Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 Nokton SL2

[sooming]

Hi Guys,

I just received a few units of the lens, and did some quick test shots with it. To sum it up, it has great sharpness and resolving power, color rendition is very good (a tad warmer) and build quality is very high. As a bokeh freak, it passed my test with flying colors! 


I have one more units left in case anyone's interested.
Do check out the test photos attached.

Photo #1 and #3 are taken at f/2.8, while #2 is f/1.4

[Mike Pearson]

Wesley,

Excellent - as you say superb bokeh.

Mike

[KhoKing]

Beautiful bokeh and looks sharp on the main subject!

[sooming]

I might keep one for myself, over the choice of the upcoming DA* 55/1.4 for a few reasons:

1. Full frames lens
2. Very solid construction
3. Price, unless the DA* lens is lower than RM1,500.00
4. I am (too) happy with the optical quality now, so don't think I'm gonna complaint later on.

[KhoKing]

I think the only disadvantage is that this is a manual focus lens...

[tcom]

Very nice shots Wesley, seems this is a winner lens with a great creamy bokeh.

Just a question, does the lens transmit the focal length to the DSLR or do you need to enter the focal length in the SR menu?

[sooming]

Hi tcom,

As with any manual lens, you have to enter the focal length in the SR menu. Disadvantage of manual lenses....well, it depends, and is a matter of preference. I'm comfortable using one, and at only 58mm, it's easy to focus on the K10D. I hardly have problems with Voigtlander 125, so I won't complaint at 58mm.

I personally favours great optical quality/image quality over some inconvenience that I can accommodate.

Then again, AF lenses will depreciate a lot faster, while manual lenses may sometimes go up in prices!

[tcom]

I have no problem neither manual focusing the Voigtlander 125. I hoped somehow, as this lens is said to be chipped, that it would transmit the focal length. But I think a KA lens is not able to do it, it would at least need to be a KAF lens.

[sooming]

Here's another shot taken just after dinner...my dad in-law and my youngest daughter.

At f/5.6 (just to get sufficient DOF), the sharpness is eerie!!!

[Mike Pearson]

Wesley,

That is absolutely suberb - sharp as a tack and great depth of field.

Mike

[roentarre]

I found the bokeh at f1.4 can be harsh and ugly especially against highlights just like most lenses I have encountered.



From this shot, the bokeh are harsh, double outlining, varying fusiform shapes.






At times, it is in deed a good lens but I would definitely consider Da* 55 f1.4 since it might just work on FF like Da* 200mm f2.8 and 300mm f4

[dndavis]

roentarre,

Something's wrong, I don't notice a background in those photos. Oh wait, I see it now...

I may have to get one of these, rather than wait on the DA55*. I use mostly my M42 lenses these days; I grew up on manual focus and autofocus has let me down a few too many times.

Daryl

[Mike Pearson]

roentarre,

Although the bokeh is much more pronounced in these examples, especially the first one, I don't find it harsh or overly distracting. Excellent photos of a very photogenic young lady.

Mike

[Markus_pl]

Some samples :

http://oxygenum.ovh.org/nokton/index.html