50mm doubt: Voigtlander Nokton 1.1 OR Canon 1.2 ltm m39 ?

[Jonatas CD]

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Hello,

 

this is my very first post here in the forum, but I've been reading a looot these last weeks while making a decision to get my first Leicas.

Ended up getting a Q-P and a M8.

Now, for the M8 I am in doubt which 50mm to get, both at the same price range here in Belgium

 

Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.1 m mount 

or

Canon 50mm 1.2 LTM m39 (I have already the adapter)

Main use would be portraits or eventual street photography and I fancy a nice bokeh.
 

So, what would be your thoughts about this?

 

thank you all

[jaapv]

I think that the Canon is difficult to find an IR filter for.

 

[BrianS]

With the Canon- use a 55->58 step up ring. The front element protrudes, and Canon sold special 55mm filters for it with the glass all the way forward of the threads.

The Canon- hard to find in good condition: most have damaged glass on the surface behind the aperture. Took me three tries to get one that is perfect.

 

I have both the Canon 50/1.2 and the 50/1.2 Nokton. Common sense advice- get the Nokton. Purely emotional, I'd never sell my Canon.

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by BrianS

[a.noctilux]

I had the Nokton 1.1/50mm a modern lens in rendering,

as such I can say that it's very busy in "blur rendering",

as I didn't use it much, I've sold it some years ago.

 

Later on out of curiosity I purchased Canon LTM 1.2/50 after having used the Canon LTM 1.4/50 for some years.

I prefer this 1.2/50 to the Nokton for gentle rendering, even if at f/1.2 not quite as "sharp" as the Nokton.

Each lens is very different as possible, so your possible choice is to buy one, use it a while then see by yourself.

Canon may be harder to find in good shape, while Nokton as newer lens can be find more often.

Filter size of Canon 1.2/50 is E55 but the first lens protruding need a spacer (not to touch the lens when srewing in).

I use a glassless E55 "filter" as spacer when I use this nice lens.

[boojum]

Regardless of which 50mm you buy, remember that this is a cropped sensor in the M8.  Your 50mm will operate like a ~65mm on a regular camera.  If you want a lens to give you the equivalent field of view of a 50mm you will need a 35mm.  Either way, have fun.

[Henry Fool]

I had the Canon 1.2 ltm on the M8 before, I ended up selling it which I regret now and wouldn't mind trying to get another one, the images have a vintage/classic rendering, not sharp as a tack at 1.2, mine wasn't anyway but the fall off of focus on the images was beautiful, especially for portraits and the 66mm works in it's favour here , worst aspect was the size and weight, for street it's too heavy, I ended up leaving the camera at home way too often.

Here's 2 of my favorites with this combo

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[BrianS]

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Wide-Open on the M9. This 50/1.2 has perfect glass. All wide-Open.

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[BrianS]

The Canon 50/1.2 that I had 10 years ago, some haze (permanent) on the surface behind the aperture. I sold this lens after getting the 50/1.1 Nokton. Then- missed it, picked another last year. Noticeable improvement on the new one. These are wide-open on the M8, using a Hot Mirror filter. I have a lot of IR cut filters from first generation digital cameras.

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Edited March 20, 2021 by BrianS

[Henry Fool]

Anyone got some shots from the the 50/1.1 Nokton & M8 I'd love to see the difference

[BrianS]

Just test shots- with the Nokton on the M8, right before getting the M9.

 

Large focus shift between F1.1 and F4.

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[Jonatas CD]

so, I ended up getting the ttartisan 50mm f1.4

so far I am super enjoying it

the one thing I faced today was the close focus - I mean, anything closer than 1m (on the 3 feet mark) never gets focused.
maybe the regulation process they provide could help, but I'm really not looking forward to use this lens to that close.

at f/1.4 it's easy to spot chromatic aberrations but it's so smooth to work with it.

no regrets so far. 

I will post some samples tomorrow

[Jonatas CD]

3 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

It is a perfectly OK lens, but trust me, sooner or later you will want a Leica lens. It's just a natural evolution process. And most of them go as close as 0.7m...

I do see that happening. (I hope to not take that long)

this exact moment was totally budget decision. I couldn't leave the M8 without a, at least, ok lens.