Voigtlander 40mm 1.2 Recommendation

[Am89]

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Frequent reader first time poster here.

I’ve recently picked up a (really nice condition) used SL2-S and would like some advice on lenses. I’m currently thinking about getting the Sigma 24mm f2 L Mount as an AF option and maybe the Sigma 90mm also. But….I’ve previously owned the Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 on a Sony a7iii (loved the lens, hated the camera), and used it as a portrait/landscape/everyday type lens….but I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with it on the SL system? Maybe some images to boot? I always loved the way it handled and rendered on a camera I really never clicked with.

Thank you in advance.

[AZN]

6 hours ago, Am89 said:

.but I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with it on the SL system?

I have used the VM 40mm f1.2 Nokton lens for a few years now, on a Leica SL (Typ 601).

Works very well, but with a caveat.  I have found that, sometimes, for outdoor shots where there are large areas of blue sky you can end up with image corners which are brighter (!).  Kind of like anti-vignetting.  FWIW I mounted the lens using the Leica L->M adapter.

Very strange, and I think the problem was that I initially used the built-in lens profile for the 50mm f1.2 lens.  So I stopped using the profile and… still occasionally get bright corners.

Other than that, fantastic lens.

[Am89]

17 hours ago, AZN said:

I initially used the built-in lens profile for the 50mm f1.2 lens.  So I stopped using the profile and… still occasionally get bright corners.

That’s great to hear you’ve had a positive experience with the lens. I’ve heard people have good things from M-240/M10s, but it doesn’t seem so popular with the SLs (or so a google search seems to suggest). How do you find the focusing especially at 1.2/1.4 etc? One of the things that pulled me to decide on an SL2-S was that massive EVF.

Thats an odd thing to experience tbh. My other question was going to the the in body lens profile to select….have you tried others or does the camera recommend that setting? I’m guessing it doesn’t allow the 40mm Summicron? 

[AZN]

1 hour ago, Am89 said:

How do you find the focusing especially at 1.2/1.4 etc?

Focusing is no different to any other manual lens.  You can use focus peaking or press the toggle button to zoom in.  Prefer the latter as it is as precise as you can get.

1 hour ago, Am89 said:

My other question was going to the the in body lens profile to select

This is where things get sticky.  There is no built-in 40mm M-Summicron option, so I choose a 35mm option in the hope that in-camera vignetting correction isn't applied to the RAW (?)  Doesn't really matter which one you choose though as on the SL Typ601 there is no IBIS.

Other than that, great lens optically and with combined with the M->L adapter, looks and feels like it was made for the camera, espeically when you use a Nikon HR-1 rubber lens hood.  

See this photo on everyone's favourite paranormalist's site:

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2017/12/13/the-voigtlander-40-f-1-2-m-mount-on-the-sl-by-david-mosca/

… and BH Photo for the lens hood:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37613-REG/Nikon_537_HR_1_Lens_Hood.html

BTW I also use the HR-1 hood with the Leica Elmarit-R 35mm and Summicron-R 50mm lenses, with the appropriate 55->52mm step-down ring.

[hdmesa]

On 4/18/2022 at 1:28 PM, Am89 said:

Frequent reader first time poster here.

I’ve recently picked up a (really nice condition) used SL2-S and would like some advice on lenses. I’m currently thinking about getting the Sigma 24mm f2 L Mount as an AF option and maybe the Sigma 90mm also. But….I’ve previously owned the Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 on a Sony a7iii (loved the lens, hated the camera), and used it as a portrait/landscape/everyday type lens….but I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with it on the SL system? Maybe some images to boot? I always loved the way it handled and rendered on a camera I really never clicked with.

Thank you in advance.

With the SL2-S, I recommend buying CV focal lengths that match those offered in Leica M form so that the Leica lens profiles match. If you apply a 35mm profile to a 40mm lens, IBIS will still work, but it won't be as effective. Unfortunately, Leica doesn't just give us a simple menu to dial in the focal length of the non-Leica adapted lens – we have to use a Leica lens profile for IBIS to work. The CV 50 1.2 and 35 1.2 III would be great alternatives if you want to stick with f/1.2 (visit fredmiranda.com Leica/Alt forum for review/sample threads for these). The CV 50 APO is what I'm currently using, and the separation at f/2 is really nice at close distance (samples).

I haven't tried the Sigma lenses you mentioned, but I do own their 70mm Macro Art, and it's great (samples). Thinking about getting the Sigma 35 1.2 next.

 

[Am89]

12 hours ago, hdmesa said:The CV 50 1.2 and 35 1.2 III would be great alternatives if you want to stick with f/1.2 

The 50 1.2 had come to mind a few times (especially after this review with amazing images http://gear.vogelius.se/-reviews/voigtlander-nokton-50/index.html). For a long time I used a CV 40mm f2 Ultron (the tiny pancake lens) on a Nikon FM2 and loved it, so when I tried the 1.2 on the Sony I got all nostalgic about using a 40mm again. 
 

The Sigma L Mount Contemporary series seems to be pretty solid across most of the range (the 24 has a great review from Dustin Abbott) unfortunately for me the Art series is just a little too big and heavy right now.