Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

Steve Spencer

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p.31 #1Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

HelBen85 wrote:
You don't have to believe what I write, it is just my opinion and of course I can have made numerous mistakes in my conclusion.
But it is bold to always assume that I have made any mistakes.

But, of course I also did a centering test. Of course I have tested focussing on center and compared the results with focussing on the corners. The problem was most obvious when focusing on the center and least visible when focusing on the corners (directly at the hardstop).
(Again, the whole pictures with my Loxia 21mm lenses were sharp, the center, the 4 corners, the midfield, but there was one (small) unsharp spot/area, only one, on one side of the pictures. Again, this happened when focussing on center, on miedfield, on corners, but I got the best result for this spot and so the most equally sharp picture when focus was directly at the hardstop. Same with all testet Loxia 21mm lenses.)
(No problems with my Loxia 50mm, from f.5.6 on completely and equally sharp over the entire image when focussed a tad before the hardstop.)

Both the dealer and later Zeiss themselves took the lenses back and replaced them as defective, based on my description of the error and my test pictures.
Zeiss first checked the lens itself extensively and first claimed that the error was due to a mechanical effect on the lens I sent in and that it could be repaired. Of course there was no mechanical impact. When I then sent Zeiss the additional test images, which I made immediately upon receipt of the lens and of other (Zeiss Loxia 21mm) lenses, I received a checked new goodwill replacement copy without further comment.
The exchange copy had the same problem, but not nearly as bad and noticeable as the others.

Again, because it somehow doesn't seem clear for you: I don't care whether it's a lens design flaw or a technical problem on my part or what's the reason for.
With all 21mm Loxias it was impossible to get a completely sharp landscape photo (with very good sharpness from about 2 meters away to infinity). No matter which aperture, no matter what was focused on.
The Voigtlander can do that. I test my lenses so that the entire image is filled with fine structures at a greater distance, so I can also find small blured areas/spots. The Voigtländer does not have this. Of course, the Voigtländer has not the same amount of sharpness over the entire image, but the less sharper parts are not that bad than with the Zeiss. I also tested several different Voigtlander 21mm Noktons, one was poorly centered and another one was generally less sharp than the Loxia. However, none of the Voigtlanders had that problem.

So now I finally have a 21mm lens that - if I focus it properly - is (reasonably) evenly sharp over the whole image.
If you can do that with the Loxia, congratulations.
But believe me, I had at least one Loxia here (checked directly by Zeiss and checked directly by my contact person at Zeiss) that Zeiss considered to be error-free and I was not able with that to do what is possible with the Voigtländer and you wouldn't have that either because I've tried focussing on every distance.

...Show more →

Thank you for your report. I have had two Loxia 21 lenses, both of them allow sharp landscape image with the whole view in focus from 2M to infinity at f/6.3 to f/8. In other words both of my Loxia 21 lenses do what you want. I also have a Voigtlander 21 f/1.4 that does what you want. For me at least both lenses do what you are asking. Sorry you have had bad luck with your Loxia lenses, but I don't think that means that all Loxia lenses have the problem you have encountered or that even a big proportion of them do.

May 04, 2020 at 08:25 AM

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p.31 #2Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

AdaptedLenses wrote:
Has anyone compared the new CV 21mm f/1.4 with the older M 21mm f/1.8? I know it can’t keep up given the praise for the new 21/1.4 but wondering how it’s rendering compared wide open especially.

I don't think anyone answered you in all 31 pages, but I bought the 21/1.8 Ultron and I'm returning it. It has even crazier vignetting, with a really annoying (but fixable) blue color cast in the corners. I don't care that much about sharpness since I'm using my camera (Sigma fp) for video mostly, but color casts are a PITA because you have to remove them from every shot.

May 11, 2020 at 11:43 PM

AdaptedLenses

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p.31 #3Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

Thanks, appreciate the thoughts. The new lenses are great but part of me still appreciates the rendering of the older lenses. But good to know about the vignette and shading. Thanks again.

SigmaForums wrote:

AdaptedLenses wrote

Has anyone compared the new CV 21mm f/1.4 with the older M 21mm f/1.8? I know it can’t keep up given the praise for the new 21/1.4 but wondering how it’s rendering compared wide open especially.

I don't think anyone answered you in all 31 pages, but I bought the 21/1.8 Ultron and I'm returning it. It has even crazier vignetting, with a really annoying (but fixable) blue color cast in the corners. I don't care that much about sharpness since I'm using my camera (Sigma fp) for video mostly, but color casts are a PITA because you have to remove them from every shot.

May 12, 2020 at 06:17 AM

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p.31 #4Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

AdaptedLenses wrote:
Thanks, appreciate the thoughts. The new lenses are great but part of me still appreciates the rendering of the older lenses. But good to know about the vignette and shading. Thanks again.

SigmaForums wrote

AdaptedLenses wrote

Has anyone compared the new CV 21mm f/1.4 with the older M 21mm f/1.8? I know it can’t keep up given the praise for the new 21/1.4 but wondering how it’s rendering compared wide open especially.

BTW I just received the 21/1.4 Nokton this morning and it's significantly better. It's got a removable lens hood and it's internally focused(!!) so I can actually use this lens on rails-mounted matte boxes.

May 15, 2020 at 10:58 AM

Fred Miranda

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p.31 #5Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

I can't wait to see their 28/1.4 Nokton!

May 15, 2020 at 11:47 AM

bobek13

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p.31 #6Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

You know something we don't?

:-)

Fred Miranda wrote:
I can't wait to see their 28/1.4 Nokton!

May 15, 2020 at 12:11 PM

ratherSoftEdge

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p.31 #7Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

Any comparisons between the 21 1.4 and the Sigma 14-24 2.8 DG DN?

May 15, 2020 at 12:58 PM

seppling

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p.31 #8Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

An odd request, but as an M film shooter and a Fuji digital shooter, has anyone tried this on their Fuji X body? Curious to see how it performs.

May 20, 2020 at 03:52 PM

sismailian

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p.31 #9Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

I think this has become pretty much my favorite lens to take sunsets with. It's definitely lighter and easier to take compared to my zeiss milvus 25 1.4 lens. Usually when I go for a sunrise or sunset shot I toss a coin between the CV 21 1.4, zeiss milvus 25 1.4, and Sony 16-35 GM

The rendering of the voigtlander and zeiss tho are my favorite.

May 20, 2020 at 03:59 PM

imoretti

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p.31 #10Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
I can't wait to see their 28/1.4 Nokton!

Oh, thanks... I was just getting cozy with my VM 28/2!

May 28, 2020 at 03:58 PM

imoretti

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p.31 #11Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

sismailian wrote:
I think this has become pretty much my favorite lens to take sunsets with. It's definitely lighter and easier to take compared to my zeiss milvus 25 1.4 lens. Usually when I go for a sunrise or sunset shot I toss a coin between the CV 21 1.4, zeiss milvus 25 1.4, and Sony 16-35 GM

The rendering of the voigtlander and zeiss tho are my favorite.

I haven’t really shot much with a VM 21/4 that I bought last year. For WA, I’m mainly shooting a VM 28/2 and Zeiss 2/25 adapted to my Z7. But I’m really starting to get interested in the 21/1.4 now. I was about to go after a 21 SEM last year when I chickened out and went for the 21/4; any idea on how the SEM would perform vs the 21/1.4 Voigtlander (or vice-versa...)?

May 28, 2020 at 04:09 PM

Fred Miranda

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p.31 #12Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

imoretti wrote:

Fred Miranda wrote

I can't wait to see their 28/1.4 Nokton!

Oh, thanks... I was just getting cozy with my VM 28/2!

Love this lens too, but more so on the Leica:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1647789#28

May 28, 2020 at 05:02 PM

Peire

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p.31 #13Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

Got my Voigt 21/1.4 E yesterday.Hope to take some pictures tomorrow.

May 29, 2020 at 04:18 AM

imoretti

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p.31 #14Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

Ordered a VM 21/1.4 yesterday from CameraQuest.

I’ll sell my VM 21/4 copy after I’ve had a chance to compare the two (just for fun) adapted to my Z7 with Novoflex. I’ll miss the EXIF, I suppose, that I enjoy with the 2/25 ZF.2 Distagon on my D850. I don’t actually recall if the FTZ communicates that lens’s EXIF... Will post shots here when it arrives, though clouds and rain are forecast for the coming week. If I get it on Saturday, Sunday is looking like there’ll be a break in the weather.

May 29, 2020 at 05:14 AM

imoretti

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p.31 #15Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

Fred Miranda wrote:

imoretti wrote

Fred Miranda wrote

I can't wait to see their 28/1.4 Nokton!

Oh, thanks... I was just getting cozy with my VM 28/2!

Love this lens too, but more so on the Leica:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1647789#28

One day, I’ll bring a Leica body home (a used M10?) and I’ll have a nice collection of VM glass ready to go.

Meanwhile, I’ve been meaning to do a little Z7 comparison between my 28/2 and Nikon 28/1.4D. I just don’t get out much with the latter anymore.

May 29, 2020 at 05:20 AM

Peire

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p.31 #16Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review

And first attempts at Nokton 21/1.4 E,floral closeups wide open

A7R2+Nokton 21/1.4 E