p.77 #1 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
DannyBurkPhoto wrote:
Interesting that you found the Voigt sharper. I did quite a bit of testing and found that sharpness was so close that I couldn't pick one as being better. Everything else that you've listed agreed with my testing! The Sony zoom is definitely sharper toward the ends than the Voigt 12, which I ended up selling after seeing the results.
I also found the 12-24/4G sharper at 15mm compared to the CV 15/4.5 III, especially towards the corners (both good copies). It's not a big difference but it's noticeable at 1:1. Vignetting is also higher for the Voigt. The zoom's advantage stops here though as the prime wins in all other aspects. (color, sunstar, flare resistance, distortion, etc...)
p.77 #2 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
I also found the 12-24/4G sharper at 15mm compared to the CV 15/4.5 III, especially towards the corners (both good copies). It's not a big difference but it's noticeable at 1:1. Vignetting is also higher for the Voigt. The zoom's advantage stops here though as the prime wins in all other aspects. (color, sunstar, flare resistance, distortion, etc...)
That's why I am keeping the CV 15 even after I recently re-bought the Sony 12-24. The CV 12 is going though, not using it much. This picture was shot yesterday with the CV 15, the sunstars...
p.77 #3 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
I would buy the 12mm Voigt in a second over the 12-24 if it would do the same job at 12mm. For personal work the 15mm would be fine though. I'd much rather have a compact prime over the AF zoom. Maybe I'll just have to have both eventually.....
p.77 #4 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Not privy to previous posts. Since the CV is max F5.6 and most lenses are better(best) stopped down 1 or 2 stops won’t you approach diffusion at F 8 or F11?
p.77 #5 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
SoundHound wrote:
Not privy to previous posts. Since the CV is max F5.6 and most lenses are better(best) stopped down 1 or 2 stops won’t you approach diffusion at F 8 or F11?
The CV 15mm is actually f/4.5 and a good copy does not improve much towards the corners from wide open. Optimal at f/5.6 for the very corners. At f/8, I start seeing signs of diffraction. Problem is that there are a lot of bad copies causing smear (excessive astigmatism) at the edges.
I don't think the issue is really quality control. To me, it's an ambitions optical design that requires tighter manufacturing tolerance than Cosina is capable of.
p.77 #6 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Can a polarizer be screwed onto the CV15 with out vignetting? If you have tried attaching a polarizer, what brands allow enough clearance for the polarizer to turn easily without rubbing on the hood petals.
Note: I plan to use a polarizer for reducing reflections, the sky probably won't be visible.
p.77 #8 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
jaywpage wrote:
Can a polarizer be screwed onto the CV15 with out vignetting? If you have tried attaching a polarizer, what brands allow enough clearance for the polarizer to turn easily without rubbing on the hood petals.
Note: I plan to use a polarizer for reducing reflections, the sky probably won't be visible.
I have tried breakthrough x4 CPL, it would not fit, the hood petals were in the way. I could barely thread on a normal uv filter (heliopan) and ND (BT x4). I plan to remove the petals.
I don't notice much added vignetting from the ND filter, not sure about the CPL though.
p.77 #9 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
I have a Zeiss polarizer (comes in thin version only) and it works without any issues, no visible vignetting.
As for Breakthrough Photography CPL the ribbed edge of the filter does get in the way. I have a 52 mm version for my Loxias and the hood can’t be mounted with it in place.
jaywpage wrote:
Can a polarizer be screwed onto the CV15 with out vignetting? If you have tried attaching a polarizer, what brands allow enough clearance for the polarizer to turn easily without rubbing on the hood petals.
Note: I plan to use a polarizer for reducing reflections, the sky probably won't be visible.
p.77 #15 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
So I guess I'm resurrecting a thread that's been idle a while. I picked up a used copy of the 15mm at a local store today for $500, and it's generally pretty good, but looking at the results Fred and Guy got with theirs, it appears mine is not a 'good copy' per se. It's sharp over most of the frame, even to the edges, but the extreme corners are still quite soft at a distance, even stopped down (though they look pretty decent indoors).
In most compositions, it doesn't pose a problem, as those very extreme corners aren't usually that important. In those situations where they are, it's almost like the corners just don't quite get to infinity, as the closer corners when shooting normally are better than any distant corners. However, knowing what this lens can do, I'm debating returning it and ordering new. What do you think? What are the chances a new copy ends up being notably better? Good news is that it's well centered....all the corners show similar degradation at the extremes.
All this said, I love the color and contrast and relatively low distortion for such a lens, and it's better than my CV 12mm.
Full Shot:
100% corner crop:
And a normal shot not worrying about extreme corners:
p.77 #17 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
This one may have been responsible for some dissatisfaction with Voigtländer lenses - it was the first native CV lens for Sony E mount (2015 seems so long ago) according to Phillip Reeve, and perhaps illustrates the dangers of the transition from Leica M to the demands of the FE system.
At some stage, Cosina may revisit this FL zone, and inject whatever they found in the last five years into it, lol. An 18mm version of the 21/3.5 would be a popular move, particularly at a similar price level ($600 new at BH, on special).
p.77 #18 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
I've had two of these. My first had badly smeared corners. The smearing is very obvious and yours does NOT show that.
My second & current copy is great. I looked at my test shot corners and at f4.5 they don't seem as soft/glowy as what you're showing, but it's hard to know for sure. At f8, my corners look quite good.
If it helps to have another point of reference, when I compared it to my Tamron 17-28, my Voigtlander's corners are very similar.
p.77 #19 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Thanks. Just so you know, the above crop is at f/9.
It's definitely not as good in the corners as my 17-28. I ordered one new and I'll have it Sunday, and will likely return this one, but will compare first.
p.77 #20 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
So my new one came in, and it's notably better. Still not tack sharp at the extreme corners, but still pretty good. The new one at f/4.5 is sharper in the corners than the old one at f/8.
