Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.4 - General Use and Coating

[kentishrev]

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Slowly getting the hang of my M6TTL, with a Summicron 50 and Summicron 90.  Really enjoying them.

 

I'd like to get a 35mm lens too, but costs are a real consideration at present.  I'd welcome views on two points:

 

1.  Would the Nokton be a better option than the Summarit 35?  Does the 1.4 restrict more to low-light situations, or will it be fine for general usage too?

 

2.  I use both colour and black and white film - too soon to specialise.  I've read that the SC is best for black and white, and MC for colour.  But which to buy if you use both?

 

many thanks,

[DMJ]

Consider the VM 35mm f1.7 Vintage line also. The chrome version is gorgeous to look at whilst the black version is only slightly more expensive than your Nokton f1.4. Good review here:

http://rangefinder.yodobashi.com/lens/voigtlaender/u35_e.html

 

Martin

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[TomB_tx]

I have both the Summarit (2.5) and the MC Nokton, having bought the Nokton first to supplement my 1969 Summicron 35. The Nokton does have some distortion, but overall I thought the image quality on my M9 was better than my old Summicron at f2, and at 1.4 was about like the Summicron at f2, with similar vignetting and sharpness. I've had some very nice results from it in both low light and sunlight. It does have some focus shift to the rear when stopping down, and on digital if you look close the sharpest details are often behind your focus plane. I love the small size, good construction, and handling. Now I use it on my old M6 where the speed helps, and focus plane is more forgiving.

The Summarit is now my favorite lens on the M9, also with great handling and small size, and the image quality in fine detail is much better. Some say it is soft at f2.5, but I use it wide open a lot and have no complaints.

The cost and speed of the Nokton are advantages, making it low risk, high value purchase.

[Clactonian]

Take a look HERE where you will find a number of images taken with the Nokton 35/1.4 SC, so you can judge for yourself.

I particularly like the rendering of the SC wide open.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Clactonian

[kentishrev]

Consider the VM 35mm f1.7 Vintage line also. The chrome version is gorgeous to look at whilst the black version is only slightly more expensive than your Nokton f1.4. Good review here:

http://rangefinder.yodobashi.com/lens/voigtlaender/u35_e.html

 

Martin

Thank you Martin.  I've been trawling the web for comparison reviews between the 1.4 and 1.7 (the 1.2 is just too bulky).  There is little comparing them.  Do you know more?  I suspect there is less distortion in the 1.7, but welcome views from others.

[kentishrev]

Well, bit the bullet today and picked up a 35mm Nokton MC and hood. Should have first results in the next few days.....