What happened to Voigtlander?

slackercruster · 02-10-2012, 11:56 AM

Did they stop making Pentax mount lenses?

Very hard to find.

**jeffshaddix** · 02-10-2012, 12:15 PM

Yes they did, so did Zeiss. Pick them up while you've got the chance.

Hopefully a Pentax FF will be announced this year...it's the only way I could see Cosina (who makes Voigtlander and Zeiss) bringing back K mount versions.

G and T · 02-10-2012, 12:23 PM - **2 Likes**

Yes they have stopped making K mount lenses, but they can still be found. I bought mine (I have 3, a Nokton, an Ultron and a Color- Skopar ) all from a place called Hong Kong Buy and Sell. HKBNS do sell on ebay but at a premium if you go directly to their website ( Hong Kong Buy and Sell Limited ) they sell at the cheapest price anywhere on the web and are great to deal with.
Good luck, Glenn

Sperdynamite · 02-10-2012, 12:27 PM

They made sweet lenses but they dumped Pentax because there is no Full Frame option. Why buy a MF 40 f2 when the 40 2.8 is smaller, and AF? Hopefully Pentax pulls their heads out of the sand and makes a full frame camera so Pentax users will once again be able to enjoy the truly excellent CV optics. Their 40mm 2.0 is a gem...still though...I'd buy the 43 if they go full frame. :-)

slackercruster · 02-10-2012, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by G and T

Yes they have stopped making K mount lenses, but they can still be found. I bought mine (I have 3, a Nokton, an Ultron and a Color- Skopar ) all from a place called Hong Kong Buy and Sell. HKBNS do sell on ebay but at a premium if you go directly to their website ( Hong Kong Buy and Sell Limited ) they sell at the cheapest price anywhere on the web and are great to deal with.
Good luck, Glenn

I was worried they sell knockoffs.

slackercruster · 02-10-2012, 12:30 PM

Originally posted by Sperdynamite

They made sweet lenses but they dumped Pentax because there is no Full Frame option. Why buy a MF 40 f2 when the 40 2.8 is smaller, and AF? Hopefully Pentax pulls their heads out of the sand and makes a full frame camera so Pentax users will once again be able to enjoy the truly excellent CV optics. Their 40mm 2.0 is a gem...still though...I'd buy the 43 if they go full frame. :-)

The Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5 was a good seller. Why did they stop making it?

**jeffshaddix** · 02-10-2012, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by G and T

Yes they have stopped making K mount lenses, but they can still be found. I bought mine (I have 3, a Nokton, an Ultron and a Color- Skopar ) all from a place called Hong Kong Buy and Sell. HKBNS do sell on ebay but at a premium if you go directly to their website ( Hong Kong Buy and Sell Limited ) they sell at the cheapest price anywhere on the web and are great to deal with.
Good luck, Glenn

Wow dude, that's awesome. Great post. Too bad there aren't any Lanthars!

**jeffshaddix** · 02-10-2012, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by slackercruster

The Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5 was a good seller. Why did they stop making it?

Actually I heard it wasn't a good seller at release. It wasn't until it became hard to find that it became so popular. From what I can tell, MF lenses significantly gained popularity in the last five years or so (outside of the Leica crowd of course).

Now why they haven't re-released it... *shrug*

eddie1960 · 02-10-2012, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by Sperdynamite

They made sweet lenses but they dumped Pentax because there is no Full Frame option. Why buy a MF 40 f2 when the 40 2.8 is smaller, and AF? Hopefully Pentax pulls their heads out of the sand and makes a full frame camera so Pentax users will once again be able to enjoy the truly excellent CV optics. Their 40mm 2.0 is a gem...still though...I'd buy the 43 if they go full frame. :-)

they dumped K mount because they have limited capacity and they launched m4/3 lenses which they felt had a wider audience ( and they had their limited sales history on the k mount to look at). m4/3 definitely has more share than k mount currently (that will change quite possibly)
All 3rd party guys have been launching m4/3 lenses and they all have also cut the number of Pentax mount models
I think we will see them all coming back with k mount in 2014 giving ricoh a reasonable chance to grow the brand and making it worth their while to pursue (Sigma is by far the biggest 3rd party and has the capacity to keep supplying a large number of models, but lately there have been new versions coming out where the k mount is no longer made - whether that is just a matter of a later introduction to allow clearing the previous version or not remains to be seen)

G and T · 02-10-2012, 12:57 PM

Yes HKBNS do still sell Lanthars, I just haven't got around to adding to my Voigtlander collection.
Voigtlander LBA you've got to love it. Glenn

**jpzk** · 02-10-2012, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by G and T

Yes HKBNS do still sell Lanthars, I just haven't got around to adding to my Voigtlander collection.
Voigtlander LBA you've got to love it. Glenn

Maybe I looked in the wrong place on their site but I couldn't find this:
Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5

Of course, when there are some for "sale", they aren't "on sale" ever!

JP

**jeffshaddix** · 02-10-2012, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by jpzk

Maybe I looked in the wrong place on their site but I couldn't find this:
Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5

Of course, when there are some for "sale", they aren't "on sale" ever!

JP

He's refering to the 90mm lanthar (which I had forgotten was a lanthar). A good lens, but perhaps a bit slow for the price...

**RobA_Oz** · 02-10-2012, 01:42 PM

The funny thing is that Voigtlander lenses were only made for Nikon and Pentax mount for a long time. It was only just before they gave up making Pentax-mount versions that they started making Canon-mount ones. I can't help wondering what the story was there, because the market for Canon-mount lenses was always going to be bigger than either of the other two versions.

I have an SL58/1.4, and the pictures it provides are noticeably different to other lenses in this focal length range (mostly the strength of the blues, I think), but nonetheless appealing, to me. Although I now also have a very nice A50/1.2, I'm reluctant to pass on the Voigtlander because of that difference.

eddie1960 · 02-10-2012, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

The funny thing is that Voigtlander lenses were only made for Nikon and Pentax mount for a long time. It was only just before they gave up making Pentax-mount versions that they started making Canon-mount ones. I can't help wondering what the story was there, because the market for Canon-mount lenses was always going to be bigger than either of the other two versions.

I have an SL58/1.4, and the pictures it provides are noticeably different to other lenses in this focal length range (mostly the strength of the blues, I think), but nonetheless appealing, to me. Although I now also have a very nice A50/1.2, I'm reluctant to pass on the Voigtlander because of that difference.

manual K mount lens is no longer subject to copyright control (later A and AF versions are) same with the nikons they made
I'm not sure if the basic EF Mount is Public domain yet, but maybe they just reverse engineered it like everyone else (simpler to since no need to engineer af controls)
Cosina also made a K mount SLR or 2 fully manual (still may actually)

I think Cosina is adapting their business model to more modern realities now (when they started with K mount Pentax had much bigger share and requirements are very similar to a Nikon Manual focus (you can actually make the nikon fit easily with no mods on a pentax body but a small mod will help it lock)

dgaies · 02-10-2012, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

I have an SL58/1.4, and the pictures it provides are noticeably different to other lenses in this focal length range (mostly the strength of the blues, I think), but nonetheless appealing, to me. Although I now also have a very nice A50/1.2, I'm reluctant to pass on the Voigtlander because of that difference.

I agree. I had the SL58/1.4 and A50/1.2 at the same time (in fact the same A50/1.2

) and they certainly each had their own look. Can't say one was "better" than the other, but they were both excellent lenses.

02-10-2012, 11:56 AM	#1
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302	What happened to Voigtlander? Did they stop making Pentax mount lenses? Very hard to find.

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02-10-2012, 12:15 PM	#2
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Yes they did, so did Zeiss. Pick them up while you've got the chance. Hopefully a Pentax FF will be announced this year...it's the only way I could see Cosina (who makes Voigtlander and Zeiss) bringing back K mount versions.

02-10-2012, 12:23 PM - 2 Likes	#3
G and T Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Langwarrin Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 382	Yes they have stopped making K mount lenses, but they can still be found. I bought mine (I have 3, a Nokton, an Ultron and a Color- Skopar ) all from a place called Hong Kong Buy and Sell. HKBNS do sell on ebay but at a premium if you go directly to their website ( Hong Kong Buy and Sell Limited ) they sell at the cheapest price anywhere on the web and are great to deal with. Good luck, Glenn

02-10-2012, 12:27 PM	#4
Sperdynamite Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 271	They made sweet lenses but they dumped Pentax because there is no Full Frame option. Why buy a MF 40 f2 when the 40 2.8 is smaller, and AF? Hopefully Pentax pulls their heads out of the sand and makes a full frame camera so Pentax users will once again be able to enjoy the truly excellent CV optics. Their 40mm 2.0 is a gem...still though...I'd buy the 43 if they go full frame. :-)

02-10-2012, 12:29 PM	#5
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302 Original Poster	Originally posted by G and T Yes they have stopped making K mount lenses, but they can still be found. I bought mine (I have 3, a Nokton, an Ultron and a Color- Skopar ) all from a place called Hong Kong Buy and Sell. HKBNS do sell on ebay but at a premium if you go directly to their website ( Hong Kong Buy and Sell Limited ) they sell at the cheapest price anywhere on the web and are great to deal with. Good luck, Glenn I was worried they sell knockoffs.

02-10-2012, 12:30 PM	#6
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302 Original Poster	Originally posted by Sperdynamite They made sweet lenses but they dumped Pentax because there is no Full Frame option. Why buy a MF 40 f2 when the 40 2.8 is smaller, and AF? Hopefully Pentax pulls their heads out of the sand and makes a full frame camera so Pentax users will once again be able to enjoy the truly excellent CV optics. Their 40mm 2.0 is a gem...still though...I'd buy the 43 if they go full frame. :-) The Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5 was a good seller. Why did they stop making it?

02-10-2012, 12:31 PM	#7
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Originally posted by G and T Yes they have stopped making K mount lenses, but they can still be found. I bought mine (I have 3, a Nokton, an Ultron and a Color- Skopar ) all from a place called Hong Kong Buy and Sell. HKBNS do sell on ebay but at a premium if you go directly to their website ( Hong Kong Buy and Sell Limited ) they sell at the cheapest price anywhere on the web and are great to deal with. Good luck, Glenn Wow dude, that's awesome. Great post. Too bad there aren't any Lanthars!

02-10-2012, 12:35 PM	#8
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Originally posted by slackercruster The Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5 was a good seller. Why did they stop making it? Actually I heard it wasn't a good seller at release. It wasn't until it became hard to find that it became so popular. From what I can tell, MF lenses significantly gained popularity in the last five years or so (outside of the Leica crowd of course). Now why they haven't re-released it... shrug

02-10-2012, 12:41 PM	#9
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Sperdynamite They made sweet lenses but they dumped Pentax because there is no Full Frame option. Why buy a MF 40 f2 when the 40 2.8 is smaller, and AF? Hopefully Pentax pulls their heads out of the sand and makes a full frame camera so Pentax users will once again be able to enjoy the truly excellent CV optics. Their 40mm 2.0 is a gem...still though...I'd buy the 43 if they go full frame. :-) they dumped K mount because they have limited capacity and they launched m4/3 lenses which they felt had a wider audience ( and they had their limited sales history on the k mount to look at). m4/3 definitely has more share than k mount currently (that will change quite possibly) All 3rd party guys have been launching m4/3 lenses and they all have also cut the number of Pentax mount models I think we will see them all coming back with k mount in 2014 giving ricoh a reasonable chance to grow the brand and making it worth their while to pursue (Sigma is by far the biggest 3rd party and has the capacity to keep supplying a large number of models, but lately there have been new versions coming out where the k mount is no longer made - whether that is just a matter of a later introduction to allow clearing the previous version or not remains to be seen)

02-10-2012, 12:57 PM	#10
G and T Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Langwarrin Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 382	Yes HKBNS do still sell Lanthars, I just haven't got around to adding to my Voigtlander collection. Voigtlander LBA you've got to love it. Glenn

02-10-2012, 01:25 PM	#11
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by G and T Yes HKBNS do still sell Lanthars, I just haven't got around to adding to my Voigtlander collection. Voigtlander LBA you've got to love it. Glenn Maybe I looked in the wrong place on their site but I couldn't find this: Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5 Of course, when there are some for "sale", they aren't "on sale" ever! JP

02-10-2012, 01:28 PM	#12
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Originally posted by jpzk Maybe I looked in the wrong place on their site but I couldn't find this: Voigtlander Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5 Of course, when there are some for "sale", they aren't "on sale" ever! JP He's refering to the 90mm lanthar (which I had forgotten was a lanthar). A good lens, but perhaps a bit slow for the price...

02-10-2012, 01:42 PM	#13
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	The funny thing is that Voigtlander lenses were only made for Nikon and Pentax mount for a long time. It was only just before they gave up making Pentax-mount versions that they started making Canon-mount ones. I can't help wondering what the story was there, because the market for Canon-mount lenses was always going to be bigger than either of the other two versions. I have an SL58/1.4, and the pictures it provides are noticeably different to other lenses in this focal length range (mostly the strength of the blues, I think), but nonetheless appealing, to me. Although I now also have a very nice A50/1.2, I'm reluctant to pass on the Voigtlander because of that difference.

02-10-2012, 01:53 PM	#14
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by RobA_Oz The funny thing is that Voigtlander lenses were only made for Nikon and Pentax mount for a long time. It was only just before they gave up making Pentax-mount versions that they started making Canon-mount ones. I can't help wondering what the story was there, because the market for Canon-mount lenses was always going to be bigger than either of the other two versions. I have an SL58/1.4, and the pictures it provides are noticeably different to other lenses in this focal length range (mostly the strength of the blues, I think), but nonetheless appealing, to me. Although I now also have a very nice A50/1.2, I'm reluctant to pass on the Voigtlander because of that difference. manual K mount lens is no longer subject to copyright control (later A and AF versions are) same with the nikons they made I'm not sure if the basic EF Mount is Public domain yet, but maybe they just reverse engineered it like everyone else (simpler to since no need to engineer af controls) Cosina also made a K mount SLR or 2 fully manual (still may actually) I think Cosina is adapting their business model to more modern realities now (when they started with K mount Pentax had much bigger share and requirements are very similar to a Nikon Manual focus (you can actually make the nikon fit easily with no mods on a pentax body but a small mod will help it lock)

02-10-2012, 01:55 PM	#15
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by RobA_Oz I have an SL58/1.4, and the pictures it provides are noticeably different to other lenses in this focal length range (mostly the strength of the blues, I think), but nonetheless appealing, to me. Although I now also have a very nice A50/1.2, I'm reluctant to pass on the Voigtlander because of that difference. I agree. I had the SL58/1.4 and A50/1.2 at the same time (in fact the same A50/1.2 ) and they certainly each had their own look. Can't say one was "better" than the other, but they were both excellent lenses.