Nokton 50mm F1.1, Voigtlander's First Super-Speed Lens.

Sonnar Brian

Sonnar Brian

Product of the Fifties
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I've had this lens for 10 years now. It is my fastest lens in Leica mount, I do have the Canon 50/0.95 in Canon Breech-Lock mount. This lens is a classic double-Gauss 7 elements in 6 groups, multi-coated optics. This lens has a longer optical path than the Canon Super-Speed 50/1.2 and 50/0.95, meaning it is big. For digital cameras- long optical path is better.



Light fall-off at the corners is about 2 F-Stops, compares with the Leica 50mm F1.0 Noctilux.

At the current price-

https://shop.cameraquest.com/voigtlander-leica-mount-lenses/voigtlander-50mm-f/1.1-lens/

of $700, this lens is a super-speed bargain. I've owned the Canon 50/0.95 for 18 years, bought a pair for ~$200 each. I've never felt the need to get mine converted to M-Mount after owning this lens.

This lens was introduced in 2009, and is optimized for the Bessa series and Zeiss Ikon series Film cameras made by Cosina. This lens had a measurable back-focus on my M9, which I corrected by placing 1 layer of 3M copper tape on the RF cam of the lens. If I wanted to optimize it for a deep color contrast filter for the M Monochrom, I would add one more layer of tape.

This adjustment was required for both my 50/1.1 and 35/1.2 v1 Nokton.




Wide-Open on the M Monochrom.



Wide-Open on the M9:



I keep a UV/IR cut filter on my lens when using with the M9. Most super-speed lenses suffer from Chromatic Aberration which is worse outside of the visible spectrum. On the M9, this will show up as purple fringing.
 
I've used this lens at the Skating Rink with good results. Focus is very smooth.







I code the lens as a 50/1.0 Noctilux, which has similar vignetting.



I've read some online reviews "dissing" this lens, usually shot with a Digital Leica. After correcting the back-focus on my M9, I get very good results. I suspect the reviews were done without testing focus accuracy on the M9 and correcting the problem.
 
I've seen some tests in which the Nokton f/1.1 was compared with the Noctilux 50mm f/1. These showed that at full aperture the Nokton was much, much sharper. It was then claimed that the Noctilux 50mm f/1 was not so much a lens for getting sharp images, but for something else. I don't know what, but these tests also showed that the Noctilux 50 mm f/1 gave virtually no coverage in the corners: at full apertures the corners are black on the Noctilux f/1. The Nokton, on the other hand, draws beautifully at full aperture. The Nokton 50 mm f/1.1 is a fantastic lens, especially for portraits. No back-focus on my film-cameras. I do not have any digital cameras.

The optical construction of the Nokton 50 mm f/1.1 resembles that of the Xenon, Summarit and the first type of the Summilux 50mm lenses.


gelatine silver print (nokton 50mm f1.1 full aperture) leica m3

50613857078_8cc0d84868_b.jpg


I do not have the new Nokton 50mm f/1.2, but I would like to see a comparison test between that lens and the Nokton 50mm f/1.1.


gelatine silver print (nokton 50mm f1.1 full aperture) leica m5

48009877438_86bd211bf3_b.jpg



gelatine silver print (nokton 50mm f/1.1 @ full aperture) leica m5

48015427688_376d108fb5_b.jpg


Incredible sharpness @ f/1.1 (you can count the bricks), only the extreme corners are blurred. And: no distortion!

Erik.
 
I had to change the title of this thread, since the 50/1 Nokton came out. I bought that one, and the 50/1.2 Nokton as well.

Today I brought this lens out with my rebuilt/new glass element Canon 50/1.2. Both are 7 element in 5 group designs. No aspherical elements. The Nokton is a much newer lens, has a short-focus throw. The Canon has a long-throw. I had to recalibrate my brain for the two lenses, both used on the M240 with a 1.4x magnifier. This allowed both-eye-open shooting.

Wide-Open.
M2406541.jpgM2406548.jpgM2406582.jpgM2406587.jpgM2406717.jpg
 
The attached image taken with this Nokton was stopped down a little (though I do not recall how much, it is likely it's not stopped too much as that is not how I shoot). I am often a bit bemused at how this lens is denigrated by some when I am quite happy with its overall performance and it is nice to have a lens this fast tht is actually pretty sharp wide open. Probably Kai Wong's humorous but somewhat disparaging review of it when he was still at Digital Rev TV in Hong Kong did not help - though at the end of the day his main complaint seemed to be that it is different from the Noctilux and lacked its generously smooth bokeh. For the iconoclasts in the group - with the image below, do not get too bent out of shape by the fact that it's had a little post processing - it's the only shot I can readily find to post.

The Street Flows like a River by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
 
The Nokton 35mm f1.2 v1 is already a bit iffy to focus on the M9, and the only time I've tried the original 50mm f1.1 was with my Zeiss Ikon. So I would probably use it on a mirrorless body. Does anyone know how this lens performs on a mirrorless camera from Panasonic or Leica compared with a M body?
 
I use the 1.25x magnifier on the M9 for my fast lenses.

I've used the 50/1 Nokton on my Nikon Z5, was great. The 50/1.1 has a much longer optical path than my Canon 50/0.95- which is awesome on the Z5.
 
I have the CV 50/1.1 and also the CV 50/1.0 but I skipped buying the CV 50/1.2. I love using the 50/1. Focus is super smooth. It is an enjoyment to use this lens wide open on the M10.
 
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