Aside from the attractive price, a reason for my purchase of the Voigtlander 15mm (as opposed to the fixed aperture M-adapted Hologon) is its adjustable aperture. Well, I've gotten pretty used to using my V-15 at f/8, as this is where performance seems best, and could actually forsee considering a Hologon purchase in the future. Anyone out there care to share their experiences with the (more recent Contax-G) Hologon? I've heard that the H's lack of distortion is outstanding, but what about across-the-field sharpness, contrast, flare, etc? Also, what about useability with the M-6 meter, finder accuracy, build and M-conversion quality?

-- John Layton (john.layton@valley.net), February 16, 2002

Answers

Godfrey DiGiorgi has a useful comparison between the two with pictures . Here's the link : http://www.bayarea.net/~ramarren/photostuff/holhel/holhelcomp.htm

-- leonid kotlyar (kotlyarl@mail.nih.gov), February 16, 2002.

If you've got the money to waste on that hologon thing, then you should probably buy it. This is not out of personal experience with the lens, but I do have the voigtlander and it's as close to perfect as I need.

-- Thomas Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 16, 2002.

Don't forget that the Hologon achieves the best result when used with its special ND filter to even out the exposure between the image centre and corners (otherwise the result seems indiscernible from the Super-wide Heliar). With the ND filter's one-stop light reduction, the Hologon becomes a f/16 lens, which severely limits its application to sunny outdoors, fast film or tripod-dependent.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), February 17, 2002.

The comparison mentioned above is very good and final results were as Alex mentioned were indistinguiable without the graduated ND filter for the Hologon. After adding the ND filter it is said that the Hologon had the edge BUT that was after complaints from pride hurt Hologon owners saying that the ND filter should have been used HOWEVER didnt take into account that the sweet aperture for the 15 mm Voigtlander is in fact f5.6 but during the test ONLY f8 was used. At f5.6 the Voigtlander is said to have less light fall off than any other aperture. So if you want to see the lenses at their best to compare them other apertures other than f8 should be tested and the hologon needs its ND accessory to achieve its best. I think if you purchased the Hologon you will be sqinting to see the diference if any. Not to mention if the light is low the faster Voightlander will have the edge. (Erwin was the guy who noted the performance of the 15mm Voigtlander was best at 5.6 and although some doubt his reviews at times, including myself I cannot see any benefit of saying this aperture was best when it wasnt, and from my own experience light fall off is less at 5.6 just as he specified)

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), February 22, 2002.