I just got my new Nokton 35mm f 1.2

Jim Evidon

Jim Evidon

Jim
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I just received my new 35mm Nokton f1.2 after weeks of dithering and reading and re-reading Reid Reviews. Being a Nikon DSLR user and the idea of what the rest of you called a monster heavy lens, I decided to take a chance. While it isn't as light and compact as my 1.7 Ultron, it is a very much superior lens with improved contrast, and yet pulls in the shadow detail nicely. And what everyone says about the bokeh is right on the mark. It is very creamy. As for the bulk, the M8 with the Nokton is somewhat lighter than a standard film Nikon SLR with the prime f1.4 lens. Not too bad and certainly tolerable for a walk around camera . BTW, I have only tested it in color with a +1/3 EV, Adobe RGB and shooting DNG+JPG fine. B &W is yet to come.

On my user profile setting on the M8, I bumped up the saturation to med.high for the JPG's and the over all results are really marvelous. The JPG's are snappy and the Raw images are very creamy and sharp, unaffected by the saturation changes, of course.

My lasting thanks to Sean Reid and his marvelous site, without which I would still be floundering.

I think I have found my ideal camera/lens combination for all around use, while still having available my 90mm Elmarit and CV 25mm and 15mm for long and wide shooting. I am a happy camper and ready for my trip to Alaska taking the afore mentioned equipment for the candid shots plus my D300 with wide and long zoom VR lenses for the slower more studied subjects.

When I get back I'll probably sell the Ultron since, while it is compact, it is redundant.

Whoopy!😀

Jim Evidon
 
Not yet. I just shot some test shots from my front patio and inside the house into a dark corner next to a bright room to check out contrast and shadow detail. They are not worth publishing....very boring. But analytically, the results are impressive so far.
Jim.
 
Congrats! Excellent lens - it's my primary lens on my R-D1S. Most of the images on my Jerusalem and Cairo/GIza galleries were shot with this combo.
 
Congrats Jim! I'm not sure if my reviews pushed you in that direction, but you've joined a very good club.

My only question is what the encoding pattern for it is, because Leica doesn't make a 35mm f/1.2 - really annoying!
 
Just curious, do you have an IR cut filter yet? And what do you have your "Lens Detection" set to? I have a UV/IR cut filter on mine, and so I've set it to "Yes + UV/IR" even though my lens isn't coded. It's not clear that it will do anything, though.
 
Enjoy your new lens! I too bought one used recently (6bit upgraded + BW UV cut) except I use film ; )

Anyhow, like yourself, coming from SLR, it's not big and very solidly made. As soon as I develop my first roll, will post some too.

best.
 
The best 35mm

The best 35mm

Krosya said:
Congrats - you have the best 35mm lens out there! I love mine. Post some pics when you have some!
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LOL that's what I thought until I got the 35 pre asph lux - In my opinion it blows the CV away. I have had a lot of 35mm RF lenses and to my eyes the Leica glass is in a clear league of its own. My opinion of course.
;-)
 
washy21 said:
LOL that's what I thought until I got the 35 pre asph lux - In my opinion it blows the CV away. I have had a lot of 35mm RF lenses and to my eyes the Leica glass is in a clear league of its own. My opinion of course.
;-)
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I'm afraid I have to agree as far as I use Leitz glass, it clearly outbeats the CV lenses. However I am now in search of the 25mm Biogon from which I expect the same or even better quality.
 
I got both the Nokton 35/1.2 and the Summicron 35/2.0 IV (7-element), and have compared both.

They are very different, and can be used for different work. For example:

- The 35/1.2 is very sharp at f1.2. When you need that it's the only thing.

- The 35/1.2's color rendition is "stiff", while that of the 35/2.0 IV is beautifully soft. Yet when you want it stiff, you go with the 35/1.2.

I can live my life with either lens, if I'm forced to, but when I can choose between the two, I know how to. As for which is the best or which blows which away, I believe it's true to each of his own, at least with these two lenses that I own.
 
I have not coded the lens and I plan to use it for a while uncoded. I gather from Reid's reviews that coding is essential on the WA lenses, but not so with the 50mm lenses. I hope that the 35mm Nokton is sufficiently on the cusp so as not to require coding. I have coded my 25mm and 15mm. So I'll try to see if I can get away from coding on the Nokton. My shots so far show no evidence of any significant vignetting. If I do find vignetting that is objectionably, I'll crop the results and send the lens flange to Milich for modification. As for the IR cut filter, that is a must and while my test shots so far do not contain any black fabric objects, I will order one ASAP. BTW, the filter size is 52mm, and as a long time Nikon user, I have no shortage of 52mm filters, caps, hoods and other accessories. A very convenient happenstance. I am heading for Alaska in a few weeks and expect to have a lot of fun with my M8 and my Nikon D300. I also picked up an Expodisc which should help with setting the WB in the sub arctic light.

Jim Evidon
 
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