Tell me about ther Voigtlander Heliar 15 4.5 LTM

madNbad

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As always, every time I think I have just enough gear, there's an itch for just one more thing. I had been looking at adding another M4 or M4-2 but didn't really want to spend too much. On a whim I ordered a Voigtlander Heliar 15 4.5 in LTM mount. So far I know it's a small lens, it's not rangefinder coupled and you can't mount a filter on it. I looked at the M mount versions but they're considerably larger and how much focusing do you need to do with a 15? It will be used on my M4 and was curious if any members are using one.
 

Huss

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Well of course I have one… watchoo want to know? There is no need for rf coupling because DOF is crazy and it is at infinity just a nose hair’s length from your nose.
I have the crappy CV plastic finder and would prefer the metal one, but as I already have the plastic one I feel cheap.
Unless you know someone who wants the plastic one?

This lens is superb and distortion free, considering. Size is excellent.
 

4season

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That lens has been revised at least once to make it more compatible with digital sensors; are you referring to the original as shown in Huss's post? I liked mine when I had it, even took out-of-town trips with just that one lens. Not so hot on FF digital M camera (color shifts, light falloff) but you can always crop out the worst of it. Great when working in claustrophobic spaces.
 
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madNbad

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I looked at the latest version but it's almost twice the size of the LTM and since it's only being used on a film body, I'm not worried about purple edges. Also, the LTM has the plastic finder included, having spent more than I should have on a genuine Leica 90 LTM to M adapter, now I can save up for the metal one.
 

mtnbkr

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I have one on my Canon VT. Great lens and an interesting perspective compared to my normal experiences with more pedestrian wide angle lenses, but it's too much to be useful all the time. It's a specialist tool in my opinion. It definitely needs a point of interest in the foreground though. It's too wide for landscapes or scenic shots many times.
I'm not bothered by the plastic viewfinder. It has some heft and doesn't feel cheap, so I'm not tempted to get the metal one (that could change if I ever looked through one).

Also, I find it to be a useful lens on my M43 digital camera. It becomes a 30mm lens there and makes a nice compact "walking around" lens on that platform. Even though it's manual focus, I find myself rarely needing to do much in terms of focusing. If I set it to hyperfocal, it's usually right or at least good enough.

Chris
 

nosmok

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It does what I bought it to do, but it doesn't get a lot of use. The metal finder is a BIG step up, though-- whether it's worth the money is still an open question.
 

Huss

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nosmok said:
It does what I bought it to do, but it doesn't get a lot of use. The metal finder is a BIG step up, though-- whether it's worth the money is still an open question.
Click to expand...

Yeah I would really like the frame lines in the metal finder. But I hardly use the 15, so not really worth replacing the plastic one with it. The metal finder also looks much nicer.
 
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madNbad

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I may have gotten the last new one from Cameraquest. It was listed on Friday, at a premium price over the original list but there are no other 15 LTM’s in the for sale section today. My other question is, are they aluminum construction?
 

summicron1

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Absolutely wonderful lens. Bought one when they first came out and have never regretted it. It is a standard travel lens on my Leica CL because it is small, fits the camera's look, does not interfere with the meter arm, and gives amazing results. Lets you shoot in close spaces without having to step back, great fun with wide angles.

You do need to focus, sort of -- ballpark guess is fine. DOF is very very wide.

Excellent lens, all in all. Fun to play with. I did a LOT of street shooting with it on a recent trip to San Jose, Costa Rica.


 

Huss

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Costa Rica? Fancy! I just take mine to the grocery store.

 

qqphot

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I like this lens very much. As others said, there's no need for RF coupling, eyeballing distance is good enough. I love how little distortion it has.


 
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madNbad

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The lens and adapter arrived this afternoon. This is like the film version of the lazy person’s guide to photography. Look at the meter, pick a speed and f stop, then just wander around taking pictures of random items. I probably don’t even need to lift it to eye level. Developing this afternoon, will post a lot of the regulars soon.
 
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madNbad

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Learned a few things. First is keep your finger out of the way:




Second is, I thought a 21 was wide:




Trader Joe's will have to wait a couple of days. Thanks for all the hints!
 
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madNbad

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I did order the metal finder. The plastic one is fine but no frame lines to insure I have the camera level.
 

Nitroplait

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I have the 12mm and it is a fun lens for street photography.
In the city you can basically shoot freely in the middle of a crow, face to face because people will not know they are photographed.
They think you are pointing at something behind them - see below.
(Don't do it to your family - they will hate you for their distorted faces).

Tokyo circa 2011: Yakult seller and money changing hands.
I am so close to these people that they think I am photographing something on the other side of the street.
 
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