Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/05/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>At 11:12 AM -0400 5/2/01, JULIAN TOPLEY wrote: >>Does anyone have an opinion or has anyone had experience in using these two >>lenses? >> >>The 12mm Heliar gives me an extra 10 degrees of view, it has, dare I say it, a >>filter attachment option and is around double the price. >> >>I noted from a recent edition of Leica Fotographie was that there is some >>noticable vignetting and more chance of flare when compared with the 15mm >>Heliar - is this true? >> >>Information of image quality, usability, differences in the two finders, i.e. >>barrelling and build quality would be greatly appreciated. >> >>Julian Topley > >The 'vignetting' and flare are not noticeably different. Yes, there >is some fall-off away from center with both lenses, but it is fairly >minor considering the facts of their wide angles of view and almost >standard (non-retrofocus) construction. The 12 does give you the >option of adding a center filter, thereby nearly doubling the cost, >but I don't use it except for quite critical things. > >The 12 appears to have slightly higher build quality, but I'm not >sure that that is actually true. The 12 finder is a lot bigger, >heavier, and with a metal housing. Again, I'm not sure that it will >last longer over the years. > >Barrel distortion is unnoticeable unless you rigourously test for it >in either lens. >Basically, the optical performance of these lenses is in line with >Leica lenses of 25 years ago. They are not as good as the latest, but >they don't disgrace themselves. OTOH, the real reason for getting >either is because they are the only practical game in town. > >As far as useability goes, the 15 is a lot easier to use. The 3mm >difference translates to the same difference as between a 28mm and a >35mm lens. Also, the area of the negative that easily shows the >distortion of 3-dimensional objects, in particular spherical objects >(like heads) is much greater. DO NOT place someones head in the >corner of a 12mm shot and show it to them unless they have a very >good sense of humour. > >If you haven't ever used anything wider than a 19 or 17, get the 15 >first. Experientially, the jump from 20 to 15 feels the same as the >jump from 15 to 12. What experience do you have between the view finders? Are they both quite barrelled - this has an obvious effect on usability. Also does the spirit level help much for either of these lenses. I am looking for something to capture dramatic landscape and and to capture what I can not, using my Nikon with 35mm and 28mm PC lenses hence the question on the spirit level. I use my Leica for portability most of all, an ultra wide lens will give me what my Nikon can't - there have been many moments where I wanted to capture an entire cityscape or the entire elevation of a building at very close range. The same applies to interiors, the 28mm often doesn't come close and I have to keep the lens level. Julian ____________________________________________________________________ Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1