Ultrawide Lens for Leica M7

Any suggestions for an ultrawide Voigtlander or other non leica made lens for M7?

 

I currently have 35mm f2 Leica lens, and would like something ultrawide without going broke :)

 

I looked at cameraquest.com website, but i got so confused looking at the list of items...so some

suggesitons would be welcomed.

 

Thanks

I'm really happy with my Voigtlander 15mm Heliar. Even wide open at f/4.5 I have no complaints about the sharpness and it's quite resistant to flare. There are a lot of shots in my P-net portfolios ~ click on my name to get there.

Do you really want 'Ultra-wide' ?

 

A 21mm is significantly wider than your 35mm and will prove versatile without being too

special purpose.

 

Zeiss ZM21 f/2.8 is very good - handling flare better than a Leica 21 ASPH .

Cool shots Al...nice photographs...

 

Where do you look for Zeiss lenses? The 21mm sounds pretty good...and pretty fast too

you can get the zm lens from B+H. only $1300. <p>

 

if you want to spend less check out the CV 21/4. very good little lens and much cheaper. <p>

 

here's a snap....<p>

 

<center><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/254444115_0e33c4ace2_o.jpg"></center><p>

I have the VC 15mm too, and it's a nice lens, but by far my favorite ultra wide lens is my VC 21mm Skopar. I have taken more great shots with this lens than any other wide. It's very sharp, even wide open- I have made 20x24 inch prints that really sing. I shoot black and white almost exclusively, so vignetting is not much a problem for me, but again even wide open, it vignettes very little. It's tiny and lightweight, so I always have it with me, unlike the Leica 24mm ASPH I sold.<p>Pretty much any of the Voigtlander/Cosina lenses are excellent, especially for the money. I know Stephen Gandy's site can be confusing, but if you can wade through it there's lots of good information there, alongside the ususal salesman's bluster. I think <a href="http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtlen.htm">this page</a> might be the most helpful. <p>I'd work hard to figure out which focal length is right for you- there's a lot to choose from, from 12mm to 25mm. Zeiss has just introduced a new 18mm f4 which promises to be a very nice lens. Try to shoot with a few examples of various lengths, or look for images you like, and think about what focal length best matches the way you look at subjects. Once you know the length you need, it'll be easier to find the right lens. Oh, and save more money by buying second hand- if you are patient, the deals are out there.

Tony:

 

See this post:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00GR3X

Another vote for the 15mm CV Heliar. For comparison, I took the 15mm CV (shots 05017,

05024, 05034) and Leica 50mm 'Lux to the <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/richam/

PhotoAlbum107.html">Sardine Festival</a> last year ; this year I took the Leica 24mm

Elmarit-M (shots 06308, 06314, 06322) and 50 'Lux. You can compare the shots for angle

of view, distortion, etc., but the shutter speeds were all slow and the people were moving, so

sharpness is not a good comparison. Anyway, I was as well, if not more pleased with the CV

performance than the Elmarit, and there's a vast price difference.

I hear this Zeiss 21mm f4 has recently been announced - haven't found anything much about

it but it looks compact...<p><a href="

255030897/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/

104/255030897_cabfc30fc9_o.jpg" width="351" height="351" alt="Zeiss C Biogon 4.5_21

ZM lens" /></a>

Oops, sorry - looks like it's f4.5 not f4. Still OK, though.

I use a 50/35/25/15 for normal to ultra wide days. I would not jump all the way to 15 as it is so wide it is hard to use sometimes.

 

Before the 15 became available, I used a 35/28/21. Would have preferred a 24 to the 28/21 but none were available.

 

To give you an idea, 25 is twice as wide and twice as high as a 50.

You can put 4 50mm pics inside a 25 pic.

I love my VC 12 mm. Here some pictures I have taken with this lens.

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=545534

 

Otherwise the super-wide I use most are the Leica 21 and 24.

The 21mm VC lens price is awesome...hard to beat. I was just checking that website...do I

also need to purchase the viewfinder for the M7 to use this lens? Asy ou can tell, i am new to

Leica world :)

Yes, you'll need to purchase a viewfinder to use a 21mm lens on a Leica.

All the Voigtlander wides up to the 25mm come with the finders included in the

regular price. The plastic VC finders are relatively cheap to relplace if you lose or

break them, and they are very good finders to use.

I second the recommendation for the VC 21. The Leica 21 might be a better lens, but the

VC's tiny size makes up for that.

<p>

<center><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4946185-lg.jpg"></center>

FWIW, the VC 25 and 21 finders are actually <i>better</i> than their much more expensive

Leica counterparts. The Leica 24 finder is simply horrible.

Kevin speaks the truth; the Leica 24mm VF <i>is</i> horrible! Photo Village is selling the 25mm CV finder for US$89 (no connection).

I believe Tony Rose has the best prices on ZM, way below BH.

Hi, Tony. I totally agree with Al Kaplan. I own the VC Heliar Aspherical 15 mm f/ 4,5 and i'm very very enthusiastic about it. Is permanently mounted on Bessa L, because i use it intensively. See the report of Tom Abrahamsson on www.rapidwinder.com about the Zeiss Ikon lens, particularly the comparison between Zeiss Ikon 15 mm f/ 2,8 and VC Heliar Aspherical 15 mm f/ 4,5 (not for quality, but for convenience and portability). My second brother own the Color Skopar 21 mm f/ 4, that mount on Leica M4 or FED 5B. The image quality are same outstanding as VC 15 mm f/ 4,5.

Ciao.

"The Leica 21 might be a better lens, but the VC's tiny size makes up for that."

 

Tiny makes up for it being a full stop slower?

Samir - I use my 15mm Heliar quite a bit...but after looking at your fine 12mm shots...I am tempted to get one. I like the perspective it gives.

"Tiny makes up for it being a full stop slower?"

 

Sure does.

Look here (Zeiss 21/2.8 ZM):

 

http://www.popflash.com/item.cfm?id=%24%24%2E%5EH%5FP%20%20%0A

 

or here (scroll down to "21/4 Color Skopar w/ Viewfinder"):

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

The Zeiss lens looks like it's on the big side. I'll be keeping my 21/3.4 and CV 12, thank you. I may sell my 21/4 SA LTM w/IWKOO (1460 made) after some informal tests vs. the 3.4 version. I bought it for my Canon VI-T, but it doesn't fit (internal baffle obstruction). It fits w/adaptor on my M6/7. It IS a compact GEM of a lens, though (fondle...fondle). 8*)