Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Today was like Christmas, I received on loan a set of pre-production Cosina Voigtlander lenses for Nikon and Contax Rangefinders, the 21/4, 25/4, and 35/2.5. This is the 1st time wide angles have been made for Nikon Rangefinders since the mid 1960's. It is also the first time multi-coated optics have been made for NRF, with the exception of the new 50/1.4 on the Nikon S3 2000. Scheduled are one production of each, for 2500 35/2.5's, 700 25/4's, and 1500 21/4's. IF they sell quickly Cosina will make more, perhaps even other focal lengths. If not, this may be the one and only run. Optics are the same as Voigtlander Leica screw mount optics of the same f-stop and focal length. The barrels and mounts are very well finished, almost like the classic Nikkors. The black / chrome style is the only one being offered -- no silver or black choices here as on the screw mount Voigtlanders. It's really nice to see some new lenses available for NRF. My understanding is that while the lenses are made to the NRF specs, they will fit and work fine for all practical purposes on classic Zeiss Contax rangefinders as well, though the barrel helicals are slightly different. All show a very strong family resemblance, styled after the black / chrome wide angle Nikkors of the late '50s and '60's. They look so much like the classic Nikkors, from a distance of 5 or 6 feet away, they could be mistaken for each other. All of the new Voigtlanders take the same push over lens cap, the same 43mm filters, the same rear cap, all have detachable screw in lens hoods, all couple to the inside helical for focusing by the index finger focusing wheel. Alternatively, the lenses can also be focused by turning the outer lens barrel. Since the lens barrels rotate, each lens has a double set of aperture settings so you will can see one or the other as the outside barrel rotates. A neat accessory I don't have yet is a clamp on fast focusing lever. The 21 and 25 are sold with brightline finders. The 21 NRF finder seems identical to the one sold for the same lens in Leica screw mount. The 25 brightline finder is new, the 25 finder for Leica mount lenses is not a brightline. I don't know yet if the Leica 25 finder will be upgraded to a brightline, or if the brightline will be offered as an upgrade. Current plans are for the 35's to start shipping in early July, the 25's in early August, and the 21's in early Sept. I'll be taking shooting these pre-production samples, as well as taking shots of them, to update my NRF Cosina Voigtlander page next week at http://www.cameraquest.com/frames/4saleNRFVoigt.htm Stephen Gandy