Voigtlander 'Vintage Line' 50mm 1.5 ii

[helen.HH]

oh hey Thomas,
Hello

Thanks for posting the comparisons

to my 'eye' , the new nokton has a touch more pop, just a hint sharper

 

[Sonnar Brian]

C-Sonnar 50/1.5 and the Nokton-M V2,

Nokton-M V2, C-Sonnar by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

[astrobuoy]

Thanks for posting the comparisons

to my 'eye' , the new nokton has a touch more pop, just a hint sharper

I think the new V2 has quite a bit of pop actually, especially compared to the V1 Nokton which I sold a while back because I found it a bit flat. I'm impressed with this new lens! I've posted these test shots with the V2 elsewhere, but I'll throw them up here too. All taken at f/2 on a Leica M10, straight out of camera.

Someone on another forum also posted some of their sample pics (much, much better than mine: https://www.itakepicswithalightcapt.../n-DXspSs/50mm-Voigtlander-Nokton-Classic-II/)

 

[zwicko]

In the linked EXIF data it says "Summicron 35mm".
I'm not familiar with digital Ms, but is the Nokton v2 coded as such?

 

[astrobuoy]

In the linked EXIF data it says "Summicron 35mm".
I'm not familiar with digital Ms, but is the Nokton v2 coded as such?

In my photos? That's strange. No the lens isn't coded, but I manually coded it as a 50mm Summilux ASPH. Not sure why it's showing as a Summicron 35mm...

 

[dourbalistar]

In my photos? That's strange. No the lens isn't coded, but I manually coded it as a 50mm Summilux ASPH. Not sure why it's showing as a Summicron 35mm...

I think zwicko means the EXIF in the other sample images that you linked.

 

[zwicko]

I think zwicko means the EXIF in the other sample images that you linked.

Yes, that's what I wanted to say. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Wide-Open on the M9,

Signal Hill by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Signal Hill by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

And at F4,

Signal Hill by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Signal Hill by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

[Sonnar Brian]

One more, at F1.5. The focus point is the chain of the swing- consider this a Bokeh shot.

Signal Hill by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

[loquax ludens]

I like the images that this lens produces starting from about f/2.8 or f/4. At the larger apertures, it depends on the character of the out-of-focus area. A lot of images at f/1.5 to f/2.8 or so have a swirly bokeh that I don't care for. It sometimes induces a queasy feeling in me that makes me want to look away. That's not good.

Not all wide-open images have that effect on me, but enough do that I'm not sure I'd be happy to use this lens on a regular basis in situations where the widest apertures would be most useful. So maybe the large aperture is not such a compelling reason for me to want to use this lens.

Despite the smaller size and weight of the CV lens, which is a highly desirable characteristic, I think I might be happier with the f/2 Summicron after all. It doesn't ever seem to create a bokeh effect that makes me feel physically ill.

 

[Stuart John]

I've had the LTM version for years. It's still a great lens for me.

 

[aizan]

Make sure to get a collapsible or rigid Summicron. The later ones make harsh bokeh with challenging backgrounds WOCU.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Swirly Bokeh is usually caused by some residual astigmatism in a lens, the cure for it is to design some field curvature into the formula. The double-Gauss based Leica lenses are well corrected for field curvature, but have a lot of "Swirlies" in the image.

Sonnar formula lenses typically have a lot of field curvature, but little astigmatism. You get Coma instead.

Summar:

Summar_F2_1 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Sonnar

Sonnar_F2_1 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

The Xenon, Summar, Summitar, Summarit, collapsible Summicron, and Rigid Summicron all show swirly Bokeh. This new Nokton is much less pronounced than any of them.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

As the Summicron was mentioned in this thread,

I went back and picked out some shots taken with both. These are on film. Perfect-Glass collapsible Summicron-M, I still have this lens, the T1 Rigid, and two Hot-Glass Collapsible Summicrons. These lenses have more than quadrupled in price since I bought these. Remember my $70 Summicron?

nikki_coll_summicron by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Collapsible Summicron-M 5cm F2, wide-open:

coll_summicron5@f2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

coll_summicron3@f2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

And the Type 1 Rigid Summicron:

t1rigid_summicron2@f2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

t1rigid_summicron4@f2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Both of these lenses are over-corrected for spherical aberrations, and show residual astigmatism. They are highly corrected for flatness of field.

Swirly, footballs. Perfect for Thanksgiving.

The new Nokton is very smooth in comparison. It does show some "footballs" when used close up and wide-open. Bur nothing like the classic Leica lenses.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

With the new Nokton, closest focus, wide-open at F1.5.

Nokton-M V2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Shown to characterize the swirlies.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've hacked together lenses, picked replacement optics, to play with Bokeh- usually with lenses bought for parts and were incomplete.

Just for Comparison- a Hacked Sonnar Nikkor 10.5cm F2.5.

S-Mount 10.5cm F2.5 Nikkor. Missing the rear element, was $42.

Nikkor 105/2.5 Hacked, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I made a guess that a 100mm focal length lens, correct diameter would work. Turns out the rear retaining ring from a J-3 works with the Nikkor. Fitting the lens took a little work, two-point calibration for getting close-focus, infinity, and the RF to agree by changing the main shim and placing the new element.

The Bokeh reminds me of the Nokton. Under-corrected for spherical aberration, and some residual astigmatism.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Udvar Hazy Museum is one of my favorite placed for comparing lenses.

When things get back to normal, and they re-open, I'll bring my Nokton 50/1.5's there.

50/1.5 Aspheric Nokton, LTM version.

Wide-open, My favorite Bokeh test.

50/1.5 Asph Nokton, LTM by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

[shawn]

Make sure to get a collapsible or rigid Summicron. The later ones make harsh bokeh with challenging backgrounds WOCU.

A collapsible Summicron will get swirly WOCU though.

A bunch of 50s close up at different apertures here:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/39387871@N06/E1V50b

Shawn

 

[shawn]

The Udvar Hazy Museum is one of my favorite placed for comparing lenses.

When things get back to normal, and they re-open, I'll bring my Nokton 50/1.5's there.

50/1.5 Aspheric Nokton, LTM version.

Wide-open, My favorite Bokeh test.

50/1.5 Asph Nokton, LTM by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I love that I knew where that shot was before reading your description. That plane is incredible!

I was there when the flew in Discovery.

Shawn

 

[shawn]

I think the new V2 has quite a bit of pop actually, especially compared to the V1 Nokton which I sold a while back because I found it a bit flat.

Interesting, wonder if there is some variation there? I have v1 and wouldn't call it flat.

Shawn