Best Ultra Wideangles?

cmo · Dec 1, 2009

Sometimes I would like to have a wideangle, wider than a 21mm lens which is my beloved Zeiss Biogon that I use with a Leica M.

What do you think are the best ultra-wideangles ever made, for SLRs and rangefinder cameras? Are any of these lenses affordable?

Richard Wasserman · Dec 1, 2009

The best bang for the buck has to be the Voigtlander 15mm Heliar. The screwmount version is $400.00 with the finder–it is a wonderful lens. Of course the Leica 18mm Super-Elmar is even better but is 10 times the price.

perkeleellinen · Dec 1, 2009

If the adaptors were cheaper, I'd put my 16mm fisheye on my Leica. But I'm not sure if any external finder would give me the correct view.

werra · Dec 1, 2009

In contest for best bang for buck I'd vote for Tamron SP 17/3.5, old version with filters. Hard to find in decent condition though, filters tend to deterioate.

tjaded · Dec 1, 2009

I would agree with Richard...the 15mm Voigtlander Heliar is a great little lens.

Rol_Lei Nut · Dec 1, 2009

Ill also cast a vote for the CV 15mm
Its drawbacks are mainly a high degree of vignetting, the use of a viewfinder instead of through the lens (my other 15mm for SLR gets very different, arguably better, shots just for that reason) and that it's at its best between f/5.6 and f/6.3....

The old Tokina/Vivitar 17mm f/3.5 is surprisingly good (and much better than the overrated Tamron 17mm). Its main deficiencies compared to the likes of Zeiss & co. is probably more tendency to flare and a bit more distortion.

The "classic" Zeiss 18mm has a great (3D) look to it. Corners could be sharper though. Still a very satisfying lens (I much prefer it to the Vivitar 17mm, even if the sharpness isn't necesarily better).

Leica 19mm (II) is a great lens, but not that different a FL from your 21mm. Having such lenses on an SLR could make a difference in use though.

The Zenitar 16mm fisheye is actually very good, if you want to go down that road. I compared it to my Zeiss 16mm: It was actually *slightly* sharper in the centre and *slightly* softer at the edges.

JohnArs · Dec 1, 2009

The f 2,8 14mm Nikkor was one of my dreams, because the 15 mm Voigtländer which I have is tricky to use with the finder!
But meanwhile is the new 14-24 mm Nikkor f 2,8 the master and even better then the fix 14mm lens!

In older days there was the Nikkor 15mm the star but this is not enymore, against the new ones!

Cheers Armin

Mike1234 · Dec 1, 2009

perkeleellinen said:
If the adaptors were cheaper, I'd put my 16mm fisheye on my Leica. But I'm not sure if any external finder would give me the correct view.

I didn't think the words "cheaper" or "cheap" were allowed in the same sentence as the word "Leica".

Tim Gray · Dec 1, 2009

I have the CV 15mm lens. I think it's pretty awesome, especially for the price. It replaced a Canon 17-40 zoom. I know it's not the same thing, but once I saw the two sitting together, I put the comparatively large 17-40 up for sale.

The finder took a bit to get used to, but I'm reasonably proficient with it now.

elekm · Dec 1, 2009

Zeiss Ikon made the Contarex Hologon Ultrawide -- a specialist camera with a 15mm Hologon lens. Not really affordable for most of us, however, although "affordable" is a subjective term.

Otherwise, the Cosina Voigtlander 12mm and 15mm Heliars are excellent bargains.

benjiboy · Dec 1, 2009

It won't fit your Leica, but I like the Canon FD 17mm f4.

cmo · Dec 1, 2009

elekm said:
...the Cosina Voigtlander 12mm and 15mm Heliars are excellent bargains.

Unfortunately none of them is available for SLRs. Making such good wideangles for SLRs seems to be much more difficult.

Mike1234 · Dec 1, 2009

Probably has something to do with the mirror getting in the way... forcing a reverse tele design.

moouers · Dec 1, 2009

I don't know first hand how it compares to others, but I've always found my Nikkor 20mm 2.8D to be very sharp and with great contrast, colors and corner sharpness. Distortion is exceptionally minimal and the lack of flare is surprising.

fdisilvestro · Dec 1, 2009

There were Cosina Voigtlander 12 & 15 mm ultrawide in Nikon F mount, only for cameras with true mirror lockup like the F2. They are symmetrical designs so the mirror should stay up all the time and you need an external viewfinder. There is still a listing in B&H for the 15mm here, (discontinued)

Another lens for the list would be the SMC Takumar 15mm (I have a screw mount version, but no camera for it at the moment)

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2009

Mike1234 said:
Probably has something to do with the mirror getting in the way... forcing a reverse tele design.

The early Minolta MC 21mm lenses required that the mirror be locked up and a viewfinder was optional. Some thought it out performed the later f/2.8 21mm retrofocus lens that was like walking around with a headlight.

Steve

Jeff Kubach · Dec 1, 2009

benjiboy said:
It won't fit your Leica, but I like the Canon FD 17mm f4.

I must agree!

Jeff

Russ - SVP · Dec 2, 2009

Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5

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Kiron Kid

John R. · Dec 2, 2009

You've already got a fantastic wide in your Biogon, a true wide angle with a superb design reputation.

cmo · Dec 2, 2009

John R. said:
You've already got a fantastic wide in your Biogon, a true wide angle with a superb design reputation.

Yes, and what i have is the Contarex 21mm Biogon which means "fantastic plus legendary", but it does not fit my EOS and I would like to have an even-wider lens. Something between 12-17mm or so

Best Ultra Wideangles?

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