The new Voigtlander 75/f1.8 and the 35/f1.4

N

Nick De Marco

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I said goodbye to two old lovely lenses, the Leica Summicron 35mm f2 (re aspherical version IV) and Voigtlander Nokton f1.2, to but two new Voigtlanders - the 35 f1.4 and 75 f1.8. Although I loved the old lenses, for various reasons:the summicron was old and battered, lens hood broken, focus knob snapped off, aperture ring too tight etc, and only f2; the 1.2 Nokton was lovely but far to big and heavy as an around walk around lens, which means taking 2 35s wherever you go, one very heavy. So I used them less and less, using the CV 35mm f2.5 more for practical reasons.

But loving fast lenses, and ones I can travel with, I wanted these 2 new Voigtlander lenses. The 35/1.4 looked like a good general walkabout lens, nice and small, and possibility of a stop more than the summicron. The 75 is my first 75 (never got on with 90s on my M6), and looks like a good fast lens.

I was lucky that the guys in the shop gave me such a good price for two beloved, yet no longer used and very battered lenses, so I hardly need to spend anything to get these two new ones.



Here, then, are the first few pics from the first film using these lenses. So far, so good, I really seem to like the 2 lenses.

I was going to say now I'm off to Venice to really test them (with the CV 21/4 and 28/3.5 as well with my M6), but my train from Paris has just been cancelled due to the lengthening of the French general strike so I guess they will get some use whilst here stranded in Paris


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First: saying goodbye to my Nokton f1.2 @f2

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The 35/1.4

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And the 75/1.8

More of the first few photos are in this set:
2 New Voigtlander lenses - a set on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Nick
 
"stranded in paris" - now there's a situation that's more than a little enviable. no sympathy here.

great concept for a fast, light 2-lens kit. photos look really nice. be prepared for the "my my, what big barrel distortion your lens has" web-fill, nick.

i hear roland's footsteps ...
 
Ummmm

the 75 is tempting.... but, too late. 35/75 seems like a good pair.
Enjoy and post often
 
A great light kit. The 35 and 75 give great options and both can be used with an M6 by a photographer who wears glasses.
 
The kit I used in Europe last month was the 35f1.4 Nokton and the Heliar 75f1.8 (M2/R3M) and backed by a R4M and the 21f4.5 C Biogon. Having gone through 30 of 50 rolls (developed and scanned), the 35f1.4 and the 75f1.8 was probably enough. The 21 was used occasionally and my 12f5.6 for a couple of rolls.
Even a 2 bodies/2 lens kit - 35f75 is light enough, comfortable to use too.
 
Agreed Tom - and reading your posts helped me buy the 35 and 75. Although I think I shall use the 75 less, not because of any problems with it - it seems a great lens and with it I feel no need for a 50 for the first time. Just I'm a wide angle guy so appreciate having the 21 etc with me (nearly took the 15 but the 21 is much smaller and has less distortion and really it's wide enough for me). I always travel with medium format as well these days - this time my Hassleblad with a very big and heavy old 50mm wide as well as standard lens - so although I agree about two bodies being not too much, and remember once n Cambodia madly taking 4 M bodies - this time one M is enough
 
the 35/1.4 nokton is really really good. despite from its circular flare issue when wide open depending on incident light angle, i absolutely love it. I have been thinking about getting a 1.2 but size keeps making the decision harder. you will be well served. :)
 
Nick, I found that the 35f1.4 got used the most. Mainly because I am at heart a 35 shooter. The 75 came into it's own with some longer views and tighter detail shots.
I am trying to wean myself off too much stuff in the shoulderbag, I will try the 21f4 Color Skopar, the 35f1.4 and the 75/1.8 as a "lightweight kit next. Just two bodies and the 21 rattling around in the bottom of the bag.
 
Love the 35/75 combo.
I also use the 75/1.8, but pair it either with a 35 pre-asph lux or a 35 UC hexanon.
 
Tom that's exactly what I've being carrying around Paris last 2 days (but only one body) I brought the 28 3.5 with me too. As I really like the lens. But with the choice between the 35 and the great little 21 I realise it unnecessary.

Tell me, which two bodies will you narrow down to? My first remains my m6. I have a nice r3m I use sometimes but it bothers me it uses 40 (I have the 40 but feel if I take it then what's the point of my 35 on my m6). Whilst you are sensibly narrowing down your gear I'm currently craving an r4 bessa of either variety. Preferring to shoot wide angle I'd love a body my 21 could live on and I wouldn't need the accessory viewfinder. But I've heard carrying reviews of the cameras quality and haven't seem a used one for sale yet

nick
 
You have chosen a good two lens combo. [at a price]
Enjoy your trip and post many images from it here at RFF.


I am content with my combo.
35/1.4 pre-asph Lux with 75/1.4 Lux. [Thank you, Jim]

My combo is most likely heavier than the CV combo.
Which is "better" would be a question that is answered by different poeple in different ways,\.
 
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I use the same FL's for my 2-lens combo, although I use the CV 35/1.2 (don't mind the bulk) and the CV 75/2.5 (using an LTM->M adapter to bring up the 85mm frames on my ZI). I add a ZM 21/2.8 for a 3rd lens. It's great set up, although I must admit, I do feel some withdrawal pains when I leave home without a 50mm.
 
For a walkabout kit my rule is that if it doesn't fit in an FX-5B it doesn't go and I have to fit sunglasses, mobile phone and some film in there with it. So normally it's a couple of Leicas, a 35mm, a 50mm and the 28mm Color-Skopar for really tight spots. I like 75mm and I have the Color-Helier 75mm for Nikon but it's the kind of lens I only use for a portrait session (planned) rather than just to walk about with.
 
Nick, the last month trip (three weeks) I used the 75f1.8 on a R3M as it has the perfect set of 75 frames - unencumbered by any other frames. Very easy to focus with the 1:1 finder and when I still used my ex-Summilux 75 - that was my preferred body.
The 35 was more or less welded on to the M2!
The R4M is my 21mm body ( and in a pinch, it works well with the 35 too).
I would be OK with using either the R4M or M2 for 21/35 combo - no substitute for the R3M and the 75f1.8 (or the Summicron 75f2) though.
 
kxl said:
I use the same FL's for my 2-lens combo, although I use the CV 35/1.2 (don't mind the bulk) and the CV 75/2.5 (using an LTM->M adapter to bring up the 85mm frames on my ZI). I add a ZM 21/2.8 for a 3rd lens. It's great set up, although I must admit, I do feel some withdrawal pains when I leave home without a 50mm.
Click to expand...

OT, but you may have missed it so I'll repeat it here: the 50 framelines on the ZI indicate a perfect 75 FOV if you imagine lines running from the breaks between the framelines. It works.
 
I recently bought the 75mm f1.8 and my assessment so far is that its an excellent lens.

No pictures worthy of posting yet but I will see what I can do in the near term in that department.

It seems to be sharp enough wide open (although it is touted as being a tad soft the only problem I have noticed is with my focusing where DOF is so narrow.) The bokeh is very soft and pleasant. This is a lens worth owning!

Unlike you I am contemplating buying the 35mm f1.2 Nokton. Not only is it a lovely looking lens, I love its bokeh. Needless to say having shot Nikon DSLRs for many years I have no qualms about the larger RF lenses (which are still small by Nikon pro lens standards.) I will keep my Leica 35mm Summicron (version IV) as its just too nice to sell. I often end up with multiple lenses of the same focal length.
 
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