I found acess to pick one these up brand new for 250 plus shipping and was wondering how good is this lens? Anyone had expereince with this lens and what about the price ? thanks Geor

-- George Verbryck (verbryckjack@aol.com), May 09, 2002

Answers

This is a great lens and well worth the $250. Just make sure it comes with the finder. Make sure to add in the price of an M-LTM adapter if you need it ($30-50).

Here's a comparison vs. the legendary 16/8 Zeiss Hologon: http://www.bayarea.net/~ramarren/photostuff/holhel/holhelcomp.htm.

The 15/4.5 has about 1.5 stops of falloff to the edges, so be prepared for that characteristic.

As long as you can deal with the VERY wide FOV, it's a lot of fun. Just remember to keep those fingers out of the picture. Here is one that I've got that I did with a 15/4.5 that I like:

http://www.skipwilliams.com/gallery/nyc1/1.htm

Skip

-- Skip Williams (skipwilliams@pobox.com), May 09, 2002.

Here's another source (or perhaps the same one). No reason to advertise for him other than I used ot live in his country and he and I had a nice email exchange. I was going to buy a lens from him, but found one here instead. He has great feedback over on ebay. $249 plus shipping for chrome 15 plus finder. Duncan is his name, his email is...

sales@fotohennyhoogeveen.nl

I can't wait to strap my new 15 to a camera (mine's in the shop) and make some piccies!

Scott

-- Scott Squire (scott_squire@hotmail.com), May 10, 2002.

George,

I bought a black Voigtlander Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Asph. lens last month and have taken a few shots with it since then, using an M6 TTL. It's great fun to use but I haven't yet mastered the art of ultra-wide angle photography, so not all of my shots are worth keeping. However, I have no complaints about the lens and the accompanying separate shoe-mounted viewfinder.

There are no framelines in the separate viewfinder and you need to be aware that you won't get quite such a wide coverage on film as is shown in the VF. Also, the lens is not coupled to the camera's rangefinder but this is no problem, considering its generous DoF. The lens barrel is engraved with focus and DoF scales.

Light fall-off in the corners is present but I haven't found it objectionable. This is inevitable in an ultra-wide lens and can be minimised by stopping down. However, I understand from other people's comments that the resolution becomes seriously degraded at apertures smaller than f/8, owing to diffraction. I have used mine only at f/4.5 to f/8 and the quality of reproduction at those apertures seems fine.

The lens and viewfinder seem very well constructed. The lens comes with a front cap but it is easy for it to fall off and you probably won't want to use it except when your put the lens away. Be careful of leaving fingerprints on the lens and VF, because both have protruding front elements. The other thing to watch out for is leaving nose-grease on the camera's eyepiece as you look through the separate VF.

If you intend using the 15mm lens with an M camera, don't forget to buy an LTM to M adapter. They are available in 3 different versions, according to the famelines selected, but any version will do for this lens. Although the lens is supplied with its own LTM rear cap, it's a good idea to get an M-fitting rear lens cap for it, so that you can leave the adapter permanently on the lens.

The price you mention is excellent - a new one costs ~$400 and is a bargain even at that price, IMHO. I feel sure that you won't regret buying the lens.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), May 10, 2002.

superb lens given its small price, small weight and small size!

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), May 10, 2002.

A must-have lens if you appreciate w/a photography. I really enjoy mine a lot.

Besides the LTM-adapter: the second best part to use (not only) with the HELIAR is the doubleshoe-adapter with level. With this gear you can eliminate - even when the camera is handheld - sloping horizons and tilting building corners, etc.

Great inovative part by VC.

Best regards

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), May 10, 2002.

Thanks for the imput I ordered my lens. Unfortunely this one only comes in silver but at this price it seems worth while. Also as is listed above Duncan is the man I am dealing with and as I said before Its 250 HE has MANY lenses at this price so for all interested drop him a line he has been lightening quick with his responses to me. The only problem will be another lens to carry around Cheers George

-- George verbryck (verbryckjack@aol.com), May 11, 2002.