125/2.5 CV APO A Substitute For The 135/2 APO Zeiss?

[tommiejeep]

Interesting.  This popped up recently:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voigtlander-MACRO-APO-LANTHAR-125mm-F2-5-SL-for-Nikon-Ai-s-Boxed-Japan-/172647179623?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=8mCYznGpHFt5BmYgwzHjUEW3qLI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

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The cheapest I've seen for a while.  There was no way they could get it to me in the window of my wife's UK trip and she will not be going back until 2018.

The sad thing is that I do not even know the lens specific questions to ask  ,   Since I am going to be paying that for a 135mm , it sounded interesting.

[the solitaire]

John, if you are after  narrow DOF, wouldn't it be nice to try the new Sigma 135/1.8?  I did not, yet, but anybody, maybe? LZ

Sigma 135 f1,8 is highly recommendable for people other then John

I think what John is after is downsizing on the Zeiss. The Sigma is big and heavy, takes a lot of space, but the image results are awesome. Kristina owns it

DSC_3144 by Amy Lumi, on Flickr

DSC_3065 by Amy Lumi, on Flickr

DSC_3168 by Amy Lumi, on Flickr

DSC_3247 by Amy Lumi, on Flickr

[Bill De Jager]

Interesting.  This popped up recently:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voigtlander-MACRO-APO-LANTHAR-125mm-F2-5-SL-for-Nikon-Ai-s-Boxed-Japan-/172647179623?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=8mCYznGpHFt5BmYgwzHjUEW3qLI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

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The cheapest I've seen for a while. 

That's about what I paid for mine recently, minus the box, hood, etc.

[JJChan]

Buddy
Great shots with the Sigma although I think with your skill and lighting any of the 125/135mm would have done this!
JJ

[Bill De Jager]

Buddy
Great shots with the Sigma although I think with your skill and lighting any of the 125/135mm would have done this!
JJ

Here i was admiring the photos and I forgot to comment on them.  I particularly like the middle two, especially #3.

[JKoerner007]

I have owned both lenses for several months now (the CV 125 for almost 2 years, the Zeiss Apo 135 for maybe 4 months).

If I were to select one lens to own, over the other, it would be the CV 125, hands-down, no contest (it does almost everything the Zeiss does, as good as or better than, and then some).

In the Zeiss' favor, it is sharper and contrastier (JJChan and Michael Erlewine give some general feedback in this regard), but the bokeh is not as smooth ... and sometimes the color/contrast are too much.

The bottom line is this: if you do not shoot close-focus, the Zeiss is the better lens.

However, if you shoot close-focus, or are into macro in any way, the Voigtländer Apo Macro is the way to go. It isn't even a contest.

Since my photography is mostly macro, at 1;1 or greater, the Zeiss sits around and doesn't get used much.

If I am shooting macro over 1;1, say 1:2 or 1:4, sometimes both lenses tell me they want to be used.

Here are the differences in 70mm [1:2 lifesize subjects. The first two images were taken with the Zeiss 135 Apo + 12mm ext; the second two images were taken with the CV 125 (all shots @f/4).]

All involve the same subject, taken the same day, all are stacks, all with different perspectives.

[Michael Erlewine]

If you like the Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar (CV-125) on the Nikon D810, you will love this lens on the new Nikon D850. The combination of those extra pixels and whatever that new camera does brings the CV-125 to new heights, especially in sharpness. It looks like this lens has a renewed life on the D850.

The following image is with this lens on the D850:

[JKoerner007]

Why do you keep trying to make me spend money, Michael?  

I bought both lenses, and (soon) the D850, because of your input

[Michael Erlewine]

Why do you keep trying to make me spend money, Michael?  

I bought both lenses, and (soon) the D850, because of your input

The reason is simple. We are kindred spirits, both naturalists who do photography. I am still examining the D850, but it begins to look like a HUGE bargain, unless we find some Achilles heel. That it would seemingly enhance lenses that I already have makes sense, although I was not wise enough to anticipate that. It makes the CV-125 sing.

[JKoerner007]

I can live with that.

I can't sell the D810 though ... but will add a D850 by Christmas, in anticipation of the new season.

I am still exploring the differences between the CV 125 and the Zeiss 135.

Mostly, for what I do (1:2 and closer) the CV 125 remains my go-to lens ... but the Zeiss is so good, I just keep it around, in case I need it.

Even with a 20mm extender, I think it's sharper than the Cv 125 ... however, the color/saturation with the Zeiss is almost too much ... whereas I think the color/saturation/bokeh is more exact/sublime with the Voigtländer.

Just mho.

[David H. Hartman]

I bought both lenses, and (soon) the D850, because of your input

Stop complaining, pull out the plastic and place your order but first please observe one minute of silent meditation for those of us who cannot afford all of the fine tools we need.

Dave who's quest for the Holy Grail ended with a Dixie Cup in hand.

[Michael Erlewine]

I can't sell the D810 though ... but will add a D850 by Christmas, in anticipation of the new season.

I am still exploring the differences between the CV 125 and the Zeiss 135.

Mostly, for what I do (1:2 and closer) the CV 125 remains my go-to lens ... but the Zeiss is so good, I just keep it around, in case I need it.

Even with a 20mm extender, I think it's sharper than the Cv 125 ... however, the color/saturation with the Zeiss is almost too much ... whereas I think the color/saturation/bokeh is more exact/sublime with the Voigtländer.

Just mho.

As i have always maintained, the Zeiss 135mm (which I call the Otus-135) is a specialty lens, one useful when extreme sharpness makes sense and from a distance. I have only had the D810 for one afternoon, and I have many days to see what it does to all my most used lenses. If the CV-125 is typical, this new Nikon will be very popular for the kind of work I do.

I have no intention of selling my D810, if only because there are two many shutter actuation to interest buyers. 

Here is another one taken today with the D850 and the CV-125.

[JKoerner007]

Stop complaining, pull out the plastic and place your order but first please observe one minute of silent meditation for those of us who cannot afford all of the fine tools we need.

Dave who's quest for the Holy Grail ended with a Dixie Cup in hand.

I can't afford it right now, either, so don't feel bad

PS: I only pay cash though; haven't used a credit card since 1997

December is my month

[JKoerner007]

As i have always maintained, the Zeiss 135mm (which I call the Otus-135) is a specialty lens, one useful when extreme sharpness makes sense and from a distance. I have only had the D810 for one afternoon, and I have many days to see what it does to all my most used lenses. If the CV-125 is typical, this new Nikon will be very popular for the kind of work I do.

I have no intention of selling my D810, if only because there are two many shutter actuation to interest buyers. 

Here is another one taken today with the D850 and the CV-125.

Yeah, to sell the D810 for ~$1600 just doesn't make sense.

I love the colors put out by the CV ... and there is almost a universal consensus that the colors in the D850 are just as sublime/exact ... so that the two go together is an exciting prospect to look forward to.

[Ethan]

As i have always maintained, the Zeiss 135mm (which I call the Otus-135) is a specialty lens, one useful when extreme sharpness makes sense and from a distance. I have only had the D810 for one afternoon, and I have many days to see what it does to all my most used lenses. If the CV-125 is typical, this new Nikon will be very popular for the kind of work I do.

I have no intention of selling my D810, if only because there are two many shutter actuation to interest buyers. 

Here is another one taken today with the D850 and the CV-125.

Michael. You are single handedly pushing up the prices of the Voigt 125.

No complaint here. Carry on please.