Finally! Nokton 50/1.5 in M-mount

[helen.HH]

Yay Tom ...
Thanks for the Sharpness....Smooth & Clean
Now Can we have some Wide Open with some Falloff please ... 😉

xo- H

 

[xayraa33]

the chrome one is mighty tempting

It is worth the 150 dollar price for admission into the beautiful lens club. 🙂

 

[Vincent.G]

A shot with the new M-Nokton 50f1.5. How sharp do you need your 50 to be? This is Joe's BMW 635 - one of the best designs from BMW (only surpassed by the 507). Before it got "Bangled" - rivals the Mercedes 280/300 Coupes in looks.
M6 Millennium, Acros 100, Beutler and the M-mount Nokton 50f1.5 - probably around f4 or 5.6.

Nice number plate there!

 

[dreamsandart]

Nice number plate there!

Vincent, are you into numbers? and I would have to say those three are interesting...

As for the new Voigtlander Lens... It had my interest the first time I saw its announcement and design. I always loved the look of the 50s lens but could never justify the collector's prices. Wanted to wait to hear about its optical quality, and at some point a chrome will be coming my way, a real beauty 🙂

 

[Brian Legge]

When do the comparisons with the Planar start? 😉

 

[goo0h]

When do the comparisons with the Planar start? 😉

Or, God forbid, the Sonnar! 😀

Oh dear, the long discussions about focus shift. 🙄 Still, sort of worth while to understand how precisely these optics work when plunking down so much money, even if the stories seem to get a bit exaggerated at times, or so I've been led to believe.

 

[sanmich]

Dear Tom

May I ask how is the focusing action? easy or stiff?
for a comparison, I would say that my cron vers 5 is easy, while my Hexanon 50 f/2 was stiff (yet smooth, just requiring much more torque)

 

[CameraQuest]

My 50/1.5 M shipment arrives tomorrow.

The black are sold out from my 1st shipment -- few were produced this production run due to the popularity of the chrome. A few chrome are still available from this shipment.

Next shipment estimated towards the end of July.

Thanks,
Stephen

 

[Tom A]

Dear Tom

May I ask how is the focusing action? easy or stiff?
for a comparison, I would say that my cron vers 5 is easy, while my Hexanon 50 f/2 was stiff (yet smooth, just requiring much more torque)

Focus action is very smooth - well dampened too. This is to some extent helped by the distinct knurling. It has a very "positive" feel to it. I also like the fact that you just have to slide the finger off the focus to get to the aperture ring. So far, I haven't found a single thing not to like! Ok, they should have knurled the front of hood (like the LTM Nokton), but it is easy to unscrew the hood anyway.
Optical quality is similar to the LTM Nokon 50f1.5 - i.e very high. Nipping at the heels of the Summilux 50f1.4 Asph - and with the 0.7m close focus as a bonus.
Sometime in the future I will get a chrome one too. It does look spectacular on a chrome M2/M3.

 

[jonmanjiro]

From Cosina's website here:

● 現代的レンズ設計
光学系は、ボケ味の美しさと絞り開放から安定した画質を保つことから復刻の要望を数多く受けていた1999年発売のNOKTON 50mm F1.5Asphericalを再生産。基本的なレンズ設計には手を加えず、現代のカメラでの使用を考慮してコーティングの仕様などを強化しています。

In short, the lens optical formula is unchanged from the NOKTON 50mm F1.5Aspherical released in 1999, but the multi coating has been improved for "modern" (I suppose they mean digital) cameras.

 

[Godfrey]

I'm trying hard not to want to spend the money for this lens. The LTM model has been my "standard" in use on the M9 since I bought it, and it is delightful. I'd rather put the money into a 21/1.8 or 35/1.2 II, or into travel. But ... sigh. I like the new focusing ring, I like the fact that I don't need an adapter, etc etc.

Buying nothing right now. Have to sell off a bunch of stuff that's in the way first. No need to rush.

G

 

[Austerby]

I have capitulated. Just ordered one from a very reputable dealer. Last thing I need is another 50 but I couldn't resist it for my M3.

 

[Erik van Straten]

On the front ring there is a groove like some Leica-M lenses have to clip in a shade. I wonder if Cosina brings out a new shade for this lens that will clip into this groove.
I do not like the shade that comes with the lens, as usual with CV-lenses. The shade is too short and blocks the viewfinder.
The information that comes with the lens tells you that the lens is fitted with a "standard" shade. This suggest that other shades will be available.

Erik.

 

[Rossou]

Some nice sample photos (hope the translation worked): http://translate.google.se/translat...lla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=666&tbs=qdr:w

 

[Nick De Marco]

When I really want something, I too round 899$ to 800$ in my head 😀

You guys are very lucky it's only $800 odd dollars yet - reading this got me to part with over £800 for a chrome version - I'm looking forward to putting it on the M.

 

[useless generation]

I don't get why the chrome version is brass and the black is not. That black lens with the same finish as the old nokton would look killer in black paint when brassed!

 

[CameraQuest]

I don't get why the chrome version is brass and the black is not. That black lens with the same finish as the old nokton would look killer in black paint when brassed!

but then both versions would likely be the same price.

now buyers have a choice of two price points.

Stephen

 

[useless generation]

but then both versions would likely be the same price.

now buyers have a choice of two price points.

Stephen

Considering the chrome lens seems to be getting a lot more attention I don't see how price would be a contributing factor. I would have bought the black if it was brass but now I'm going to try and track down an old copy

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

little review by Huff:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2013/06/19/the-voigtlander-50-1-5-aspherical-vm-lens-review/

Looking clearer it is not totally the same barrel design as the original Nokton from the fifties - I found a seller on Ebay which has clear pictures of the original in his ad (not related to the seller btw):
http://www.ebay.nl/itm/Voigtlander-Nokton-50mm-F-1-5-original-Leica-L39-50-1-5-/250812007485?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3a658f843d#ht_5425wt_1169

big difference is the amount of aperture blades: the new lens has 10 whereas the old one has 13 (like the f 1.5 old sonnar design), and with a 293 gr (without shade) it is relatively heavy (the brass summicron 50mm from the fifties was about 250 gr).

 

[Erik van Straten]

My brass Summicron from the fifties weights 285 gr. and has ten blades.

The new Nokton in brass is not that heavy.

Erik.