For all who have sold the 50mm f1.1..

[damien.murphy]

I hope I am not re-threading too much old ground, but I am seriously considering the f1.1 as my sole 50, and having devoured any and all threads on the f1.1 am still no closer to deciding on whether to acquire a copy of my own.

I've noticed a lot of activity in used sales with this lens, and suspect a lot of people are buying this lens to try it and see if it suits them.

Perhaps those who have bought the lens and subsequently sold it might elaborate on their reasons for doing so..

 

[AusDLK]

Lens, big. Extra speed, not necessary.

Very happy with pre-ASPH Summilux.

 

[Darshan]

Lens, big. Extra speed, not necessary.

Very happy with pre-ASPH Summilux.

I absolutely loved looking at your website...great compositions.

@OP: sorry for the off topic post.

 

[AusDLK]

Dan -- Thanks!

 

[back alley]

i needed the cash for a big vet bill so i sold the big 50 along with some other lenses.
i hope to get another one when $$ permits.

it IS a big lens but nothing an able bodied man can't handle with ease, and i have arthritis in my fingers.
i'm not normally a big fan of fast lenses but that one captured my imagination and i had/have high hopes for some great images made with it.
for now i have the much smaller 50/25 from cv.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I was interested on it for a while, but scored a copy of the Canon f1.2 instead (with hood!). That just took care of the craving.

 

[ampguy]

pre-asph lux. virtually no distortion, probably same speed (t-stop), nicer bokeh, smaller size, better build quality.

 

[peterm1]

I am right at this moment considering whether to buy one too.

Everything I have read is pretty positive and while really I do not need yet another 50 mm the extra speed would be nice. But for the most part at least in my case, high speed means lots of bokeh and while the bokeh on this lens seems pretty OK it does seem to me to be a tad harsh sometimes based on images I have seen and comments I have read.

My research (and i have read everything I can get my hands on) suggests that the 35mm f1.2 aspherical by Voigtlander is better in that respect (very smooth OOF areas) although probably on par in other respects. So I am still grappling with that issue.

But having said all of that everything I have read suggests that this lens is worth buying, the only criticisms I have read of it being that perhaps it is a touch too technically perfect maybe suggesting its a bit too sharp for portrait work.

 

[adamli629]

I am more prefer using the 50lux ASPH than the 50/f1.1.. This one is too big...

But for the budget consideration, right now I am using the 50/f1.1.

 

[filmfan]

It's blah for me based on what I've seen. Ad size to it and it makes it even more unattractive (to my personal taste only).

 

[t.s.k.]

I do like the Nokton for color and low light conditions as it's pretty sharp and contrasty but lacks some character.
B&W work goes to the Canon 50/1.8 by a clear margin.

The Nokton's size can't be overlooked however. It is a beast but so are all the other popular superfast 50s.

 

[andredossantos]

I'm probably going to get one after the new year. I've heard it lacks character but I'd like to try myself and put it through it's paces. I don't need for every lens to have character and my primary use for the lens is to shoot inside the subway where you need speed, period.

Ampguy: I will admit I'm totally ignorant about T-stops and I don't want a technical explanation or anything but has the Nokton been shown to be actually a f/1.4 lens? How has Voigtlander not caught crap for misrepresenting the lens?

 

[dogberryjr]

Lens, big. Extra speed, not necessary.

Very happy with pre-ASPH Summilux.

Me too. If it had a more pronounced signature, I could see keeping it for certain situations, but it's a very neutral lens (which is not a bad thing, just a thing).

 

[DNG]

I really liked using the lens, and I have taken some very nice images with it also. I found I was not using f/1.1 that much, the bokeh was pretty good too,
and the tonality in B&W was good too.
I traded it for a Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 C-Sonnar, and, the main difference is the creamier Bokeh the Zeiss has., but the Nokton is no piker either.
I found the extra stop too difficult to use with a 1/1000 top speed. And I didn't have a ND9 filter at the time.

I use an ND6 with the Zeiss, and find I can use f/1.5 more often. But I can use it easier on my G1 with a top speed of 1/4000.
I would have to get an ND9 to use f/1.5 in daylight on my M5, which I will get.
I shoot mainly in daylight, and rarely can go out a shoot past 3pm. (My wife works a night job, so I am the night dad).
The size was a non issue. It was not being able to shoot in "low-light" environments,

 

[damien.murphy]

I can see many favour the summilux, pre-asph or asph, and wonder perhaps if those that do might elaborate on their preference

 

[mfogiel]

This lens is of little use in practice to somebody shooting film. Wide open with high speed film, the resolution is poor. If you stop it down, the focus shift makes it cumbersome to use. The bokeh wide open is nice, but it is not anything comparable to old Leica glass or even the Canon 1.2. The only logical use would be with a slow film wide open, and I am not that much of a bokeh freak. It might be much more interesting with digital, where you get good resolution at higher ISO levels, but the focus shift will be even more evident.
Wide open

Around f1.4-2.0

Around f 5.6- f8.0 - these are not totally sharp due to focus shift

 

[Peter S]

The pictures I have seen taken with the 1.1 have not convinced me. True you can never really judge that by looking at web pictures, but it is the only information most of us have (unless we live near to a shop that a)sellls Voigtlander equipment and b) allows you to test drive lenses). I purchased a 35/1.2 based on what I saw on the net and am happy I did.

Back to 50mm lenses. If I had the money I would buy Leica's latest version of the 50 summilx, but I do not and now " make do " with the Mokton 50/1.5 and simply love it. It is very close to a summilux and a lot less expensive (bought mine for USD 275 second hand with brassing), only wish it could focus a bit closer. Apart from that I love the transitions to the out of focus areas and I love the micro contrast (not too contrasty but definitely showing good separation in tones).

Nice user review of Nokton 50/1.5 and summilux 50 on a M9

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/04/voigtlander-nokton-50-1-5-lens-review-by-james-klotz/

 

[Jeicob]

I absolutely loved looking at your website...

Me too 😎

 

[Krosya]

The pictures I have seen taken with the 1.1 have not convinced me. True you can never really judge that by looking at web pictures, but it is the only information most of us have (unless we live near to a shop that a)sellls Voigtlander equipment and b) allows you to test drive lenses). I purchased a 35/1.2 based on what I saw on the net and am happy I did.

Back to 50mm lenses. If I had the money I would buy Leica's latest version of the 50 summilx, but I do not and now " make do " with the Mokton 50/1.5 and simply love it. It is very close to a summilux and a lot less expensive (bought mine for USD 275 second hand with brassing), only wish it could focus a bit closer. Apart from that I love the transitions to the out of focus areas and I love the micro contrast (not too contrasty but definitely showing good separation in tones).Nice user review of Nokton 50/1.5 and summilux 50 on a M9

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/04/voigtlander-nokton-50-1-5-lens-review-by-james-klotz/

Nokton 50/1.5 can be made focus closer see my thread here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95660

Also, I think Nokton 50/1.5 is a far better lens. Smaller, sharper, better optically - no shifts, distrtions, etc. More pleasant bokeh. But what do I know - I never used CV 50/1.1. My opinion is based on web pictures and info from people whos opnion I respect. So, for my "superspeed" 50mm lens I chose M-Hexano 50/1.2 and never looked back. But I do lve CV 50/1.5 and CV 35/1.2 -I was hoping that CV 50/1.1 would be in a same league, but so much for that.......

 

[Neare]

I liked the lens. I usually carry around MF cameras so the size or weight didn't bother me at all. I sold is simply beacuse while it is a good lens, it didn't have that special standout quality for me... I use the 35mm 1.2 now.