I've been playing around a bit with the Voigtlander 35 f1.4. About the same size as the 40mm, although I don't believe its quite as sharp. Might just be operator error though.
This is fascinating to me--I dumped a medium-small collection of EOS gear including several L lenses because I just wasn't getting the image quality I wanted. I went through a succession of D2000, 1D, 2 20D's, several L lenses capped off by the 135L and the 28-300L and a few primes including the 35L.
The mickey-mouse color, the temptation to keep "marching through the lenses" thing and watching the big-money guys go through the CZ+R9+DMR cha-cha-cha put me off.
The capper was that I was taking the pictures of my life with a 30 year old Canon QL17, that were way more dramatic, "real" and more importantly, were selling better. I bought a R3M + 21 and that combo was dynomite (JJ-style) but had to sell it a while back.
So, here I am, with just the QL17, and now I'm studying your experiences here and I appreciate your posts--I am looking at m-4/3 + CV lenses as my next strategy, with what some AF-m-4/3 lens for "quick news-related" and "Girlfriend likes the greenbox mode" type of deal.
Am I the only one loving the bokeh shown from the Nokton? It certainly has character, but "harsh"? Amazing performance even at large apertures on the small sensor too!
Makten wrote:
Am I the only one loving the bokeh shown from the Nokton? It certainly has character, but "harsh"? Amazing performance even at large apertures on the small sensor too!
I quite like it myself, but I prefer my bokeh with a little character.
Could someone comment on the extreme edge performance of the Nokton 40 or 35/1.4. The greater than 50mm lenses seem to have good edge performance and the wides starting with 28mm have been reported to have muddy or smeared corners. I'm looking for the wider cutoff point before IQ suffers.
Do you mean wide open or stopped down? Wide open, the edges are soft. By f/5.6-f/8 or so, the corners are quite sharp. Doesn't get the smearing you're talking about. The Nokton's rear element doesn't go beyond the M mount...I think the issues are with some of the other wider designs that put the rear element REALLY close to the sensor.
JimBuchanan wrote:
Could someone comment on the extreme edge performance of the Nokton 40 or 35/1.4. The greater than 50mm lenses seem to have good edge performance and the wides starting with 28mm have been reported to have muddy or smeared corners. I'm looking for the wider cutoff point before IQ suffers.
It's dependent on lens design. My 28/1.9 does not have edge issues, nor did the copy of the 15/4.5 I tried. I know the CV 28/2 however does have edge smearing issues.
That said, I know the 40 has no issues and I've not heard of any issues with the 35's.
Thanks, for the replies. Makes sense about the rear element-sensor distance. I have the pending 20/1.7 in mind and wanted a 35-40mm for a 2 lens setup. The Nokton looks good.
I'm expecting a Contax G 45 to be delivered, and am wondering how the jlmfinace adapter will handle the focusing.
Yeah, I find the 17/2.8 and 40/1.4 to be a great combo. I haven't used the kit zoom in a while. I'm probably going to sell it, as I much prefer using the primes on this body. I may very well get the 20/1.7 and replace the 17, but a lot depends on price and the reviews. If it's very sharp for a similar price ($400 or under), I'll probably get it. If not, I'll keep the 17/2.8 and go with what I have. I like the 17/2.8, so it's really only for the extra 1.5 stops of aperture that I'd be switching, though I kind of wish it was going to be a 17/1.7 (for one lens, I'd prefer the 20, for two, the 17 is a bit better).
Makten wrote:
Am I the only one loving the bokeh shown from the Nokton? It certainly has character, but "harsh"? Amazing performance even at large apertures on the small sensor too!
I really like what I am seeing as well. I can see adding this lens to my E-P1 kit in the near future.
Makten wrote:
Am I the only one loving the bokeh shown from the Nokton? It certainly has character, but "harsh"? Amazing performance even at large apertures on the small sensor too!
I enjoy it as well, I don't think I'd characterize it as harsh. OOF highlights near high contrast edges just have a bit of ... a zing to them. The bridge in one shot with it's z pattern is the only thing I thought was distracting.
The bokeh can be very harsh at times wide open, but at other times, like in the statue photos I posted earlier, it can be very pleasing, with great character. I love it at f/2.
Here's an example from today at f/2 (I'd have shot at f/1.4, but I was at the 1/4000s limit of the camera and I don't have a 43mm ND). Love the bokeh in this shot...soft, yet with a little something to separate it from other lenses:
And here's an example of bokeh from the Nokton at f/1.4 where it can get quite distracting. It usually doesn't look this harsh, but it's not good for this shot, though I suppose you could call it painterly if you look at it that way. Either way it is unique.
Ok, those of you who loved the character of the wide open bokeh of the Nokton are going to LOVE the look of it here. I know, looking at these, especially the first shot, that technically, this is poor bokeh, with the rings and such. And yet, the way this draws, with the beautiful color rendition, the texture, etc...I LOVE the bokeh in these two shots, especially the first. And I'm usually one to love creamy bokeh, but for that shot, the bokeh makes the shot. Otherwise, it's just another picture of coneflowers. This was taken in especially harsh lighting, with the sun just up and to the right of the frame. Because I don't have the hood for the Nokton (due to size considerations), I had to use my hand as a hood, because without my hand a huge flare was present across the frame.
I do like what the rings etc add to those shots. I don't know how much I'd like them in a streetlight night scene. Great work by the way! I'll be interested to see what the 20/1.7 produces at a later date. What the m4/3 system needs is a very compact 9 or 10mm prime (imho).
Makten wrote:
Am I the only one loving the bokeh shown from the Nokton? It certainly has character, but "harsh"? Amazing performance even at large apertures on the small sensor too!
I have to agree, I don't mind the look of the bokeh at all. I guess it really comes down to personal preference.
Jman13: all of your fantastic photos convinced me that this was the lens I was looking for to complete my E-P1 kit. I too love the character of the bokeh.
