Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 ii MC, the gentleman

[colonel]

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So just received the 35mm f1.4 ii MC

A really lovely piece of jewellery. The focus ring is a dream, smooth and solid

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In terms of differences from the Mark i:

1. Aperture ring is much nicer. Never liked the plasticy upturned bits on the mark I

2. I am convinced coatings are upgraded. The contrast is higher on this lens. Intersting comparison here:

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.4 Classic I and II comparison — Focus shift: a street photography blog (47-degree.com)

3. Focus shift is much improved. I see f1.4 to f2 is sharp. f2.8 there is a bit of shift. Long distance by f4 and close up by f5.6 within plane of focus.

The lens isn't bitingly sharp, like the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 or Leica summicron or summilux. It is however sharp in the centre from f1.4, nothing like the more dreamy lenses wide open.

Its wonderfully small and well balanced of course

f1.4

f1.4 crop

f2

f2 crop

f2.8

f2.8 crop

 

 

 

 

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[colonel]

f1.4

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f1.4 crop - focus on vertical leaf in the middle with the tiny circle

f2

f2 crop

f2.8

f2.8 crop

 

best regards

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by colonel

[Cobram]

Thank you for this short review. Any additional photo examples will be much appreciated.

Forum member @pippy demonstrated how good performer is Nokton 40 1.4 . I was astonished by my recently aquired 21mm F4 Color Skopar performance. Your photos prove how competitive are even this rather cheap Voigtlander (comparing to Leica) m-mount lenses. 

My perception of Voigtlander lenses totally changed in last few months. Thank you @colonel and @pippy for your insights.

[Dennis]

38 minutes ago, Cobram said:

Thank you for this short review. Any additional photo examples will be much appreciated.

+1

38 minutes ago, Cobram said:

My perception of Voigtlander lenses totally changed in last few months.

I never had or tried a Voigtlander lens, but I know there are awesome and already on the radar since a few months. In this order, they could possibly be my next purchases

CV 21/3.5

CV 35/2

CV 75/1.5

 

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by Dennis

[Ouroboros]

5 hours ago, colonel said:

So just received the 35mm f1.4 ii MC

A really lovely piece of jewellery. The focus ring is a dream, smooth and solid

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

In terms of differences from the Mark i:

1. Aperture ring is much nicer. Never liked the plasticy upturned bits on the mark I

2. I am convinced coatings are upgraded. The contrast is higher on this lens. Intersting comparison here:

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.4 Classic I and II comparison — Focus shift: a street photography blog (47-degree.com)

3. Focus shift is much improved. I see f1.4 to f2 is sharp. f2.8 there is a bit of shift. Long distance by f4 and close up by f5.6 within plane of focus.

The lens isn't bitingly sharp, like the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 or Leica summicron or summilux. It is however sharp in the centre from f1.4, nothing like the more dreamy lenses wide open.

Its wonderfully small and well balanced of course

f1.4

f1.4 crop

f2

f2 crop

f2.8

f2.8 crop

 

 

 

 

I find your comment that this lens is 'A really lovely piece of jewellery' a bit weird.

Apart from that, I'm curious to know what it is that persuaded you  to buy this lens in favour of the latest CV 35mm f1.2.   Since you've gone to some effort to demonstrate 'sharpness', I assume this is one of your main criteria for buying it.  

I've never used either the f1.4 or f1.2, but I understand the new 35mm f1.2 is a good performer.   Hence my curiosity.

[Mr.Prime]

4 hours ago, Cobram said:

Thank you for this short review. Any additional photo examples will be much appreciated.

Forum member @pippy demonstrated how good performer is Nokton 40 1.4 . I was astonished by my recently aquired 21mm F4 Color Skopar performance. Your photos prove how competitive are even this rather cheap Voigtlander (comparing to Leica) m-mount lenses. 

My perception of Voigtlander lenses totally changed in last few months. Thank you @colonel and @pippy for your insights.

I have both a 35mm Nokton (v1) and 25mm Snapshot-Skopar (ltm) - very happy with both of them. My experience has left me with an appreciation for Voigtlander branded lenses. Of course, I’ve not yet got a roll developed from my Summilux 50mm pre-Asph (v4).

Edited January 26, 2021 by Mr.Prime

[Dennis]

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21 minutes ago, Ouroboros said:

I've never used either the f1.4 or f1.2, but I understand the new 35mm f1.2 is a good performer.

Same here. The 1.2 is a good performer, yes. But maybe he prefers the 1.4 character, besides the differences. I would choose the CV 35/2 Ultron over the Nokton II MC for sure, I just prefer the overall performance and rendering. But considering the low cost, the Nokton is the kind of lens that one can buy to only use it wide open for example, it totally makes sense. 

I think the whole lens is so unique, that you hate it or you love it. And if you find how to love it, it can be a terrific lens. An authentic bargain.

Flavio, thank you for the review. Very interesting.

 

[colonel]

1 hour ago, Ouroboros said:

I find your comment that this lens is 'A really lovely piece of jewellery' a bit weird.

Apart from that, I'm curious to know what it is that persuaded you  to buy this lens in favour of the latest CV 35mm f1.2.   Since you've gone to some effort to demonstrate 'sharpness', I assume this is one of your main criteria for buying it.  

I've never used either the f1.4 or f1.2, but I understand the new 35mm f1.2 is a good performer.   Hence my curiosity.

Its made very nicely, but I find many metal M lenses like jewellery, in a way mirrorless AF lenses, bundles of plastic and electronics, can't be

I am not demonstrating sharpness, just the focus at f1.4 and the slight shift out at f2.8

The criteria for buying is:

1. Draw and look

2. Size

3. Sharpness

4. Build

The 35mm f1.2 iii is fantastic, but sizey for the application I wanted this lens for

I am planning to get the 50mm f1.2, as 50mm for me is a less used FL, where I want the thinnest DOF and maximum sharpness

rgds

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by colonel

[Danner]

Thank you for posting, as a I am becoming more snd more tempted to purchase this lens...

[Cobram]

On 1/26/2021 at 4:45 PM, Cobram said:

Thank you for this short review. Any additional photo examples will be much appreciated.

Forum member @pippy demonstrated how good performer is Nokton 40 1.4 . I was astonished by my recently aquired 21mm F4 Color Skopar performance. Your photos prove how competitive are even this rather cheap Voigtlander (comparing to Leica) m-mount lenses. 

My perception of Voigtlander lenses totally changed in last few months. Thank you @colonel and @pippy for your insights.

Proof of 21mm F4 Color Skopar capability..

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[colonel]

1 hour ago, Cobram said:

Proof of 21mm F4 Color Skopar capability..

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Hi,

Thanks for posting 

What camera is that on ?

How do you deal with purple corner issue?

Many thanks

 

[Cobram]

 

1 hour ago, colonel said:

Hi,

Thanks for posting 

What camera is that on ?

How do you deal with purple corner issue?

Many thanks

 

Leica M-E 220.

I select 21mm pre ASPH Elmarit in the menu and that's it. 

Purple corner issue was very evident on Leica SL.

On M-E: If I look very carefully I can sometimes detect reddish corner but it depends on light source, angle,... Can't remember of any damaged photo due to corner issue. I read many posts about this phenomena and seems there is a sample variation going on. I think my sample is very good in this respect. I was lucky. 

I really recommend this lens. 

Now I'm wondering if maybe Cosina will ever produce a rangefinder camera. Based on their recently released lenses I think they can produce ecteptional stuff. Why not a camera?

[lct]

2 hours ago, Cobram said:

Now I'm wondering if maybe Cosina will ever produce a rangefinder camera. Based on their recently released lenses I think they can produce ecteptional stuff. Why not a camera?

Cosina did it already in the film days (Bessa). They made a digital RF too with Epson in 2004 (R-D1) but it has not been a success. 

[adan]

21 hours ago, Cobram said:

Now I'm wondering if maybe Cosina will ever produce a rangefinder camera. Based on their recently released lenses I think they can produce ecteptional stuff. Why not a camera?

Study up on the hoops even Leica had to jump through to get a functional rangefinder digital. They have "special needs."

As a Zeiss exec said a few years ago (era of Zeiss-Ikon ZM film body - made by Cosina): "Zeiss is not yet persuaded that there is an sustainable market for one digital rangefinder camera, let alone two!" ).

There is a long list of camera makers who tried to compete with Leica in the rangefinder realm, whether on film or digital. It is a great way to go out of the camera business: Minolta, Konica, Contax (old, and more recent), Cosina-Bessa, Epson, Zeiss-Ikon ZM - where are they now?

As lct pointed out, Epson tried it, based on the Cosina Bessa bodies (themselves based on a "generic" SLR Cosina sold under their own name (CT-1), as well as in rebranded form (Nikon FM10/FE10, Olympus OM-2000, Canon T60).

The R-D1 had an APS-cropped sensor, which eliminated the whole issue of corner performance with M lenses. But it meant a 21 was effectively a "32mm" lens.