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 p.26 #16 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review | |
RustyBug wrote:
Just picked up a Type II from CQ ... I haven't even downloaded any images, but from the LCD I think I'm gonna like this one.
The two "knocks" about this lens that kept me away from it was the obvious f/3.5, vs. something faster. That is what it is.
The other one was folks talking about the handling where you had to adjust the aperture first, then focus because you couldn't adjust the aperture after focusing, without shifting the focus. I was a bit  about how I'd get along with that.
Well ... a few things about that readily come to mind (for me).
1. If I'm shooting slow and deliberate, e.g. landscape / architectural, who cares.
2. If I'm shooting "quick", I'm likely to be wide open or stopped down to a pre-determined DOF for zone focusing anyway.
Those two, I figured "on paper" before buying it.
3. I quickly realized that I CAN change aperture without changing the focus, when turning the aperture ring. It's not that it is "linked", it is just that the friction of the aperture ring is more than the friction of the focusing ring (smoooooooth).
Without even trying, I was just holding the lens the way I normally do, and one of my fingers supplied enough tension on the focusing ring that when I turned the aperture ring with a different finger, the focus remained in place and the aperture changed just fine ... without moving the focus ring.
Granted, the focus ring WOULD HAVE MOVED with the aperture ring, if my finger had not been applying pressure to it, but it didn't take much to hold focus in place while turning the aperture ring. Maybe, it's just the way I hold the lens, but it is NOT A PROBLEM to change aperture and retain focus while holding the lens. Granted, if it was, say tripod mounted, and I just turned the aperture ring ... yeah, the focus ring would come along for the ride. But, handholding ... no sweat to hold focus, while changing aperture.
And, that focus throw through the EVF on an L mount, is very nice handling, too. Throw on the M handles nice, too (smoooooooth).
For me ... that "knocks" the "knocks" out of the way (granted, still 3.5, not a Lux). 
Time to find out what this little gem can do. 
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Congrats on your new lens! It is an amazing 50mm and is super well-corrected for applications that demand it.
While it’s not a Summicron in terms of light gathering or depth of field, it still gives you a nice blur at f/3.5, being about 1 1/2 stops slower. You're completely right about the handling technique for changing the aperture on the Type II without accidentally disturbing the focus ring.
In many ways, I prefer the Type II over my own Type I, especially since it focuses closer but Type I has the aperture/focus rings arranged separately.
Be sure to post some shots! It is actually quite liberating not having too much blur, as it encourages you to be more deliberate about selecting aesthetic backgrounds that become a real part of the composition, just slightly softened depending on your distance. Plus, if you shoot film with a 1/1000s max shutter speed and no ND filters, you won't even notice it isn't an f/2 lens. 
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