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Archive 2017 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

lightskyland
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Hi Stephen,

Looks like a lovely lens, and one I might pick up soon.

BTW I'm headed up that way tomorrow. Will probably spend Sunday in Cades Cove (hopefully the bears are there eating cherries) and Monday I'm planning on photographing the eclipse on the Cherohala Skyway.

Aug 18, 2017 at 07:11 PM

Luvwine
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

lightskyland wrote:
Hi Stephen,

Looks like a lovely lens, and one I might pick up soon.

BTW I'm headed up that way tomorrow. Will probably spend Sunday in Cades Cove (hopefully the bears are there eating cherries) and Monday I'm planning on photographing the eclipse on the Cherohala Skyway.

We have a place between Highlands and Cashiers. Guests arriving tomorrow. I expect we will just watch from our driveway! Enjoy and good luck getting some pics! I wish I had longer lenses. Debating about 280/4 plus 2x or whether I should stack a 1.4x also.

Aug 18, 2017 at 07:44 PM

Luvwine
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

GMPhotography wrote:
Are you in AWB. That can throw color off. Maybe daylight same scene and different lenses that would be more telling. To me it's like 200 kelvin cooler but more neutral

I just went through and all three side by sides that I posted have the same color temperature. The differences on two of them are small. The waterfall may have had a change in light I guess. These two were also done with the SR app so that could affect things as well. Do you want to see crops from these (or other shots)? I have plenty.

. I go a bit overboard when I get a new lens. I think the CV 65/2 is a very fine optic. I think my Leica 75 might go to the B&S board tho it does great when stopped down to F5.6 and works wide open for portraits. I just don't think I need it with the Loxia 85 and CV 65 not to mention the GM 85. The Leica works great on TAP, but not sure I will use it much for portrait since getting the GM 85 (and the 100 STF which is great whatever you say!

Aug 18, 2017 at 08:22 PM

GMPhotography
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

No need for crops was just curious. I want this lens also and looks good so far and appreciate you spending the time posting images. I know this well myself it's a lot of work

Aug 18, 2017 at 08:30 PM

freaklikeme
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

GMPhotography wrote:
No need for crops was just curious. I want this lens also and looks good so far and appreciate you spending the time posting images. I know this well myself it's a lot of work

It's got an OEM hood you'll actually like, Guy.

Aug 19, 2017 at 04:03 AM

GMPhotography
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Yes that is unique . I may actually like it

Aug 19, 2017 at 07:11 AM

Luvwine
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

I found the hood a bit challenging to remove sometimes. Given the recessed nature of the front lens element, I am not confident I will use it. However, I have not tested for flare resistance yet, so I may be speaking too soon given Phillip Reeve's initial comments on that.

Aug 19, 2017 at 07:22 AM

Luvwine
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Another observation is that the lens extending at macro distances affects focus stacking because magnification changes with focus distance. Two of my flower images were focus stacked, but they needed cropping for this reason. I suspect this is an issue common to all macro lenses that are not internal focusing, but just thought I would mention it.

Still, my overall impressions are very positive. It is well corrected--truly apo, sharp,across the frame from wide open, and is equally at home up close and at infinity. It may not have the same drawing style as the Zeiss Loxia lenses (I suspect a bit less 3D), but it is very pleasing in its rendiering and as sharp in its focal length as even the Loxia 85 from what I can tell. I suspect this has earned a permanent (or at least long term) place in my bag. I want to do some more portrait testing to see if it will work there too. This might be an ideal one prime lens to take out and about on a day of shooting.

Aug 19, 2017 at 10:39 AM

GMPhotography
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p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

I see it as a perfect compliment to my Batis 135 as well. Having two extremely sharp lenses is nice to have.

For landscape I could go 12-24,35,65,135 and I would be all set

Luvwine wrote:
Another observation is that the lens extending at macro distances affects focus stacking because magnification changes with focus distance. Two of my flower images were focus stacked, but they needed cropping for this reason. I suspect this is an issue common to all macro lenses that are not internal focusing, but just thought I would mention it.

Still, my overall impressions are very positive. It is well corrected--truly apo, sharp,across the frame from wide open, and is equally at home up close and at infinity. It may not have the same drawing style as the Zeiss Loxia lenses (I suspect...Show more →

Aug 19, 2017 at 10:48 AM

Luvwine
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p.3 #10 · p.3 #10 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

GMPhotography wrote:
I see it as a perfect compliment to my Batis 135 as well. Having two extremely sharp lenses is nice to have.

For landscape I could go 12-24,35,65,135 and I would be all set

Yes. I am thinking also of 12-24, 35, 65, and 100-300 for a light weight versatile kit. Adding Loxia 50 and 85 (and 21) rounds out the set, but at the price of additional weight. In additional testing, the Leica 75 I have is still a very fine optic, but I think I will likely put it on B&S next week, especially if I like the Voigtlander 65 for portrait (tho it won't AF like the Leica on TAP, but you cannot have everything)...

Aug 19, 2017 at 11:04 AM

Luvwine
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p.3 #11 · p.3 #11 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

A few more images from yesterday. These were all done as parts of comparisons with other three lenses, but these are just the CV 65/2 images:


	http://m6.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166049506.HyygfINm._DSC3168.jpg


	http://m7.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166049507.4dbljhVW._DSC3209.jpg


	http://m8.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166049508.Hi4draOL._DSC3267.jpg

Aug 19, 2017 at 11:56 AM

hiepphotog
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p.3 #12 · p.3 #12 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Phillip Reeve wrote:
Centering looks good

I just tested my copy and saw a tiny amount of field curvature. I would say this one has a very flat field of focus. Centering on mine is excellent as well. So it might be just your copy regarding the FC issue. I have an A9.

Aug 19, 2017 at 03:39 PM

Luvwine
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p.3 #13 · p.3 #13 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Quick portrait test (my long suffering wife): CV 65/2, Leica 75/2 apo, Loxia 85 and GM 85 all wide open except GM (at F2). These are very lightly processed--just color temp corrected, global sharpening (46,.7, 25), auto tone then reduce highlights to not clip, and nothing else. The first couple are lightly cropped. This is not meant to be scientific since she was moving and I moved the camera back a bit after the first two, but just to give an idea of rendering and sharpness. Focus was manual in all cases and on the left eye (her right eye).

In the above order: 1200 pixel versions, then 100% crops of eyes:


	http://m9.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050329.uwRhY1mn._DSC3123.jpg


	http://m1.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050331.qB63Oog6._DSC3365.jpg


	http://m3.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050333.8d4N3zyx._DSC3128.jpg


	http://m5.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050335.4ImvM1Qo._DSC3132.jpg


	http://m0.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050330.VqqPVIGn.100.jpg


	http://m2.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050332.ybx9jDVq.Leica100.jpg


	http://m4.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050334.U9t1MvRn.Loxia100.jpg


	http://m6.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166050336.Z75NKpF0.GM100.jpg

Aug 19, 2017 at 05:55 PM

Luvwine
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p.3 #14 · p.3 #14 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Processed a few more images--all cropped--cross posted from FE images thread:

A few more from yesterday and today.

Couple of hand held flowers (heavy crops):


	http://m2.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166051662.PFW92JCu._DSC3078.jpg


	http://m7.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166051657.BWwFwL4j._DSC3139.jpg

Casual portrait, also a crop, that tells me that 65mm can work for portraits....


	http://m6.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166051656.XqIvE7oB._DSC3126.jpg

Aug 19, 2017 at 11:50 PM

Luvwine
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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Some from today--tried for a sunset. All of these were also posted in the FE images thread:

Loxia 50 (HDR):


	http://m1.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166057541.vRAxp7Fp._DSC3476HDR.jpg

Voigtlander 65/2 apo (single exposure:


	http://m6.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166057546.C2zo10Ea._DSC3214.jpg

Loxia 85:

http://m2.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166057542.pivkDi6B._DSC3505.jpg

Sun fizzling: (CV 65/2):


	http://m7.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166057547.bsq9xKYP._DSC3268.jpg

Loxia 85:


	http://m4.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166057544.pnhzPrFi._DSC3550.jpg

Aug 20, 2017 at 09:14 PM

Luvwine
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p.3 #16 · p.3 #16 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Couple more:

Lens will flare:


	http://m0.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166058810.XYJwT864._DSC3185.jpg

But mostly it just produces gorgeousness:


	http://m3.i.pbase.com/o10/91/505291/1/166058813.H87B3tUS._DSC3237.jpg

Aug 21, 2017 at 12:19 AM

lightskyland
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p.3 #17 · p.3 #17 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

Still very tempted by this lens. But my 100 STF GM is so good at many of the use cases I'd look at with this lens (macro-ish nature images as well as moderate telephoto landscapes). And the 55 Sony Zeiss is really good as well. That kind of puts the 65 in a box, focal-length wise. Love the sunstars. I think if the flare performance was better I'd be tempted to use this instead of the Zony 55. Such a difficult decision.

Aug 23, 2017 at 11:03 AM

Luvwine
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p.3 #18 · p.3 #18 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

lightskyland wrote:
Still very tempted by this lens. But my 100 STF GM is so good at many of the use cases I'd look at with this lens (macro-ish nature images as well as moderate telephoto landscapes). And the 55 Sony Zeiss is really good as well. That kind of puts the 65 in a box, focal-length wise. Love the sunstars. I think if the flare performance was better I'd be tempted to use this instead of the Zony 55. Such a difficult decision.

The Zony is a fine lens--good bokeh, sharp across the frame at large apertures, and good flare resistance. Having said that, I ditched mine for landscape use as the Loxia 50 was better stopped down to F5.6 than the Zony. The Zony is better for portraiture and is light and has autofocus. The Voigtlander is better than the Loxia 50--certainly better corrected for CA. It will also be sharper I bet than the Zony even at F2. The flaring is not that bad--I only noticed it when pointing the lens directly at the sun, and not even always then. You will also lose onion rings in the bokeh that you get with the Zony and gain macro. Still, these are very different lenses. You need to decide whether you value autofocus and portrait uses more than landscapes and macro.

By the way, I too have the 100 STF, and I am not sure which makes more sense for flowers. I think it will depend on the composition. Small flowers will be better on the 65 due to having double the magnification of the 100 STF. The look of these lenses is also very different in the OOF areas. The STF cannot be beat there, but sometimes the gaussian blur bokeh works better than other times. You can, as I have, add tubes and a close up lens to the STF, but this is less convenient, of course. Lots of lenses work well for flowers. The STF and the Voigtlander also both work exceptionally well for landscape. The focal lengths are different enough that I don't find these lenses duplicative, but your mileage may vary.

Aug 23, 2017 at 12:18 PM

lightskyland
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p.3 #19 · p.3 #19 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

It's a very very nice lens, and tempting to be sure. It's just that I already have the Zony 55, the Zonghi 50/0.95 and the 100 STF, as well as lots of zooms that cover this general area. I do prefer MF for landscape use, but the Zony 55 is so very good stopped down to - well - just about anywhere you like for landscape use, with the exception of some CA that has to be cleaned up if you have bokeh. I will probably get it - just not anytime soon (am getting a 10mm and 70-400 and probably the 70-200/2.8 and A9R first).

The Zonghi is no slouch for flowers / bokeh (although sharpness is not close to the competitors) and the STF is IMO the perfect lens for complicated multi-distance subject matter - like flowers - if 100mm works for the composition.

Aug 23, 2017 at 01:23 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #20 · p.3 #20 · Initial look at Voigtlander 65/2 apo

lightskyland wrote:
It's a very very nice lens, and tempting to be sure. It's just that I already have the Zony 55, the Zonghi 50/0.95 and the 100 STF, as well as lots of zooms that cover this general area. I do prefer MF for landscape use, but the Zony 55 is so very good stopped down to - well - just about anywhere you like for landscape use, with the exception of some CA that has to be cleaned up if you have bokeh. I will probably get it - just not anytime soon (am getting a 10mm and 70-400 and...Show more →

I also love the Zeiss 55/1.8 ZA as an AF option, but the new CV 65/2 APO is in a different league imo.

Sep 19, 2017 at 08:20 PM

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