CV 28/1.9 size and viewfinder blockage

marbrink · 09-01-2006

Hello,
I'm thinking of getting a CV 28/1.9 for my Leica MP and my future Leica M8.
I saw that it's a big lens though, 62mm long. Is that with or without lens hood?
I can understand that there's a lot of viewfinder blockage if using this lens on MP with 28mm framelines. But I would probably use it with an external viewfinder if I would use it on the MP.
However if using it on the future M8 I would use it with the 28mm framelines, 37mm equivalent. The viewfinder is supposed to be 0.68 magnification. Do you think it would block the viewfinder?

Thanks for reading!

BrianPhotog · 09-01-2006

On my R2 (same magnification VF) it blocks a small bit...maybe 10-15%, no more then my 35/1.7 Ultron.

marbrink · 09-01-2006

Thanks Brian! Is that with or without lens hood?
And do you know if the 62mm length of the lens is with or without lens hood?

Didier · 09-01-2006

Hi Marbrink

It's 63mm (added 1mm for the adapter) long without hood, weight 265g. It takes about 15% on a .72 M6/M7/MP finder, with the .68 it should be slightly less.

With the approx. same weight and speed, the 28/2 Summicron is only 41mm long - but the price is 6x higher (new).

I am evaluating the 28 Ultron, too, for my R-D1.
Didier

Flyfisher Tom · 09-01-2006

It blocks about ~10% of the corner of my M6, very negligible in my opinion. I've never felt that it affected composition.

I consider the 28/ultron to be the best lens in the CV lineup, followed by the 21mm/4. The sharpness and bokeh on this lens is amazing. Size is roughly the same as the 35/1.4/asph, so not compact, but not huge. You won't be disappointed.

good luck

marbrink · 09-01-2006

Thanks! I think I'll try it.

But I will probably get an external finder for my MP. I like to be able to see outside the frame and I can also eliminate the viewfinder blockage.
When you talk about 10-15% viewfinder blockage. Is that with or without hood?

BrianPhotog · 09-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by marbrink

Thanks! I think I'll try it.

But I will probably get an external finder for my MP. I like to be able to see outside the frame and I can also eliminate the viewfinder blockage.
When you talk about 10-15% viewfinder blockage. Is that with or without hood?

That's hood on.

BrianPhotog · 09-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Didier

I am evaluating the 28 Ultron, too, for my R-D1.
Didier

Somewhere on the luminous landscape website there is a good comparison review with the Leica 28/2, CV 28 Skopar, CV 28 Ultron used on an RD-1.

The basic result was that, overall, the 28/1.9 came out on top.

marbrink · 09-01-2006

Brian,
That's not really true. The 28/2 ASPH is still the better lens. But that's mostly at f/2-4. After that they are pretty much equal. This doesn't mean that the CV 28/1.9 is bad at f/2-4 but the 28/2 ASPH is amazing and the CV 28/1.9 is very good.

I would like to have the 28/2 ASPH because of the amazing iq and small size but the price is too high, at least for a new one..
Thanks for your help!

Didier · 09-01-2006

Brian,
yes I know the LL fast and wide lens on R-D1 reviews, thanks anyway.

The 28 Summicron is sharper in the edges wide open, and has the more pleasant bokeh. Wishable for me, too, but I couldn't justify myself the 6x depense.

Though my CV 24/1,9 rumour was wrong this week (shame on me), a new fast CV lens around 24 or 25 (maybe f2.8) might still be possible for Photokina and influence my lens choice. Let's wait and see...
Didier

Aurelius · 09-01-2006

En digital Ultron rekommendation (same in english)!

http://www.epsonrd1.co.uk/portfolio/chao/page2.html

marbrink · 09-01-2006

Tack Aurelius!

Seems like a very popular and very good B&W lens! I'll probably order it this weekend. Have to think a little bit more about it first though.

phototone · 09-01-2006

There are a number of lenses that when mounted on "M" mount cameras, partially block one corner of the viewfinder. I do not consider this a problem, and I find that I can quickly adapt to visualizing the photo without the blockage.

Flyfisher Tom · 09-01-2006

Let the photos speak for themselves

Sweet bokeh ... check out Regit's CV 28/1.8 folder ...

http://www.pbase.com/regit/cv28_19

Todd.Hanz of RFF also has some great work with it in his gallery ...

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...500&ppuser=489

http://apeture.my-expressions.com/index.html

cheers

clintock · 09-01-2006

I like to use my 28/1.9 on my CL, but only with bw print film, since the finder has no 28 frames, I just assume if I can see it through the finder at all beyond all the frames, then the lens can see it too.. So some cropping may be in order due to the vague limits of the finder used that way, but it's easier for me than using the external.
I use it on a bessa r with a bit of tape over the finder frame frosted window, that turns off all the frames, pretty nice shooting like that, just the meter leds and the rf patch, no frame lines at all. But again a vague but usable approxamation of the 28's view..

back alley · 09-01-2006

on your cl? now you have my attention.
i don't think i even tried it on for size...
howse the focus?

back alley · 09-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintock

I like to use my 28/1.9 on my CL, but only with bw print film, since the finder has no 28 frames, I just assume if I can see it through the finder at all beyond all the frames, then the lens can see it too.. So some cropping may be in order due to the vague limits of the finder used that way, but it's easier for me than using the external.
I use it on a bessa r with a bit of tape over the finder frame frosted window, that turns off all the frames, pretty nice shooting like that, just the meter leds and the rf patch, no frame lines at all. But again a vague but usable approxamation of the 28's view..

ok, now this i find kinda exciting the more that i think about it.
it means i could have the 40/1.4 and the 28/1.9 on the cl's and have a pretty fair low light setup when needed.

clintock · 09-01-2006

The 28/1.9 is really nice on the cl, I just compared the field of view to the 28 mm setting on my contax turret finder in the hotshoe of the cl, and to see all that the contax finder sees, i have to move my eye around a little, but the overall result is pretty close. The hood of the cv lens cuts into the lower right corner starting just under the bottom of the right 50mm frame segment (i only have the 50/75 screw adaptor).
The cl's rf arm lets go when the cv lens reaches .8m but the 28 lens focus barrel goes all the way to .7m so you loose the rf between .8 and .7m.
big whup.
I leave the focus baton on and it works great..

The focus is dead on as far as I can tell, I mean i've never seen any problem, infinity on the lens is infinity in the rf.. I've not taken any post worthy pics with the combo, just snaps at a party using existing light.
Excellent for that application, I can get people in little groups head to toe without having to step back too much, but not extreme in wide angle lens effect to stretch heads in the corner..

Oh plus, this is stupid, but the cl looks a whole lot more serious with that hooded 28/1.9 on it than the wee little summicron with the widdle rubber hood..
The added mass makes it feel less like a cannonet too.

back alley · 09-01-2006

i've had the smaller 3.5 28 on the cl and used the whole finder w/o much grief so it's not the fov i wonder about.
it was more the focus accuracy. of course it's a wide angle...

i just put the silver 28 on the cl and it looks good and more importantly feels good. i'm gonna have to try this out this weekend.

RayPA · 09-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintock

The 28/1.9 is really nice on the cl, I just compared the field of view to the 28 mm setting on my contax turret finder in the hotshoe of the cl, and to see all that the contax finder sees, i have to move my eye around a little, but the overall result is pretty close. The hood of the cv lens cuts into the lower right corner starting just under the bottom of the right 50mm frame segment (i only have the 50/75 screw adaptor).
The cl's rf arm lets go when the cv lens reaches .8m but the 28 lens focus barrel goes all the way to .7m so you loose the rf between .8 and .7m.
big whup.
I leave the focus baton on and it works great..

The focus is dead on as far as I can tell, I mean i've never seen any problem, infinity on the lens is infinity in the rf.. I've not taken any post worthy pics with the combo, just snaps at a party using existing light.
Excellent for that application, I can get people in little groups head to toe without having to step back too much, but not extreme in wide angle lens effect to stretch heads in the corner..

Oh plus, this is stupid, but the cl looks a whole lot more serious with that hooded 28/1.9 on it than the wee little summicron with the widdle rubber hood..
The added mass makes it feel less like a cannonet too.

shouldn't it be "widdle wubber hood"?

The 28/1.9 is a great lens. I don't thing I own a CV lens that I don't like. If you can afford it, buy it. You won't regret it. I'd put the vf blockage on a .72 M at 10~20%, but you won't notice at all.

.

BrianPhotog · 09-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by marbrink

Brian,
That's not really true. The 28/2 ASPH is still the better lens. But that's mostly at f/2-4. After that they are pretty much equal. This doesn't mean that the CV 28/1.9 is bad at f/2-4 but the 28/2 ASPH is amazing and the CV 28/1.9 is very good.

Yes, but it was also determined that, as an overall average, the Ultron had better highlight/shadow detail properties then either the Skopar or 'cron. That's more important to me, since I primarily shoot b&w

From http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...d-1-lens.shtml

Quote:

Using all three 28mm lenses, I did a set of comparison test pictures of a contrasty scene using the same procedures described in the 35mm lens section above. In terms of overall handling of this contrast range, the Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron held the widest range of tonal detail from shadows to highlights. The Leica 28/2.0 lost more detail in the highlights than the Voigtlander 28mm lenses but the difference was not as significant as it was for the Leica 35/2.0 in the 35mm lens comparison.

Amount of Detail held in Extreme Shadows
1. Leica 28/2.0 Summicron-M
2. Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron
3. Voigtlander 28/3.5

Amount of Detail held in Extreme Highlights
1. Voigtlander 28/3.5
2. Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron
3. Leica 28/2.0 Summicron-M