Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.1 worth a look?

[Dannybuoy]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I'm very tempted to get a Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.1. Read Steve Huff's review and it's favourable. The price is good compared to the Noctilux f/0.95 (obviously!). Has anyone got one and do you have any pros and cons? Or maybe some sample photos?

[Ulrik]

I read in a detailed test at SLR Lens & Camera Review that the lens exhibits significant focus shift, reducing the yield at large apertures. But I have no personal experience.

 

Ulrik

[Washington]

Yes, it's buy one and try it and see if it works for you. I like mine.

[bbijl]

I have one on my M9 and i'm very happy with it. But first you need to get used to it, it is more difficult to focus then other lenses.

[daniel buck]

Even though I thought I would like it, I actually don't use it that much.

 

The lens itself is very large (though not as large as some SLR lenses), blocking more of the viewfinder than I like. And it does have some significant back focusing (almost 1/2 meter when focusing at about 10-15 meters out). Unless it's just me not being familier with rangefinder focusing and somehow not focusing it properly, but it does seem to be fairly consistent that I have to focus it a bit closer than what I see in the range finder when shooting at medium distances away. Those two factors lead me to rarely ever grab the lens when shooting, and even opting to not even bring it with me on some trips out, and just shoot with my 28. I'm thinking about picking up a smaller lens to replace it.

 

I don't know if they all have this back focusing or not, but even if it didn't, I find that I don't like the large lens as much as I originally thought I would.

[Dannybuoy]

thanks everyone. Useful advice. I think in the photo game you really do get what you pay for. I've got a 50mm 1.2L USM for my Canon and love that lens so don't mind the weight, I just want decent sharpness and a smooth bokeh. I can't afford a Noctilux but a 50mm 1.4 Summilux might be a more attractive lens. It sounds like the same DoF can be achieved on the 1.4 and you don't have the focus shift issues or the horrible amount of CA that seem to be present in the Nocton pics. I can't stand CA so I think it'll avoid this lens and save for some Leica glass.. I'll stick to my mantra of 'buy cheap, buy twice'. That certainly applies here!!!

[250swb]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I think its a great lens for the money and I use mine often. It doesn't replace a Summilux or a Summicron and as such I think its a luxury lens just bought for the extra speed (but I think that about the Noctilux anyway). But mine focuses accurately wide open (although I think you need a viewfinder magnifier to reduce failures), and it does have some focus shift stopping down, but whether this is important depends on what you are photographing. Its fairly soft wide open, but so is a Noctilux f1, but on stopping down its a sharp lens, some tests show its sharper than a Summilux at f1.4 but I've never bothered proving it or not. The bokeh is more contrasty than Noctilux, and you either like it, or if not you can deal with it in post processing. I like the less chocolate box type look.

 

Steve

[Double Negative]

Since it came out, I always said "I would never get one." I just didn't like the bokeh, etc. It doesn't have the same "magic" as the 1,2/35 Nokton. But eventually I broke down. I wanted to cut through the forum chuff and see for myself.

 

I haven't had it too long, but so far - it's proving to be pretty interesting. The bokeh isn't all that bad after all, at least in most photos so far. Wide open it's not stellar, but tick it down a notch to f/1.4 and it's much, much better already. For shooting in "available darkness" though, it does fit the bill quite nicely.

 

It's a decent lens; a "poor man's Noctilux" if you will. I know I'd rather spend $800 than $6000, any day.

 

It does a fair job of blocking a chunk of the VF with the stock hood; the optional hood (LH-7, IIRC) improves things dramatically. You'll probably also want an ND filter or two if you want to shoot it wide open in daylight. I use an ND8 (three stops).

 

Here's a couple of recent shots; the first at f/1.1 and the second at f/1.4 (both M9):

 

 

[Double Negative]

Here's one shot in almost no light, ISO 1250. I was a bit toasted at this point, and didn't notice my aperture ring had turned (or stayed) at f/4. Even still, I managed 1/8s. So any blurriness is most definitely MY fault.

 

You'll notice the bokeh is actually quite nice.

 

[theno23]

I have one, and use it quite a bit:

Flickr: Search swh's photostream

 

It's big, and heavy, but focusses smoothly. I find it easy to get accurate focus, even wide open.

 

It's pretty soft / low contrast wide open, but not unpleasantly, and it sharpens up a lot at 1.4.

 

- Steve