biomed
Mentor
50/1.5 (original version)
50/2.5
75/2.5
These three see the most use - a lot of the time on my digital cameras.
Mike
50/2.5
75/2.5
These three see the most use - a lot of the time on my digital cameras.
Mike
kshapero
South Florida Man
Just got a Chrome Heliar Classic 50/2 from an RFF member. Had a black one and loved it. Now it's mated to my M3.
kxl
Social Documentary
35/1.2
Any 2 from: 50/1.5, 50/2.0, 50/2.5, 50/3.5
Any 2 from: 50/1.5, 50/2.0, 50/2.5, 50/3.5
alan davus
Well-known
Heliar 50 f2
Heliar 50 f3.5
CV 21 f4 LTM
And a rarely used 75 f2.5 which i swapped away a 35 1.7 Ultron for (bad move because it was a great lens but I'd just bought a new Hex 35UC and didn't think I'd use the Ultron any more.)
Favourite is probably the 50 f2. Love the 21 for its size but it flares like mad. The 50 f3.5 is super sharp but ergonomically bit of a challenge. On the short list is the new 50 f1.5 Nokton. Lets face it all CV lenses represent great value viz a viz the alternatives.
Heliar 50 f3.5
CV 21 f4 LTM
And a rarely used 75 f2.5 which i swapped away a 35 1.7 Ultron for (bad move because it was a great lens but I'd just bought a new Hex 35UC and didn't think I'd use the Ultron any more.)
Favourite is probably the 50 f2. Love the 21 for its size but it flares like mad. The 50 f3.5 is super sharp but ergonomically bit of a challenge. On the short list is the new 50 f1.5 Nokton. Lets face it all CV lenses represent great value viz a viz the alternatives.
Harry Lime
Practitioner
I have two
Ultron 2/28 - The bargain of the decade. Very, very happy with it.
Skopar 4/21 - This is the original version in LTM. I rarely use it and it needs to be stopped down to about f8-f11 to really pop, but for the price there really is no alternatives. It even came with an excellent bright line finder. How could you go wrong?
I've been intrigued by the 3.5/28 and the new 1.5/50.
Ultron 2/28 - The bargain of the decade. Very, very happy with it.
Skopar 4/21 - This is the original version in LTM. I rarely use it and it needs to be stopped down to about f8-f11 to really pop, but for the price there really is no alternatives. It even came with an excellent bright line finder. How could you go wrong?
I've been intrigued by the 3.5/28 and the new 1.5/50.
mika2k1
Newbie
Not 3, but,..
Skopar 25/4
Skopar 35/2.5
Skopar 50/2.5
Heliar 40/2.8
Heliar 75/2.5
Nokton 40/1.4
Nokton 50/1.5
Love them all equally; some I have more than one copy of. (Skopar 25/4 & Skopar 35/2.5)
I also have the Ultron 40/2 and Nokton 58/1.4 in Nikon and Pentax mounts. Frankly, you can't go wrong with any of the Voigtlander lenses.
The LTM/m-mount, Nikon-S mount lenses are used with the Sony Nex-C3, Nex-6, and Fuji XE1.
Skopar 25/4
Skopar 35/2.5
Skopar 50/2.5
Heliar 40/2.8
Heliar 75/2.5
Nokton 40/1.4
Nokton 50/1.5
Love them all equally; some I have more than one copy of. (Skopar 25/4 & Skopar 35/2.5)
I also have the Ultron 40/2 and Nokton 58/1.4 in Nikon and Pentax mounts. Frankly, you can't go wrong with any of the Voigtlander lenses.
The LTM/m-mount, Nikon-S mount lenses are used with the Sony Nex-C3, Nex-6, and Fuji XE1.
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sleepyhead
Well-known
I have owned and used many CV lenses over the years. And they have all, without exception, been perfectly good lenses limited only by the skill of the photographer. They are all exceptionally good bargains compaired to Leica lenses.
But I have also either sold, or will sell (in the next months), them all. Because they each had some little thing that I didn't like that pushed me over the edge to eventually buy (or keep) the more expensive Leica alternative.
The 35/1.2 is too big (got a 35mm Summilux ASPH), the 28/1.9 and 28/2 are "not bad", but the 28/2 Summicron ASPH is way crisper), the 50/1.1 is a Noctilux wannabe, but not quite there, the 75mm f/1.8 Heliar only focused down to 0.9 meters (bugged me and I already had a 75/1.4 Summilux), the 40/1.4 and 35/1.4 each had funky bokeh in my opinion and the buid quality wasn't quite up to scratch (I stuck with my 40/2 Rokkor-M and 35/2 Summicron)
If I ever need/want a 21mm lens again, it WILL BE the 21mm f/1.8 Ultron - it was AMAZING on the Leica M9. I only sold it because I very rarely need anything that wide, and it was TOO BIG to carry around for just rare use.
If my 35/2 Summicron ever dies, I will get a 35/2.5 Color-Skopar - it was so tiny and so great.
Last, the 75/2.5 Heliar is fantastic. I see no reason to get the Leica Summarit over it. This will possibly be the one CV lens I end up keeping for those times when the 75/1.4 Summilux is too big to lug around.
But I have also either sold, or will sell (in the next months), them all. Because they each had some little thing that I didn't like that pushed me over the edge to eventually buy (or keep) the more expensive Leica alternative.
The 35/1.2 is too big (got a 35mm Summilux ASPH), the 28/1.9 and 28/2 are "not bad", but the 28/2 Summicron ASPH is way crisper), the 50/1.1 is a Noctilux wannabe, but not quite there, the 75mm f/1.8 Heliar only focused down to 0.9 meters (bugged me and I already had a 75/1.4 Summilux), the 40/1.4 and 35/1.4 each had funky bokeh in my opinion and the buid quality wasn't quite up to scratch (I stuck with my 40/2 Rokkor-M and 35/2 Summicron)
If I ever need/want a 21mm lens again, it WILL BE the 21mm f/1.8 Ultron - it was AMAZING on the Leica M9. I only sold it because I very rarely need anything that wide, and it was TOO BIG to carry around for just rare use.
If my 35/2 Summicron ever dies, I will get a 35/2.5 Color-Skopar - it was so tiny and so great.
Last, the 75/2.5 Heliar is fantastic. I see no reason to get the Leica Summarit over it. This will possibly be the one CV lens I end up keeping for those times when the 75/1.4 Summilux is too big to lug around.
LChanyungco
Well-known
The 12mm f/5.6 Heliar is super wide and super weird. I recommend it.
Erik van Straten
Mentor
My favorite is the Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5 in black; very handy and usable on both the screw-mount and M-Leicas. The lens draws beautifully.
Leica M3, Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5, 400-2TMY.
Erik.
Leica M3, Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5, 400-2TMY.
Erik.
LarsAC
Established
Yes, 50/2.5 is my favorite as well. Tried to sell it some time ago, luckily no one wanted it. Now I have become a big fan of it due to size and performance. I often pair it up with the 28/3.5 for a small two-lens kit.
Lars
Lars