Any experience with Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 or f1.2?

[rivi1969]

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Good evening,

Just trying to gather some experience here... I am looking to buy a new 50mm lens for my M9P, currently I own the CV 21mm f4 and the Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2. I was thinking in getting the chrome Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 or the f1.2. I wonder if you have experience with these lenses, if the IQ would be similar? Thank you! Ricardo

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[oudjunk]

I have never used voightlander 50 f1.5 

but i have used only 50 f1.2 

it's really great lens for me, the sharpness, rendering, and the weight is good with the wide open like this. 

also easy to nail the focus (IMO) when i compare to noctilux. 

 

[garysamson]

I have the Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 lens and I use it on a Leica M240. Wide open, I think it performs quite well, but stopped down through F4, there is noticeable focus shift using the rangefinder to focus. The 50mm f1.2 might be a better choice as I believe it does not suffer from focus shift at any aperture. Since I have live view on the M240, I can check sharpness at settings between f2-f4. 

[rivi1969]

Thank you. Maybe the f1.2 would be the better option since I don't have live view to check for precise focus in my M8 and M9P cameras.

[ktmrider2]

The 50f1.2 is one of the best 50's you can purchase regardless of price or manufacturer.  There is a review written for LHSA's VIEWFINDER by Bill Rosauer who is one of the main moderators here.  He sings it praises and I can confirm his views.  I have the 50f1.1, latest version of the 50 Summicron, and the 50f1.2 and the one I am keeping is the 50f1.2.  Do yourself a favor and buy a 52mm lens hood from ebay for $6 instead of the Voightlander for $100 or more.

If you google 50f1.2 Nokton reviews his article comes up.  It was in the Dec, 2018 VIEWFINDER.  I think Bill is one of the past presidents of LHSA and may be on the forum as Leicaman.

Edited January 22, 2020 by ktmrider2

[darkinners]

Just bought the 50mm 1.2 aspherical today with the LH-10 hood. 

I am impressed! The wide open contrast is very high and the rangefinder coupling calibration is spot on. The build quality is nice as well. 

It is a very good affordable large aperture 50mm lens. 

[spydrxx]

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I've had a black CV 50/1.5 (LTM version) for several months now, and used it on my LTM, M2, and m4/3 bodies. I was concerned about focus shift on the film cameras, but haven't noticed any...I did check both negatives and the image at the film plane with a ground glass and loupe. Of course that isn't an issue with live view focusing on my m4/3 body. It does an impressive job, and I like its handling better than the Summilux I owned previously.

[TomB_tx]

3 hours ago, spydrxx said:

I've had a black CV 50/1.5 (LTM version) for several months now, and used it on my LTM, M2, and m4/3 bodies. I was concerned about focus shift on the film cameras, but haven't noticed any...I did check both negatives and the image at the film plane with a ground glass and loupe. Of course that isn't an issue with live view focusing on my m4/3 body. It does an impressive job, and I like its handling better than the Summilux I owned previously.

I use the same lens on an M5, where it feels just right and gives great results. I also have a later chrome M version, and somehow haven't been as pleased with the images.

[Peter Kilmister]

At the back of a cupboard I have a Voigtlander chrome 50mm f:/1.5. I only used it to find out if I liked a 50mm lens. It was used and so cheap and I had almost forgotten about it.

Summary: It took good photos on an M240. No experience since then. Easy to focus. No obvious aberrations. Not tested at anything that would challenge it. Therefore, for normal use, nothing to fault it.

[Harpomatic]

I have a Nokton 1.2 and wholeheartedly recommend it, it’s a special lens and the images are wonderful. 
 

I have used a lot the 1.5 in the past and I do think it’s a great lens as well, and I have to say I never have noticed any focus shift in my photography on my M240. 
 

You should choose based on size, weight and haptics (1.2 haptics are fantastic). 
 

As a side note: why chrome? I used both black and chrome and black was way better for me - why the added weight and sharper corners on the focus ring?

[Photon42]

On 1/22/2020 at 2:10 AM, rivi1969 said:

Good evening,

Just trying to gather some experience here... I am looking to buy a new 50mm lens for my M9P, currently I own the CV 21mm f4 and the Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2. I was thinking in getting the chrome Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 or the f1.2. I wonder if you have experience with these lenses, if the IQ would be similar? Thank you! Ricardo

Somehow I feel a 75 would suit you well, given you have the Biogon 35 and a 21. I just love the combo 21/35/75. There is a thread about the new Voigtlander 75, maybe you take a look. We need more pictures there, so please buy one and post like hell 😎 . The Leica 75 versions are a chapter of its own. I used the 2.5/75 and presently have the 75 Summicron. The latter often goes relatively cheap and is really an outstanding lens. The Summarit 2.4 compared to the 2.5 (oder version) has a closer minimal focus distance. That aspect was the main reason I replaced my 2.5 Summarit with the Summicron.

I have a friend who recently bought a 1.2/50 Voigtlander and seems to be very happy with it. Sharp, seemingly no focus shift, nice rendering. Personally, I bought the 1.5/50 years back and sold it for the limited version Summilux 50 at some point. Good lens, small and light weight, good looking too, maybe a bit too normal ...

[jdlaing]

The 50mm f/1.5 is a great lens. Well made. Good size. Works well. 

[james.liam]

The reviewer Sean Reid (reidreviews.com), an artist and not a tech-head obsessed with MTF graphs but also someone not prone to hyperbole, writes in glowing terms of the 1,2/50. 

[jdlaing]

Rivi,

Cross over the river and I’ll let you try one.

[rivi1969]

1 minute ago, jdlaing said:

Rivi,

Cross over the river and I’ll let you try one.

JD, do you have one??? I will for sure! Besides we still have that M9P crash course pending lol.

[jdlaing]

7 minutes ago, rivi1969 said:

JD, do you have one??? I will for sure! Besides we still have that M9P crash course pending lol.

I have the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 and a 35mm f/1.7. You may like the 35 better.

[rivi1969]

Do you have the black or chrome versions??? 

[jdlaing]

Black.

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[derleicaman]

On 1/22/2020 at 2:27 AM, ktmrider2 said:

The 50f1.2 is one of the best 50's you can purchase regardless of price or manufacturer.  There is a review written for LHSA's VIEWFINDER by Bill Rosauer who is one of the main moderators here.  He sings it praises and I can confirm his views.  I have the 50f1.1, latest version of the 50 Summicron, and the 50f1.2 and the one I am keeping is the 50f1.2.  Do yourself a favor and buy a 52mm lens hood from ebay for $6 instead of the Voightlander for $100 or more.

If you google 50f1.2 Nokton reviews his article comes up.  It was in the Dec, 2018 VIEWFINDER.  I think Bill is one of the past presidents of LHSA and may be on the forum as Leicaman.

Thanks for the praise of my review of the 50/1.2. It is a wonderful lens and is definitely a “keeper”. I use it regularly, and is always in my bag.

i am not a moderator here, but I am a past president of the LHSA. I am also the editor of our quarterly journal, the Viewfinder, and have been since 2000. Wow, 20 years already!

here is a link to the article https://lhsa.org/2018/12/voightlander-50-1-2-nokton-lens-review/

[CosmoM3]

The 50mm f/1.5 ASPH is an excellent lens with beautiful, classical rendering with the swirly bokeh balls and fantastic focus/out of focus transitions. It was my budget Summilux ASPH.