Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
p.60 #1Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
OscarF wrote:
Why praise a company like Simera that rips off (nearly exactly) a current lens design from another manufacturer?
Voigtlander
_https://phillipreeve.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/VM_21_1.4_optical_diagram-672x372.jpg
Simera
_https://phillipreeve.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thypoch_21mm_1.4_Simera_Diagram.png
From the Phillip Reeve review you reference:
"Here the situation is a bit different: on the Leica M10 I see no midzone dip but the corners clearly benefit from stopping down. Due to the performance in the corners the lens actually looks best when stopped down to f/8.0 here.
The Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton on the other hand looks at least as good at f/2.8 as this Thypoch lens does at f/8.0."
"As the Thypoch lenses are often availabe for different mounts my guess...Show more →
I had not realized the optical designs were that similar, though I never reviewed the Simera 21/1.4 myself. I really loved the Voigtlander's output, and if it weren't for the size, I would have kept it. When the Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 Distagon came out, we were all impressed by its performance despite noticeable field curvature. The Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton was the first lens to challenge the Zeiss at f/2.8 and smaller apertures while giving an extra two stops of light.
Why praise a company like Simera that rips off (nearly exactly) a current lens design from another manufacturer?
Voigtlander
_https://phillipreeve.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/VM_21_1.4_optical_diagram-672x372.jpg
Simera
_https://phillipreeve.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thypoch_21mm_1.4_Simera_Diagram.png
From the Phillip Reeve review you reference:
"Here the situation is a bit different: on the Leica M10 I see no midzone dip but the corners clearly benefit from stopping down. Due to the performance in the corners the lens actually looks best when stopped down to f/8.0 here.
The Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton on the other hand looks at least as good at f/2.8 as this Thypoch lens does at f/8.0."
"As the Thypoch lenses are often availabe for different mounts my guess...Show more →
I had not realized the optical designs were that similar, though I never reviewed the Simera 21/1.4 myself. I really loved the Voigtlander's output, and if it weren't for the size, I would have kept it. When the Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 Distagon came out, we were all impressed by its performance despite noticeable field curvature. The Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton was the first lens to challenge the Zeiss at f/2.8 and smaller apertures while giving an extra two stops of light.
Dec 10, 2025 at 06:07 PM
p.60 #3Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
The Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton is one lens I genuinely regret selling. It delivered fantastic images and was incredibly useful for travel. I traded it for the 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar (size/weight trade-off) and I am happy with that lens, but the f/1.4 version is a very different beast.
Dec 21, 2025 at 09:09 AM
p.60 #4Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
I love this lens. While in Hawaii a few days ago, we got to see a Christmas parade in Kona. It was very dark by the time the parade came by where we were sitting and of course everything was moving, but the 21/1.4 got some usable shots. This is one of the better ones.
ILCE-7RM5 21mm f/1.4 1/125s 800 ISO 0.0 EV
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:55 PM
p.60 #5Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
One more.
ILCE-7RM5 21mm f/1.4 1/125s 3200 ISO -1.3 EV
Dec 21, 2025 at 08:00 PM
p.60 #6Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
A beautiful tree in Hawaii at sunset.
ILCE-7RM5 21mm f/5.6 1/100s 100 ISO 0.0 EV
Dec 21, 2025 at 09:49 PM
p.60 #8Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
Fred Miranda wrote:
The Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton is one lens I genuinely regret selling. It delivered fantastic images and was incredibly useful for travel. I traded it for the 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar (size/weight trade-off) and I am happy with that lens, but the f/1.4 version is a very different beast.
Fred
As it turns out I bought your old lens from the guy you sold it to. Still with your 6 bit coding on it .
The Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton is one lens I genuinely regret selling. It delivered fantastic images and was incredibly useful for travel. I traded it for the 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar (size/weight trade-off) and I am happy with that lens, but the f/1.4 version is a very different beast.
Fred
As it turns out I bought your old lens from the guy you sold it to. Still with your 6 bit coding on it .
Dec 24, 2025 at 10:38 AM
p.60 #9Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
stgrove wrote:
Fred
As it turns out I bought your old lens from the guy you sold it to. Still with your 6 bit coding on it .
Great copy. Hang on to it!
Fred Miranda wrote
The Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton is one lens I genuinely regret selling. It delivered fantastic images and was incredibly useful for travel. I traded it for the 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar (size/weight trade-off) and I am happy with that lens, but the f/1.4 version is a very different beast.As it turns out I bought your old lens from the guy you sold it to. Still with your 6 bit coding on it .
Great copy. Hang on to it!
Dec 24, 2025 at 12:11 PM
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p.60 #11Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
I really wanted the 21/3.5 Color Skopar; I like the picture it gives. But then I bought the 21/1.4 Nokton. And I don't want the 21/3.5 anymore...
But I'm not sure
But I'm not sure
Dec 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
p.60 #12Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
DmitriyTver wrote:
I really wanted the 21/3.5 Color Skopar; I like the picture it gives. But then I bought the 21/1.4 Nokton. And I don't want the 21/3.5 anymore...
But I'm not sure
https://i.ibb.co/xt944QLd/DSC06299.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Tq8zgzJX/DSC06304.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/PvSbQyCB/DSC06301.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/MXp2cHR/DSC06305.jpg
Beautiful!
The 21/1.4 is the one to have if weight is not an issue. I owned the 21/3.5 for a few years and it’s a great lens but does not have the flexibility or sparkle of the 21/1.4.
I really wanted the 21/3.5 Color Skopar; I like the picture it gives. But then I bought the 21/1.4 Nokton. And I don't want the 21/3.5 anymore...
But I'm not sure
https://i.ibb.co/xt944QLd/DSC06299.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Tq8zgzJX/DSC06304.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/PvSbQyCB/DSC06301.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/MXp2cHR/DSC06305.jpg
Beautiful!
The 21/1.4 is the one to have if weight is not an issue. I owned the 21/3.5 for a few years and it’s a great lens but does not have the flexibility or sparkle of the 21/1.4.
Dec 25, 2025 at 01:37 PM
p.60 #13Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
I have both, I use both, huge difference in weight and size. If I am serious about 21 outing Nokton it is, if it is low light Nokton it is, but if I am doing a sort of one lens carry, my one lens plus strategy of a 50 mm apo summicron with M11 I might well put the 21 and 28 color skopers in my pocket as a just in case, small enough I forget they are there, and if the light is generous I have wide angle.
Edited on Jan 01, 2026 at 05:11 PM · View previous versions
Edited on Jan 01, 2026 at 05:11 PM · View previous versions
Dec 25, 2025 at 02:12 PM
p.60 #15Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
Kaaterskill Falls - Upstate New York
Jan 01, 2026 at 04:37 PM
p.60 #17Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
Misty Night by Radek Kucharski, on FlickrJan 08, 2026 at 01:10 AM
p.60 #18Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 Nokton Review
Swamp. I love the swamp, especially at night...
Jan 09, 2026 at 01:11 PM
