35mm Nokton Classic II wing-like aperture ring

[haikos]

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Hello,

Has anyone who has this lens noticed how easily the ring is bumped from a set position?

My ZM lenses don't have the wing-like extended aperture tabs and are more "clicky" so they stay in whichever set position I leave them. I bought it brand new in box, everything else seems fine although I do also find the cutaway in the focus tab is not deep enough and could've used a grippy material or pattern as my finger easily slips off it.

Cheers!

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[TomB_tx]

The aperture wings pay tribute to the original Summilux 35mm from the 1960s, which appears to be the inspiration for the Nokton styling. The wings on the v1 Nokton were even more Summilux like.

I like the design, and have had no problems with it.

[lct]

I like both but i find ZM aperture rings less easy to rotate with one finger. 

[tommonego@gmail.com]

I have a Canada Summilux and a 40 Nokton that both have the "wings". With the Summilux it is so the aperture ring is outside the lens hood. Don't have a lens hood for the 40 but I imagine it would be for the same "better access" to the aperture control with a hood on the lens.

[pippy]

28 minutes ago, tommonego@gmail.com said:

I have a Canada Summilux and a 40 Nokton that both have the "wings". With the Summilux it is so the aperture ring is outside the lens hood. Don't have a lens hood for the 40 but I imagine it would be for the same "better access" to the aperture control with a hood on the lens.

Yes.

Here are two snaps of the Voigtlander (top and underside) with the dedicated LH-6 hood which shows that the 'wings' sit proud of the area occupied by the hood and main body of the lens. If it wasn't for the 'wings' the aperture ring wouldn't be accessible unless the whole ring was made considerably wider;

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Apologies for camera shake but the images were rattled-off at 1/4 sec. hand-held...

The aperture ring on my lens stays put. Every time. It takes a decisive, deliberate movement to get it to budge from one click-stop to the next and, FWIW, I think the wings are by far and away the best solution to aperture-control on short-bodied lenses.

Philip.

Edited November 9, 2020 by pippy

[Ko.Fe.]

Zero problem with my Nokton 35 1.4 II so far. Don't know why. Some of my CV Color Skopars were notorious for their shifty aperture rings. I think it has something to do with their tiny height and overall size. Nokton is bigger lens.

I didn't liked to spend my time with heck a lot for clicking between f5.6 and f16 on ZM lens with too firm, 1/3 clicks. Those are my working apertures on the street. Sun, shadow, deep shadow.  I walk fast and every time lights changes I adjust aperture. With ZM it is not something I was happy with my hours of street walks.

Edited November 9, 2020 by Ko.Fe.

[lct]

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Wings are flat on v2.

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[pippy]

1 hour ago, lct said:

Wings are flat on v2...

OK. Thanks for that.

Do you find those easier to use / grip than the style used on the v1 lenses? Are the outer edges still deeply grooved? And are the click-stops different in terms of detent-strength?

Philip.

[lct]

I have no v1 with me but IIRC v2 is a bit easier to use due to the hood being less in the way, outer edges are normally grooved and click stops don't feel different. 

[haikos]

Interesting replies here, thanks for all the input. The ones about the lens hood made me realize that I only noticed the easy "bump-out" behaviour during the last few weeks where I've been using the lens without the hood for the first time.

Contrary to Ko.Fe, I actually like the hard-detent nature of my ZM lenses. I often select an aperture and go with it until the light changes. Therefore, set-and-forget is often peace of mind for me.

Also, on my 2/35 Biogon, I often shoot it with the lens hood on and never thought the aperture ring was difficult or cumbersome to reach. 

I bought the Nokton Classic primarily for it's smaller size than my Biogon and because in some situations, I find the ZM too sharp/clinical/perfect. Of course, the price of the Nokton is amazing too.

Really, I love both lenses but in use, I just have to be a little mindful of the Nokton's handling. On the topic of the focus tab, I wish a deeper tab with grooves could have been an option, the way Leica makes theirs. Maybe in a V3!