Nokton 40mm question...

W

wblanchard

Guest
Just a quick question...how does the Nokton 40mm lens compare to the Hexar AF built in 35/2 Lens? I love the sharpness of my Hexar lens, but wanted to get a R3A and perhaps this lens....I can't afford the leica 35mm lens...but i am open to suggestions.
 
I'm disqualified from answering because I have never used the Hexar lens :), but the 40mm is very sharp and very fast for the money. Like me, most other owners are delighted with it.
 
If you don't need the speed, consider the Minolta CLE 40/2 Rokkor (with serial number on the barrel not ring). The 40 Rokkor is considered on par with the 35 Summicron and can be had for $300 or less.

I haven't used the CV 40.
 
I can't speak to the Hexar AF lens either, but I am very happy with my Nokton S.C. It has great sharpness and depth, and flare is a non-issue. Wide open, you have to make sure that you have a pretty clean background because the bokeh can get a bit peculiar, but 2.8 and smaller smooths everything out.

I've been interested in the Hexar myself, but the 250 top shutter speed seems a bit limiting.
 
I got one of the 40/1.4-M lenses for my M7 and the results are excellent, especially for the price. The one thing that bugs me is the lack of 40mm frame in the vf - an issue you'll have with most cameras, with the most notable exception of the R3a. I've even considered buying an R3a as a second body and a vehicle for my cv15 and 40/1.4 Nokton. If you want 40mm, and you're deciding between the R2a and R3a, then go for the R3.

Street Shooting kit;
R3a + 25/4 (Snapshot Skopar) + 40/1.4 + 90/3.5

If you wanted better control & definition for landscapes/street/low light, judging by the recs I see on the forums I'd get the 28/1.9 Ultron instead of the 25/4. Either way, once you have the 40/1.4 and either of the 2 wider lenses, I don't think you'd miss the 35 focal length.

... unless of course you wanted the f1.2 of Voigtlander's 35/1.2 !!!
 
I've had both. I sold the 40 and kept the Hexar AF. Probably the best 35 I own. I have the 40 summi / 35 2.8 summaron and a 35 summicron - also I sold the R3A and kept the Hexar AF - I also sold a Hexar RF and kept the AF - its the original stealth model. Keep the AF or sell it to me.
 
I have Hexar, and do love it. It is more harmonic lens than 40/1.4, now I have one to test.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=18632&cat=4236&page=1
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=18630&cat=4236&page=1
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=18631&cat=4236&page=1
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=18629&cat=4236&page=1
These pics are shot with 40/1.4, the lens is nice for movements at 1/15 - 1/8 sec, contrast lights, very nice color. Bokeh seems to be rude, I don't like it usually. On middle F's the picture is more flat, very sharp. I'd buy this lens for special situations as partys and the like. and for color, if it costs $300, not more, In Moscow it goes for $470 - that's not interesting:))
 
Another nod for the summicron-C or the rokkor, both great lenses with great signatures. The 40/1.4 CV is quite sharp from 2.0 and above. 1.4 is usable, but vignettes quite significantly, and to echo what another said above, the bokeh on this lens is quite unpleasant. But that is subjective, so your tastes may differ.
 
I don't have the Hexar AF, but do have the CV 40/1.4 Nokton & find it to be a great lens, particularly if you like the 40mm focal length & need f/1.4. I think the boke is just fine, but I'm far from a boke snob (I often use a Noctilux, after all).
 
I just recently purchased the 40/1.4 Nokton and so far I'm very impressed. Scanned images seem to be printing out very well with excellent sharpness. The best scanned image printed on a high-end printer won't hide bad optics. Boke issues? 'Not sure I could really comment. Least of my worries photographically right now. By the way, I really enjoy my new R3A, even as a glasses wearer. I highly recommend Stephen Gandy's Camera Quest if you're thinking about a Voigtlander. Good luck.
 
It seems like the quality snobs and the speed snobs have slightly different standards. The quality snobs are willing to sacrifice a little speed (like one stop) for the ultimate in image excellence, and the speed snobs are willing to sacrifice a bit of image quality (like bokeh) for an extra stop. I guess I'm just a quality snob, so shoot me. For the price of a new or slightly used 40mm Nokton, I would choose a 40mm M-Rokkor any day with nary a millisecond of hesitation.

Richard
 
I certainly wouldn't kick a 40mm M-Rokkor out of my bag. TAMARKIN shows one up for sale with a CLE for $1K. Assuming the CLE is in good shape I amagine it's a nice combination. My point is/was that the Nokton 40/1.4 for the street price it's going for now appears to me at least to be a very good buy. But certainly no auguments here against a 40mm Rokkor either.
 
Being a quality or a speed snob notwithstanding I would think if the 40 Rokkor and the 40 Nokton are fairly similar performers at f/2 or more so why would one sacrifice the ability to use f/1.4 if needed in the Nokton? I think they are similar size, no? Is the Rokkor that much better at f/2 than the Nokton? At f/2 or smaller the bokeh on the Nokton improves greatly. If not then I cannot see, unless the 40 Rokkor is that much cheaper/smaller/ergonomically sound, not just getting the Nokton.
 
Burkey said:
I certainly wouldn't kick a 40mm M-Rokkor out of my bag......
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I wasn't really responding to you specifically. It's just that I notice two trends generally, not only in this thread: one toward the faster, newer lenses; and another toward older, proven designs, which may be a little slower. It's probably a difference between those who are more adventurous when it comes to equipment, and those who are more conservative. I'm not suggesting that one side is right and the other wrong.

Richard
 
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richard_l said:
I wasn't really responding to you specifically. It's just that I notice two trends generally, not only in this thread: one toward the faster, newer lenses; and another toward older, proven designs, which may be a little slower. It's probably a difference between those who are more adventurous when it comes to equipment, and those who are more consersative. I'm not suggesting that one side is right and the other wrong.

Richard
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Or may it be that one side owns new fast designs and the others proven designs?? :rolleyes:

all this stuff is very subjective -but until camera stores offer "test drives" we will all essentially be guessing until we get the first developed film back after which we convince ourselves we made the right choice because that my friends, is human nature :D
 
Richard - nor I. That's one thing I've become very fond of with my limited time on this forum. That being a very healthy tolerance for personal perferences.
 
As a quality snob, I'd have to say that signature and bokeh are highly subjective. You must take these opinions with a bucket of salt. I don't expect we would all agree, no more than I would expect we all like the same painters.

The difference between this forum and photo.net is that insults don't immediately ensue upon disagreement.

For instance, I happen to love the bokeh on my nikon 50AFD1.8. That's right, you heard me correctly. This lens has been widely panned by almost everyone I know for having harsh bokeh. But I just like it, for me, it has the 'pop' effect. So here's to test driving everything if you can. There's always the classified if you don't like the ride :)
 
"I would think if the 40 Rokkor and the 40 Nokton are fairly similar performers at f/2 or more so why would one sacrifice the ability to use f/1.4 if needed in the Nokton?"

The Summicron/Rokkors are great lenses for sure but sorry the Nokton clearly has greater resolution from f2 to f4 over them. The Nokton is more flare resistant as well.

Here is one test done that bares out my own results as I have both a Rokkor and Nokton. Look at the shrine shots on the roof tiles and the chicken wire protecting the statues the Nokton superiority is clearly visible in this test.

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/review/2004/12/03/466.html

Only those who just own the summicron/rokkor seem to make the claim that its as good as or better then the Nokton. Everyone who owns both find the Nokton the sharper lens. A fellow Australian (Joel Matherson) who is on photonet is currently doing a test of many 40mm lenses in fixed lens rangefinders and others and so far has found the Nokton to come up trumps.
 
Captain said:
Only those who just own the summicron/rokkor seem to make the claim that its as good as or better then the Nokton. Everyone who owns both find the Nokton the sharper lens.
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That's pretty impressive! I wonder if the Noktons in other focal lengths are also better than the corresponding Summicrons.
 
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