This question continues from some answers you guys gave me about the ideal set of lenses to use. I have a 35/1.4 and 90/2 with a x72 M6 TTL. I accept that it would be daft to trade in my 35mm in for a 50/2.8 and a wideangle lense. Thanks for the sanity check.

What really got my atttention was the suggestion of getting the Voigtlander 15mm. I have looked it up it is only about $400 new. A couple of questions: will it fit on my M6 TTL? Do you have any examples of images taken with this combination?

Just to check: Was it this lense that you guys recommended?

"Voigtlander - Super Wide Angle Super-Wide Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical Manual Focus Lens for Voigtlander Bessa R / L, Canon Screw Mount & Leica Screw Mount Rangefinder Cameras - Black"

Thanks I am really excited about playing with a super-wide lense.

-- Matthew (mat@theeto.com), February 03, 2002

Answers

Yes. Fits all M bodies with an adaptor shim, which you can usually purchase along with the lens but it doesn't *come* with it. Great little lens.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 03, 2002.

Yep, it is probably the best M-lens bargain around -- great performer if you want something that wide.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 03, 2002.

Mathew; It does indeed fit all Leics, SM or bayonet, with a standard adapter as noted above for the M series - about $40 US. Voigtlander/Cosina make them and any store that sells the lens will have one. The Leitz version sells for 3-4 times as much and is no better. The adapter plate will engage the finder lines on an M-ignore them and stick to the finder that comes with teh lens. Adapters come with 3 different focal length designations: for your situation, ignore them as well.

Metering works OK on my M6, but since there is a bit of of inherent corner fall-off with the lens, you will have to do some tests do determine the best aperture, which is likely f8 or smaller.

It also fits the Konica RF and all Feds and Zorkis. If you want a great WA camera setup, get an old Zorki or Fed for less than 25 bucks and keep the 25mm on it. Do not fall for the "Rare" crap about these cameras as claimed on E Bay. If you get a working F or Z, you will have a great dedicated WA camera.

Cheers

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002.

Yes, Matthew as Jack says it is a bargain. When (if) you buy one you will probably go through an initial stage of thinking "Wow!" and using it a lot - despite the extreme angle it is a very versatile lens and can be employed in many ways.

Used with care the 15mm can produce images with very little distortion - just watch the camera is level and keep people's faces's away from the edges to avoid weird distortion.

It's a great snapshot lens, you can virtually forget about focusing. Many people may say why do I need such an extreme angle? Well once you have it you soon realise how useful it is! Two years ago (in the good old days) I was fourtunate to spend some time on the flightdeck of a 737 - the lens was perfect, or visiting churches or photographing house interiors - it is so small and so cheap I really consider it an essential part of a Leica outfit.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), February 03, 2002.

http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003LMp

Here's an old thread with some 15mm shots.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), February 03, 2002.

There seems to be a lot of 15mm fans. I think day in and day out you will be a lot better off with the 21. Leica makes the best one of course but it is expensive. Delta lists one of these for $358 and while it is only 4.0 it gets rave reviews. Good luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), February 03, 2002.

Duh. It's early. Meant to say VOIGTLANDER 21 F/4 sell for $358 @ DeltaInternational.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), February 03, 2002.

Hi Matthew! You might find the jump from 15 to 35 to be a bit broad, as you may from 35 to 90. I use two M-6's, with a 28 and a 50 mounted, and a 15 and 90 in the bag. I personally love this 28/50 combo, finding that I can use these lenses in distinctly different and yet complimentary ways from the same camera to subject distance. The 15 and 90mm lenses each come into play when I need their more "singular" qualities. Having said this, if I had just one M-Leica, a 35mm would probably become my primary lens, supplemented with a 21 and either a 75 or a 90. The 35 was my prime lens for years, but I gradually found myself moving into shooting situations where I needed just a bit more in terms of forground to background emphasis, which simply "moving back a bit" doesn't really correct for. But I'm starting to miss a 35 again for what I consider to be its decidedly "neutral" quality, and will probably start hunting down a 35 f/2 asph sometime this spring.

-- John Layton (john.layton@valley.net), February 03, 2002.

Jay and Richard, you both mention the adaptor. Do you have the model number for it or is it just a case of asking at the camera shop when I get the 15mm - I will have to get one I. Thanks.

-- Matthew (mat@theeto.com), February 03, 2002.

Matthew - there are three different adaptors bringing up the three different sets of framelines - 35/135, 50/75, 28/90.

On the 15mm with the external viewer, this is of course irrelevant so buy the adaptor to suit a future purchase - 75mm?

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), February 03, 2002.

Hi Matthew,

Go for it. The 15/4.5 is a gem. It does take a lot of getting used to. It gives you so much information. I've used mine from travel scenics to street photography -- which is where my soul resides. I've found I have to be practically breathing down my subjects' collars to get a nicely filled in frame. But once you have put yourself in the 15mm state of mind -- it's wonderful!

One annoying thing. After a while you'll find the "ears" of the built in shade moving clock-wise (whether you use screw or M mount) off center. What I did was smear a micron of bond on the M adaptor face right of center. I mean a smear and micron. Then I screwed the lens in and gently centered it.

I highly recommend using it permanently with an M mount. I sense that the screwing and unscrewing will put undue wear and tear on its screw mount -- but I might be wrong.

the 15/4.5 sits nicely on Leica Ms, Hexars, CL/CLEs and Bessa Ts. Optically it is very good -- excellent according to Pop Photo of a few years ago.

The other annoying thing is the finder. The right-angle finder is more accurate.

Two days ago got the VC 12/5.6. That one takes a 77mm filter with special holder. Quite fun on the Bessa T and the CLE.

I promised my wife that that would be my last lens.

I know the Devil was listening.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 04, 2002.

Matthew

I have a 15/4.5 CV lens. It is not a bad lens for the money. (Check the prices on OEM 15 mm or so lenses, this one is cheap). But it is not an everyday lens: for most purposes, 15 mm is far too wide. Also, don't expect Leica quality images - you won't get it. It has a lot vignetting, and they don't provide a central spot filter (or any means of attaching filters). I think when the novelty of the extremely wide view (110 degrees diagonally) wears off, you will not have very much use for this lens.

Probably, if you want a relatively inexpensive C/V wide angle for your Leica, the 21/4 or 25/4 is a better choice.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), February 04, 2002.