Fred Miranda wrote:
Yes, I've sold my stellar Loxia 35/2 copy on the board and have been asking the buyer to sell it back to me since then!
Glad to see some love for L35! I'm not letting my copy go until there's something that I like as much: for all its flaws it still does things that nothing else out there does. Perhaps that Alon 1.8/35 zeiss that was rumoured might be the lens. But we've heard nothing about that except one dodgy rumour on SAR so my hopes aren't high.
DavidBM wrote:
Glad to see some love for L35! I'm not letting my copy go until there's something that I like as much: for all its flaws it still does things that nothing else out there does. Perhaps that Alon 1.8/35 zeiss that was rumoured might be the lens. But we've heard nothing about that except one dodgy rumour on SAR so my hopes aren't high.
The Alon type 35/1.8 from Zeiss sounded more like a new technology research project to me.
BTW I maybe removing my CV 15 hood today. Maybe I’ll shoot the steps with my iPhone and show you all how I do it. This is my 3rd petal removal. First running to Big Bronco make sure I got a good copy. It looks good from a kitchen shot I did yesterday. Need to check if I use a 58-62 step up plus 2 filter rings it works without vignetting. That would be my new hood to protect the lens. Also grab the Breakthrough 62mm 6 stop ND with built in CPL. Not cheap 190 dollars but will work with all my MF Glass. 1 filter and 2 step ups would all I need to carry. I don’t use grads so I really don’t need the Lee seven system.
GMPhotography wrote:
BTW I maybe removing my CV 15 hood today. Maybe I’ll shoot the steps with my iPhone and show you all how I do it. This is my 3rd petal removal. First running to Big Bronco make sure I got a good copy. It looks good from a kitchen shot I did yesterday. Need to check if I use a 58-62 step up plus 2 filter rings it works without vignetting. That would be my new hood to protect the lens. Also grab the Breakthrough 62mm 6 stop ND with built in CPL. Not cheap 190 dollars but will work with all my MF Glass. 1 filter and 2 step ups would all I need to carry. I don’t use grads so I really don’t need the Lee seven system....Show more →
Hi Guy,
How difficult do you think that it will be to focus the lens with the 6 stop ND built into the Circular Polarizer (won't that make the lens the equivalent to about f96 wide open without the affect of the polarizer)? At least with a variable ND filter with a built in Circular Polarizer or a Circular Polarizer with drop in (or screw on ND filters) you can focus without nearly so much ND added to interfere with focus.
It’s going to be tough for sure. With this lens your almost always at infinity so most likely I will screw it on after I focus. But I can look through the filter with naked eye and set position for CPL
The other trick is do setting effects to off and purposely over expose with shutter low to see to focus than stop down to working. The gain on effects off is pretty good for this. Basically tricking the camera
I have a question; a 15mm is an excellent lens to have in the bag for travel, but is all the trouble finding a great 15mm worth it over a great 16-35mm zoom? We are talking on millimeter difference. Or is the Voigt a much better optic than the best 16-35's? I have the Canon 16-35 f4, (which is a pain to use but excellent), and I hear the Sony 2.8 is a great lens too. I know the 12-24 Sony I've used many times is excellent, but I'm not crazy about focusing that lens. I see so much variation in the quality control of the Voigt that I wonder how to buy one even if I decided to
Fast way to do this. Tripod obviously . Put filter on put camera on manual exposure. Effects settings off wide open. Turn shutter to the slowest speed so you can see focus and compose . Once you get that set than it’s easy flip to A mode than stop down to working like F8. Than camera will go for correct shutter and go to town
You could also try being in A mode and use exposure compensation maxed out to see to focus but not sure it get bright enough. Something to test
stevesanacore wrote:
I have a question; a 15mm is an excellent lens to have in the bag for travel, but is all the trouble finding a great 15mm worth it over a great 16-35mm zoom? We are talking on millimeter difference. Or is the Voigt a much better optic than the best 16-35's? I have the Canon 16-35 f4, (which is a pain to use but excellent), and I hear the Sony 2.8 is a great lens too. I know the 12-24 Sony I've used many times is excellent, but I'm not crazy about focusing that lens. I see so much variation in the quality control of the Voigt that I wonder how to buy one even if I decided to...Show more →
I think there are characteristics of the CV that you either like or don't. For me it's the rendering and incredible sun stars produced by a CV lens.
stevesanacore wrote:
I have a question; a 15mm is an excellent lens to have in the bag for travel, but is all the trouble finding a great 15mm worth it over a great 16-35mm zoom? We are talking on millimeter difference. Or is the Voigt a much better optic than the best 16-35's? I have the Canon 16-35 f4, (which is a pain to use but excellent), and I hear the Sony 2.8 is a great lens too. I know the 12-24 Sony I've used many times is excellent, but I'm not crazy about focusing that lens. I see so much variation in the quality control of the Voigt that I wonder how to buy one even if I decided to...Show more →
It’s really a great question. The zoom will have more distortion at 16 for sure. Might have more CA issues as well. On the resolution side corners could be tough on the zoom. You may have to be at F8 to get the resolution. The 2 15 Laowa and CV get corners great at 5.6 or sooner. Obvious size and weight differences and you have to be a little anal about this stuff too. Some other issues to consider flare in zooms is usually worse than sunstars maybe not as nice.
I can’t comment on the GM 16-35 since I have yet to test it so I’ll leave that to Fred he has been several copies of the Zoom. On the 12-24 I had a great copy but both 15mm beat it in the corners. More flare and just okay sunstars in the zoom and a bitch to filter. So end of day I sold the 12-24 but it’s a great lens too. Again goes back to your ultimate expectations. I hate and this is very anal but it bugs me knowing its almost there. Knowing there is better
To be aware FM is loaded with very talented members and a lot of them are very IQ centric type folks. Most of us are ultimate quality bar none types. You all need to be aware of that and it’s great getting there thoughts, opinions and learning from there years of experience. But you also need to know who you are and what is good enough too. Not everyone goes to these lengths and for many you just want to shoot and enjoy your hobby. So a lot of this stuff may not matter at all. Don’t get caught up too much in the IQ stuff than. There are great lenses out here that do a fantastic job. Just keep that all in mind
Just tested my CV 15 against my Laowa 15 and man they are so close. At F4.5 the Laowa has the slightest edge and at F5.6 they are equal. As far as corner slight edge to the Laowa becuase it is a F2 lens and we are stopped down. Also the Laowa is easier to see to focus. Distortion the edge goes to Laowa but the Cv is simple barrel so easy to fix. Im selling the Laowa and only for size issue so i can get this in a bag with my other 3 easier. Going to cut the hood but have a great copy here.
It looks like your new CV 15 is well centered and does not suffer from any smear. Definitely a good copy, congrats Guy!
The CV 15 only loses very slightly towards the extreme corners compared to the Laowa at f/4.5 but at f/5.6 or smaller, resolution is very similar between these lenses.
I really like the CV 15, Lox 21, Lox 25, CV 40, Lox 85 set-up. Sometimes, I exclude the 21mm from the kit and depending on the need, add the 100-400GM. They all work with my Seven5 filter system including the latter.
