How does this compare with the Voigtlander 35mm ƒ1.2?
Hello Judge Holden,
Firstly, I hate to disappoint you but I don’t speak the same technical lens jargon that all the lens aficionados at RFF speak. When those guys start discussing lenses it sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher to me. I use more general (pedestrian) terms to describe a lens's performance that are probably useless to most RFF members.
So, having said that: Comparing the Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f1.2 lens with the Voigtländer Macro APO-Ultron 35mm f2 lens.
The Nokton 35mm f1.2 lens is fun and very forgiving. I can shoot “street style” in a fast and loose manner and it will deliver in-focus pictures for me. The Macro APO-Ultron 35mm f2 lens is far less forgiving and I need to be more precise in my focusing. However, when I nail the focus with the APO-Ultron 35mm f2 the images are so detailed, crisp and beautiful. Plus, the Macro feature of the APO-Ultron 35mm f2 is marvelous!
Both lenses have good bokeh. And, both produce great images (IMHO). I’m glad that I have both but if I had to choose between them I’d have to go with the Macro APO-Ultron 35mm f2 lens. Of course I might change my mind if I had to choose tomorrow.
🙂
Obvious differences:
Nokton 35mm f1.2 lens
Price: $649.00 at B&H
Minimum aperture - F16
Shortest shooting distance - 0.3m (impressive!)
Weight - 196g
Lens configuration - 8 elements in 6 groups (means nothing to me)
Number of aperture blades - 12 sheets
Filter size - φ46mm
Lens hood included - Note: It’s not much of a lens hood; just a little ring. I use a collapsible rubber hood made by a Japanese company.
Macro APO-Ultron 35mm f2 lens.
Price: $629.00 at B&H
Minimum aperture - F22
Shortest shooting distance - 0.163m (hey, it’s a macro!)
Weight - 265g
Lens configuration - 9 elements in 6 groups (means nothing to me)
Number of aperture blades - 10 sheets
Filter size - φ49mm
Lens hood included - Note: It’s not much of a lens hood. I use a collapsible rubber hood made by a Japanese company.
Making good images with a manual focus lens feels so rewarding. Making good images with an auto-focus lens feels somewhat less rewarding.
I hope this helps,
Mike
