BPsmith511
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 p.32 #18 · Alt forum Nikon Z resource, discussion and image thread | |
mvjasper wrote:
As requested, I’ll provide a few shots from each lens as time permits. Not a whole lot went into image selection, other than perhaps a little effort to provide some diversity of subject. For each, I’ll add what some will no doubt consider a few subjective comments that I am happy to call my own.
The Voigtlander 40 has turned out to be a gem of a lens, mechanically and optically. It’s made at the same Cosina factory in Japan as the Zeiss Classic, Milvus, and Otus lenses, and I can’t find anything about it’s build to suggest any less care has gone into its manufacture than its Zeiss counterparts. Without intending to bash an otherwise fine lens, with equal care this Voigtlander feels like it will be in service long after the very plasticky feeling and about five times the cost Nikon 105E/1.4 has gotten brittle and fallen apart. OK, I admit that I can’t say with any certainty that Nikon hasn’t used a high quality, scientifically developed plastic for its lenses that could remain intact in land fills or floating around the ocean if not remaining undigested in some form of sea life for decades if not centuries. But I can all but guarantee you that one bite out of this lens and any fish is going to break a few rows of teeth and spit it out without much damage to the lens!!!
Optically, I haven’t found anything I don’t like about this find piece of craftsmanship. I may have been criticized in another thread for saying this, but it’s sharp from corner-to-corner. I’m not talking “better MTF chart” sharp, but the kind of sharp you notice when looking at an image that has visibly recognizable detail in the corners that aren’t distorted or out of focus - sharp. You can somewhat see the sharp I’m talking about in the second, third, and fifth images below. You’ll never (someone will contradict me) notice corner issues in wide open portraiture with intentionally blurred backgrounds (and perhaps intentionally blurred foregrounds) that extend to the corners (see my self-portrait in image six for an example (OK, the self-portrait is actually more recognizable in image seven - can you see my wife?)). My Milvus 50/1.4 (and a couple others Milvus 50/1.4 lenses I have scrutinized) falls short in this definition of sharp. Does the Milvus have a better MTF chart? I wouldn’t know because I don’t look at those charts so you won’t get that information from me, and I don’t care.
I also really like the look of the lens. The scalloped focusing ring is not only attractive but functional. It’s nice to use a finger or two in the indentations to adjust focus, especially when you’re after a shot that requires two steady hands supporting the body. Try it and you’ll see what I mean. On the topic of focusing, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read about the Zeiss’ buttery smooth focusing rings. Well, I believe the folks at Cosina grease these Voigtlanders up with the very same butter.
The images below start with a shot from Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mysic Manor, right where you get in the cars. I like the shot because of the very lifelike rendering and the richness of the black/dark areas.
The next two images are full-frame and a crop of some ruins in Ayutthaya. At full resolution you can see the leaves on the plants up top. I could have worked around the imposing tree on the left, but wanted to give you a full-frame image.
The next two images are from Wat Arun in Bangkok, with the second hopefully showing the lenses ability to render fine detail (look at the heads/faces ringing the structure at the top of the frame). Once again this image has rich black in the middle, but still holds detail that is visible if I crank up the exposure in post (that’s more a plus for the sensor’s ability to capture and represent the photons delivered by the lens).
The last two, a self-portrait in the eye of my best friend Jasper. That’s a f2 shot taken about a foot away from my little buddy.
Don't beat me up on my post processing with Capture One Pro output. It's relatively new software for me and after almost 20 years with Photoshop (I'm a CS5 Mac and CS5.5 PC hold out who refuses to pay a subscription), adapting to the new way of doing things is painful.
V...Show more →
I'm looking forward to picking up the 40mm F2, I had previously used the 40mm 1.2 on Sony E-Mount and loved everything about it.
Also, I wish my Schnauzer would sit still for photos.... bugger requires a minimum shutter of 1/2000 it seems like!
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