Enri wrote:
Because of "aniversary" reason, I would propose that every CV 40 1.2 user tell what is the main virtue of this lens and its most competitive characteristic in the range of 35-50 mm lenses.
I love the Voigt 40 for reasons similar to why I loved the Nikon 58mm f/1.4G. This lens is vastly superior to the 58mm when it comes to sharpness, which is an even bigger bonus.
I think the combination of focal length, wide aperture, sharpness wide open, and buttery rendering make it one of the more unique FF lenses you can get. It's wide enough while maintaining compression, and just using it is a joyous experience. Plus it's TINY. Sharpness at f/1.4 rivals my 35 Art to some degree, while being diminutive in comparison...which is great for travel. Thanks Voigtlander!
Unless Tamron releases a really compelling small prime in this focal range coming up....I think I'm probably going to fold and pick one up too...will gap well with my 24 & 85, and having it be strong at both 1.2 & landscapes makes it serve multiple purposes for me...I blame this damn thread .
Love this lens' rendering wide open or at f1.4; sometimes it feels to me like a medium-format or bokeh panorama look. Manual focus can be maddening, but then all the more rewarding when you nail it.
Enri wrote:
Because of "aniversary" reason, I would propose that every CV 40 1.2 user tell what is the main virtue of this lens and its most competitive characteristic in the range of 35-50 mm lenses.
I have used tons of different lenses (vintage mostly) but also many modern like the FE 55mm f/1.8 (which I just sold for the third and the last time). The 55mm is nice and I have been on/off about it. But it doesn't hold a special place in my heart like this 40mm Nokton does. I love manual focusing and I'm thrilled that Voigtländer is doing what they are doing at the moment. Manual focusing is more challenging and at the same time more rewarding. I feel like I'M THE ONE taking the images, not some computer AI.
And of all the Voigtländer lenses I've used, this 40mm Nokton is just the most versatile lens, with gorgeous rendering and three-dimensionality in it's images with just enough "vintage" feel that the images doesn't look "computerlike" sterile. But not too funky either. There is absolutely nothing I wish it could do, that it didn't do already. The 40mm FL is such that I never miss the 35mm or 50mm. I can always punch in the crop mode and get 60mm eqv. and since this lens is sharp enough wide open at portrait distances, it really doubles great as a wonderful portrait lens. And for landscapes it excels as well. Sharp as a razor at f/8, having great sunstars. Taking several image panoramas with a manual lens is also just a breeze, photomerging them together in post. It's almost like having a zoom lens with f/1.2 in hand.
I also have the 21mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar for ultrawides and I'm hoping Voigtländer to make an FE mount version of their 75mm f/1.5 lens (currently I have the FE 85mm f/1.8 and Voigtländer 75mm f/2.5 Color-Heliar). But the 40mm Nokton is my "baseline" which everything else spins around. It is the one lens that is constant in my lineup, no matter what.
My main problem with this lens is that I can't just reliably hand my camera off to someone else to take a picture when I need to be in the shot (family photos).
In addition to what's been said above, this lens is just fun to use in many situations. I love my 50ZA also, but it's all business. On the other hand, the CV40 is a bit wider, even faster, much smaller, has great ergonomics, and I find myself pointing my camera at random subjects just to see what the photo looks like.
I just did the unthinkable. I just traded my CV 50 1.2 for the CV 40 1.2
Its all about gapping
Soooooo 12,21,50,75 there was a huge gap between 21/50 . Soooo Im back in with 40mm. Problem is I love the 50mm but the gapping needs to get solved. Its uncomfortable in the field
GMPhotography wrote:
I just did the unthinkable. I just traded my CV 50 1.2 for the CV 40 1.2
Its all about gapping
Soooooo 12,21,50,75 there was a huge gap between 21/50 . Soooo Im back in with 40mm. Problem is I love the 50mm but the gapping needs to get solved. Its uncomfortable in the field
But now the gap between 40-75 is larger than the old gap of 21-50 so looks like you need a new lens to fill that gap .
Hardcore wrote:
But now the gap between 40-75 is larger than the old gap of 21-50 so looks like you need a new lens to fill that gap .
I use wides more so I'm okay but good point. It's a travel kit so 12,21,40,75 is all I really want to carry. I had this lens twice before. I had the 50
. 
