I'm also considering it for my zf on which I mostly use old AIS non-cpu lenses. Is focusing any better/faster with this lens? I mean you get the confirmation box with CPU lenses like this whereas with non-cpu you're left only with focus peaking and zooming.
I love the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO. It's my favorite lens, manual focus is more fun, it's insanely sharp, but still feels like it has some character. I wish they made telephoto lenses.
I am not sure it's "neglect". Voigtlander does not really seem to promote their products via TH-camrs and in a way I applaud them for that, they don't hype their products. We can't expect reviewers to buy every lens they test.
All Voigtländers actually have amazing sun stars from the moment you stop them down with the exception of closed down completely. They use straight aperture blades so you’ll get very nicely defined stars even stopped down only by half a stop. Which is nice for getting starts in night scenes when you still want a fast aperture.
Just got the 40mm 1.2 for Canon R mount and it is AWESOME! Easily the best lens I have owned in the last decade. The rendering wide open is just beautiful. And the manual focus works very well with Canon‘s eye detection and focus assist. I shoot a bit slower but get more tack sharp keepers than with my af lenses.
Voigtlander really makes some stellar glass. The 40mm f1.2 Nokton, the 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar and the 65mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Macro are among some of the best lenses made for the E-mount system (or any other system for that matter) if you are willing to put up with manual focus and don't strive for clinical sharpness and rendering. What Chris didn't mention is that the contacts on the lens also serve to communicate with the focus-assist tools. If you turn the focus ring, you can automatically zoom in on the picture in the EVF to ensure your picture is correctly in focus, and with a half press of the shutter button you can see your full composition. Faster way of shooting manually, than having to program a separate button for that.
I have several Voigtlander lens . Each having its own rendering and characteristics. They seem made with certain rendering in mind as they design them . I bought the 40 f/1.2 and 75mm f/1.5 for these reasons. I also have the 65mm f/2 macro . It’s a super high resolution lens and use it for that purpose. It’s learn a lens and use it accordingly
I have the Voightlander 28 f2.8 and 55 f1.2 on my Nikon F3 and adapted them to my Sony A7RV. Beautiful renderings and are my favorite lenses to do manual focusing, smooth and feels very premium.
Interesting that you review these, and to hear your take on the sunstars. The 40/1,2 has ten straight blades which no zoom or other modern AF lens has, and it can show clearly defined ten ray sunstars at f/2,8, you don't need to stop it down to f/16 for that. (And bokeh highlights will never be round). It's part of the reason for CV lenses, just like the Loxias. The CV 50 1,0 has twelve straight blades and pretty 12 ray sunstars from f/4 - f/11 (it's mush at f/16 which you showed)
Exactly, they whiffed the sunstar testing because they were used to lenses with rounded blades that don't produce good sunstars unless stopped down to minimum aperture.
10:55 THIS SAYS SO MUCH! Great on you two for doing the very basics, and doing it well. This shot shows so much, simply. The 40mm looks well matched to an A7CR, your side by side makes clear the SIZE and the Price difference, $1,900 is a high % of kitFunds to throw at a single lens, but a more compact and cheaper by 60% option makes this 40mm super interesting. Great job you guys. You’ve both transcended like 4 different businesses and still you’re doing what you do best, thank you Canada for Jordan and Chris.
Nikon zf is the legit way for MF lenses. Focus confirmation and auto assist makes the experience really convenient I hope other manufacturers adopt this approach
@@tor2919 he doesn't mention that the Canon version has the option of no-click aperture adjustment for video either, while the Nikon Z version (afaics) doesn't but is slightly lighter.
Great episode as always. Would love to see an episode about the APS-C - offerings from Voigtländer (especially on FUJI, because they pair really nicely with the more retro designs).
I bought the 40/1.2 years ago, and it was a great lens for casual portraits. I did find it looked a little better at f/1.4, but when I upgraded to an A7Rm4, it just didn't perform as well. The CA was a bit more obvious and the softness just didn't look so pleasing. In the end, the sony 35/1.8 won out, and I just don't use the nokton as much as I once did. It really is a great lens, one with character, but it's nowhere as sharp as the 50/2 APO, and it doesn't have "that old glow" as much as the Heliar Classic 50/1.5 does. Even so, it still has a place in my heart amongst the Cosina Voigtlander lens line up. If you're a 40mm liker, it's still a great choice. Just don't expect 61Mp great out of it.
Yes, the 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar and the 65mm f2 macro are stunning. They are really sharp, and they have done something with the glass that gives really beautiful saturated colours and beautiful bokeh
Finally, at long last a review of Voigtländers. Thank you Chris & Jordan. You could have included the 35mm APO-Lanther for this review. The LoCA tests would have been more interesting to compare. I know Chris hates the 35mm, but still. A bit disappointed that the Z mounts were not included for this review.
Kasey @ Camera Conspiracies will probably buy you each a green tea now since you have praised the Voightlander lenses so highly. Gotta have that 3D Pop!
It's Nokton not Nocton. Bit of an oversight there. I love Voigtlander lenses. The 35mm Nokton Classic SC in M-mount is my all time favourite lens (sorry Chris). I've paired that with multiple cameras over the years and I am always happy with the output. I paired it with the 50mm Nokton 1.5 II and I don't feel like I need any other lenses in those focal lengths. My biggest regret, lens wise, was selling my LTM mount 15mm Heliar. I loved that lens but it didn't play nicely on the Sony A7 I had at the time. Would have been brilliant on my X-Pro 1 and Leica M9 though.
I've been using the 40mm for a few years and absolutely love that lens. I picked up the 10mm f5.6 just over a year ago and it's a great option for an ultra wide angle that's very compact.
The 40/1.2 on Sony is the best looking render in the whole system, imo. Only thing remotely close for AF is the 50GM and 35GM... but still missing some magic. Voigtlander on rangefinders is the real chef's kiss, though.
Very happy owner of the 40 1.2 in M mount here, adapting to a Fuji X-T5 - this lens is a joy to use, and I love the rendering it produces especially with Classic Neg based film sims. I'm a sucker for green fringing in the right circumstances and don't need clinical sharpness, so this hits a very specific spot of immaculate make and handling and optical character that's right up my alley. Would love to shoot it on full frame, but none of the current systems fit my wants and needs the way that Fuji does, and buying a still quite expensive body just for adapted glass without a crop factor does feel a bit excessive. I'm also really enjoying the 60-75mm focal length I get from this lens and my vintage 50s, much more so than a normal 50 or 85 - maybe that's just from shooting differently in manual though.
I hope you have a chance to try these again on an M body. If you get the chance - the 40 classic 1.4 is really inexpensive and comes in several coatings (dependent on the look you want) at almost 1/2 the price of the 40 you tested - and about 1/2 the size, and on the other end the APOs are really really good (and still not stupid expensive). Voigt is a bit 'focused' as shown by the limited line based on the mount - and the M/L39 has the widest range of options. I've had four of them - sold one with the M (regretted that), and traded/sold two others (and regretted them as well). Would love to see MORE Voigt reviews..
i've got the 27mm f2 voitlander ultron for my fuji x-t5 and love the images i get out of it. Plus its a nice compact lens that i can leave on the same for casual photography or thow into a bag if i want to swap out to it.
You failed in your sunstar testing. Both of these lenses are well known for producing nice, well-defined sunstars; just not at f/16. You really should test lenses throughout their f-stop range.
I might also add that you made the same mistake in your Fujifilm 16-50/2.8-4.8 video; testing sunstars at f/16 rather than at f/5.6, where they are actually much better. But no one would know that from your reviews. Apertures like f/5.6 are also much more useful than f/16, so lenses that produce well-defined sunstars at such normal apertures should be praised.
I got the Voightlander 35mm f1.4 Nocton for E mount. What a fantastic and small lens on a Sony body. Theses lenses have quirks and character and are worth it if perfection is not what you are after.
I’ve got the same 35mm f1.4 and I alternate between it and Sony’s 50mm f2.5 on my A7C. I love a good quality compact lens and these both qualify, just for different reasons.
I've got Sigma 35/1.4 Art lens, there isn't anything better (apart from GM) in the market today. But regardless, a lens without AF is totally unacceptable anyway.
Wish they would add weather sealing to these lenses. Yes they're built well but that metql on metal construction will pull water all over the place, and just watch a teardown of these to see that there's quite a lot of electronics inside nowadays. Other than that, really desirable lenses. Nice review guys!
At 1.0, that focal plane is sooooo thin, especially on the 50. I use the previous 50mm 1.2 Nokton, and I find close focus too soft (wide open) as a result. But backing my subject up for half/full body portraits and it actually renders quite sharp with dramatic background separation. For me that’s where this lens shines. Think subject isolation in a market, street fair etc.
the M mount 40mm f1.2 is my main lens alongside the Leica 90mm f2 pre ASPH on mirrorless - beautiful rendering on both of them. What I love about these kinds of lenses is the tiny size relative to the super fast apertures; I very rarely feel held back by lack of autofocus, and in fact the tactile feel of a manual focus lens is often far more engaging. I just wish voigtlander would come out with a 135mm f2 or f2.8! Thinking of switching to Z mount for the ZF soon, and the Plena might by a tiiiiny bit out of my price range, quite apart from the size. But heigh ho. I recommend the 40mm f1.2 to anyone looking for fast, standard glass - I can keep it glued to my camera all day on the street, from environmental portraits to tack sharp urban landscapes :)
the 50/1 also has floating element which allows it to maintain sharpness regardless of focus distance. that's one of the main reasons why it's so expensive.
The Voigtlander 12mm and 21mm are always in my camera bag. Small, sharp, almost zero flair, great sunstars, and a different "look" to the images. If I was a portrait shooter though, I'd definitely look into the 65mm f/2 (apochromatic (focuses all colours to the same point) and often reviewers say it's the sharpest lens they've ever tested).
The way I always looked at a comparison like modern Voigtlander branded glass and something like a cheaper TTartisan lens is that while both lenses might have similar tested and proven optical formulas design wise that are generally less complicated and are closer to vintage glass, with Voigtlanders you are usually getting a lot better coatings to go with it and the cheaper lenses, while still better coating wise than vintage lenses that didn't even have the formulations/coatings as an option, they are still closer to vintage than not. There's also the ability to actually use the near f1 base apertures and not be blown out by the "dreamy" effect too bad with Voigtlander compared to something like the 7Artisans 50mm f0.95 I have. I got it cheap to test, so I don't mind that it's really more of a f1.4 lens... and at that point I get great results just from adapting something like a Vintage Pentax SMC-M 50mm f1.4. Pretty much all of my personal photography is shot using full manual lenses with full manual settings. It's part of the experience that I enjoy, and I also like that these lenses are generally native mount instead of having the bulk of an adaptor plus a lens. Depending on the body I'm using, I'll use native manual lenses for work too (with my Pentax KP and K-1.ii I can just use catch-in-focus/focus trapping and basically always nail focus with manual lenses even for events with movement/action; helps get around Pentax's questionable AF on my bodies that lack the K-3.iii's improvements to make it slightly less questionable).
i bought the 110mm apo lanthar (never had a macro lens before) and soon after bought a nokton 50mm 1.2. i do love both. one of the great things of the electronics passthrough on the sony (and i assume the canon as well), is that you get full ibis support. would love to see a head to head w/ the 50mm f/1, 50mm f/1.2 and maybe the 40mm f/1.2 noktons just to see if it's worth to get the f1.0, and help people decide if they want the 40mm vs the 50mm
It’s always a conscious effort to shoot with my 35mm f1.2 Voigtländer, but when I do, it’s worth it every time. There is simply no other lens that renders faces and skin as beautifully.. Edit (for some reason I cannot reply): Skin is made up of many colors that interleave and "interact" with each other - shades of pink, beige, yellow etc. With some tweaking of HSL, clarity, contrast, white balance and some time in Point color, you can really elevate a portrait shot taken with any lens. Utilizing a few more advanced techniques like dodge & burn and split toning, you can get even further. But starting out with a good balance of colors to begin with can make a world of difference. The 35mm f1.2 Voightlander renders this balance of colors superbly and that is one of several unique strengths of the lens.
If you have a cheap 50mm f1.8, just go to the camera settings and remove all the contrast in the PICTURE STYLE setting and you will have beautiful skin even with a cheap lens.
@@michelecintramika8482 no doubt about that. If you can edit in Lightroom, you can bring out a lot of any glass, regardless of price. But all things being equal, my Voigtlander still renders skin tones more pleasantly than any other prime I’ve used. (And rendering of skin is only one aspect of the whole package the lens’ delivers) I don’t want to get into the specifics, but when it comes to skin, there are many many tones that are interleaving with each other - shades of pink, beige, yellow, etc.. it’s not as simple as moving clarity, contrast, HSL sliders. Etc. Even with more “advanced” techniques like dodge & burn or frequency separation for portrait editing, it’s still immensely helpful to have the the balance of colors rendered well right from the start
@@michelecintramika8482 no doubt about that. If you can edit in Lightroom, you can bring out a lot more from any glass. That said, all things being equal, the Voightlander still produces my best images of human subjects. I don't want to get too deep into the specifics, but let's take skin tones as an example (one of the several strengths of the Voightlander). Skin is made up of many colors that interleave and "interact" with each other - shades of pink, beige, yellow etc. With some tweaking of HSL, clarity, contrast, white balance and some time in Point color, you can really elevate a portrait shot. Utilizing a few more advanced techniques like dodge & burn and split toning, you can get even further. But starting out with a good balance of colors to begin with can make a world of difference.
@@michelecintramika8482 Spherical aberration is different to digitally reducing contrast. It creates a soft halation more akin to using black mist filters.
Note that there are at least 2 versions of the 40mm 1.2 the Aspherical and the SE. They seem similar but the Output is NOT there is also an 1.4 classic which is smaller but renders like an old vintage lens. If you plan on getting a Voigtländer do your homework which isnt easy to do coz there isnt to much out there. On top of that they are still evolving and i have no clue how older versions stack up against new ones. The 40mm shown here seems to be the SE, they have more caracter, a nicer bokeh but are rather soft wide open and with more flare. I would go for the aspherical in this case even if its more expensive as its really good no matter what circumstances you are shooting in. About the sunstars: if the light source is stron enough you can already get them at f1.6(maybe even 1.4 but i have no proof for that) which is nice in low light, the downside is that you will only get really round bokeh balls when shooting wide open. Focusthrow : ~120° which is short enough if you need to be quick but long enough if you want to be precise. Focusring: its confusing at first and EVERYONE who will try out your cam+lens but once you got used to it you realise its the way things should be done.
The 40mm (and 50mm) Nokton aspherical SE is the exact same lens as the Nokton asperical lens (non-SE), just a different design and without a clickless aperture option. SE lenses are only available for Sony E and the lens in this video is for Canon - not an SE lens but a different design to the Sony version.
@@creative_cozmic well my 35 classic, my 35 SE and my 40 Aspherical all render differently but its really hard to get an aples to apples comparison. All 3 have clicky apertures in my case btw does the canon version differ much besides the flange focal distance in its optical design? i doubt it Someone really should make a Video about Voigtländerlenses as its really confusing how the lenses compare.
@@VDDDRex Those three lenses are different lenses and will render differently. Voigtlander made 40mm and 50mm Nokton 1.2 lenses, later joined by SE versions and they have the same rendering but different external designs. The 35 SE is a unique lens and there are no other versions of it in E mount so it's rendering will be unique.
You need to try and make a video like this one about the Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f/0.8, the fastest production lens. Never seen a TH-cam video about it.
Chris, Adobe profiles for 40mm f/1.2 Nokton do a decent job with the vignetting, particularly at wider apertures. I have the M-mount and using it on a Lumix S5 IIx so no contacts to transfer information thus I have to apply the profiles in LR. Not sure about the versions you're using but give it a try if they aren't applied automatically. I only have the 40mm f/1.2 so not sure if Adobe has a 50 f/1 profile
I can very highly recommend Voigtländer Lenses, best built quality you can get, very good to outstanding optical image quality. The Voigtländer APO-Lanthar Lenses are second to none ! I hope you will test many more Voigtländer Lenses !?
I'm super interested in two related things: Comparison of M-mount Voigtlaenders with these (I'm mostly on L-mount, but still have m4/3, X, and would like to use them across systems.) The X-Pro3/X-Pro4 experience with these and the hybrid VF, as well as the comparison with non-X-Pro.
Lol @ portrait at 8:30. He looks like my wife when she asks, "Are you done setting up the camera gear? Can we just take the picture now? That light is too bright!!!"
The Nokton 40mm 1.4 is the default on my digital M, it's an excellent lens. Wide open it has a ton of character and stopped down it's much more clinical. Very small compared to the Nokton 1.2 as well. Voigtlander has the unique quality of not really being considered third party among many Leica users, because the new lenses are so ubiquitously used to fill in gaps that many first part Leica lenses either don't fill in or haven't filled in for decades.
@@Bayonet1809 That exists in any first-party mount system. I can't think of any others though where so many of the users default to a specific third party brand. Maybe Sony FE users and Sigma?
I adore Voigtlander lenses. I bought the 40 1.2 a year ago and fell so in love with it that I sold all my autofocus lenses. Someday, when I can afford it, I'll check out the 50 f1. :)
I love Voigtlander lenses, but it makes me wish Canon would reissue their EF 50mm f1.0 for RF mount. Updated focus motors, lens coatings, modernized lens barrel (maybe some font choices that were a throwback?) but that same original optical design…that would be really exciting.
The big tradeoff is you'll lose the ability to reliably zone focus in street situations. It's beyond me why Leica is one of very few (if not the only) manufacturer putting distance markings and focusing scales on focus-by-wire lenses.
I think that the Voigtlanders are a bit like the old Canon EF 85/1.2 in that people who use them value their ability to produce a specific "look" for the scene as a whole rather than a clinically sharp image at the plane of focus. The Sigma produces a better-corrected in-focus image in just about every measurable respect, but those corrections arguably come at the expense of a less graceful transition into out-of-focus areas. FWIW, I use the Sony 50/1.2 which is also a "heavily corrected" lens and I have plenty of fast Sigmas as well, so that's where my preferences lie. I'm just trying to explain why a professional might rationally choose the Voightlander.
@@ianroe1076 Apart from the Q series cameras (which have a fixed lens so hardly count) what focus-by-wire Leica lenses have distance markings and focusing scales? The new Hasselblad XCD V-series lenses, and the old Fuji focus-clutch equipped primes do, but no Leicas that I know of.
@@Bayonet1809 It's a focus by wire lens that can be effectively zone focused, dunno why being attached to a single camera body would invalidate that. It's a shame Fuji hasn't embraced it in the rest of their lens lineup, because otherwise every adjustment other than composition could be prepared without holding it up to your eye or looking at a rear LCD.
The Nikon Z Versions look much nicer with scalloped metal construction. I have the 40mm 1.2 and 75mm 1.5mm. They are brilliant, full of contrast and character.
I love my voigtlander lenses from f-mount and my z40mm 1.2 is even better than those - amazing and fun. Saving for the 50mm f1 because it has a somewhat different look to it that is even more unique and beautiful.
It is not a good advice actually. - The M Mount lenses (Voigtlander VM mount as they called) are designed for the thinner sensor profile of M cameras and usually have issues on thicker sensor cameras (as Sony or Nikon cameras) mainly on the corners. You can investigate it yourself on various reviews (eg check Fred Miranda's reviews on Voigtlander lesnes). Voigtlander 40mm 1.2 for instance is designed also for FE, RF and Z mount and it works perfect there, so you get much better corners than the M mount ones. So, clearly the M mount and FE, RF and Z mount lenses are not exactly the same optically. - The native lenses have contacts so, there are function that are missing if you use a VM lens with an adapter (eg EXIF, IBIS without manual setting the focal lens and various others different on Canons, Nikons, or Sonys) cameras. I own the Nikon version of 40mm 1.2 and there for example is subject detection square that becomes green when in focus (so for instance if you take portrait there is square on the eye that becomes green when is in focus and works perfectly).
The ultra-bright Voigtlanders are fun, but I don't think they represent what Voigtlander is truly capable of. Their Apo-Lanthar line for M mount, alongside some of the more "vintage" f1.5/1.4 Noktons are why they're truly loved
The thing is, you can buy some amazing lenses second-hand for much less than you would buy the two Voitlanders. Lenses like the Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO Sonnar, which is one of the greatest lenses ever made, for about £700. The Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 for a similar amount. Even the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 can be bought for Canon for less than £1000, and if you use it with an adapter with a Canon R mount, you can get an amazing camera lens combination. Now, I can only guess what it will be like internationally, but I suspect we will see similar things elsewhere in the world. As for data. I don't think it makes much difference. I never check mine anyway.
last night Chris nocton my bedroom door to show me his lenses🔥
😊
If only we could all be so lucky 😢
Y'all can fight over Chris, I'm taking Jordan
Filmed with the GH7 in open gate
Was the lens fully manual in its operation?
40mm nokton is my daily carry on my Zf. Love that lens
It's my go-to on the Z8 ❤
Patiently awaiting arrival of my 40mm Nokton for my Zf in (hopefully) early July. I've had mine on pre-order since mid-April.
@@hfos it’s a legit little lens
@@martycavassa bought mine used from Japan for a hefty discount because it was missing the lens hood
I'm also considering it for my zf on which I mostly use old AIS non-cpu lenses. Is focusing any better/faster with this lens? I mean you get the confirmation box with CPU lenses like this whereas with non-cpu you're left only with focus peaking and zooming.
I love the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO. It's my favorite lens, manual focus is more fun, it's insanely sharp, but still feels like it has some character. I wish they made telephoto lenses.
I also have the 50 apo and the 35 apo. Both are marvelous. Voigtländer also makes a 65mm and a 110mm lens. They’re all highly rated.
It's a shame you guys have neglected reviewing voigtlander lens up till now. They're really great. Please review more voigtlander manual lenses guys
I am not sure it's "neglect". Voigtlander does not really seem to promote their products via TH-camrs and in a way I applaud them for that, they don't hype their products. We can't expect reviewers to buy every lens they test.
They are overpriced garbage. Why would you pay so much money for something you have to stop down 2 stops and doesn't even AF?
@@vitaminb4869 Glass is first, not AF first.
Because real men can twist the shaft to focus.@@vitaminb4869
All Voigtländers actually have amazing sun stars from the moment you stop them down with the exception of closed down completely. They use straight aperture blades so you’ll get very nicely defined stars even stopped down only by half a stop. Which is nice for getting starts in night scenes when you still want a fast aperture.
Just got the 40mm 1.2 for Canon R mount and it is AWESOME! Easily the best lens I have owned in the last decade. The rendering wide open is just beautiful. And the manual focus works very well with Canon‘s eye detection and focus assist. I shoot a bit slower but get more tack sharp keepers than with my af lenses.
I've been eyeing the 40mm 1.2 for a couple of months. It's GORGEOUS.
I have had one for 3 years and it is one of my favourites, go for it!
My 50f2 APO is my favorite lens of all time
Voigtlander really makes some stellar glass. The 40mm f1.2 Nokton, the 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar and the 65mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Macro are among some of the best lenses made for the E-mount system (or any other system for that matter) if you are willing to put up with manual focus and don't strive for clinical sharpness and rendering.
What Chris didn't mention is that the contacts on the lens also serve to communicate with the focus-assist tools. If you turn the focus ring, you can automatically zoom in on the picture in the EVF to ensure your picture is correctly in focus, and with a half press of the shutter button you can see your full composition. Faster way of shooting manually, than having to program a separate button for that.
I have several Voigtlander lens . Each having its own rendering and characteristics. They seem made with certain rendering in mind as they design them .
I bought the 40 f/1.2 and 75mm f/1.5 for these reasons.
I also have the 65mm f/2 macro . It’s a super high resolution lens and use it for that purpose.
It’s learn a lens and use it accordingly
I adore the 40mm Voigtlander. I've thought about getting the 75mm 1.5 but don't see it for sale in many places. Would you recommend it?
How would you rate the LoCA on the 75 vs these two?
I have the Voightlander 28 f2.8 and 55 f1.2 on my Nikon F3 and adapted them to my Sony A7RV. Beautiful renderings and are my favorite lenses to do manual focusing, smooth and feels very premium.
Please do some of their APO lenses next. From what I understand, the APO lenses are where Voigtlander really shines.
Interesting that you review these, and to hear your take on the sunstars. The 40/1,2 has ten straight blades which no zoom or other modern AF lens has, and it can show clearly defined ten ray sunstars at f/2,8, you don't need to stop it down to f/16 for that. (And bokeh highlights will never be round). It's part of the reason for CV lenses, just like the Loxias. The CV 50 1,0 has twelve straight blades and pretty 12 ray sunstars from f/4 - f/11 (it's mush at f/16 which you showed)
Exactly, they whiffed the sunstar testing because they were used to lenses with rounded blades that don't produce good sunstars unless stopped down to minimum aperture.
10:55 THIS SAYS SO MUCH! Great on you two for doing the very basics, and doing it well. This shot shows so much, simply. The 40mm looks well matched to an A7CR, your side by side makes clear the SIZE and the Price difference, $1,900 is a high % of kitFunds to throw at a single lens, but a more compact and cheaper by 60% option makes this 40mm super interesting.
Great job you guys. You’ve both transcended like 4 different businesses and still you’re doing what you do best, thank you Canada for Jordan and Chris.
Nikon zf is the legit way for MF lenses. Focus confirmation and auto assist makes the experience really convenient
I hope other manufacturers adopt this approach
The Voigtlander 40mm 1.2 and my Sony A7C is a perfect combo. I reach for it much more than my 50mm GM.
The 50mm 1.0 is welded to the front of my Nikon Zf. I love it.
Same
But why doesn’t Chris mention that these Voigtlander lenses also come native for Nikon Z? They are perfect for the Zf
@@tor2919 he doesn't mention that the Canon version has the option of no-click aperture adjustment for video either, while the Nikon Z version (afaics) doesn't but is slightly lighter.
5:05 I would call that sun star pretty amazing.🤨
Wouldn't these lenses suite the Nikon Z f (wit object recognition in manual mode) good?
it does, almost feels like cheating.
Great episode as always.
Would love to see an episode about the APS-C - offerings from Voigtländer (especially on FUJI, because they pair really nicely with the more retro designs).
I have the m-mount version of the 40mm f/1.2 and it's one of my favorite lenses
Do you plan on testing some of their APO lenses?
I bought the 40/1.2 years ago, and it was a great lens for casual portraits. I did find it looked a little better at f/1.4, but when I upgraded to an A7Rm4, it just didn't perform as well. The CA was a bit more obvious and the softness just didn't look so pleasing. In the end, the sony 35/1.8 won out, and I just don't use the nokton as much as I once did.
It really is a great lens, one with character, but it's nowhere as sharp as the 50/2 APO, and it doesn't have "that old glow" as much as the Heliar Classic 50/1.5 does. Even so, it still has a place in my heart amongst the Cosina Voigtlander lens line up.
If you're a 40mm liker, it's still a great choice. Just don't expect 61Mp great out of it.
Voigtlander makes quite nice lenses, especially their APO lenses - you should definitely take a look at those.
Yes, the 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar and the 65mm f2 macro are stunning. They are really sharp, and they have done something with the glass that gives really beautiful saturated colours and beautiful bokeh
Finally, at long last a review of Voigtländers. Thank you Chris & Jordan.
You could have included the 35mm APO-Lanther for this review. The LoCA tests would have been more interesting to compare. I know Chris hates the 35mm, but still.
A bit disappointed that the Z mounts were not included for this review.
I have the 40mm 1.2 and the 65mm APO on e-mount, and love them both. The 65mm has basically no flaws whatsoever.
I was able to finally pet my pixel. I got it to roll over, sit, stay, color shift and even flash sync.
You should have written "pet a pixel" for a better effect. Peta-pixel is one billion times one megapixel.
@@michaels3003 picky picky
Nokton 40 is one of the most fun lenses I ever used.
Kasey @ Camera Conspiracies will probably buy you each a green tea now since you have praised the Voightlander lenses so highly. Gotta have that 3D Pop!
It's Nokton not Nocton. Bit of an oversight there.
I love Voigtlander lenses. The 35mm Nokton Classic SC in M-mount is my all time favourite lens (sorry Chris). I've paired that with multiple cameras over the years and I am always happy with the output. I paired it with the 50mm Nokton 1.5 II and I don't feel like I need any other lenses in those focal lengths. My biggest regret, lens wise, was selling my LTM mount 15mm Heliar. I loved that lens but it didn't play nicely on the Sony A7 I had at the time. Would have been brilliant on my X-Pro 1 and Leica M9 though.
Fixed! Thanks!
Have the 40mm on my Z8 and never take it off. Love shooting with it wide open. Great lens!
You should do an episode on the Leica 50mm 1.4. Or the Leica SL lenses with their complete lack of CA and LoCA
As an mft shooter, I'd really love so see you guys review the 60mm f/0.95 and 29mm f/0.8 Voigtlanders, not new, not popular, but sexy?!
I' love to see a review of the APO Lanthar series of Voigtlander lenses.
I've been using the 40mm for a few years and absolutely love that lens. I picked up the 10mm f5.6 just over a year ago and it's a great option for an ultra wide angle that's very compact.
The 40/1.2 on Sony is the best looking render in the whole system, imo. Only thing remotely close for AF is the 50GM and 35GM... but still missing some magic.
Voigtlander on rangefinders is the real chef's kiss, though.
Very happy owner of the 40 1.2 in M mount here, adapting to a Fuji X-T5 - this lens is a joy to use, and I love the rendering it produces especially with Classic Neg based film sims. I'm a sucker for green fringing in the right circumstances and don't need clinical sharpness, so this hits a very specific spot of immaculate make and handling and optical character that's right up my alley.
Would love to shoot it on full frame, but none of the current systems fit my wants and needs the way that Fuji does, and buying a still quite expensive body just for adapted glass without a crop factor does feel a bit excessive. I'm also really enjoying the 60-75mm focal length I get from this lens and my vintage 50s, much more so than a normal 50 or 85 - maybe that's just from shooting differently in manual though.
I hope you have a chance to try these again on an M body. If you get the chance - the 40 classic 1.4 is really inexpensive and comes in several coatings (dependent on the look you want) at almost 1/2 the price of the 40 you tested - and about 1/2 the size, and on the other end the APOs are really really good (and still not stupid expensive). Voigt is a bit 'focused' as shown by the limited line based on the mount - and the M/L39 has the widest range of options. I've had four of them - sold one with the M (regretted that), and traded/sold two others (and regretted them as well). Would love to see MORE Voigt reviews..
i've got the 27mm f2 voitlander ultron for my fuji x-t5 and love the images i get out of it. Plus its a nice compact lens that i can leave on the same for casual photography or thow into a bag if i want to swap out to it.
Voigtlander is exeptional lenses. Love 35/1.4 E-mount so much. Very compact and definitely has character.
You failed in your sunstar testing. Both of these lenses are well known for producing nice, well-defined sunstars; just not at f/16. You really should test lenses throughout their f-stop range.
I might also add that you made the same mistake in your Fujifilm 16-50/2.8-4.8 video; testing sunstars at f/16 rather than at f/5.6, where they are actually much better. But no one would know that from your reviews. Apertures like f/5.6 are also much more useful than f/16, so lenses that produce well-defined sunstars at such normal apertures should be praised.
I got the Voightlander 35mm f1.4 Nocton for E mount. What a fantastic and small lens on a Sony body. Theses lenses have quirks and character and are worth it if perfection is not what you are after.
I’ve got the same 35mm f1.4 and I alternate between it and Sony’s 50mm f2.5 on my A7C. I love a good quality compact lens and these both qualify, just for different reasons.
I've got Sigma 35/1.4 Art lens, there isn't anything better (apart from GM) in the market today. But regardless, a lens without AF is totally unacceptable anyway.
I think Voigtländer in German, it's FOK-lend-ah ... but in Murrika, we pronounce it as Voyt-lander.
Wish they would add weather sealing to these lenses. Yes they're built well but that metql on metal construction will pull water all over the place, and just watch a teardown of these to see that there's quite a lot of electronics inside nowadays. Other than that, really desirable lenses. Nice review guys!
I have the 50mm f 1 for RF mount and I love it, and I also have the 29mm 0.8 for micro four thirds and it's great too
The 40mm flares a lot at f/1.2, but have to take the hood off to appreciate it. Can be used creatively.
“Do I look hot? DAAAYYUUUMMM~” 😂
Hawt!
The LoCA is probably what holds me back the most on these. Did you have the chance to test the 75 1.5 in addition to these?
At 1.0, that focal plane is sooooo thin, especially on the 50. I use the previous 50mm 1.2 Nokton, and I find close focus too soft (wide open) as a result. But backing my subject up for half/full body portraits and it actually renders quite sharp with dramatic background separation. For me that’s where this lens shines. Think subject isolation in a market, street fair etc.
the M mount 40mm f1.2 is my main lens alongside the Leica 90mm f2 pre ASPH on mirrorless - beautiful rendering on both of them. What I love about these kinds of lenses is the tiny size relative to the super fast apertures; I very rarely feel held back by lack of autofocus, and in fact the tactile feel of a manual focus lens is often far more engaging. I just wish voigtlander would come out with a 135mm f2 or f2.8! Thinking of switching to Z mount for the ZF soon, and the Plena might by a tiiiiny bit out of my price range, quite apart from the size. But heigh ho. I recommend the 40mm f1.2 to anyone looking for fast, standard glass - I can keep it glued to my camera all day on the street, from environmental portraits to tack sharp urban landscapes :)
one of the few lenses that i've seen online that actually make me wonder "was that shot on 35mm film?" so yeah, good job!
the 50/1 also has floating element which allows it to maintain sharpness regardless of focus distance. that's one of the main reasons why it's so expensive.
And also why their test chart showed better performance for it over the 40/1.2, when at longer focal distances they are more similar.
@@Bayonet1809 yep
The Voigtlander 12mm and 21mm are always in my camera bag. Small, sharp, almost zero flair, great sunstars, and a different "look" to the images. If I was a portrait shooter though, I'd definitely look into the 65mm f/2 (apochromatic (focuses all colours to the same point) and often reviewers say it's the sharpest lens they've ever tested).
The way I always looked at a comparison like modern Voigtlander branded glass and something like a cheaper TTartisan lens is that while both lenses might have similar tested and proven optical formulas design wise that are generally less complicated and are closer to vintage glass, with Voigtlanders you are usually getting a lot better coatings to go with it and the cheaper lenses, while still better coating wise than vintage lenses that didn't even have the formulations/coatings as an option, they are still closer to vintage than not. There's also the ability to actually use the near f1 base apertures and not be blown out by the "dreamy" effect too bad with Voigtlander compared to something like the 7Artisans 50mm f0.95 I have. I got it cheap to test, so I don't mind that it's really more of a f1.4 lens... and at that point I get great results just from adapting something like a Vintage Pentax SMC-M 50mm f1.4.
Pretty much all of my personal photography is shot using full manual lenses with full manual settings. It's part of the experience that I enjoy, and I also like that these lenses are generally native mount instead of having the bulk of an adaptor plus a lens. Depending on the body I'm using, I'll use native manual lenses for work too (with my Pentax KP and K-1.ii I can just use catch-in-focus/focus trapping and basically always nail focus with manual lenses even for events with movement/action; helps get around Pentax's questionable AF on my bodies that lack the K-3.iii's improvements to make it slightly less questionable).
Really need to test the APO Lanthars as well. Near optical perfection.
i bought the 110mm apo lanthar (never had a macro lens before) and soon after bought a nokton 50mm 1.2. i do love both. one of the great things of the electronics passthrough on the sony (and i assume the canon as well), is that you get full ibis support.
would love to see a head to head w/ the 50mm f/1, 50mm f/1.2 and maybe the 40mm f/1.2 noktons just to see if it's worth to get the f1.0, and help people decide if they want the 40mm vs the 50mm
Thanks! I have been trying to decide these two lenses and this is very helpful. Also, please do more Voigtlander reviews!
It’s always a conscious effort to shoot with my 35mm f1.2 Voigtländer, but when I do, it’s worth it every time. There is simply no other lens that renders faces and skin as beautifully..
Edit (for some reason I cannot reply):
Skin is made up of many colors that interleave and "interact" with each other - shades of pink, beige, yellow etc. With some tweaking of HSL, clarity, contrast, white balance and some time in Point color, you can really elevate a portrait shot taken with any lens. Utilizing a few more advanced techniques like dodge & burn and split toning, you can get even further. But starting out with a good balance of colors to begin with can make a world of difference. The 35mm f1.2 Voightlander renders this balance of colors superbly and that is one of several unique strengths of the lens.
If you have a cheap 50mm f1.8, just go to the camera settings and remove all the contrast in the PICTURE STYLE setting and you will have beautiful skin even with a cheap lens.
@@michelecintramika8482 no doubt about that. If you can edit in Lightroom, you can bring out a lot of any glass, regardless of price. But all things being equal, my Voigtlander still renders skin tones more pleasantly than any other prime I’ve used. (And rendering of skin is only one aspect of the whole package the lens’ delivers)
I don’t want to get into the specifics, but when it comes to skin, there are many many tones that are interleaving with each other - shades of pink, beige, yellow, etc.. it’s not as simple as moving clarity, contrast, HSL sliders. Etc. Even with more “advanced” techniques like dodge & burn or frequency separation for portrait editing, it’s still immensely helpful to have the the balance of colors rendered well right from the start
@@michelecintramika8482 no doubt about that. If you can edit in Lightroom, you can bring out a lot more from any glass. That said, all things being equal, the Voightlander still produces my best images of human subjects.
I don't want to get too deep into the specifics, but let's take skin tones as an example (one of the several strengths of the Voightlander). Skin is made up of many colors that interleave and "interact" with each other - shades of pink, beige, yellow etc. With some tweaking of HSL, clarity, contrast, white balance and some time in Point color, you can really elevate a portrait shot. Utilizing a few more advanced techniques like dodge & burn and split toning, you can get even further. But starting out with a good balance of colors to begin with can make a world of difference.
@@michelecintramika8482 Spherical aberration is different to digitally reducing contrast. It creates a soft halation more akin to using black mist filters.
@@Bayonet1809 Try it.
Next lenses you have to test are the Voigtländer 35 and 50 mm f2 APO. They are near perfection.
Yes, and add the 65mm f2 Apo-Lanthar as well. Especialy the 50mm f2 you mention is awesome, better than the 35mm f2.
I know you say loca is only going to happen wide open but I'm not paying 2k for a manual lens to shoot at f4 am I?
Really nice to see reviews of lenses that are necessarily new releases. It would be cool if you got your hands on Meyeroptik lenses
Note that there are at least 2 versions of the 40mm 1.2 the Aspherical and the SE. They seem similar but the Output is NOT there is also an 1.4 classic which is smaller but renders like an old vintage lens. If you plan on getting a Voigtländer do your homework which isnt easy to do coz there isnt to much out there. On top of that they are still evolving and i have no clue how older versions stack up against new ones.
The 40mm shown here seems to be the SE, they have more caracter, a nicer bokeh but are rather soft wide open and with more flare. I would go for the aspherical in this case even if its more expensive as its really good no matter what circumstances you are shooting in.
About the sunstars: if the light source is stron enough you can already get them at f1.6(maybe even 1.4 but i have no proof for that) which is nice in low light, the downside is that you will only get really round bokeh balls when shooting wide open.
Focusthrow : ~120° which is short enough if you need to be quick but long enough if you want to be precise.
Focusring: its confusing at first and EVERYONE who will try out your cam+lens but once you got used to it you realise its the way things should be done.
The 40mm (and 50mm) Nokton aspherical SE is the exact same lens as the Nokton asperical lens (non-SE), just a different design and without a clickless aperture option. SE lenses are only available for Sony E and the lens in this video is for Canon - not an SE lens but a different design to the Sony version.
@@creative_cozmic well my 35 classic, my 35 SE and my 40 Aspherical all render differently but its really hard to get an aples to apples comparison. All 3 have clicky apertures in my case btw
does the canon version differ much besides the flange focal distance in its optical design? i doubt it
Someone really should make a Video about Voigtländerlenses as its really confusing how the lenses compare.
@@VDDDRex Those three lenses are different lenses and will render differently. Voigtlander made 40mm and 50mm Nokton 1.2 lenses, later joined by SE versions and they have the same rendering but different external designs. The 35 SE is a unique lens and there are no other versions of it in E mount so it's rendering will be unique.
You need to try and make a video like this one about the Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f/0.8, the fastest production lens. Never seen a TH-cam video about it.
Would really like to see another video comparing these to the other 'upmarket' manual primes like the Zeiss stuff for Sony and Fuji bodies.
Chris, Adobe profiles for 40mm f/1.2 Nokton do a decent job with the vignetting, particularly at wider apertures. I have the M-mount and using it on a Lumix S5 IIx so no contacts to transfer information thus I have to apply the profiles in LR. Not sure about the versions you're using but give it a try if they aren't applied automatically. I only have the 40mm f/1.2 so not sure if Adobe has a 50 f/1 profile
Voights are great. If you want corrected ones just review the APO-line. And they are build to last forever + they are much smaller than AF-ones.
Are those the only mounts? Is there / will there be an "L" mount?
Use a Leica m to l adapter since most voigtlander lenses are made primarily for m cameras
Also in mft.
Thanks!
Voigtländer 40MM F1.2… love it on the A7iii. Try the Voigtländer 110MM F2.5 then you’ll be hooked.
How does it compare to canons 50 1.0 ef lens?
I’m considering using for video, how much lens breathing do these lenses exhibit?
I can very highly recommend Voigtländer Lenses, best built quality you can get, very good to outstanding optical image quality. The Voigtländer APO-Lanthar Lenses are second to none ! I hope you will test many more Voigtländer Lenses !?
Thanks for the review! I have the 40mm f/1.2 for Canon RF. It's fantastic. I love it.
I'm super interested in two related things:
Comparison of M-mount Voigtlaenders with these (I'm mostly on L-mount, but still have m4/3, X, and would like to use them across systems.)
The X-Pro3/X-Pro4 experience with these and the hybrid VF, as well as the comparison with non-X-Pro.
Lol @ portrait at 8:30. He looks like my wife when she asks, "Are you done setting up the camera gear? Can we just take the picture now? That light is too bright!!!"
Worth starting how useful the electrical connections are on the Zf because of all the manual focus aides
The Nokton 40mm 1.4 is the default on my digital M, it's an excellent lens. Wide open it has a ton of character and stopped down it's much more clinical. Very small compared to the Nokton 1.2 as well. Voigtlander has the unique quality of not really being considered third party among many Leica users, because the new lenses are so ubiquitously used to fill in gaps that many first part Leica lenses either don't fill in or haven't filled in for decades.
There is still plenty of Leica-or-bust snobbery around VM lenses.
@@Bayonet1809 That exists in any first-party mount system. I can't think of any others though where so many of the users default to a specific third party brand. Maybe Sony FE users and Sigma?
I didn’t hear if you had to adjust any of the camera settings when using the lenses. Please advise what settings needs to be adjusted.
I adore Voigtlander lenses. I bought the 40 1.2 a year ago and fell so in love with it that I sold all my autofocus lenses. Someday, when I can afford it, I'll check out the 50 f1. :)
This is the video I’ve been waiting for you to make. Thank you!
Chris, if you want nice sunstars definitely check out their Ultron lenses.
I appreciate the well-rounded perspective you guys always provide. Looking forward to the Z6-3 video!
I don’t understand why this channel doesn’t have yet 1 million subscribers.
Because they are biased towards sony, lumix and fuji thats why
@@mbismbismbdon’t forget that they are also biased towards Canon, Hasselblad, Leica, Yashica and Braun
Because they are only average photographers and can't conduct proper tests because they don't have a clue about optics.
🤔hmm, because nobody cares about manual focus lenses?
I love Voigtlander lenses, but it makes me wish Canon would reissue their EF 50mm f1.0 for RF mount. Updated focus motors, lens coatings, modernized lens barrel (maybe some font choices that were a throwback?) but that same original optical design…that would be really exciting.
Nice review guys! Voigtlander makes some really great lenses.
This is making me think I should get the Sigma 50mm 1.2 and enjoy autofocus at a lower price than the Voightlander
Weight 745g - no, thanks 😅
The big tradeoff is you'll lose the ability to reliably zone focus in street situations. It's beyond me why Leica is one of very few (if not the only) manufacturer putting distance markings and focusing scales on focus-by-wire lenses.
I think that the Voigtlanders are a bit like the old Canon EF 85/1.2 in that people who use them value their ability to produce a specific "look" for the scene as a whole rather than a clinically sharp image at the plane of focus. The Sigma produces a better-corrected in-focus image in just about every measurable respect, but those corrections arguably come at the expense of a less graceful transition into out-of-focus areas.
FWIW, I use the Sony 50/1.2 which is also a "heavily corrected" lens and I have plenty of fast Sigmas as well, so that's where my preferences lie. I'm just trying to explain why a professional might rationally choose the Voightlander.
@@ianroe1076 Apart from the Q series cameras (which have a fixed lens so hardly count) what focus-by-wire Leica lenses have distance markings and focusing scales? The new Hasselblad XCD V-series lenses, and the old Fuji focus-clutch equipped primes do, but no Leicas that I know of.
@@Bayonet1809 It's a focus by wire lens that can be effectively zone focused, dunno why being attached to a single camera body would invalidate that. It's a shame Fuji hasn't embraced it in the rest of their lens lineup, because otherwise every adjustment other than composition could be prepared without holding it up to your eye or looking at a rear LCD.
Very nice lenses, indeed. Hope to see more voigtländers over here. There aren't that many videos on them
6:33 that LoCA shirt is absolutely hilarious
Man, I remember seeing an eBay bidding war for a Canon EF 50 mm f/1.0 going from $2500 to $4000.
These prices seem like a relative bargain.
Yessss I missed the intro so much, great video btw.
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The Nikon Z Versions look much nicer with scalloped metal construction. I have the 40mm 1.2 and 75mm 1.5mm. They are brilliant, full of contrast and character.
I’d be curious to see sunstars at other apertures. The smallest values typically are the worst for sunstars while 8-11 are better
Can you guys review the Voigtlander 35mm 1.4?
Does the canon one work with their focus tool?
It does! They work great!
This is an underrated feature, good to know.
I love my voigtlander lenses from f-mount and my z40mm 1.2 is even better than those - amazing and fun. Saving for the 50mm f1 because it has a somewhat different look to it that is even more unique and beautiful.
great review. we need 1 for the fuji apsc versions too
I wonder why Chris didn't complain about 40mm being close to his beloved 35mm.
Because it’s actually a 42mm lens.
Pro-tip: buy the M-Mount versions so you can adapt them to any mirrorless camera and keep them for years to come.
Just be conscious that there will be some filter-stack induced reverse-petzval field curvature on a VM 50/1 adapted to mirrorless mounts.
It is not a good advice actually.
- The M Mount lenses (Voigtlander VM mount as they called) are designed for the thinner sensor profile of M cameras and usually have issues on thicker sensor cameras (as Sony or Nikon cameras) mainly on the corners. You can investigate it yourself on various reviews (eg check Fred Miranda's reviews on Voigtlander lesnes). Voigtlander 40mm 1.2 for instance is designed also for FE, RF and Z mount and it works perfect there, so you get much better corners than the M mount ones. So, clearly the M mount and FE, RF and Z mount lenses are not exactly the same optically.
- The native lenses have contacts so, there are function that are missing if you use a VM lens with an adapter (eg EXIF, IBIS without manual setting the focal lens and various others different on Canons, Nikons, or Sonys) cameras. I own the Nikon version of 40mm 1.2 and there for example is subject detection square that becomes green when in focus (so for instance if you take portrait there is square on the eye that becomes green when is in focus and works perfectly).
as long it's a modified camera with thinner sensor stack ...
I Bought second hand 50mm 1/f Z mount for a 1k and super duper happy with it!!! Using with Z6
The ultra-bright Voigtlanders are fun, but I don't think they represent what Voigtlander is truly capable of. Their Apo-Lanthar line for M mount, alongside some of the more "vintage" f1.5/1.4 Noktons are why they're truly loved
The thing is, you can buy some amazing lenses second-hand for much less than you would buy the two Voitlanders. Lenses like the Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO Sonnar, which is one of the greatest lenses ever made, for about £700. The Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 for a similar amount. Even the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 can be bought for Canon for less than £1000, and if you use it with an adapter with a Canon R mount, you can get an amazing camera lens combination.
Now, I can only guess what it will be like internationally, but I suspect we will see similar things elsewhere in the world.
As for data. I don't think it makes much difference. I never check mine anyway.
Those will be bigger, and heavier, by some amount.