Voigtlander 35/1.4 Nokton -- underrated?

[Archiver]

Why the heck would they discontinue such a useful lens? Either the profits from the lens weren't enough, they have another version planned, or they think their current range of 35's is enough.

I like mine a lot, although for me it's a kind of 'necessity' lens rather than a 'favourite' lens, if that makes sense. If I need a small and fast 35, this is the lens, but I am not overly wowed by its images. It's good, but not breathtaking like the Zeiss Sonnar ZM. I prefer the rendering of the 35mm f1.2 v1, but that's too large and heavy for an all day walkabout lens.

 

[dourbalistar]

According to the Cosina website the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton Classic VM lens in single and multi coat is discontinued.

http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigtlander/vm-mount/vm-35mm1_4/index.html

Mike

Hm, interesting. I know Cosina makes this lens for Voigtlander, but I didn't see any indication of it being discontinued on Voigtlander's own website:
https://www.voigtlaender.de/lenses/vm/35-mm-11-4-nokton-classic/?lang=en

Voigtlander's 35mm line of lenses is getting pretty crowded, though. Five different options just in that focal length.

 

[jarski]

Am glad that am mostly blind to different defects (aberrations, distortions..) of these modern lenses. They account less than 1% of "worthiness" of a photo, least for me. Been using Nokton on M8, but would not mind using it on full frame too. These can be bought cheap nowadays as there are several generations of newer and pricier lenses available.

 

[daveywaugh]

I really wanted to love this lens... but maybe I got a bad copy. I found it incredibly disappointing. Terrible bokeh, lots of coma, CA and ergonomically a bit rough. But maybe it was just bad luck. I returned it and got credit towards a Zeiss ZM 2.8. Now that lens... wow. For me it's just perfect.

 

[Archiver]

I really wanted to love this lens... but maybe I got a bad copy. I found it incredibly disappointing. Terrible bokeh, lots of coma, CA and ergonomically a bit rough. But maybe it was just bad luck. I returned it and got credit towards a Zeiss ZM 2.8. Now that lens... wow. For me it's just perfect.

If only Zeiss made a special-purpose fast 35 as well as their very large 35/1.4 Distagon. I love the size and rendering of the 35/2.8 Biogon but it's just not the same as a f1.4. That's where the Voigtlander 35/1.4 comes in, being small and 'classic' in rendering.


Eventually, I'll get the 35/2 Biogon because it's supposed to be really sharp, it's just fast enough, and I prefer the milled focus ring and bump to the tabbed ring on Voigtlander and Leica lenses.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Hm, interesting. I know Cosina makes this lens for Voigtlander, but I didn't see any indication of it being discontinued on Voigtlander's own website:
https://www.voigtlaender.de/lenses/vm/35-mm-11-4-nokton-classic/?lang=en

Voigtlander's 35mm line of lenses is getting pretty crowded, though. Five different options just in that focal length.

AFAIK Cosina leases the name Voigtlander to stick on their lenses. Meaning that they don’t make lenses for Voigtlander, rather they make lenses for themselves and whack the Voigtlander name on them because it sounds a lot cooler than “Cosina”.

 

[dourbalistar]

AFAIK Cosina leases the name Voigtlander to stick on their lenses. Meaning that they don’t make lenses for Voigtlander, rather they make lenses for themselves and whack the Voigtlander name on them because it sounds a lot cooler than “Cosina”.

Ah, yes, looks like you're right:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosina_Voigtländer

In such a case, Cosina's page about the Nokton being discontinued is probably more accurate than the Voigtlander page.

p.s. I have an early Cosina-made 107-SW (aka Voigtlander Bessa-L). It must be an early version, before they slapped the Voigtlander name on it. Interestingly, it also lacks a Cosina label.

 

[jarski]

improved v2 coming to M-mount: https://www.dpreview.com/news/36468...ns-for-leica-m-mount-will-be-released-in-june

 

[DanskDynamit]

I would say overrated, and this includes version 2.

 

[Dennis.Carlson]

Love mine! Would love to see if theres any improvements on the second version. These will probably be going for a steal once the new version comes out.

 

[Archiver]

I keep vacillating on my opinions about this lens! On one hand, it's fast, compact and very well built. It renders in a classic and slightly dreamy way wide open, and it's produced some of my favourite images including environmental portraits.


On the other, the dreaminess wide open tends to glowy haze, the bokeh can be jittery, and I prefer the Zeiss knurled bump focus ring.


I just spent the weekend with the CV 35/1.4 with my M9, along with the Elmarit 28 and Summicron 50, and the Voigtlander is just so much fun in low light.

 

[maggieo]

It's still my most-used lens. Here it is on my M10:



Swingset, October 12, 2020 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

 

[Range-rover]

I have one one, and I used it on my Sony and now my Fuji X-pro2 and have to say
it's great. Closed down it sharp with great color, wide open it has that look that a
few people understand.

 

[Rayt]

How do v1 and V2 Noktons compare to 35mm Summilux Pre-A? I love the Summilux at 1.4 but backlit scenes flare a bit.

 

[cboy]

The 35 f1.4 is a wonderful lens to use. Ergos are second to none in my experience, however for me and my taste the rendering is a bit flat. I would of like it there was a stronger falloff between foreground and backgroud seperation to get more 3dimensionally in the shot. But mind you it makes stunning images.
Also as a personal taste, i really hate the silver ring as it makes it expensive to buy silver ringed filters. Black filters on a silver ring destroys the aesthetics i feel. Most pics you see of voigtlanders dont have the filter attached lol.

 

[analogpics]

Curious how this compares to the TTartisans and 7artisans 35 1.4 lenses. I obviously prefer the size of the nokton, but the reviews on the TTartisans and 7artisans are surprisingly good. Anyone compared them to the nokton?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Curious how this compares to the TTartisans and 7artisans 35 1.4 lenses. I obviously prefer the size of the nokton, but the reviews on the TTartisans and 7artisans are surprisingly good. Anyone compared them to the nokton?

First version is known for focus shifts, second has it corrected, yet @f1.4 on any Nokton 35 1.4 is between wild on background and glowingly next to soft in the middle, with smeared corners. But I still prefer this lens to those huge atwinsans. This lens is classic RF lens. Makes M camera walkable for hours and days. This is what RF is all about to me. Light and compact, with f1.4 as only last thing. Not bokeh photography, but life.
If you need well corrected f1.4 and cheap go for workout with atwinsans.