p.3 #1 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
The lowest prices I've seen for Voigtlander in Europe are found at www.robertwhite.co.uk. I think they might be the general distributor for Voigtlander in Europe, but I'm not sure though. Anyway the price is the best I've found online (and generally applies to other Voigt lenses too):
I had this little gem for a few days last year, it ticked all the boxes, but it wasn't perfectly centered so it went back. Now this thread is proving to be a genuine trouble maker for my wallet, so it's a matter of days until I succumb again....ugh
Samuli Vahonen wrote:
I could (if they don't sell directly I have friends in US), but customs and taxes make it even more expensive. I would have to pay customs fee for the product and for the shipping. Then based on the total amount of product, shipping and customs they add 24% for VAT (similar to sales tax in US). So if price would be 500USD and shipping 75USD and customs 20% it would become (500+75)*1.2=690USD and then VAT 690*1.24=855USD and the expensive Amazon price is 619EUR=666USD (free delivery). Also the USA one would need to be sent to USA for warranty.
Local store would have one used (mkIII or mkI, not mkIV) and even used prices are ridiculous: 699EUR
p.3 #8 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
If you look at Brooks ear in the crops it’s a little softer bokeh wise on the CV 50. Of course the other two lenses you can go wider but interesting still
p.3 #9 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
Damn the ISO jumped on the CV to 400. WTF
Thought I had it fixed on 400
The CV 50 looks like 1/3 under too. I’ll see how this all looks on Big Bronco in the morning. I can say this all very nice glass if not the best in class for Sony sensors. The CV 50 is so small
p.3 #10 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
BTW mechanical with focus and aperture it’s really not bad to work. You could also do the focus wide open. Hold the focus ring turn the aperture to working. I found that pretty easy
p.3 #11 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
I own the Zeiss Planar 50mm/2 ZM which is a light lens, too. Would there be a difference in the image quality in comparison to the CV50/3.5 at aperture above f/3.5?
p.3 #12 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
GMPhotography wrote:
My call
Sony 50
CV50
Cv40 in terms of sharpness on these
The Sony 50 is brutal at center though. I don't know of any lens with higher resolution and contrast. Perhaps the Sigma Art but it can't be much better than this.
How about rendering? I think the 50/1.4 ZA has beautiful rendering. Specular highlights are still circular at f/2.8 and are very clean inside. Rendering is never harsh like it happens with the 55/1.8 at mid-distance. I am not using my 55/1.8 ZA as much anymore but do miss its weight.
p.3 #13 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
GMPhotography wrote:
If you look at Brooks ear in the crops it’s a little softer bokeh wise on the CV 50. Of course the other two lenses you can go wider but interesting still
p.3 #14 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
cgrille wrote:
I own the Zeiss Planar 50mm/2 ZM which is a light lens, too. Would there be a difference in the image quality in comparison to the CV50/3.5 at aperture above f/3.5?
The 50/2 ZM is basically a Loxia 50. If I would compare Loxia 50 vs CV 50/.35, I would say the former is not as sharp at center at f/5.6. Perhaps they match at f/8 when diffraction takes hold. The Loxia is outstanding but rendering can be harsh at mid-distance. So, for landscapes at f/8, they would probably be very similar but I'd prefer the 50/3.5's wide open rendering even though it's a slower lens.
p.3 #16 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
Fred Miranda wrote:
The Sony 50 is brutal at center though. I don't know of any lens with higher resolution and contrast. Perhaps the Sigma Art but it can't be much better than this.
How about rendering? I think the 50/1.4 ZA has beautiful rendering. Specular highlights are still circular at f/2.8 and are very clean inside. Rendering is never harsh like it happens with the 55/1.8 at mid-distance. I am not using my 55/1.8 ZA as much anymore but do miss its weight.
I keep asking myself why the hell did I sell my original 50 1.4 a couple years ago. WTF was I thinking but I do know the answer I was trying to make a one kit solution instead of a MF for me and a AF for work. Just glad I bought it again. The 1.4 is so good I overlook it’s weight, size and price. Need to get that GM 85 back. Bottom line I just love those fast AF primes. But this little thing I could travel the globe with it.
p.3 #19 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
stjepan wrote:
The lowest prices I've seen for Voigtlander in Europe are found at www.robertwhite.co.uk. I think they might be the general distributor for Voigtlander in Europe, but I'm not sure though. Anyway the price is the best I've found online (and generally applies to other Voigt lenses too):
I had this little gem for a few days last year, it ticked all the boxes, but it wasn't perfectly centered so it went back. Now this thread is proving to be a genuine trouble maker for my wallet, so it's a matter of days until I succumb again....ugh
Cosina has this web page that lists their official Voigtländer distributors, not sure whether it is fully up to date though: http://www.cosina.co.jp/kaigai/index.html
There is one distributor for UK in the list (and many for Europe overall) but it seems to be different form Robert White... I agree that Robert White seems to have very competitive prices (especially the VAT exclusive ones).
This mkIV is priced quite nicely in Japan nowadays, many stores have it available at around 400 USD as new but there are some that are still selling it at >500 USD.
p.3 #20 · Infinity test: CV 50/3.5 vs CV 40/1.2 vs FE 50/1.4 ZA
In no way is this a good test. I need sun but at 5.6 this thing is brilliant . I see quite a jump from F4 to 5.6 in the corners. Ill test under better weather but just for kicks here is a F5.6