens - as it is no longer needed. Obvious catch being you are stuck with whatever level of ND you choose when you buy the filter.
p.73 #5 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
xpfloyd wrote:
Sorry just realised this was f/8 but I get the same results at f/5.6
On one copy I tried were corners in closer distances (few meters) sharp as in your copy, the problem is smearing at longer distances/infinity focus - on your picture there is a sky in the upper part of the image. Try to make some shot diagonally focused at infinity( not closer objects). There should be similar sharpness from corner to corner or degrading very slowly without smearing.
p.73 #6 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Aztatlan wrote:
I note with interest that the new "Dark CPL" announced by Breakthrough could be a good solution for stacking NDs and CPLs on this lens - as it is no longer needed. Obvious catch being you are stuck with whatever level of ND you choose when you buy the filter.
Another option is to use the Smooth Reflection app to replace NDs.
p.73 #7 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
The image I posted was taken with the focus at the infinity hard stop. I have extensively tested my lens and there is zero smearing and all corners are the same. The image I posted for you was just to show you typical results as you asked for examples. The grass on the lower left corner is over 5m from where I was standing
aCIDfire wrote:
On one copy I tried were corners in closer distances (few meters) sharp as in your copy, the problem is smearing at longer distances/infinity focus - on your picture there is a sky in the upper part of the image. Try to make some shot diagonally focused at infinity( not closer objects). There should be similar sharpness from corner to corner or degrading very slowly without smearing.
p.73 #8 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
grahamgibson wrote:
Another option is to use the Smooth Reflection app to replace NDs.
Although this is definitely an option, I am not a big fan of it the idea of using it. As I focus stack most of my landscapes, SR is just too much hassle.
p.73 #11 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Looks good to me, sidd!
I just received my CV15 also and believe it's quite close in performance to yours. Before I ordered the reseller said they had 7 returns of the first 30 units they received, after that they have sold over 200 without returns. Take it for what it's worth... More worrying is that Cosina returned all the 7 bad units because they were "within specification" and that the photographers who returned them had too high expectations... Anyway, my unit seems to be OK and I'm really happy with it!
p.73 #12 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
I just got a pretty sharp Voigt 15mm and tested it with the Bombo filter attachment and holder.
Shot with it a 4.5, 8 and 11 and no vignetting with a 2 stop grad. The filter holder is pretty slick, but if you are using ND filters and they have the neoprene gasket around the edges, they may not go in the first filter slot unless you put the neoprene side facing out (2 total filter slots).
Filter attachment and holder with expedited shipping from Vietnam was $219 and was delivered 4 days after I ordered it.
Here are pic of it and with the GND (straight from camera-- converted to jpeg and resized to 8x12-- no sharpening or any other corrections)
p.73 #13 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Hey Sidd,
It's not a horrible copy but I still see some smearing in the corners. I think the good copies that people have been getting including myself have less smearing. If it were me, I would probably try an exchange. Just my $.02
sidd wrote:
Received the lens today from B&H. Did a quick test from our balcony - seems to be okay at 4.5, but seems to clean up nicely stopping down a bit.
Uploading two sets - f/4.5 and f/8. What do you guys think?
p.73 #14 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
JDug wrote:
Hey Sidd,
It's not a horrible copy but I still see some smearing in the corners. I think the good copies that people have been getting including myself have less smearing. If it were me, I would probably try an exchange. Just my $.02
Agreed. It doesnt look sharp at all in the corners so theres definitely better out there.
p.73 #15 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
JDug wrote:
Hey Sidd,
It's not a horrible copy but I still see some smearing in the corners. I think the good copies that people have been getting including myself have less smearing. If it were me, I would probably try an exchange. Just my $.02
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xpfloyd wrote:
Agreed. It doesnt look sharp at all in the corners so theres definitely better out there.
p.73 #17 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
As an indication (and I'm not saying this for any other reason than to try and help) if I set mine to f/5.6 and infinity hard stop the extreme corners are as sharp as the centre to my eyes and there is zero smearing anywhere. I'm not sure where you set the focus on those examples but they looked oof
p.73 #18 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
The focus was at infinity hard stop.
xpfloyd wrote:
As an indication (and I'm not saying this for any other reason than to try and help) if I set mine to f/5.6 and infinity hard stop the extreme corners are as sharp as the centre to my eyes and there is zero smearing anywhere. I'm not sure where you set the focus on those examples but they looked oof
p.73 #19 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
sidd wrote:
The focus was at infinity hard stop.
Sorry sidd, I was previously watching your photos from my mobile. Now, on my laptop, I definitely see some smearing, which is worse than the sample I have. If this shot is properly focused, I would return it tbh.
p.73 #20 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Does anyone know if a poor copy of this lens is detectable using only an APS-C sensor--i.e., does the smaller image circle of an APS-C camera allow one to check for smeared corners?
I ask because I would like to get this lens for an upcoming trip, but I will only have access to an a6500 for at least a few more months. So I only want to buy the lens now if I would be able to accurately assess it for smeared corners. Otherwise, I will wait.
