Near infinity - the point-of-focus is the white fence behind the signpost (the throw is really short!)
Note that the white portable fence runs diagonally further off to the right, so the fence on the left is closer than the fence on the right.
p.7 #2 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
Comparison of the VM 75mm Nokton with the VM40mm Nokton on an M-240. Ooc jpg, processed to taste with a slight contrast boost. The light was diffuse, partly cloudy. Resized to 2048.
p.7 #4 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
Here’s the 75 Summilux and CV 75/1.5 Nokton compared on an m10-p. The exif will show 75 APO for the CV75, as that’s the profile I’m using for it on the m10-p. Both shot wide open, center of middle trunk is the focus point. The exif aperture is Not accurate of course.
Really smooth bokeh for the CV. The 75 Lux is know for it’s smooth bokeh and lush color palette, and the CV is putting up a showing that’s right up there with it. You will notice though the middle branch has details sharp all the way to top of frame with the CV. The 75 Lux can’t grab details to the frame edge like the CV though. At center it’s also noticeably sharper.
p.7 #6 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
I was eagerly awaiting this lens thinking it would be a perfect everyday lens for me. I use an 85/1.4 (Rokinon) and love it. Tack sharp at 1.4, no glow and butter smooth bokeh, but it's a bit big and a bit heavy. A smaller, lighter 75/1.5 with nice rendering sounded great!
But, looking at photos here and elsewhere (Steve Huff just put up a review), I'm really disappointed with the bokeh. Some are calling it "smooth" but, for me, it's swirly, chunky and very distracting. I guess I could call it "painterly", but not smooth except in an ideal image with no busy background. The "lemon" shaped bokeh balls in the outer areas is the final straw. Oh well.
p.7 #9 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
This image pair above exemplify the qualities of this one: the mid-distance tree leaves in #1 would give many 85s the heebie-jeebies, but here you get a muted, softened backdrop. The people are so well distanced by appropriate bokeh rendering. You can actually track the focal plane across the frame, very nice. #2 the green separation informs the shape of trees and assists in 3D production. In most 75/1.5 images, foreground/background are very well-differentiated. Colours are strong yet subtle. Thanks, mapgraphs.
p.7 #13 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
genji wrote:
The images on this page by mapgraphs and Sam_Alfano amply illustrate not just the superb rendering but also the versatility of the Nokton 75/1.5.
Thank you. I think it’s an absolute hit of a lens and I applaud what Voigtländer has produced. It certainly exceeds my expectations.
p.7 #14 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
The phrase that comes to mind, something somebody posted about the 40mm Nokton in the Alt thread here - to paraphrase: "it's a lens that makes me smile" ; - )
A big thank you to everyone who shared samples. They helped me...
p.7 #15 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
mapgraphs wrote:
The phrase that comes to mind, something somebody posted about the 40mm Nokton in the Alt thread here - to paraphrase: "it's a lens that makes me smile" ; - )
A big thank you to everyone who shared samples. They helped me...
Sam’s lovely portrait of his wife brings to mind another phrase—“rounded sharpness”—that Zeiss used to describe the rendering of their C Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 ZM. I believe that’s exactly what we’re seeing in Sam’s image.
p.7 #16 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
I took delivery this morning of a Nokton 75 f1.5, mainly to be used on a Leica CL (APS-C). On this camera, the lens is equivalent to 113mm f2.25. From my testing so far with a variety of subjects, I am *very* impressed. Sharpness is excellent starting in the center at f1.5 and gets better up to f5.6, which seems to be maximal. The quality of the sharpness is just perfect, not painfully biting like some other modern lenses. Colors are lovely, and the bokeh is absolutely superb with near, medium and far subjects.
I also own a copy of the Summilux-R 80 f1.4 (E60) that I use on an SL. That lens and its kissing cousin, the Summilux-M 75 f1.4, are Walter Mandler classics and are widely regarded as two of the finest portrait lenses ever made. They render quite differently from the Nokton, especially at wide apertures, where the famous Mandler/Leica glow struts its stuff. And yet, the Nokton 75 is far from clinical in its rendering, and I think that it will make an excellent portrait lens, which is how I plan to use it mostly. 113mm is not too long for very pleasing portraits.
p.7 #17 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
For those who have the Summarit 75/2.5, which do you prefer? If you were going to buy one 75mm lens for travel/portrait/general use, which would you choose - Summarit or this new 1.5? They are roughly the same price if buying the Leica used.
p.7 #18 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
Here are two sample images from today, both taken at f2 with the CL. One is a portrait (statuettes count), and one is just messing around. I think that the OOF transition and the bokeh are outstanding. I also like the lens's short focus throw. It makes focusing on the CL very quick. I am falling hard for the new Nokton.
p.7 #19 · CV Nokton Aspherical VM 75mm f/1.5 First Impressions
I have heard mention a couple of times things that relate to Cosina's lens production capacity, either vis a vis ending production for one model freeing up capacity for another, or that Cosina is doing well 'for a small manufacturer' or something like that.
Cosina is a very large manufacturer; one of the largest optical manufacturers. They make vast numbers of optics for projection, surveillance and as manufacturing subcontractors for other brands, including at times Olympus, Nikon, Zeiss (obviously), and a whole lot of others.
The Leica mount lenses started due to an interest of the company's owner, Kobayashi-san in producing a couple of lenses for himself in specifications that he could not find in Leica's repertoire or were too rare and pricey. Thus started offerings like the first 15/4.5. He and his chief designer challenged themselves to find niches that they felt weren't being served after they realized that people appreciated their offerings.
I only met Mr. Kobayashi once, but a good friend who passed away recently had constant contact with him and visited him in Japan at least once a year, and as my friend was a passionate Leica user with many decades of experience, offered him advice and inspiration for many of the Leica mount lenses. The Leica M and S mount lenses were mostly a hobby and personal pet project on the lines of 'what would I like next' and only gradually morphed into an actual business case.
In any case, Cosina produces more lenses than Nikon or Sony and probably a fair number more than Canon. As it's a privately held company, it's numbers don't show up publicly.
