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Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Steve Spencer
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p.9 #1 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

retrofocus wrote:
Thanks, makes sense! I remember you were an early adaptor with the M10 before it got stolen which you mentioned here a few years ago. Best of luck with a new copy. I am still on the fence moving to a digital M.

If I didn't have a really small house with no room for a dark room and better film processing skills (it has been a long time since I did that), the I might try out a film Leica. I also enjoy your film shots and your processing of them. I do think the M10 is a really nice body with some limitations, but not really for what I want it for. I really like a rangefinder sometimes as well. So, I don't need it but I would love to replace my M10 that got stolen. I think in the last couple of years since I had an M10, you can put a good kit together for far less money ($5,000 -$6,000 will give you a very nice set of lenses), which makes going back to Leica a lot more possible.

Jun 24, 2020 at 05:03 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.9 #2 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

zhangyue wrote:
You guys� post make me want give VC75 another look.

I am not sold on that 35mm somehow but to be fair I don�t like Zeiss distagon either unless not for shallow DOF images.

Still missing a nice 35mm M lens, I absolutely love 35lux V1 preASPH but that is a special purpose tool, really not for everyone.

I do think you might like the CV 75 f/1.5, but it might be higher contrast than I think you might prefer. A lot more like the Leica M 90 f/2 APO, than the Leica 75 f/1.4. So, it might not be exactly what you like, but I would give it another try.

Jun 24, 2020 at 05:06 PM

imagesfromobjects
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p.9 #3 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Love to hear your thoughts on the Leica digital as well as the lenses, Fred!

What made you pick one up?

Asking for a friend, of course. I'm immune to the siren call of the M10.

Jun 24, 2020 at 06:47 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.9 #4 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

zhangyue wrote:
You guys� post make me want give VC75 another look.

I am not sold on that 35mm somehow but to be fair I don�t like Zeiss distagon either unless not for shallow DOF images.

Still missing a nice 35mm M lens, I absolutely love 35lux V1 preASPH but that is a special purpose tool, really not for everyone.

I just picked up another 35 lux asph pre-fle, but I am not that impressed rendering wise.

I too am not satisfied with the m-mount 35mm�s, and I�ve owned quite a few. I do have a new CV 35 1.2iii that I like but don�t, along with a couple other 35mm�s.

I am going to try the CV 75 1.5 as well, but I think I�ll just end up buying back the 75 lux.

Jun 24, 2020 at 09:18 PM

imagesfromobjects
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p.9 #5 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Have you tried the VM Skopar 35/2.5? It's become my most-used lens on my M6, and is more than usable on Sigma fp. Thing is TINY. I don't know if I got a great copy, or if others who are more particular might find fault with it, but I traded in the (exceptional) ZM 35/2.5 for it and have no regrets.

From a handling perspective, it's just about perfect. It would normally seem to have a somewhat stiff focusing action, but the throw is very, very short, so it's actually perfect in this case. I chose it for stopped-down stealth street and candid stuff, but I'm also a big fan of how it draws wide open and up close.

Be curious to hear other opinions about it, it seems like not too many folks out there using it.
Fred Miranda wrote:
The new 35/1.2 III VM is very compact and light for a f/1.2 lens. Same can be said for the CV 75/1.5.
After testing their capabilities, both Nokton lenses were non-brainers for my M240 and subsequently the M10.
I really like shooting with 35 + 75 as a two compact + fast set on the M10.

I do own 21m, 28mm, 50 and 135mm M lenses as well but I tend to use them for specific shootings. If I want to go very light with slower lenses, I usually taking the CV 28/2 + CV 50/3.5 as a combo. Really like the...Show more →

Jun 24, 2020 at 10:27 PM

zhangyue
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p.9 #6 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Haha, 35lux pre is one of my favorite lenses but I think you have to put it in Leica to full understand its specialness

I don�t share images took with it often but use it all the time on Leica. I love its images so much every time use it, a combination of flaw and cuties together make it special. A special tool in my tool box, now most new lens will guaranteed perform better, you saw that 35mm tamron, so good and cheap but it doesn�t offer the same when I need 35lux pre.

I sold 75lux but I will never sell 80lux, a better and more special lens IMO and similar to 35lux above, not everyone like it. Though I do miss 75�s rangefinder, I guess I will always have a MILC system for 80lux, even GFX, 75lux doesn�t cover the 44X33.

I will buy 75VC but I don�t think it will replace either. It is a nice lens from what I have seen, I need real time to use it, sometime it is hard to see what you really like until you use it, lenses, cameras all the same. I guess the most selling point to me is manual focus and 350g, otherwise, most 85mmf1.4 will give it a serious fight on bokeh and performance.

nehemiahphoto wrote:
I just picked up another 35 lux asph pre-fle, but I am not that impressed rendering wise.

I too am not satisfied with the m-mount 35mm�s, and I�ve owned quite a few. I do have a new CV 35 1.2iii that I like but don�t, along with a couple other 35mm�s.

I am going to try the CV 75 1.5 as well, but I think I�ll just end up buying back the 75 lux.

Jun 24, 2020 at 11:44 PM

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p.9 #7 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

zhangyue wrote:
Haha, 35lux pre is one of my favorite lenses but I think you have to put it in Leica to full understand its specialness

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:04 AM

nehemiahphoto
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p.9 #8 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

zhangyue wrote:
Haha, 35lux pre is one of my favorite lenses but I think you have to put it in Leica to full understand its specialness

I don�t share images took with it often but use it all the time on Leica. I love its images so much every time use it, a combination of flaw and cuties together make it special. A special tool in my tool box, now most new lens will guaranteed perform better, you saw that 35mm tamron, so good and cheap but it doesn�t offer the same when I need 35lux pre.

I sold 75lux but I...Show more →

Do you mean the 35 lux pre-ash or 35 lux asph pre-fle? I picked up the 35 lux asph pre-fle again. The 35 lux pre-asph I shot was extremely frustrating, but sometimes produced absolutely superb files though as well.

I like the 80 lux better than the 75 Lux as well, but I find it's just big enough that I nearly never use it. The 350g is the big draw for me on the 75 CV as well, but I have a MS Optics 73 1.5 and just got the 75 1.8 Samyang, both dinky but with very different draws, so the CV 75 hasn't been a priority.

I tried the 75 lux on the GFX, but it vignettes hard. Haven't had a chance to try the 80 lux yet.

Does anyone know how the CV 75 1.5 covers 44x33?

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:18 AM

zhangyue
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p.9 #9 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Fred Miranda wrote:
Isn't the Voigtlander 35/1.4 II Classic similar in optical design to the Leica 35/1.4 Lux 'pre-asph'? I love the funky rendering from the Voigtlander wide open but never tried the Leica.

I think the design diagram might be very similar, I heard Voigtlander was a Leica copy.

I copied two I find from internet

Minor difference but both old symmetric design with very low distortion.

I didn't really follow the VC35mm though, Leica has very low contrast due to old coating and famous Leica Glow actually start from this exact 35mm Summilux Pre-ASPH (or V1.) This 35mm lens has lots of leica followers, I have to say I am now one of them but TBF, many don't like it at all

It is about 200g, mine was goggled version (for M3 that take 50mm frame line) that can focus down to 0.7M, a must IMHO. I also had 35mm cron V1, another leica glass enjoy mystery status, people call it 8 element and one of those elements was very expensive to make, I really like that lens also, but ultimately, prefer 35mm lux for extra speed and funkyness(glow) which offer almost exact performance as 8 element cron after f2.

---------------------------------------------

nehemiahphoto wrote:
Do you mean the 35 lux pre-ash or 35 lux asph pre-fle? I picked up the 35 lux asph pre-fle again. The 35 lux pre-asph I shot was extremely frustrating, and sometimes produced absolutely superb files

though as well.

I like the 80 lux better than the 75 Lux as well, but I find it's just big enough that I nearly never use it. The 350g is the big draw for me on the 75 CV as well, but I have a MS Optics 73 1.5 and just got the 75 1.8 Samyang, both dinky but with very different draws,...Show more →

80lux cover 44X33 nicely, offers one of the best coverage.

I meant 35lux pre-ASPH. I might give pre-fle a try some day, but it is never a priority to me. With 28cron for performance and 35 pre-ASPH for special rendering, the lens has to be really good to make it in my bag, ZM35 distagon didn't cut it and I don't see VC 35mm f1.2 III make it for me either, maybe just pick a latest 35cron down to the road to stay within Leica.

Samyang is pretty good and also small but as you know sometimes, it is not just performance make you want to pick it up, it is also fun factor

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:41 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.9 #10 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

nehemiahphoto wrote:
Do you mean the 35 lux pre-ash or 35 lux asph pre-fle? I picked up the 35 lux asph pre-fle again. The 35 lux pre-asph I shot was extremely frustrating, but sometimes produced absolutely superb files though as well.

I like the 80 lux better than the 75 Lux as well, but I find it's just big enough that I nearly never use it. The 350g is the big draw for me on the 75 CV as well, but I have a MS Optics 73 1.5 and just got the 75 1.8 Samyang, both dinky but with very different draws, so...Show more →

I just checked and it definitely does not cover the 44 X 33 sensor. The corners are quite dark and extend a far ways into the frame. It isn't too bad at a 4 X 5 crop, IMO, but still would require some vignetting correction in post as the corners have some resolution, but they are darkened. These were at about a 5 foot distance, so not at infinity but that usually has even worse coverage of the sensor. If you have the 80 lux that is a much better lens for coverage of the 44 X 33. I very much liked that lens on the GFX.

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:52 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.9 #11 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

zhangyue wrote:
I think the design diagram might be very similar, I heard Voigtlander was a Leica copy.

I copied two I find from internet

https://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/img/dcw/docs/1183/108/04_o.jpg

http://kenrockwell.com/leica/images/35mm-f14/diagram.jpg

Minor difference but both old symmetric design with very low distortion.

I didn't really follow the VC35mm though, Leica has very low contrast due to old coating and famous Leica Glow actually start from this exact 35mm Summilux Pre-ASPH (or V1.) This 35mm lens has lots of leica followers, I have to say I am now one of them but TBF, many don't like it at all

It is about 200g, mine was goggled version (for M3...Show more →

Yes, similar optical design. The Voigtlander also has some 'glow' wide open, especially at close distance due to SA. I really like the look especially when the subject is at MFD. It's busy but unique.

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:58 AM

gyoung143
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p.9 #12 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

I've had a 35/2.5 fora long time, used on Leica III and occasionally M3 and 6, dont know about the Leica sensor but it wasn't much use on a Sony A7 when I had it, usual problems at the edges, and I dont use it on Fuji either as its softer at the edges even on aps-c than the Fuji 35/2 or a Voigtlander 40/2 SLII I also have.

Gerry

imagesfromobjects wrote:
Have you tried the VM Skopar 35/2.5? It's become my most-used lens on my M6, and is more than usable on Sigma fp. Thing is TINY. I don't know if I got a great copy, or if others who are more particular might find fault with it, but I traded in the (exceptional) ZM 35/2.5 for it and have no regrets.

From a handling perspective, it's just about perfect. It would normally seem to have a somewhat stiff focusing action, but the throw is very, very short, so it's actually perfect in this case. I chose it for stopped-down stealth...Show more →

Jun 25, 2020 at 02:55 AM

serhan_
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p.9 #13 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

+1. VM 35mm 2.5 was bad in corners even on m43 when I tried several years ago...

gyoung143 wrote:
I've had a 35/2.5 fora long time, used on Leica III and occasionally M3 and 6, dont know about the Leica sensor but it wasn't much use on a Sony A7 when I had it, usual problems at the edges, and I dont use it on Fuji either as its softer at the edges even on aps-c than the Fuji 35/2 or a Voigtlander 40/2 SLII I also have.

Gerry

Jun 25, 2020 at 09:09 AM

serhan_
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p.9 #14 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Have you tried the Leica 24mm 3.8 with SL2? Jim Kasson is saying it works on Sony A7R at f11 but still not that good:
https://blog.kasson.com/the-last-word/sony-a7r-testing-part-18/

https://blog.kasson.com/the-last-word/sony-a7r-testing-part-16/

zhangyue wrote:
Haha, 35lux pre is one of my favorite lenses but I think you have to put it in Leica to full understand its specialness

Jun 25, 2020 at 09:14 AM

nehemiahphoto
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p.9 #15 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

It is about 200g, mine was goggled version (for M3...Show more →

I will say, I am pretty impressed by the Samyang 75 1.8 for price and size especially. I will definitely be keeping it, much better AF alternative to the Sony 85 1.8 to me. But it really isn't very fun to use, feels very plastic-y and distant.

Jun 25, 2020 at 12:57 PM

zhangyue
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p.9 #16 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Fred Miranda wrote:
Yes, similar optical design. The Voigtlander also has some 'glow' wide open, especially at close distance due to SA. I really like the look especially when the subject is at MFD. It's busy but unique.

The glow is not only SA induced glow what I have seen from other lens, but almost like a halo bleed into highlight edge, and at back light condition or harsh light, subject will have a highlight around whole body

Here is one I can find quickly from my flickr

untitled-10 by ZHNL, on Flickr

Another similar glass I saw having this is from leica 90mm thambar. a image from Leica. This is almost too extreme but 35lux is way more versatile IMO.

Since we are at subject of this lens and I have mentioned I love this one so many times. Maybe a few images worth a thousand words.

this small 35mm summilux is sharp enough for street or travel if stop down to f5.6~f11, very similar performance from 35mm cron V1 which is good enough for any street or travel task I would say.

untitled-18 by ZHNL, on Flickr

untitled-29 by ZHNL, on Flickr

untitled-27 by ZHNL, on Flickr

untitled-15 by ZHNL, on Flickr

and this one is at f2, the render is pretty neutral without funkiness

untitled-36 by ZHNL, on Flickr

I know many think about busy or funky bokeh of this lens, however what I see is really some most unique and beautiful rendering over wide range of application. I especially enjoy using it for family images for preserving my memory.

This is the first image I took with this lens after I got it from Ebay. I instantly fall in love from that moment.

untitled-11 by ZHNL, on Flickr

This one give me the feeling of a old classic image I saw from photo book, this is a perfect BW lens for me to recreate certain special effect. Hence I call it a tool, a brush.

untitled-14 by ZHNL, on Flickr

For document daily life, it render scene gentle and soft with build in low contrast, muted color that I don't need spend much time on PP.

untitled-21 by ZHNL, on Flickr

Finally, at low light or night, this is the best tool I think for me. some images below, I also brought 50APO and 28cron V2 that day, but none of those images approaching this lovely quality in my eyes.

untitled-23 by ZHNL, on Flickr

untitled-22 by ZHNL, on Flickr

untitled-26 by ZHNL, on Flickr

The overall experience using this lens has to be associate with M camera, focus is super fast, I can almost just shoot instantly for any scene. shooting 35mm and wider on M is a full enjoyment. I adapted this lens on MILC, but the magic feeling of using it was lost

Again, I have to highlight that the love of this lens stem from highly personal preference and a preference I gained from using wide variate of lenses, my conclusion is fidelity or pixel acute don't contribute more to the images than rendering or feel for most of images I enjoy to shoot, contradict to other opinions, I don't think or have the ability to let PP solve my issue, but that is just me.

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:00 PM

zhangyue
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p.9 #17 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

serhan_ wrote:
Have you tried the Leica 24mm 3.8 with SL2? Jim Kasson is saying it works on Sony A7R at f11 but still not that good:
https://blog.kasson.com/the-last-word/sony-a7r-testing-part-18/

https://blog.kasson.com/the-last-word/sony-a7r-testing-part-16/

I don't have that lens but here are a few 21SEM on SL2 WO. Based on this, I can predict 24 will perform very well actually there should not be a better MILC platform for lens like 24mm than SL2 with IBIS.

Handhold full image

untitled-2 by ZHNL, on Flickr
center

untitled-4 by ZHNL, on Flickr
Mid

untitled-5 by ZHNL, on Flickr
corner

untitled-6 by ZHNL, on Flickr

Edited on Jun 25, 2020 at 01:14 PM · View previous versions

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:03 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.9 #18 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

zhangyue wrote:
The glow is not only SA induced glow what I have seen from other lens, but almost like a halo bleed into highlight edge, and at back light condition or harsh light, subject will have a highlight around whole body

Here is one I can find quickly from my flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50042433023_3749134698_h.jpg untitled-10 by ZHNL, on Flickr

Another similar glass I saw having this is from leica 90mm thambar. a image from Leica. This is almost too extreme but 35lux is way more versatile IMO.

https://static.leica-camera.com/var/leica/storage/images/media/media-asset-management-mam/global-international/photography/m-system/m-lenses/fast-compact-lenses/london/product-page_image-gallery/luminous-glow/luminous-glow/2437048-1-eng-MA/Luminous-Glow_reference.jpg

Since we are at subject of this lens and I have mentioned I love this one so many...Show more →

Gorgeous!! You really can't get that type of feel from well corrected modern glass (at least with ease). Do you have any samples of it on film? Also, if you use the 35 lux pre-ash on high res bodies (24MP+), does it loose some of the magic to you?

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:11 PM

zhangyue
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p.9 #19 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

nehemiahphoto wrote:
Gorgeous!! You really can't get that type of feel from well corrected modern glass (at least with ease). Do you have any samples of it on film? Also, if you use the 35 lux pre-ash on high res bodies (24MP+), does it loose some of the magic to you?

HI, Thanks.

I didnt use it on film and at the time I got it, I have sold my m3.

I have zero complain about using on 24M M10 or M240. I do use it on SL2 a few times, as mentioned, the shooting experience magic is gone

but other than that, I don't feel the images are much different than M but again maybe I just didn't use it enough to draw a informative conclusion.

Jun 25, 2020 at 01:19 PM

serhan_
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p.9 #20 · Best Voigtlander M-mount lenses for Leica and Sony sensors

Looks good. I am also looking at ZM 25mm as a cheaper alternate.

zhangyue wrote:
I don't have that lens but here are a few 21SEM on SL2 WO. Based on this, I can predict 24 will perform very well actually there should not be a better MILC platform for lens like 24mm than SL2 with IBIS.

Handhold full image
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50043765018_fec0438693_h.jpg untitled-2 by ZHNL, on Flickr
center
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50043765763_31737357c6_o.jpg untitled-4 by ZHNL, on Flickr
Mid
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50043765838_8d71614483_o.jpg untitled-5 by ZHNL, on Flickr
corner
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50043765933_275b893112_o.jpg untitled-6 by ZHNL, on Flickr

Jun 25, 2020 at 02:00 PM

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