Comparing the Voigtlander fast 50s

[Ken Ford]

Voigtlander has done and is doing a bunch of different 50mm M mount lenses - I see f/1, f/1.1 and f/1.2 models. Is there a good resource that compares them? I just tried an inexpensive TTArtisan 50/1.4 that I sent back, I think I would likely be happier with a used Voigtlander.

What are the differences? I’m sure they all render differently.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

See if this link brings up all my Nokton albums.

Sonnar-brian

Sonnar-brian (sonnar-brian) on ImgBB

sonnar-brian.imgbb.com

 

[Godfrey]

Voigtlander has done and is doing a bunch of different 50mm M mount lenses - I see f/1, f/1.1 and f/1.2 models. Is there a good resource that compares them? I just tried an inexpensive TTArtisan 50/1.4 that I sent back, I think I would likely be happier with a used Voigtlander.

What are the differences? I’m sure they all render differently.

I have a Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 (fifth type), a Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5, and a Voigtländer Heliar Classic 50mm f/1.5. I would say that the Summicron and Color-Skopar render very similarly; the Heliar Classic renders more similarly to my Summilux 35mm f/1.4 type 2 (from 1972).

G

 

[wlewisiii]

I can't tell you about very many but I do dearly love my 50/1.5 Nokton Asph LTM when I'm in the mood for a modern clean look.

But I'm honestly more likely to reach for my Nikkor 50/1.4, Zeiss 50/2 (sonnars) or Canon 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 or Chiyoko/Minolta 50/2 (double gauss) instead.

It's so dependent on what you want to shoot and how you want it to look...

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I'm a big fan of the Voigtländer 50mm f1.5 Heliar Classic SC VM lens. There's something about the Voigtländer Single Coated lenses that makes me happy.

Check out the 50mm f1.5 Heliar VM thread for sample images.

All the best,
Mike

 

[Ken Ford]

I hadn’t considered the gaggle of f/1.5 50s. More to consider!

 

[Ken Ford]

I’m really liking the look from this one: Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 II Vintage Line

I’ve also been reflecting on my ancient Noctilux experience, I had one for a few years back in the 80s. I vaguely remember needing to shoot it at f/1.4 for much of my work due to issues nailing focus, probably as much due to M4-P calibration issues as anything. I’d prefer a general purpose fast 50 for this one and pursuing pure speed may be a mistake.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The V2 Nokton 50/1.5 is sharp, compact, and focus shift is almost eliminated. The trade-off for size is fall-off in the corners, over 2-stops.

 

[wlewisiii]

Have you ever used any of the classic 50/1.4's? A nice example of the Canon 50/1.4 or Nikkor 50/1.4 might suit you just as well as anything from Cosina.

 

[Dogman]

I have both the Nokton II and the Heliar Classic 50/1.5 lenses. They are both beautifully made and give outstanding images. At wider apertures, the Heliar is more "old school" with film-like look whereas the Nokton II looks sharper and more modern yet retains the charm of the vintage look. Stopped down to ƒ/4 or so, they look a lot alike to my eyes. I love them both. I also have the Zeiss 50/2 Planar and I rotate these three lenses frequently. I don't choose lenses for subjects, I just pick a lens and use it for everything. Good lenses always look good no matter what.



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[Ken Ford]

Have you ever used any of the classic 50/1.4's? A nice example of the Canon 50/1.4 or Nikkor 50/1.4 might suit you just as well as anything from Cosina.

A few - mostly Nikkor F mount, but I recently picked up a vintage Nikkor S. I’m trying to restrict this to native M mount modern lenses if possible.

I have both the Nokton II and the Heliar Classic 50/1.5 lenses. They are both beautifully made and give outstanding images. At wider apertures, the Heliar is more "old school" with film-like look whereas the Nokton II looks sharper and more modern yet retains the charm of the vintage look. Stopped down to ƒ/4 or so, they look a lot alike to my eyes. I love them both. I also have the Zeiss 50/2 Planar and I rotate these three lenses frequently. I don't choose lenses for subjects, I just pick a lens and use it for everything. Good lenses always look good no matter what.



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Good information! Yes, I’m looking for a “generalist” 50 here, and in this case prefer a more modern rendering.

 

[Ken Ford]

The Nokton II MC is winning the race - I think I’ll order one from Stephen.

 

[Godfrey]

I had a Nokton 50/1.5 back when I first got the M9. Thought it good, but replaced it with the Summicron-M somewhere along the way as I liked the rendering of the Summicron more. This Heliar Classic 50 is relatively new to me, but its rendering pleases me a lot when I want that "wide open" look ... it's much stronger at that "sharp with a Zeiss Softar 1" look than the Summicron or the Nokton; it feels very much like my Summilux 35 does: you use wide open to both narrow the focus zone and add a pleasing soft focus effect around the highlight detail portions of the image, and you can adjust that look by incremental tweaks of the aperture.

The Color-Skopar 50, which I originally bought because it was relatively inexpensive and I wasn't sure what I wanted for the M4-2 yet, has come in particularly handy because it is a LTM series lens and works perfectly with the IIIc that I picked up earlier this year. And it is a very fine performer as well.

It's great to have so many choices.

G

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Looking through my own albums, for sharpness, rendering, size, weight, and cost- The 50mm F1.2 Nokton gets my vote.



But of course I own all of the fast 50mm Noktons, which I guess means less bias?

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

A couple street shots I made with the 50mm f1.5 Nokton VM lens



Sony A7III camera
Voigtländer 50mm f1.5 Nokton Vintage Line II SC VM lens
Yokohama, Japan​

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

One color street shot I made with the 50mm f1.5 Nokton VM lens

Sony A7III camera
Voigtländer 50mm f1.5 Nokton Vintage Line II SC VM lens
Yokohama, Japan​