Guys - how do you like the 40/2 Ultron on the D800? I just gave a used one a test drive yesterday on my D800 and it was just OK - not quite as good as my 45/2.8P Nikkor (not quite as good in the center, but a bit better at the corners). It's attractive because it's a stop faster and focuses a bit closer than the 45/2.8.
I owned one back in my D300 days, but sold it (only because I could not focus it accurately with the D300 OVF or AF confirmation dot), now I'm looking for another and have no idea if the one I've tried is just a sub-par copy or they are all slightly worse in IQ than my 45/2.8P (which might be above average for all I know . . ).
I don't have Nikon but I use it on all my Canon cameras. The 40/2 is a nice lens with rather good IQ. It doesn't have the same sharpness as the 90/3,5 but it's rather good. For it's price, size and IQ the lens is good (IMO)
Diglloyd have a review of it on Nikon bodies. And he really like it.
jhinkey wrote:
Guys - how do you like the 40/2 Ultron on the D800? I just gave a used one a test drive yesterday on my D800 and it was just OK - not quite as good as my 45/2.8P Nikkor (not quite as good in the center, but a bit better at the corners). It's attractive because it's a stop faster and focuses a bit closer than the 45/2.8.
I owned one back in my D300 days, but sold it (only because I could not focus it accurately with the D300 OVF or AF confirmation dot), now I'm looking for another and have no idea if the one I've tried is just a sub-par copy or they are all slightly worse in IQ than my 45/2.8P (which might be above average for all I know . . ).
Lloyd Chambers and Roger Cicala give a rundown of the better lenses for the D800 and I don't think the CV 40 is amongst them; only the CV 90 appears to make the cut according to Chambers; even the excellent 58 is found lacking. The simple Tessar 45 AIP appears to maintain its central sharpness, and it doesn't sound as if you gain much more with the CV than the single stop and better sharpness in the corners. Maybe Cosina will update it for the higher resolution sensors coming.
f.hayek wrote:
Lloyd Chambers and Roger Cicala give a rundown of the better lenses for the D800 and I don't think the CV 40 is amongst them; only the CV 90 appears to make the cut according to Chambers; even the excellent 58 is found lacking. The simple Tessar 45 AIP appears to maintain its central sharpness, and it doesn't sound as if you gain much more with the CV than the single stop and better sharpness in the corners. Maybe Cosina will update it for the higher resolution sensors coming.
That is very strange about the 58. I use it on the D800E and it is even better than the current Zeiss 50 mm lenses.
Aug 31, 2013 at 11:43 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Lloyd Chambers write this about the CV 40 in his review:
"The Voigtlander 40/2 Ultron is the smallest lens available for Nikon cameras today, though it’s solid metal construction means that it weighs in at a surprisingly heavy 200 grams. It ships with a dome-shaped lens hood and a close-up lens that allows 1:4 magnification."
"Resolution
Wide open on the resolution chart, the 40/2 Ultron exhibits a flat field and resolves nearly to the limits of the Nikon D3’s sensor, a remarkably strong performance! Stopping down raises the contrast somewhat. Peak performance is reached at f/5.6, but the differences over f/2.8 and f/4 are modest, an indication that the 40/2 Ultron is performing very well indeed."
"Conclusions
The Ultron 40mm f/2 SL II offers excellent image quality in terms of resolution/contrast, bokeh, and flare control, comparing very favorably to the Zeiss ZF 35/2 Distagon. It makes an excellent short portrait lens, or slighly wide “normal” lens on full frame cameras.
Value — The Voigtlander Ultron 40/2 SL II is less than half the price of the Zeiss ZF 35/2 Distagon, and includes a close up lens. It is extremely compact and less than half the weight of the Zeiss 35/2 Distagon. Those factors alone will make it a compelling buy for some shooters who want to travel light."
alundeb wrote:
[That is very strange about the 58. I use it on the D800E and it is even better than the current Zeiss 50 mm lenses.
Agreed, I never cared for the ZF 50/1.4. But it is what it is.
Lars Johnsson wrote:
"Conclusions
The Ultron 40mm f/2 SL II offers excellent image quality in terms of resolution/contrast, bokeh, and flare control, comparing very favorably to the Zeiss ZF 35/2 Distagon. It makes an excellent short portrait lens, or slighly wide “normal” lens on full frame cameras.
Value — The Voigtlander Ultron 40/2 SL II is less than half the price of the Zeiss ZF 35/2 Distagon, and includes a close up lens. It is extremely compact and less than half the weight of the Zeiss 35/2 Distagon. Those factors alone will make it a compelling buy for some shooters who want to travel light."...Show more →
All done on a 12MP sensor. Not applicable to the 36MP any longer. Ming Thein, an accomplished pro photographer/blogger out of Kuala Lumpur (http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/06/30/recommended-lenses-for-the-nikon-d800e/) does his recommendations on the D800E and he digs the Nikkor 45. My guess, if Cosina can distract itself long enough from its Zeiss business to rise above the recent 20 and 28 mediocrities, they might upgrade the existing offering. But on the other hand, Nikon seems less and less interested in the MF capabilities of the newer bodies, making a screen swap impracticable on the D4, D600, and D800/e unlike the D700.
Aug 31, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
f.hayek wrote:
Agreed, I never cared for the ZF 50/1.4. But it is what it is.
All done on a 12MP sensor. Not applicable to the 36MP any longer. Ming Thein, an accomplished pro photographer/blogger out of Kuala Lumpur (http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/06/30/recommended-lenses-for-the-nikon-d800e/) does his recommendations on the D800E and he digs the Nikkor 45. My guess, if Cosina can distract itself long enough from its Zeiss business to rise above the recent 20 and 28 mediocrities, they might upgrade the existing offering. But on the other hand, Nikon seems less and less interested in the MF capabilities of the newer bodies, making a screen swap impracticable on the D4, D600, and D800/e unlike the D700....Show more →
And if you only can use those few lenses on his list in the blog, then you are in big trouble Not even lenses like Zeiss 15/2,8 or Zeiss 35/1,4 made it to his list
Lars Johnsson wrote:
And if you only can use those few lenses on his list in the blog, then you are in big trouble Not even lenses like Zeiss 15/2,8 or Zeiss 35/1,4 made it to his list
Yeah, that is one of the least meaningful lens lists i have seen in a long time, if not ever.
Those are the ones he's tested. Even our Roger Cicala took his sweet, deliberate time to add viable glass. You're all missing my point; it was solely the 45 I was referring to. His list is short and reflects the few lenses he's toyed with. Add Lloyd Chambers' and Roger Cicala's list and the roster becomes meaningful but also illuminating as to the limits of older glass on very high resolution sensors.
Lars Johnsson wrote
And if you only can use those few lenses on his list in the blog, then you are in big trouble Not even lenses like Zeiss 15/2,8 or Zeiss 35/1,4 made it to his list
It is quite clear that he only mentions lenses he has used. Besides that the 15/2.8 was not yet available when this list was made.
It is not only the limited selection that makes me wonder with that list. It is the omission of the 14-24 that he tested, combined with that he says that the 28-300 would have made it, if it performed as well as on the D800. If the 28-300 is good enough for a high quality list with the D800, we are into the territory of all lenses that are decent but not especially good when stopped down to f/8. I really do not trust him on that the 45 is very good.
Aug 31, 2013 at 04:09 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
wiseguy010 wrote:
It is quite clear that he only mentions lenses he has used. Besides that the 15/2.8 was not yet available when this list was made.
They talked about the 15mm and 35mm lenses in the comments beneth his list. That's why I wrote about those. And he even wrote that he only liked 35mm lenses for Leica. No 35mm lenses for Nikon cameras where good And he also give the people that asked him about lenses, some very snotty replies. And both the 15mm & 35mm lenses was available when they asked him about it in the comments on his blog.
And have he used the Voigtländer lenses Because this list was posted as a reply to use these instead of the Voigtländer lens
Not even lenses like Zeiss 15/2,8 or Zeiss 35/1,4 made it to his list
Because this list was posted as a reply to use these instead of the Voigtländer lens