It's definitely not the weight or the size - CV Nokton 35mm 1.2

[01maciel]

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I don't really know why I'm so reluctant to use the Voigtländer VM Nokton 35mm 1.2 ASPH. II. If I look deep inside myself, I have to admit that the lens not only looks pretty uncool, but also doesn't exactly meet the ideal of beauty for a lens. On the other hand, it has its own character and takes (for me) appealing photos. Although version II is not the latest in the series, I find the image results better than those of the latest Summicron 35mm, for example. However, purple fringing is a problem at open aperture. Adjustment should not be a problem in post-processing.
That's what I've always wanted to say

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VM Nokton 35mm 1.2 ASPH. II  f/1.2

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[sometimesmaybe]

cosina changed the lens design for the v3. from memory they removed an element and reduced the size and weight. im not sure there was a material change in IQ

i recommend using this lens for some environmental portraits, there is nothing else close in M mount

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[01maciel]

@sometimesmaybe A very nice series that shows what the lens is capable of (and the photographer for sure).

[Lesslemming]

14 hours ago, sometimesmaybe said:

cosina changed the lens design for the v3. from memory they removed an element and reduced the size and weight. im not sure there was a material change in IQ

i recommend using this lens for some environmental portraits, there is nothing else close in M mount

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Brilliant!

 

totally agree, the CV 35mm f/1.2 III I have is quite the unique lens. There is nothing quite like it, especially for the price and size. For sure, it is not a brutality sharp lens at f 1.2 but still gives plenty of details even for pixelpeepers like myself. This lens is not a compromise between size, weight, price and performance and I commend cosina for it

 

edit for added context: I exclusively shoot B&W on the M10 monochrome 

Edited April 6, 2024 by Lesslemming

[Ecar]

The 35/1.2 v1 was one of my most used "modern" lenses with the M8/M9, despite its bulk. Still have it and should probably dig it out.

Here's one taken 15 years ago with the v1 on the M8, probably @ f/2.8;

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[intangiblethings]

I have the 35mm III and the 50mm and while neither get regular use, I would also never sell them.

You're right in the sense that the photos they produce are pretty stunning. 

The lenses I do use in favor of the 1.2s are generally all because they're simply smaller. 

[01maciel]

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Am 7.4.2024 um 17:14 schrieb Al Brown:

The 35/1.2 Nokton v1 had brutal field curvature and disastrous sample variations. As everybody has already said, the v3 fixed all that.

Never mind the field curvature of v2. What is really important is the result/the image. And this is what impresses me.

[overexposed]

anybody else wishing for 35 noctilux from leica? i sure do

[Lesslemming]

On 4/9/2024 at 6:54 AM, overexposed said:

anybody else wishing for 35 noctilux from leica? i sure do

I do find myself wishing the Leica made the Nokton, but then again I wouldn't be owning it (and still have both of my kidneys).
Honestly, I was a little upset that Voigtlander created such an amazing lens and Leica did not. To satisfy my Leica 35mm needs, I complement the Nokton 35 1.2 with the Summarit 35mm 2.4. The latter is much smaller and lighter and goes well as an EDC lens whereas the Nokton 35 is a little too specialised and heavy for being a carry-around lens

[patrickcolpron]

Sadly heard today that the 35/1.2 VIII has been discontinued by CV... 

I was waiting to purchase one in the vain hope they would make a limited black paint version of this lens. 

[sometimesmaybe]

5 hours ago, patrickcolpron said:

Sadly heard today that the 35/1.2 VIII has been discontinued by CV... 

I was waiting to purchase one in the vain hope they would make a limited black paint version of this lens. 

i suspect v4 might be coming

[01maciel]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb Al Brown:

Field curvature 100% affects the image and it does so intenesely. You seemed more concerned how the lens looked on the outside in your original post #1 and I am just concerned what image it produces from the inside. The first two versions were never too popular so Cosina redesigned the package and it was the current version III where they finally got it right, fixing several issues (length, weight and field curvature included). All three latest VM lenses with f/1.2 (35, 40, 50) are good performers.

No, read again.

Am 8.4.2024 um 19:45 schrieb 01maciel:

What is really important is the result/the image. And this is what impresses me.

 

[patrickcolpron]

8 hours ago, sometimesmaybe said:

i suspect v4 might be coming

I found a couple of V3 in stock at two online retailers, now I am thinking that I might just wait as I haven't found a way to reach out to Voigtlander directly. 

[01maciel]

The lens looks ugly yeah. Thats my words. But I also wrote that what is really important is the result or image. What is there not to understand?
If you're going to quote me, please quote me in the context of the rest of what I wrote. yes, and thanks for teaching me about field curvature. Let's leave it at that.

[setuporg]

The V4 is out, all in black!

[setuporg]

I had a chance to obtain a mint CV 35/1.2ii, and it makes fantastic photos.  I have a Lanthar 35 APO but it does not get much use after I got the Leica one.

However the 1.2 allows for awesome portraits and is very handy on older Leicas with lower upper ISO range.  
 

I wonder about the ii vs iii.  Apparently the lens was redesigned to be shorter and lighter but it lost an element (10 in ii vs 9 in iii) and some folks report increased purple fringing and vignetting in iii.  The main criticism against the i and ii is weight/length and onion rings.

Are there folks here who had both and can attest to purple fringing?  The question is not academic as the v4 now seems to be a cosmetic redesign of the iii, with perhaps an improved aspherical element per @Fred Miranda who seems to be a huge fan and now has 35/1.2v4, 40/1.2v2 and 50/1.2v2 in hand for a review comparing the three in his forum. 
 

I’m trying to assess if there’s value in keeping the v2, aside from the great deal I got on it.  Less purple fringing would be certainly worth it.

[Fred Miranda]

5 hours ago, setuporg said:

I had a chance to obtain a mint CV 35/1.2ii, and it makes fantastic photos.  I have a Lanthar 35 APO but it does not get much use after I got the Leica one.

However the 1.2 allows for awesome portraits and is very handy on older Leicas with lower upper ISO range.  
 

I wonder about the ii vs iii.  Apparently the lens was redesigned to be shorter and lighter but it lost an element (10 in ii vs 9 in iii) and some folks report increased purple fringing and vignetting in iii.  The main criticism against the i and ii is weight/length and onion rings.

Are there folks here who had both and can attest to purple fringing?  The question is not academic as the v4 now seems to be a cosmetic redesign of the iii, with perhaps an improved aspherical element per @Fred Miranda who seems to be a huge fan and now has 35/1.2v4, 40/1.2v2 and 50/1.2v2 in hand for a review comparing the three in his forum. 
 

I’m trying to assess if there’s value in keeping the v2, aside from the great deal I got on it.  Less purple fringing would be certainly worth it.

The new versions are mostly cosmetic updates, but I did notice an improvement in the aspherical element production on the 40mm f/1.2 Nokton v2, which was the first of the updated lenses to be originally made for the E and M-mount. The newer version shows much less of the onion ring pattern in specular highlights. Aside from that, the optical design remains identical to the previous version.

As for the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton IV, the update appears to be purely cosmetic. I still see a fair amount of purple fringing, or axial chromatic aberration, when shooting wide open. Here is a sample:

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[sebben]

wow that's a big purple mess. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[setuporg]

20 hours ago, Fred Miranda said:

The new versions are mostly cosmetic updates, but I did notice an improvement in the aspherical element production on the 40mm f/1.2 Nokton v2, which was the first of the updated lenses to be originally made for the E and M-mount. The newer version shows much less of the onion ring pattern in specular highlights. Aside from that, the optical design remains identical to the previous version.

As for the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton IV, the update appears to be purely cosmetic. I still see a fair amount of purple fringing, or axial chromatic aberration, when shooting wide open. Here is a sample:

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Thank you for all your great work reviewing those, Fred!

Is purple fringing universally bad on all the 1.2 Noktons, old and new?  Is v3-4 of the 35 better, worse, or the same in that regard as v2?  Also @Al Brown raises the specter of field curvature that is a new kind of defect to consider.  
 

I’m trying to figure out whether a 10 element v2 of the 35/1.2 is better than the 9 element v3-4 in any regard.  Apparently it has less vignetting, right?

[vha]

Had the v1 together with an Epson Rd-1s and it was great, not sure purple fringing and all the stuff where invented then  
Remember it was a great kit. Tried the v2 agin when i bought the M9 monochrom, but it did not work, could be the age of the photographer, as well as this happened before i “discovered” the 1,4 finder magnifier  

Been curious the v3 and now the v4, how does it work now, when i have the 1.4 magnifier and the M10 Monochrom?  Since I have managed to become friends withe the 35mm pre asph summilux, it should be possible to focus?  I only thinking of the focus btw,  and that their both fast 35mm lenses.

what a time to live in, with all these possibilities to empty ones bank account