Glowing review of 35mm Nokton f1.2!

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eleskin

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I received my new 35mm Nokton f1.2 from Cameraquest, and as a long time Leica M lens user, I must say I am very impressed. I use the M8, and to my eyes, for the money, nothing can touch this thing. It is a best buy at any price. Sharpness at f1.2 is shocking. I am comparing this thing to lenses I paid much more for (Noctilux, Summicron 50, 35, 28 Elmarit to name a few).

Cosina is a serious force in the lens world and will give many lens makers a run for the money. I remember when I was a graduate at Pratt Institute in 1991. For the money there were limited choices for rangefinder cameras that were affordable. If I were a student today, Voigtlander would be my choice and Cameraquest my source for cameras and lenses. Stephen's stock of lenses is always up to date where you can get what you want in a reasonable ammount of time unlike B&H where I see the Nokton backordered no doubt due to the popularity of the M9!

Gee, I really wish Voigtlander or Zeiss would make a full frame digital. The M9 is making their lenses very desirable. I would immagine if they offered their own digital, their lens sales would skyrocket!
Well enough said. I love this lens! I had a feeling it would be this good and it is! What a hunk of gorgeous glass! Money well spent!!!
 
Thank God CV exists many years ago, so today we can choose from such a wide, complete and well planned variety of wonderful lenses and cameras.

And Stephen Gandy's site is truly comprehensive and deep, as it came from all possible experience and love for rangefinders, so in great part cameraquest.com is responsible for generating last decade's rangefinder world renaissance too...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
Thank God CV exists many years ago, so today we can choose from such a wide, complete and well planned variety of wonderful lenses and cameras.

And Stephen Gandy's site is truly comprehensive and deep, as it came from all possible experience and love for rangefinders, so in great part cameraquest.com is responsible for generating last decade's rangefinder world renaissance too...

Cheers,

Juan
Click to expand...

tell me the truth juan, are you on the payroll?
 
back alley,

Am I on the payroll? Not exactly... I mean, not yet... :D

I hope one day I can sell some photographs made with this great gear, so then I'll become part of this movement at an economic level too... :p

Now seriously, this has been a great adventure for me... I was always an SLR Nikon and Hasselblad shooter... Exactly one year ago, I started to read about rangefinders, and suddenly every time I was trying to learn anything about RF's, through google I got once and again directed to links and pages on cameraquest site... I felt I had found paradise... The way all that was written was so incredible: it was clear, nothing else than what really matters was said, there was no favorite brand but real knowledge and joy offered: only after a few months after that, I discovered the place was also a place used for buying... Before that, I had always been to the camera articles zone only, which is huge, and was indeed fascinating... When I started to have a very general idea on RF history, it was too late: I was hooked, and CV quality, design and price of course made a lot of sense... Then some links started showing me discussions on Bessa forum here on RFF, and I made that page my daily page, and I started to ask here about things I was interested in, deciding what to buy... Some time after that, I saw there were lots of other subforums, but I kept coming in and posting for months only on Bessa subforum... I even remember one day I placed the same message on several subforums, because I had no idea that clicking "Rangefinderforum" I could see all threads from all subforums! People told me why the hell are you infecting every subforum? I was really ashamed, but that was the reason... But all this, apart from the always necessary economics involved, is really a heartful labour of love... A tribute to photography... Barnack would be very happy here... So even if I'm not on the payroll and even if I have no relation with any bartender or waiter, I agree deeply with some people around, in ways I don't agree even with lots of photographers I know, so I enjoy being here, and I feel this place is my home, and I want to take care of it because I want it to last and remain this beautiful.

Cheers,

Juan
 
I agree wholeheartedly, this is my favourite lens. I love to shoot in low light and it seems to be less contrasty in the shadows, and is nice and sharp.
 
eleskin said:
to my eyes, for the money, nothing can touch this thing. It is a best buy at any price.
Click to expand...

Is it a cost/performance ratio thing, or an out-and-out unqualified endorsement?

I love the look and speed-when-you-need it gives, or I would never bother lugging the darn thing around. But I'm not sure I would be so committed if the Leica lux asph were priced similarly. I've grown fond of the little CV 35/1.4 , which has an appealing look for portraits, especially on film. But for the M8, I find the Big Nok superior.

But I agree it is a fantastic lens, at any aperture, hence I don't plan to sell it.
 
eleskin said:
I received my new 35mm Nokton f1.2 from Cameraquest, and as a long time Leica M lens user, I must say I am very impressed. I use the M8, and to my eyes, for the money, nothing can touch this thing. It is a best buy at any price. Sharpness at f1.2 is shocking. I am comparing this thing to lenses I paid much more for (Noctilux, Summicron 50, 35, 28 Elmarit to name a few).

Cosina is a serious force in the lens world and will give many lens makers a run for the money. I remember when I was a graduate at Pratt Institute in 1991. For the money there were limited choices for rangefinder cameras that were affordable. If I were a student today, Voigtlander would be my choice and Cameraquest my source for cameras and lenses. Stephen's stock of lenses is always up to date where you can get what you want in a reasonable ammount of time unlike B&H where I see the Nokton backordered no doubt due to the popularity of the M9!

Gee, I really wish Voigtlander or Zeiss would make a full frame digital. The M9 is making their lenses very desirable. I would immagine if they offered their own digital, their lens sales would skyrocket!
Well enough said. I love this lens! I had a feeling it would be this good and it is! What a hunk of gorgeous glass! Money well spent!!!
Click to expand...


For the record - I have and love this lens. However, what is written above is hardly a review. More like a first impression that sidetracked to praise Cosina and CQ in general.
To me - review means something different; something that has more details of the lens, it's handling and performance at different settings and conditions with some example photos. But thats me - what do I know.:rolleyes:
Anyway - enjoy the lens - I do agree with things you said about the lens.
 
I owned that lens but moved on to the Lux asph. The CV is an outstanding lens, no doubt about it with a gorgeous look at F1.2. Yet the two main reasons I sold it were :
- after doing side by side comparison with the Lux, I found the Nokton files to duller/flatter than the Lux.
- and above all, its size is IMO not compatible with my concept of rangefinder photography. Way too big for hours of shooting with camera in hand.

Yet, all my first lenses were CV's so I definitely agree that they are a great alternative to Leica for people not willing to spend too much money on gear.
 
I agree with the OP, it is my absolute favourite. I just hope it keeps a stiff upper lip for a bit longer than most of my other CV lenses did.

(yanick, do you still have an invoice for that thing?)
 
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