p.19 #1 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
johnahill wrote:
I agree that the 110 is still an unknown, however the specs look good and Voigtlander have a great track record at the moment.
I did test the 65 against the Leica macro as I was surprised how good the 65 was, so I'm hoping that the 110 will follow suit.
From my point of view though, lens adapters and lack of exif is so tiresome. Been there done it and want to move on, the native lens lineup has improved considerably and I want to be native.
I don't currently own any other Leica R lenses although I have in the past, but with my E mount lineup I dont feel the need to go down that route any more....Show more →
It's funny that you mention the lack of exif. The AME-R is, right now, the only lens I own on which I get exif because it's a carry-over from my days with the a-mount when I Leitaxed and James Lao-chipped my R lenses. And adapters are a way of life for me, so I don't have those arguments against it.
I like the fact that it's (lens alone) 50g lighter and native 1:1 and, like you, I was very impressed by the 65, so my expectations for the optical performance are high. I'll be curious to see if the 110 can maintain good performance across the significantly longer focus range and be as good an all-arounder as the 65, because that's the thing I most value in the Leica. I've got plenty of enlarging and larger format lenses that can more than keep up with it as a macro lens, and I could acquire short teles that can equal it as a landscaper/pano lens (AA Summicron 90, Loxia 85, Batis 135) but none of them are the complete package like the Leica. If the CV can pull off the same trick on my Kolari modded sensor, then I'll consider making the change.
p.19 #4 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
The 100mm FL is a friendly one for lens designers. So not so difficult to make a fine medium speed 4” lens. This CV 110 appears to me to be a modern 105 F2.5/2.8 Nikkor AIS ($300 used).
MF means little to me in a Macro. However, as a general purpose lens AF is vital and it’s a bit slow for indoor work. Also questions arise about any Macro’s performance at infinity.
I have 3 Nikkor Macros (Micros): 55, 105 and 200. The 200mm f4.0 is the one I reach for first. The 105 and 55 remain only as little used wider angle Macros.
When I, principally shot Nikon I investigated the CV line (yes that 21mm was NSG). I only bought the tiny 40mm F2.0. A good but not great lens although the best IQ of that series. I used it only for trips (where it would mount on both Canon and Nikon bodies) mostly for photographing old masters in museums. I keep it today as a well made curiosity that keeps me from buying another pancake lens.
Therefore, confused about all the excitement about an unproven, not inexpensive and, to me, special purpose lens that has been done before.
p.19 #5 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
I think you're underestimating the probable quality of this lens. The earlier CV 125 macro is legendary for it's quality, and as such it sells now for $1800-2500. The earlier released CV 65/2 macro is among the sharpest lenses of all time. The thought is that it's likely that this lens will be similar or even slightly better than the 125mm, and if it is, it'll be one of the best lenses, optically, ever produced. Truly apochromatic, blisteringly sharp and with beautiful rendering.
Whether it's worth it to you vs something like the Sony 90, which is itself a great lens will be personal preference.
p.19 #7 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
Jman13 wrote:
I think you're underestimating the probable quality of this lens. The earlier CV 125 macro is legendary for it's quality, and as such it sells now for $1800-2500. The earlier released CV 65/2 macro is among the sharpest lenses of all time. The thought is that it's likely that this lens will be similar or even slightly better than the 125mm, and if it is, it'll be one of the best lenses, optically, ever produced. Truly apochromatic, blisteringly sharp and with beautiful rendering.
Whether it's worth it to you vs something like the Sony 90, which is itself a great lens will be personal preference....Show more →
The Sony 90/2.8 G, though not apo, has much more well corrected colour than the Nikon 105/2.8 AF-S VR or the Zeiss 100/2 ZF(.2) macro lenses, particularly w.r.t. axial CA, and it's autofocus. This makes the Voigtländer 110/2.5 a much harder sell, at least in my case, since I've got the Sony 90/2.8 G. I would gain a little bit better CA performance, but I would lose autofocus, which is useful in many cases, even for macro. The Sony 90/2.8 G also supports eye-AF, which of course a manual lens can't, by design. It's simply very likely that I stick to my Sony 90/2.8 G.
One thing not to like: The lens hood can not be stored in reversed position on the lens it seems.
The Zeiss MP100 has the perfect lens hood solution.
The best solution, by far, is a built-in collapsible lens hood. It should be compulsory for any telephoto lens of mid-high level. Sadly, every manufacturer nowadays insists on these cumbersome antiergonomic add-on contrivances that make a nuisance inside a bag even if they’re reversible.
I wonder if it’s that expensive to fit a regular collapsible hood that even Zeiss seems to have forgotten about them. Maybe they want to sell us spare units when the original hood gets lost or broken, as it happens very often,
p.19 #9 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
bjornthun wrote:
The Sony 90/2.8 G, though not apo, has much more well corrected colour than the Nikon 105/2.8 AF-S VR or the Zeiss 100/2 ZF(.2) macro lenses, particularly w.r.t. axial CA, and it's autofocus. This makes the Voigtländer 110/2.5 a much harder sell, at least in my case, since I've got the Sony 90/2.8 G. I would gain a little bit better CA performance, but I would lose autofocus, which is useful in many cases, even for k
macro. The Sony 90/2.8 G also supports eye-AF, which of course a manual lens can't, by design. It's simply very likely that I stick to my Sony 90/2.8 G....Show more →
One of the main differences that might be overlooked is the internal focusing of the Sony 90 macro. It doesn't change the physical length of the lens as it focuses from infinity to macro. I find it improves handling, and the design should help keep out dust and moisture.
p.19 #10 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
pdmphoto wrote:
One of the main differences that might be overlooked is the internal focusing of the Sony 90 macro. It doesn't change the physical length of the lens as it focuses from infinity to macro. I find it improves handling, and the design should help keep out dust and moisture.
I agree, and indeed I even overlooked it myself in my previous post. But it's an important point.
p.19 #11 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
On the upside the Voigtlander 110 should have much better QA than the Sony 90. According to philipreeve.net the QA on the Sony 90 is horrible. The 65 APO seems to have low sample to sample variation.
p.19 #12 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
pdmphoto wrote:
On the upside the Voigtlander 110 should have much better QA than the Sony 90. According to philipreeve.net the QA on the Sony 90 is horrible. The 65 APO seems to have low sample to sample variation.
There were other reasons, too, but that's mainly what kept me from buying the Sony, and so I've been following the advent of this lens with great interest. I remain interested in this lens, but the 65mm I bought in order to avoid playing Sony Roulette removes all hurry.
However, the new Arsenal camera controller is now threatening to finally ship. If the Arsenal focus stacks as advertised, that feature would bring me back to the Roulette table for the AF in the Sony 90.
One thing not to like: The lens hood can not be stored in reversed position on the lens it seems.
The Zeiss MP100 has the perfect lens hood solution.
Yeah, I just don't understand a lens hood that cannot be reverse mounted or at least reverse stored. I end up adapting Nikon snap-in hoods that I can reverse mount - do this with my 90/3.5 SL-II and 180/4 CV, but this one looks like it will be tough to find a large enough reversible hood without some major monkeying around making something that will work.
Another example to me of people designing products that don't really use them . . .
p.19 #14 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
jhinkey wrote:
Yeah, I just don't understand a lens hood that cannot be reverse mounted or at least reverse stored. I end up adapting Nikon snap-in hoods that I can reverse mount - do this with my 90/3.5 SL-II and 180/4 CV, but this one looks like it will be tough to find a large enough reversible hood without some major monkeying around making something that will work.
Another example to me of people designing products that don't really use them . . .
It's likely they don't want to put stress on the front helicoid of the lens. The long lens hood attached to the end of the second helicoid could loosen the helicoid or move it out of alignment. Stored without the hood there doesn't put any real stress on that area. With the hood on, the area has potential (added leverage) for added stress.
p.19 #15 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
Parariss wrote:
There were other reasons, too, but that's mainly what kept me from buying the Sony, and so I've been following the advent of this lens with great interest. I remain interested in this lens, but the 65mm I bought in order to avoid playing Sony Roulette removes all hurry.
However, the new Arsenal camera controller is now threatening to finally ship. If the Arsenal focus stacks as advertised, that feature would bring me back to the Roulette table for the AF in the Sony 90.
It is the main reason for me as well, besides price, that I never bought one. I ended up trading for a like new one that had been tested good. It's not as perfectly centered as the Voigtlander 65 Macro that I traded with, but close enough. I shot some macro with it this past weekend, and I liked the weight, ergonomics, and the IQ. I was initially also put off by the AF/MF ring as well, but I found I like it in use - just takes a little getting used to. More than once I wondered why the AF wasn't switching modes with the key I have dedicated for that function.
p.19 #16 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
I'm glad that Cosina is moving into FE mount, although the real test will be their WA designs and the crazy sensor cover that Sony uses. All my short teles work perfectly on A7ii and that includes my three classic CZ C/Y 100mm primes. For high performance close up, the Canon 500D diopter yields 1:2 for the 100 STF and near 1:1 for the Canon TS-E 135L. Quite different renditions from that pair but you can pixel peep the results all day. Well made or not, Cosina really has their work cut out for them with this 110mm in today's market.
p.19 #18 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
Confused by this statement....as they already have lots of wide angle lenses for FE mount.
rico wrote:
I'm glad that Cosina is moving into FE mount, although the real test will be their WA designs and the crazy sensor cover that Sony uses. All my short teles work perfectly on A7ii and that includes my three classic CZ C/Y 100mm primes. For high performance close up, the Canon 500D diopter yields 1:2 for the 100 STF and near 1:1 for the Canon TS-E 135L. Quite different renditions from that pair but you can pixel peep the results all day. Well made or not, Cosina really has their work cut out for them with this 110mm in today's market....Show more →
p.19 #19 · Pre-order: Voigtlander 110/2.5 Macro APO for $1,099
tsdevine wrote:
My preorder with Cameraquest was cancelled noting that delivery date was now unknown. Anyone else get this email?
According to Cosina's Japan market announcement it is expected to ship in August but specific date hasn't been given yet and there haven't been any updates to the announcement on their website. Japanese stores haven't changed the expected availability info... So I guess there's no general change of release timing plans at least.
I hope I'm in Tokyo when it arrives as I have some travel plans around early August...