50/1.1 Knock Your Socks Off Nokton at CameraQuest

[CameraQuest]

I just put up my page on the new 50/1.1 Knock Your Socks Off Nokton.

Tom A and I discussed the need of a fast Voigtlander 50 with Mr. Kobayashi at Photokina in October 2008. It's great to see it available!

Please visit http://cameraquest.com/voigt_5011.htm

I'm taking refundable $100 deposits by Paypal to Stephen@CameraQuest.com. $1149

Thanks for Looking,
Stephen

 

[Palaeoboy]

Stephen, Given you and Tom were lucky to get the only 35mm f1.2's in Nikon S mount, will you be double lucky to get this new 50 in S mount as well?

 

[CameraQuest]

Stephen, Given you and Tom were lucky to get the only 35mm f1.2's in Nikon S mount, will you be double lucky to get this new 50 in S mount as well?

Well, we can all dream, but I am not counting on it!

Stephen

 

[monochromejrnl]

will this new Nokton come in a 'modified' version for the M8? (as did the 35/1.2 nokton?)

 

[CameraQuest]

will this new Nokton come in a 'modified' version for the M8? (as did the 35/1.2 nokton?)

the 50/1.1 left the drawing boards already M8 compatible.

the 35/1.2 was introduced BEFORE the M8. Leica changed the interior of the light box for the M8's digital sensor, which forced a change on the 35/1.2 once the M8 was introduced.

Stephen

 

[le vrai rdu]

A picture of the nokton on a bessa and a leica would be nice, to have an idea of the size 🙂

 

[johannielscom]

A picture of the nokton on a bessa and a leica would be nice, to have an idea of the size 🙂

😎😎😎 Yes please! Would love to see that!

And also: does this lens have half click stops? Answer: Yes it has!!!

 

[le vrai rdu]

and I would like some word about the interferense between viewfinder and lense 😀

 

[chris00nj]

Well the speed freaks got their fast 50. When will us compactness freaks get the 50/3.5 back?

 

[mh2000]

+1 I would love that option as well... not a big ultra-fast shooter myself, though like knowing that the option existes.

Well the speed freaks got their fast 50. When will us compactness freaks get the 50/3.5 back?

 

[rogue_designer]

For the price - this seems a very good deal. I'm not 100% sold on the OOF character (Thanks Tom A for the sample pics). But I'm glad that someone is filling this need for the sub $3k ultrafast.

 

[Ronald_H]

From Stephen's site:

"Cosina's CEO Mr. Kobayashi has just unveiled his new 50/1.1 Super Fast Knock Your Socks Off Nokton for the 10th Anniversary of his 1999 Voigtlander Bessa system as well as for the 50th Anniversary of Cosina!"

10th anniversary. I remember very well the first articles in camera magazines back then. I recall the amazement that someone would produce a LTM lens in (almost) 2000, and why they had to resurrect the Voigtlander name. Even back then the future of film was being doubted. There was no denying the performance of the 15mm Heliar however. Nevertheless the Bessa L and the Heliar were seen as expensive-ish niche products. Who would have predicited what has followed...

 

[Prosaic]

Anyone else disappointed with the bokeh mess from the lens?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/3405738511/in/set-72157616278125070/

And thats wide open.

 

[Cutly]

from this shot, I am (a little bit) but I hope that it's not always like that ..
Anyway, I have to find 1000$.

 

[raid]

Kidney: $500
Liver: $500
Arm: $100 [for postage]

I am ready.

Seriously, if this lens is as good as the Noctilux, then it is a better deal.

 

[Tom A]

Anyone else disappointed with the bokeh mess from the lens?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/3405738511/in/set-72157616278125070/

And thats wide open.

The "bokeh mess" has more to do with the subject matter than the lens characteristics. It is shot across a display of dolls of varying size - distance to the far end edge is about 15-18 feet and the flower in the foreground is 1 meter away. The dolls were spaced unevenly and of slightly different size and will thus "blur" slightly odd.
Frankly, I am not interested in Bokeh per see as I consider it the "fuzzy stuff" that appears outside of what I focus on and is of limited interest to me. Could have been one reason why I never warmed to the 6 Noctiluxes I have owned (and the 0.95 Canon - which was almost all bokeh and nothing else). I am interested in the area I want sharp and the Nokton does very well there both at f1.1 and stopped down.

 

[Tom A]

Stephen, Given you and Tom were lucky to get the only 35mm f1.2's in Nikon S mount, will you be double lucky to get this new 50 in S mount as well?

Rest assured, it has been suggested to Mr Kobayashi - but I suspect that they will be very busy making the M-mount version for quite some time!.

 

[back alley]

is this going to be a limited edition lens?

the oz distributor seems to think it is.

 

[imush]

Thanks for the review. Could you give us an idea of size and weight? How does it feel, say, compared to the 35/1.2, or the Konica 50/1.2?

It is funny that it is the third time that I am thinking about buying a faster lens, whether 35mm or 50mm, and looking at ZM, used Summilux or the fast Konica. Every time Cosina comes up with a cheaper, and arguably better, comparable solution. I am very happy with my all-CV outfit: R2M with Heliar 50/2, 35/1.2 and 40/1.4. Well, not quite all-CV but all-Voigtlander: I also use a Vitessa with Ultron 50/2.

And I was just thinking of a faster 50mm... I like the Heliar, but for 50mm in good outdoors lighting conditions I prefer the Vitessa for its size (that masterpiece of a camera fits in my pocket when folded). But when indoors, and in low light, I may sometimes want a faster 50mm.

 

[LeicaTom]

I think that this lens seems to perform fine stopped down.......but when it comes to being FAST it`s all about the lens signature when it`s WIDE OPEN, why does anyone want to buy a lens this fast? Because of it`s Low Light performance and OOF signature......at least that`s my personal reasons to go FAST!

I want to see this lens work on some backstreets at 1am dimly lite etc. etc. and also some "dreamy" Black N' White OOF artistic nudes, then I think we`ll be able to tell what`s going on with it, the price is GREAT but, as I`ve said before it looks similiar to the Bokeh of a modern Summilux 50 (not putting it down), understand I`m just saying it does`nt have a pronounced signature, like a Sonnar has or a Canon f0.95 etc. etc......

Tom