Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi all, recently bought the CV Ultra-wide Heliar 5.6/12mm and it is a delight on the M8. No coding, no IR filter. Distortion is very low, vignetting is noticeable but very smooth and natural looking, the overall effect is amazingly good - IMHO much better than with the VC 15mm where vignetting is more of an issue. Flare resistance is excellent - I took these two pictures in Aristot (Catalunya, Spain) about two weeks ago, at about f/8 with a Hoya UV-HMC filter on (unfortunately sensor dust becomes more visible under such a violent lighting - I had not yet blown away sensor after 11 month use): http://picasaweb.google.com/jean.louchet/Noel2008ParisCerdagneAristot#5291716199367839570 http://picasaweb.google.com/jean.louchet/Noel2008ParisCerdagneAristot#5291717174145556386 Concerning flare, the same sun-in-the-face but with the CV 1.9/28 (closed at f/6.3) gave http://picasaweb.google.com/jean.louchet/Noel2008ParisCerdagneAristot#5291736370252996226 which would have looked good if not shown after the 12mm! The relatively small aperture of the 12mm is a limitation indeed, but one can't have (large aperture) AND ((such a small volume) OR (such an affordable price)) at this level of quality. Being given the pixel distance on the M7 is approx. 7 microns, the effects of diffraction at f/5.6 are still minimal (contrary to most digi P&S with a pixel distance close to 1 micron and max apertures around f/3.5 which is ridiculous as at one stop under full ap the main diffraction lobe covers several pixels, and at full aperture its the same but caused by optical aberrations) I use 6-bit coding on the VC 1.5/50 and 1.9/28. On these lenses I only add the IR filter when I use them e.g. on indoor concerts or theatre scenes - i.e. when there are simultaneously tungsten lighting AND people wearing synthetic black clothes. Otherwise I never felt the necessity of the IR filter with natural lighting or when there is nop black fabric. I took his one with the 12mm in my living/music room with all-tungsten ordinary lighting plus one halogen on the right: http://picasaweb.google.com/jean.louchet/Noel2008ParisCerdagneAristot#5291736370252996226 (can't see the Erard grand which is hidden by the double bass). Tight space :-) Got the filter holder for the 12mm though (and never use the original lens hood). The filter holder looks huge at first sight but in real use it is not a problem at all, and it doesn't draw any special attention from people. Expensive for what it is, but a good non-obtrusive accessory.A plain UV(HMC) filter protects the front element which would otherwise be very vulnerable. The only issue is it won't fit easily into a normal individual lens case so I put it into a sock in my bag. To summarise, the 12mm is a very nice fit to the M8 and one of my favourite lenses - much more than the 15mm with the M6. The filter holder is definitely not "monstruous" at all and nicely designed. In addition it should allow the use of a polarising and viewing through it in the M8 viewfinder, so the 12mm+filter holder combination is probably the handiest combination for a polariser on a non-SLR (sorry, the M8 or M6 with the CV 12mm is not a rangefinder camera). Jean > Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:10:25 -0600 > From: Harrison McClary <lists@mcclary.net> > Subject: Re: [Leica] M8 with UV-IR filters [...] > > I have a VC 12mm ultra wide Heliar. How does it work on the M8 with no > coding and filter? Do I need to get that monstrously huge filter > adapter and a IR filter for it and get it coded? If so what is it coded > to? > > -- > Harrison McClary [...] > Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:18:51 -0500 > From: Tina Manley <images@comporium.net> [...] > > Harrison - I use the VC 12mm on my M8 with no problems at all - no > coding, no filter. It's more of a 15mm on the M8 and it's a much > slower lens than I usually like, but I really like it on the > M8. I'll see if I can find some examples to post. > > Tina > -- Dr Jean Louchet APIS - INRIA 4 rue Jacques Monod 91893 ORSAY Cedex France Universidad de Guanajuato FIMEE, Tampico 912, 36730, Salamanca, Mexico ---------------------------------------------------------- jean.louchet@inria.fr http://jean.louchet.free.fr/ ----------------------------------------------------------