p.28 #2 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
MJKoski wrote:
When A7r came it was clear that WATE would be the optimal WA zoom for the system. Still it is the only one zoom with size & IQ matching A7x series. People stuff all kinds of crappy lenses on their A7 bodies because they are small but do not realize how much they sacrifice in IQ. Money is the issue for me to get the lens.
And that is the case we are seeing here. Cosina make nice lenses in the Voightlander but obviously we are seeing a real issue with the corners. So we have to fight the battle because throwing out well over 3k or more is not a easy task for most of us. This is our world and honestly this has been a battle my whole career. We just never ever noticed it when we shot film. Scary
p.28 #3 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Fred, Guy, this thread could increase the value of the WATE single handedly . I told a shooting buddy of mine yesterday. She played with the idea of selling her WATE, too but now she told me right away that she wouldn't sell hers.
p.28 #4 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
AGeoJO wrote:
Fred, Guy, this thread could increase the value of the WATE single handedly . I told a shooting buddy of mine yesterday. She played with the idea of selling her WATE, too but now she told me right away that she wouldn't sell hers.
Hi Joshua,
I am not selling mine either. And teamed with my next focal length for my A7rM V3, my Leica M 24mm f3.8 Elmar Asph, they are a killer combination.
p.28 #5 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
naturephoto1 wrote:
Hi Chuck,
If you decide to get a WATE, make sure that you get the one without the big finder that is not needed unless you are using the lens on an Leica M camera lacking Live View and or viewing trhough the lens directly and the LCD screen.
p.28 #8 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
But here is the good news even though the WATE is very very good we can still get high image quality in the CV 15, Batis 18 and Loxia 21. Our battle is finding great copies. We seen it in the CV 15 and the Loxia 21 as well. Not sure on the Batis 18 but no crying yet on it. For us folks we just have to fight the battle to find good copies and this thread is a prime example of that. Just look at Tims image above that image quality is out there we just have to bust our butts and find them.
p.28 #10 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
GMPhotography wrote:
But here is the good news even though the WATE is very very good we can still get high image quality in the CV 15, Batis 18 and Loxia 21. Our battle is finding great copies. We seen it in the CV 15 and the Loxia 21 as well. Not sure on the Batis 18 but no crying yet on it. For us folks we just have to fight the battle to find good copies and this thread is a prime example of that. Just look at Tims image above that image quality is out there we just have to bust our butts and find them. ...Show more →
Hi Guy,
That is true. From my experience though Leica appears to have better QC than Zeiss, CV, and Sony and getting a bum lens appears less common. Unfortunaely there is a price to be paid, and getting a super performing optic may not necessarily be an extremely easy prospect.
p.28 #11 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Manual focus is getting tougher as we age too folks so its going to be a challenge to start finding outstanding AF glass. The whole Batis line is very good 18,25,85 so if Zeiss and Sony can keep outputting great glass than we will be in good shape. Seriously my eyes are not even close to what they used to be. I have a pair a readers on my body 99 percent of my life.
p.28 #12 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
naturephoto1 wrote:
Hi Guy,
That is true. From my experience though Leica appears to have better QC than Zeiss, CV, and Sony and getting a bum lens appears less common. Unfortunaely their is a price to be paid, and getting a super performing optic may not necessarily be an extremely easy prospect.
Rich
Rich that is the message for all of us. We need to work extra hard to find great copies. We can sit here till the cows come home and whine about it but that does not solve the problem. That issue is outside of our control, so take the positive approach and fight the battle until you get great copies. Im personally happy to help any member that needs it.
p.28 #13 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
AGeoJO wrote:
Rich,
Yes, I hear you but it is too late for me. Oh, well . I have several other Leica-M lenses I will be selling before too long, as well.
Joshua
Yes but I asked you and you as most of us are having a harder time with manual focus. You are not alone my friend and totally understand your reasons. This is just life
p.28 #14 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
Well, the TechArt Pro adapter isn't quite there yet.
I would call it an Alpha release, maybe a Beta.
And I would not recommend it when utter dependability is required.
But let's give it some time and that adapter will bring AF to many manual only lenses.
I have been giving it a workout with different lenses and it has been great getting focused shots despite occasional glitches.
AFAIK right now one has to wait 2 or 3 months when ordering one.
p.28 #15 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
GMPhotography wrote:
Yes but I asked you and you as most of us are having a harder time with manual focus. You are not alone my friend and totally understand your reasons. This is just life
Yes, I am getting lazy in my old days. I definitely prefer AF now, even for (ultra) wide angle focal length .
p.28 #16 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
I have to laugh...remember the argument that there "won't be any good UWA lens options for the a7 series due to flange distance and cover glass." Even without Kolari there is a bunch now.
p.28 #17 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
GMPhotography wrote:
These are tough comments that float around but the fact is nothing is full proof, its not a good industry with electronics, glass , metal , plastics, grease all being involved in the process to be foolproof in any way. My Hassys and Leica m8's spent more time in the shop than I had in my hands. WE when I was the Chief photog for Honeywell had 3 COMPLETE Hassy systems and I mean every damn lens times 3 and extra bodies where constantly in the shop with CLA and repairs. And they had no electronics.
Being relatively new to Leica (only about 5 years now), my feeling is with the tolerances of their gear being quite mechanically dependent in nature, it will eventually loosen up to a point where things start to go south. Probably like some other higher performance mechanical devices, it's likely a matter of doing regular preemptive maintenance rather than waiting for things to deteriorate. Maybe not something that will prevent 'spontaneous disassembly' but will likewise keep things running within the required tolerances. IMO the pain with Leica, in this respect, is their very long service turnaround times, particularly on lenses.... and that sometimes they don't get it right the first time around.
Anyway, I tried a WATE some time ago and kind of discarded the idea of it because I thought the 21 SEM in particular outperformed it. But if I consider that a lot of my 'landscape' type stuff is also at around f/8.... yes, I can see the appeal of the WATE. Rather than having to carry two or three separate lenses, I could have just one in the bag. Damn... more money to want to spend.
Has anyone yet done any distortion comparisons? I kinda got the impression the WATE has rather strong mustache distortion.
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Chuck Coyne wrote:
Fred very interesting test results. I've had this in the shopping basket at B&H several times over the last year but always hesitating to pull the trigger. I'm just not a fan of using adapters if it can be avoided. However, this tiny Leica really has some special appeal to me. May I ask what adapter are you using with the Wate? Also is it the newer version of the Wate with the new 6 Bit, updated for digital that you bought? Currently with a price reduction special going on at B&H?
Thanks, Chuck
Apparently Leica isn't extending the discount this time around, but have been for the last year or two, it seems. Anyway, if you miss it, don't worry. Check the price at Leica Shop in Austria. They do free international shipping by courier for orders over 500 Euro (bought a CV lens from them and was happy with the transaction). Their current price is 4000 Euro (pre-VAT), which right now is about $4600 US. It used to be (when the Euro was weaker against the USD) that there were even greater price savings over the US retail market going this route. Greatest Leica lens discounts are probably found in Hong Kong for those interested in putting in the effort. My point is partially, that for any of this stuff, it can sometimes pay off to check with reputable retailers outside the US market. I.e. picked up the CV 35/1.7 M-mount lens for about $625 US equivalent vs. the ~$1000 US retail price.
I know it's good to support local/regional retailers and distributors and I still buy my big Canon purchases at my local pro shop... but sometimes the price differences are substantial and makes me wonder why.
p.28 #20 · Official: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III E-mount
tsdevine wrote:
I have to laugh...remember the argument that there "won't be any good affordable and small UWA lens options for the a7 series due to flange distance and cover glass."
Tim
With your permission, I've corrected slightly your post and I see no reason to laugh anymore..
. I told a shooting buddy of mine yesterday. She played with the idea of selling her WATE, too but now she told me right away that she wouldn't sell hers.
