There are other threads for the 50/1.2 I believe, but it's a needle in a haystack search these days among all the bird image and bird gear threads swamping the site - a sign of the times.
The 40mm was released first, and was so unusual and so good, with such sound trade offs. Much easier to produce a fast high-end character lens at 50mm than at 40mm, or 35mm. It's a roundabout reason why many insiders are also hankering for a 35/2 APO-Lanthar.
Actually Cosina is in an unusual place having two fabulous 50mm lenses for Sony: your one and the magnificent 50/2 APO. The tiny 50/3.5 in M mount is another beauty for Sony users. No one does this, no one else can do this, it's unthinkable.
Pros:
- solid, moderately big casing made of metal,
- record-breaking resolution values in frame centre on stopping down,
- sensible image quality on the edge of the APS-C sensor,
- slight longitudinal chromatic aberration,
- negligible lateral chromatic aberration,
- excellent distortion correction.
Cons:
- weak image quality in the frame centre by f/1.2 and f/1.4,
- resolution on the edge of full frame sensor leaves a lot to be desired,
- huge vignetting on full frame,
- noticeable coma.
'I haven't seen such an interesting graph for a very long time. In the frame centre, by f/1.2 and f/1.4, it would be difficult to call images useful because they are fuzzy. Near f/1.6 the situation becomes quite sensible, by f/2.0 it is already good, by f/2.8 it is excellent and by f/4.0 it can be called outstanding – so outstanding that the Nokton 1.2/50, with a result of 78.6 lpmm is our new record-breaker.
Let's face it, the lens has virtually everything you could expect in photography. If you want exceedingly sharp photos, it's enough you stop it down a bit. If you want sharp photos with a shallow depth of field you should stick to the f/1.6-2.0 aperture range. If you are more interested in fuzzy, out-of-focus, artistic blur, smooth bokeh and such effects, f/1.2-f/1.4 apertures will give you a lot of chances to display your skills, the only thing that you will lack is sharpness."
Well this is exacly what I experiment
Beautiful and interesting rendering at 1.2
When I need sharpness with shallow depth of field, 1.7 is really really good
And at 5.6, it is better than my zony 55mm
It is usually said that zooms are more versatile than primes... But I feel and experiment the opposite! I can use this lens with no light and with good sunny day, with shallow depth of field, or sharp accross the field... and different renderings... everything in a little tiny lens.
Yes, I am totally in love with this lens. It is so enjoyable to use, and to see the pictures it can take!
hesb wrote:
Well this is exacly what I experiment
Beautiful and interesting rendering at 1.2
When I need sharpness with shallow depth of field, 1.7 is really really good
And at 5.6, it is better than my zony 55mm
It is usually said that zooms are more versatile than primes... But I feel and experiment the opposite! I can use this lens with no light and with good sunny day, with shallow depth of field, or sharp accross the field... and different renderings... everything in a little tiny lens.
Yes, I am totally in love with this lens. It is so enjoyable to use, and to see the pictures it can take!...Show more →
I have never understood the desire to compare zooms and primes.
I’m furiously debating between this and the 50/2 - damn them for making both! - and one thing I can’t figure out: on the B&H specs pages they both have the same minimum focus distance, and same focal length obviously, but their maximum magnification and macro ratio are different. How is that possible?
Their angle of view is slightly different. 46.5° for the 50/2 and 47.5° for the 50/1.2, so the Nokton is a little wider than 50mm and the APO-Lanthar is a bit longer.
There's also a new SE version (cheaper and lighter, without the non-clickable aperture option) of the 50/1.2 coming in July which could be another option.
Jonathan SPV wrote:
I’m furiously debating between this and the 50/2 - damn them for making both! - and one thing I can’t figure out: on the B&H specs pages they both have the same minimum focus distance, and same focal length obviously, but their maximum magnification and macro ratio are different. How is that possible?
May 05, 2020 at 09:18 PM
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Jonathan SPV wrote:
I’m furiously debating between this and the 50/2 - damn them for making both! - and one thing I can’t figure out: on the B&H specs pages they both have the same minimum focus distance, and same focal length obviously, but their maximum magnification and macro ratio are different. How is that possible?
The focal length is measured at infinity. One or both lenses must have a change in focal length as you approach infinity focus. The 50 f/2 APO has a floating element and much better close focus performance than the 50 f/1.2 because of that if it matters to you.
Interesting. I need to learn more about lens design it seems.
Steve Spencer wrote:
The focal length is measured at infinity. One or both lenses must have a change in focal length as you approach infinity focus. The 50 f/2 APO has a floating element and much better close focus performance than the 50 f/1.2 because of that if it matters to you.
Juha Kannisto wrote:
Their angle of view is slightly different. 46.5° for the 50/2 and 47.5° for the 50/1.2, so the Nokton is a little wider than 50mm and the APO-Lanthar is a bit longer.
There's also a new SE version (cheaper and lighter, without the non-clickable aperture option) of the 50/1.2 coming in July which could be another option.
Juha, do you have a sense of whether the SE lenses will replace the older VE versions? Or do you think CV will continue to offer both styles at different price points. Although I’m all for small and light, there’s no way I would replace my VE 50/1.2 with the SE version—partly because I’m suspicious of the SE’s build quality but mainly because I strongly prefer the knurled to the ribbed focusing ring.
genji wrote:
Juha, do you have a sense of whether the SE lenses will replace the older VE versions? Or do you think CV will continue to offer both styles at different price points. Although I’m all for small and light, there’s no way I would replace my VE 50/1.2 with the SE version—partly because I’m suspicious of the SE’s build quality but mainly because I strongly prefer the knurled to the ribbed focusing ring.
I think Cosina will keep selling both versions at different price points but keep an eye on the sales figures and if the original versions sell very limited quantities once the SE are also available, they might discontinue the original versions eventually. I wouldn't expect that to happen at least within 1 year though... And there could still be remaining interest in the originals too because of the different build and for video shooters so maybe there won't be a huge gap in the sales figures...
So far in Japan based on kakaku.com lens sales rankings, the new 40/1.2 has been getting good level of interest and more than 35/1.2 and 50/1.2 perhaps because of the lowest price point and because it's the smallest and lightest option.
I'm personally considering the 35/1.2 SE although I have the VM already but I'm also curious to see the next small lens offerings from Sigma in the same style as 45/2.8 before I make new purchases... Also curious to see how the SE series lenses feel in hand and behave from handling perspective.
I have no insider info on what Cosina will actually do, just guessing though.
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I think Cosina will keep selling both versions at different price points but keep an eye on the sales figures and if the original versions sell very limited quantities once the SE are also available, they might discontinue the original versions eventually. I wouldn't expect that to happen at least within 1 year though... And there could still be remaining interest in the originals too because of the different build and for video shooters so maybe there won't be a huge gap in the sales figures...
So far in Japan based on kakaku.com lens sales rankings, the new 40/1.2 has been getting good level of interest and more than 35/1.2 and 50/1.2 perhaps because of the lowest price point and because it's the smallest and lightest option.
I'm personally considering the 35/1.2 SE although I have the VM already but I'm also curious to see the next small lens offerings from Sigma in the same style as 45/2.8 before I make new purchases... Also curious to see how the SE series lenses feel in hand and behave from handling perspective.
I have no insider info on what Cosina will actually do, just guessing though....Show more →
Thank you. I think you’ve mapped out a highly likely scenario. I just wish there was an influential 28mm fan within the company. Fast, modern 28mm designs in both M- and E-mounts would fill the two remaining gaps in my Leica and Sony lineups.
genji wrote:
Juha, do you have a sense of whether the SE lenses will replace the older VE versions? Or do you think CV will continue to offer both styles at different price points. Although I’m all for small and light, there’s no way I would replace my VE 50/1.2 with the SE version—partly because I’m suspicious of the SE’s build quality but mainly because I strongly prefer the knurled to the ribbed focusing ring.
What makes you suspicious of the SE lines build quality?
Other then the lack of de-click I haven't seen anything to suggest a difference.
I would think it would be foolish for CV to move in that direction.
Decontenting for a lower price point might be good business.
Not sure that being associated with lower quality series would be the same.
If you prove to be right I would certainly stick with the VEs for a couple of hundred dollars more.
The new Voigtlander 50mm f/1.2 SE Nokton (E-mount) is now available at Cameraquest and Amazon.
I just received a copy and luckily it's perfectly centered. I will post some resolution tests and compare it to the CV 50/2 APO. They share the same 50mm focal length but are very different designs. I consider the 50/2 APO one of the best 50mm lenses in the market but starting at f/4, the Nokton did not disappoint in comparison.
The new SE version is noticeable lighter than the previous 'classic' version. I forgot how nice the rendering is. Definitely the best f/1.2 Nokton lens in terms of IQ and rendering.
I've just tested the new Voigtlander 50/1.2 SE vs 50/2 APO (both perfectly centered and sharp copies) and was very impressed by the 50/1.2 SE!
I just wanted to make sure before posting but it looks like the SE is actually slightly sharper at dead center (tested this 3 times). Away from center, the APO performs noticeably better at f/2 and f/2.8 but starting at f/4, I find them close in resolution/contrast performance...crops coming soon...
