Voigtlander 75mm Nokton f1.5 vs 7Artisans 75mm f1.25, real world comparisons?

[Guest]

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I am considering one of these two lenses, the Leica optics though no doubt superior in some ways are too much to pay for a focal length that I don't use often on my M bodies. I have the Voigtlander 75mm 2.5 which is roughly equivalent to Leica's Summarit 75 in spec's but I would like something faster so I've been looking at these two wider aperture lenses. I would be very interested to learn what others who own either of these two much less expensive alternatives think about them. I guess I am leaning towards the Voigtlander if only because I've a number of VC M mount lenses and they rarely disappoint, but the 7Artisans 75mm f1.25 is around half the price of the VC, so hence this post.............Thanks for any responses.

[otto.f]

I’d seriously look at the Voigtlander 75/1.8 too. It has the drawing of the 2.5 without loosing IQ.

[Anakronox]

I own the Voigtlander 75 1.5.  I’ve gotten some really great portraits with it. Lovely rendering and colors are nice and a but put contrasty.  My only real complaint is the focus throw is short, so for nailing critical focus between f/1.5 and f/2 I tend to use the Visoflex 20. 

[mdp]

I have just bought the VM 75/1.5 and so far I'm impressed with it. Like the 50/1.2 and 35/2 it's very well made and surprisingly easy to use (on film). I don't have a problem with the focus throw, I actually prefer a slightly shorter turn. One small bonus is that I can just see the aperture on the lens through the viewfinder of my MP. 

[gramorris]

22 hours ago, Anakronox said:

I own the Voigtlander 75 1.5.  I’ve gotten some really great portraits with it. Lovely rendering and colors are nice and a but put contrasty.  My only real complaint is the focus throw is short, so for nailing critical focus between f/1.5 and f/2 I tend to use the Visoflex 20. 

I’d echo this. I love it, it’s got great rendering but is tough to focus at 1.5 and I also find myself using an evf at that aperture.

[DwF]

On 4/21/2020 at 9:51 AM, otto.f said:

I’d seriously look at the Voigtlander 75/1.8 too. It has the drawing of the 2.5 without loosing IQ.

+1  I don't think that the newer CV 75 f1.5 is much smaller than the  75mm f 1.8 and the older lens renders differently but certainly up there any of the others out there. And it can be had for half of what the others sell for (exception being the CV 75 f 2.5).

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Edited April 24, 2020 by DwF

[james.liam]

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On 4/21/2020 at 4:34 PM, Anakronox said:

I own the Voigtlander 75 1.5.  I’ve gotten some really great portraits with it. Lovely rendering and colors are nice and a but put contrasty.  My only real complaint is the focus throw is short, so for nailing critical focus between f/1.5 and f/2 I tend to use the Visoflex 20. 

I have had the same issue with the 75 Summicron APO. 

[garysamson]

In support of also considering the  Voigtlander 75/1.8, here is an available light portrait I made in Athens, Greece a few years ago.

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[adelie]

Beautiful capture

[wlaidlaw]

I have the 7 Artisans 75/1.25. Mine is not very good and is unacceptably soft wide open, with soggy corners and a lot of vignetting. It does improve on stopping down to the extent I might have hoped. 

I have three fast M Mount Chinese lenses. The 28/1.4 is surprisingly good for the price and I would say excellent "bang for your buck". The 21/1.5 is OK and once stopped down to F2 is adequately sharp. I use it more on film than digital, where the softness becomes charming rather than irritating. The 75 - see above. 

Wilson

[astrostl]

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-7artisans-75mm-1-25/

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-voigtlander-75mm-f1-5-vm/