Super-Wide Heliar 15 f4.5 SL, 5D Mark II

[trifox]

HI -- after intro with matches in Equipment gallery, I'd like to outline a few impressions with the Voigtlander SUPER-WIDE HELIAR 15 f4.5 SL.

This version has Nikon mount for 35 SLR system and has been discontinued.
This sounds horrible = discontinued! ...

A few words before posting images:

First of all -- I have not got very good adapter Nikon - EOS -- the lens is 'wonky' and register is not accurate - the focusing goes beyond the infinity.. I need some THICKER adapter.

This may have an impact on the final results but it has nothing to do with the lens performance.

CONS:

- vignetting -- no idea how to fix this at this stage - BIG PROBLEM - POOR DIGITAL
- magenta hue shift -- I have no idea how to improve this -- BIG PROBLEM = I think that the problem is on camera's side
- mirror needs to permanently locked up - but this is not a big issue at all - LITTLE PROBLEM

PROS:

- incredible and superb COLOURS! My camera SATURATION is ZERO in but images have VIVID colours anyway
- sharpness -- wow ! the lens outperforms the sensor easily
- CA -- huh! hardly to find - if so -- somewhere on the edge
- no fringing
- distortion WELL CORRECTED..
- pictures have unique character - different from wide-angles with retro-focus.

I know it;s hard but

Do try to overlook the magenta hue shift with vignetting, PLEASE
and also my fingers partially seen on some pictures

tf

[trifox]

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[CarbonR]

There is indeed a strong vignetting. I would not say it really is a big problem, you know it is here, you just have to compose with it. WWhat are, for you, the differences in rendering between this Heliar and the "classic" 15mm retrofocus ?

[poilu]

wow! that's pure fun, great rectilinar damn sharp, try it on film

[koji]

To fix vignetting you may try "corner fix" soft (free) and colour shift too.
This sift was developed to ease M8's colour shift to the corners when you
use IR/UV cit filter, this soft could fix your problem.

here> http://sourceforge.net/projects/cornerfix/

Note: this works only for Mac IFAIR. And also .CR file to .DNG conversion
must be done before running "cornerfix", the resultant files are also .DNG
files, then you develope them into .JPG files.

[Mist]

Wow, this lens defiantly has a character!
And I actually like the the magenta hue shift.
Sky looks so dramatic with it.

[trifox]

thanks for comments..

koji - thanks for the link..

tf

[martinsmith99]

As I quite like the vignetting effect and UWA lenses this would be my perfect lens.

Great samples, now learn to love its character.

[ManualFocus-G]

Beautiful shots! I particularly like the train shot and the photo of the post box, excellent composition and very interesting lens!

[trifox]

thanks!!!

and watch this!!!

this is the crop from the last shot with LAMPS

ISO 800 ! at initial aperture f4.5 -- uh!

[spleenone]

no6! rulez ...that glass looks gem again.