New Voigtlander 50F1.5 Nokton

[rirakuma]

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Thanks mate, that was very helpful .

 

The original Nokton 1.5/50 (7 lenses in 5 groups) was/is a legendary lens for the Voigtländer Prominent rangefinder camera introduced in 1951. It was said to be ahead of the high speed lens competition at the time (Leitz Summarit, Zeiss Sonnar). While the Nokton in Voigtländer Prominent mount is not an uncommon lens nowadays (but still not cheap), the same lens in Leica screwmount is indeed a very rare lens and sought after by collectors, which explains the high prices it commands. If you want to see sample pictures of that lens, just do a search on flickr for "Prominent Nokton". I assume there is little or no optical difference between the Prominent and the Leica mount version of the lens. BTW, there is an Ebay seller who offers an adapter to convert the Prominent mount lenses to M39, but I have no idea if that adapter works well or not.

 

The screwmount Nokton 1.5/50 that was introduced by Cosina Voigtländer in 1999 (and has since been discontinued) has nothing to do with the original Nokton. The looks and the optical designs are quite different, using 6 lenses in 5 groups including one aspherical element. It is generally well regarded, a good copy of this lens is said to be about as good as the spherical Lux (Version II) or maybe even better. Compared to the spherical Lux it is quite chunky though and some people (including me) complain about its ergonomics.

 

The newly introduced CV Nokton in M mount mimics the cosmetics of the original Voigtländer Nokton from the 1950s, while retaining the optical design of the screwmount CV Nokton. CV points out however, that the coatings have been improved for the new version.

[jaques]

I am not one of those that think the 1999 LTM nokton has bad ergonomics.... i find it OK to use- and it is a superb lens for the price. It was the first M lens I bought... My example focuses perfectly on the M9- and is a well made quality lens. I would rate it as one of the best built modern CV M mount lenses I have tried (15mm, 24mm, 35mm {1.4 & 1.2}, 75mm. It does compare well with my chrome pre-asph summilux.

 

This new lens looks very nice I think- old school nice.

[zlatkob]

Ow, ow, OWWW! My fingertips are sore and bleeding from just LOOKING at that focus-ring knurling!

 

I agree. It looks odd and uncomfortable. The previous Nokton 50/1.5 looked better.

[Ecar]

I agree. It looks odd and uncomfortable.

 

Actually it's not - or rather, the original Prominent is not.

I tested a used one a while ago and found the focus ring quite nice to use, providing good and smooth grip for one- or two-finger rotation.

I ended up not buying it because the condition of the glass on that particular sample was far from justifying the asking price, which now seems to have entered collector's territory.

[gsgary]

Quite a difference in price between black and silver

Search results for: 'vl5015' | Robert White Photographic Ltd

 

Ill be having a black one

[henning]

I had the first CV version for a while. It was decently sharp, and as mentioned as good as the pre-ASPH Lux, but oof areas where rather brittle and harsh; not nearly as smooth as the look the old Lux produced. It also had a bit of decentering. Then, when I banged it a bit - not too hard, but obviously just right - all the aperture blades settled into a little pile where gravity took them. I then got a ASPH Lux shortly after it was released.

 

My friend here in town, who is a good friend of Mr. Kobayashi, got his ver.II copy yesterday and I'll have a look at it this evening when I see him. I'm not sure the ergonomics will be better, but I'm also sure the general mechanical quality will be better, as the later lenses from Cosina have been definitely getting better. I doubt I will get one but will try out my friends for a while later this month. I like that the new one focusses down to .7m instead of .9m.

 

Henning

[henning]

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Well, I got to see the new version last night. The focussing ring feels a bit strange, but you can get used to it quickly, I think. Lens hood screws in and seems to be 49mm; anyway a bit smaller than the first version. Overall, a good quality feel. Definitely nicer than the first version, but a fair bit more money of course as well.

 

Henning

[banshy]

This is true for digital cameras but I believe that camera lenses attract duty of around 6%. Whether you actually get charged is of course a different matter.

 

6,7% actually

[chema]

You can find a nice test of this lens in:

Voigtländer Nokton 50 mm f/1,5 Asph. – La Prueba - DSLR Magazine

 

In spanish

 

regards

 

chema

[esophoria]

I just received (last week) my Nokton 50 f/1.5-- this is my third Voightlander...My Leica dealer frowns on any lens other than a Leica.

 

The lens is outstanding and to call it a poor man's Leica is really doing the lens a disservice.

 

The bokeh is great and lens focuses easily and smoothly. Built really well...

 

Bottom line is the lens is great....and to my eyes (I'm an eye doctor)....no better, no worse than any of my Leica glass.