Originally posted by kaipa Hi Les,
I did not find focusing ring of 125 and 180 too stiff. For the macro distance it does not matter and for the mid and long distance you just need a tiny bit of rotation to focus properly. In fact, long Pentax primes are also quite stiff (e.g. 200/4 macro) if you compare them to Pentax Limiteds. Rotating huge amount of glass requires some force. Only IF long lenses are very easy ones.
I'm certain focusing was my problem. I believe those lenses (and the CV 90) are three of the finest lenses ever made. It started with a new prescription for my glasses that I couldn't figure out a way to use with my camera. 90mm and above is too long to tolerate wobble on APS-C (which is what I had then), and focusing on version I of the Voigtlanders is far stiffer than version II, which have buttery smooth action that's even better than the Zeiss lenses IMHO. I absolutely loved the retro look of V I, but with V II I can easily spin the ring around with my index finger, yet it stays put too. Anyway, that stiffness combined with my glasses kept me missing shots, which is why I sold the version I lenses and started trying various AF lenses. The CV 58 I sold because it was a weird FL (for me) on APS-C, but I acquired it again for FF. I've also since learned a way to press the camera to my cheek to hold it near my glasses, so I'm back in business with manual focus lenses.
Another reason I gave up the magnificent CV125 was because I seldom shoot macro and I the macro look doesn't appeal to me for wider scenes (just a personal taste thing, I know others really like the look). I went through quite a few macro lenses before I figured that out about myself - I even had the Zeiss 100 makro but gave it up for that reason. Actually, selling the CV 125 to you (which I'd lusted after for years) led to me figuring out that I've been searching for lenses that can recreate the sort of images I used to get with my Leica lenses 35-40 years ago. The Voigtlanders render wonderfully, but also differently than Leica lenses which I thought were sort of "lush", if that makes any sense to say about a lens. I prefer tube lushness to solid state "crispness" (in the upper frequencies) for my music listening as well. For what I'm after, a couple of the Zeiss lenses seem closest.
Of course, none this takes away from the fact that you have managed to put together some of the finest lenses.