Voigtländer Super-Wide Heliar f4.5/15mm on Fuji X-E1

[LucisPictor]

And here, my friends, is another thread about that lens on yet another camera: the Fuji X-E1.

There are plenty of reports in the internet in which the Voigtländer 4.5/15 is described as "unusable" on the X-E1 due to bad "smearing" effect in the corners.

Well, come and see for yourself:

Example 1:


Centre crop 100%:


Corner crop 100%:



Example 2:


Centre crop 100%:


Corner Crop 100%:



Example 3:


Centre crop 100%:


Corner Crop 100%:



My verdict?

Yes, there is a deterioration visible in the corners, but often that is intensified by the fact that the subjects in the corners are no longer in focus. Most wide angle (even more so ultra wide angle) lenses show a deterioration towards the corners. And if you don't look at the images at 100%, you won't hardly see it in images taken with the Heliar 4.5/15 on the X-E1.
I can perfectly live with it and use it as a "22.5 mm" superwide for my Fuji, esp. when I see the price tag of the Fujinon XF 2.8/14!

However, I must admit that the peformace of that lens on the Leica M8 is still better than on the X-E1, although it works as a 20mm equivalent there.

[Rick1779]

today is the heliar day

[LucisPictor]

[hoanpham]

the photos look very good to me.

I don't expect extreme edge sharpness when I am using this lens, but at f8 it is hard to beat.

[LucisPictor]

[kuuan]

thank you Carsten to show us how this lens performs on the Fuji,
looks alright, no color cast in the corners and sharpness loss is not very pronounced