Has anyone had any first hand experience with either of these new lenses yet - in particular the 28? I believe they had been scheduled to debut this month. Based on some earlier threads - it sounded like these lenses, released along w/ the R-2 body, are to have more substantial build, quality, etc.

-- P. McEnroe (elcaptain88@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002

Answers

The new 50/2.5 just became available through Stephen Gandy. There was no user reports on the optical performance on CVUG yet. 28/3.5 is expected to become available in late summer / early fall.

-- Alexander Grekhov (grekhov@wgukraine.com), May 29, 2002.

P.

I have seen portraits taken with both and they are WONDERFUL, leaving nothing to any lens. Prints 12x18 were razor sharp all over, and the colour rendition was neutral, as far as I could see from the lighting. Very little if any discernable barrel distortion in the 28 and it is FAST.

For the money they looked good enough that I was tempted to trade my M6 and 50 & 35 mm Summicrons on the spot for both of them and a Bessa 2 body with grip and winder.

The reason I didn't was mainly that the dealer acquiessed instantly, not asking any money in addition. That told me he could do that and make money selling the Leica kit, so I hesitated. I can not justify the Leica outfit AND the CV lenses, so I was able to resisit the temptation of the sparkling new toys.

Cheers BTW, CV has an amazing book with all of the CV cameras, lenses and accessories listed, but sadly I saw it only in Japanese.

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richard.ilomaki@hotmail.com), May 30, 2002.

I have seen the Japanese Voigtlander site with the 50mm 2.5 but no evidence of a 28mm 3.5 as yet. A compact 28mm will be a big hit with RF users who are not too bothered about low light performance and I'll be buying one as soon as it hits the shops as the 1.9 is just a bit on the large size. Come to think of it my 50 F2 summicron is not exactly compact - I may buy the 50 as well if it's signifigantly shorter!

-- Johann Fuller (johannfuller@hotmail.com), May 30, 2002.

(Richard - I believe that P. was asking about the new CV lenses, the 50/2.5 and the 28/3.5, both new, high quality designs that are built using much more substantial construction than any of the previous CV lenses except the LE 50/3.5 collapsible Heliar. The new lenses come in both black paint and a new high-quality chrome.)

P.

The 50/2.5's are shipping now from Stephen Gandy in the US, and as posted, the 28/3.5 is expected in 1-2 months. I'd be surprised if any photos have been seen from the 28/3.5, but the 50/2.5 has been in many shooters' hands for a while in Japan and through special early- access programs.

I asked Tom A. about his experience with the 50/2.5 and the reports came back glowing. He was particularly impressed with the build quality and the finish quality. I believe that his comment was that it looked exactly like something that Leica would have produced. For me, the proof was that it was that the new lens had supplanted his 50/2 Summicron as his normal lens; and he said that it compared very favorabley or even better to the Leica lens.

I can't wait. :-)

-- Skip Williams (skipwilliams@pobox.com), May 30, 2002.

Johann, the 28 f3.5 is on the Japanese web site, you will see a new metal 28mm finder released with it http://www.cosina.co.jp/28-3.5/

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), May 30, 2002.

The 28mm looks to have the same barrel as the 21 and the 25mm VCs. Pity it is not f2.8, but perhaps they would need a new barrel. The 50mm looks good, but I would still prefer a Summicron (it is a half stop faster) unless the VC is significantly smaller. It does not look as though it is. Still the 50mm will be an excellent lens for those who cannot put up with the large Nokton and want a screw mount lens at a cheaper price.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), May 30, 2002.

The 50 2.5 has just arrived at Hong Kong today. I feel that it is more solid than the 35 2.5 Classic. The focusing tab is convenient. I'm thinking of buying one for my IIIf, just the right size.

-- WP Cheng (cwpcsl@netvigator.com), May 30, 2002.

sorry for my ignorance. but are these lenses finally mad in m-mount or still screw? with now two m-mount bodies in the line cosina should start to make proper m-mount lenses.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), May 30, 2002.

<<< sorry for my ignorance. but are these lenses finally mad in m- mount or still screw? with now two m-mount bodies in the line cosina should start to make proper m-mount lenses. >>>

For non-SLR's, Cosina/Voigtlander only makes LTM (screw-mount) lenses, no M-mounts. (They have adapted three of the lenses to the Nikon/Contax RF mount: 21, 25, 35)

This discussion has gone round-and-round on the CVUG. Why would CV want to make M-mount lenses? I can't find any reason. It would:

1. Increase their inventory, distribution, and mfg expenses 2. Increase their dealers' inventory requirements and thus expenses 3. Complicate their catalog 4. Raise their prices, as they'd probably have to revise the tooling 5. Makes their line of lenses and bodies partially incompabible with each other.

If they don't do it, they can:

1. Offer one lens line 2. Sell the adapters separately, keeping their selling prices as low as possible (this is also a rationale for selling their nice hoods separately). And they probably make a good profit on these doo-dads. 3. Allow especially frugal users to buy a minimal set of adapters if they so choose. 4. Provides maximum flexibility for the users of their lenses as they can go on all the CV bodies, Leica LTM/M bodies, and all the LTM bodies made since the 1930's worldwide.

So now, why would CV make M-Mount lenses for the few of us who clamor for them?

Skip

-- Skip Williams (skipwilliams@pobox.com), May 30, 2002.