Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
p.33 #4Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Thanks to all who've posted here, and especially Helena for answering my questions about this lens. I purchased one and have had it less than a week and am really enjoying it.
DSC02384 by Al Trujillo, on Flickr
DSC02402 by Al Trujillo, on Flickr
DSC02380 by Al Trujillo, on Flickr
DSC02384 by Al Trujillo, on FlickrDSC02402 by Al Trujillo, on FlickrDSC02380 by Al Trujillo, on FlickrMay 11, 2023 at 10:25 AM
p.33 #5Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Narooma Cemetery, sitting atop a cliff with wonderful views. It's an Australian tradition that final resting places be beautiful.
..
..
Jun 13, 2023 at 04:43 PM
p.33 #7Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
It's a reliable sweetheart, and rather different from their later short telephotos for M cameras. The 90/2.8 and the 75/1.9 lack the 75/1.5's single (double-sided) asph rear element, as used by the designers of Zeiss's top fast lenses and manufactured by Cosina. All the longer Otus lenses use this configuration (55/85/100mm) as a family trait.
Jul 07, 2023 at 05:36 PM
p.33 #8Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
hmzimelka wrote:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52735288932_1585a24a9e_h.jpg
Nice shots! I’ll be in Namibia next month. Maybe I should pack my 75/1.5.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52735288932_1585a24a9e_h.jpg
Nice shots! I’ll be in Namibia next month. Maybe I should pack my 75/1.5.
Jul 07, 2023 at 08:38 PM
p.33 #9Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
imoretti wrote:
Nice shots! I’ll be in Namibia next month. Maybe I should pack my 75/1.5.
Thank you!
I'm sure the 75 will get some use if you take it... where are you all going in Namibia?
hmzimelka wrote
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52735288932_1585a24a9e_h.jpgThank you!
I'm sure the 75 will get some use if you take it... where are you all going in Namibia?
Jul 08, 2023 at 11:15 PM
p.33 #10Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
We’re flying into Windhoek, then to (basically) Okatjeru/Bobbejaam, Etosha, Otavi, Twyfelfontein, Swakopmund, Solitaire then back to Windhoek. About two weeks, arriving Aug 6. I’ll send you a PM and maybe we can meet up, if you’re around.
Michael
Michael
Jul 09, 2023 at 04:35 AM
|
p.33 #11Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Any other lens has this (or close to) rendering?
Only lens I can name is the Tokina 90 macro https://phillipreeve.net/blog/tokina-x-macro-90mm-12-5-review/
Only lens I can name is the Tokina 90 macro https://phillipreeve.net/blog/tokina-x-macro-90mm-12-5-review/
Jul 15, 2023 at 05:02 AM
p.33 #12Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Who makes lenses that are so different from each other lens they make, and therefore so 'individual' in character as does Cosina? This 75/1.5 became my favourite 'bokeh lens'. It comes over as Zeiss-like. They must have produced hundreds of thousands of Zeiss lenses in the various ranges that were commissioned by CZ - it was an accumulation of broad expertise. They produce their own glass.
"In fact, there are over 200 types of glass categorized as optical glass. Our high-end optical products would not exist without our knowing what characteristics result from which components and compositions." "Cosina’s Obuse factory handles more than 100 types of optical glass."
https://www.cosina.co.jp/news/optical-glass-the-source-of-high-picture-quality/ (2017)
"Unlike Zeiss, Leica, Nikon, Canon, or almost any other brand, Cosina still makes their own glass, makes the entire lens, start to finish, including all of the parts, down to the fasteners using their own designs. Unlike Canon, Nikon and Sony, all Cosina manufacturing takes in Japan."
Some feel it is not important, but much has changed since 2009 ;-) :
https://photo.imx.nl/optics/styled-21/
"In fact, there are over 200 types of glass categorized as optical glass. Our high-end optical products would not exist without our knowing what characteristics result from which components and compositions." "Cosina’s Obuse factory handles more than 100 types of optical glass."
https://www.cosina.co.jp/news/optical-glass-the-source-of-high-picture-quality/ (2017)
"Unlike Zeiss, Leica, Nikon, Canon, or almost any other brand, Cosina still makes their own glass, makes the entire lens, start to finish, including all of the parts, down to the fasteners using their own designs. Unlike Canon, Nikon and Sony, all Cosina manufacturing takes in Japan."
Some feel it is not important, but much has changed since 2009 ;-) :
https://photo.imx.nl/optics/styled-21/
 |
||
 |
||
|
Sep 25, 2023 at 12:45 AM
p.33 #13Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Oogappeltje wrote:
Any other lens has this (or close to) rendering?
Only lens I can name is the Tokina 90 macro https://phillipreeve.net/blog/tokina-x-macro-90mm-12-5-review/
Zeiss 100/2 Makro Planar.
Any other lens has this (or close to) rendering?
Only lens I can name is the Tokina 90 macro https://phillipreeve.net/blog/tokina-x-macro-90mm-12-5-review/
Zeiss 100/2 Makro Planar.
Sep 25, 2023 at 04:55 AM
p.33 #14Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
philip_pj wrote:
"Unlike Zeiss, Leica, Nikon, Canon, or almost any other brand, Cosina still makes their own glass, makes the entire lens, start to finish, including all of the parts, down to the fasteners using their own designs. Unlike Canon, Nikon and Sony, all Cosina manufacturing takes in Japan."
Some feel it is not important, but much has changed since 2009 ;-) :
https://photo.imx.nl/optics/styled-21/
Well, I'm pretty sure Nikon make their own glass. Hikari glass factory if I'm not mistaken.
Leica also make their own glass, but that may be more for prototypes or very special purpose glass.
Not sure about Canon or Zeiss.
"Unlike Zeiss, Leica, Nikon, Canon, or almost any other brand, Cosina still makes their own glass, makes the entire lens, start to finish, including all of the parts, down to the fasteners using their own designs. Unlike Canon, Nikon and Sony, all Cosina manufacturing takes in Japan."
Some feel it is not important, but much has changed since 2009 ;-) :
https://photo.imx.nl/optics/styled-21/
Well, I'm pretty sure Nikon make their own glass. Hikari glass factory if I'm not mistaken.
Leica also make their own glass, but that may be more for prototypes or very special purpose glass.
Not sure about Canon or Zeiss.
Sep 25, 2023 at 05:18 AM
p.33 #15Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Ripolini wrote:
Only lens I can name is the Tokina 90 macro https://phillipreeve.net/blog/tokina-x-macro-90mm-12-5-review/Zeiss 100/2 Makro Planar.
I agree and I think the Leica M 90 f/2 AA and the Zeiss Loxia 85 f/2.4 have a fairly similar look as well. The rendering of the Voigtlander 75 f/1.5, IMO, is characterized by high contrast with low spherical aberrations and fairly low chromatic aberrations. The Zeiss 100 f/2 has a bit more axial CA and the Leica M 90 AA has less axial CA, and the Zeiss Loxia 85 f/2.4 doesn't have as fast of an aperture, but I think these other three lenses are pretty close in rendering.
Oogappeltje wrote
Any other lens has this (or close to) rendering?Only lens I can name is the Tokina 90 macro https://phillipreeve.net/blog/tokina-x-macro-90mm-12-5-review/
I agree and I think the Leica M 90 f/2 AA and the Zeiss Loxia 85 f/2.4 have a fairly similar look as well. The rendering of the Voigtlander 75 f/1.5, IMO, is characterized by high contrast with low spherical aberrations and fairly low chromatic aberrations. The Zeiss 100 f/2 has a bit more axial CA and the Leica M 90 AA has less axial CA, and the Zeiss Loxia 85 f/2.4 doesn't have as fast of an aperture, but I think these other three lenses are pretty close in rendering.
Sep 25, 2023 at 06:04 AM
p.33 #16Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Oogappeltje wrote:
Any other lens has this (or close to) rendering?
Others have included the rendering of the Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO-Lanthar in this class. I’ve had my copy (F-mount) for several years and would agree. Quality of construction? It has its issues…
Any other lens has this (or close to) rendering?
Others have included the rendering of the Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO-Lanthar in this class. I’ve had my copy (F-mount) for several years and would agree. Quality of construction? It has its issues…
Sep 25, 2023 at 06:14 AM
p.33 #17Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
hmzimelka wrote:
Some feel it is not important, but much has changed since 2009 ;-) :
https://photo.imx.nl/optics/styled-21/Well, I'm pretty sure Nikon make their own glass. Hikari glass factory if I'm not mistaken.
Leica also make their own glass, but that may be more for prototypes or very special purpose glass.
Not sure about Canon or Zeiss.
From what I know Cosina makes every part for every Voigtlander branded lens. This includes glass.
That cannot be said for those other manufacturers. As far as I know they sometimes have entire lenses made by third parties and put their brand on them. Nikon reselling one generation old Tamron lenses with the Nikon brand is a recent example.
As far as the VM 75mm f/1.5 goes, it has a special place in my bag. It is unique, with a distinct look that is different than any other lens I have ever shot. Despite being the most difficult to shoot on my M11, it is one of my favorites.
philip_pj wrote
"Unlike Zeiss, Leica, Nikon, Canon, or almost any other brand, Cosina still makes their own glass, makes the entire lens, start to finish, including all of the parts, down to the fasteners using their own designs. Unlike Canon, Nikon and Sony, all Cosina manufacturing takes in Japan."Some feel it is not important, but much has changed since 2009 ;-) :
https://photo.imx.nl/optics/styled-21/
Leica also make their own glass, but that may be more for prototypes or very special purpose glass.
Not sure about Canon or Zeiss.
From what I know Cosina makes every part for every Voigtlander branded lens. This includes glass.
That cannot be said for those other manufacturers. As far as I know they sometimes have entire lenses made by third parties and put their brand on them. Nikon reselling one generation old Tamron lenses with the Nikon brand is a recent example.
As far as the VM 75mm f/1.5 goes, it has a special place in my bag. It is unique, with a distinct look that is different than any other lens I have ever shot. Despite being the most difficult to shoot on my M11, it is one of my favorites.
Sep 25, 2023 at 08:27 AM
p.33 #18Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Cosina get away with using few elements compared with the majors, as one of the things acquired from their Leica obsession. And it is all based on glass-related choices. As for the process pathways of glass formulations, the Puts link sounds like obfuscation, but always good to hear other viewpoints.
Build quality on the 75/1.5 is as good as anything I've used, but many don't like the ring layout. Use it enough, and you might get to like it as much as I do. Focus ring is a finger's width, just right at for the degree of damping, aperture ring is bevelled for easy identification and is well-spaced front of the focus ring.
Much, much easier than the jammed up rings near the body interface, which really impede fast work. And far better than the near full barrel focus rings Zeiss used in the Kyocera days - I lost many shots to that idea. The small hood is excellent for the type and likely usage of the lens. The font size is a perfect match for the rings and half stops simplifies it further.
Sorry to say, it works really well (and fast) on EVF cameras, and Fred points out the slight FC is in the design, not from the Sony's sensor thickness. On rendering, the Zeiss imprint is there but the engaging colour palette is far better suited to most work than Zeiss's more brutalist look. The bokeh is lovely, and contrast seems just right. I feel like a Philistine stopping it down.
Build quality on the 75/1.5 is as good as anything I've used, but many don't like the ring layout. Use it enough, and you might get to like it as much as I do. Focus ring is a finger's width, just right at for the degree of damping, aperture ring is bevelled for easy identification and is well-spaced front of the focus ring.
Much, much easier than the jammed up rings near the body interface, which really impede fast work. And far better than the near full barrel focus rings Zeiss used in the Kyocera days - I lost many shots to that idea. The small hood is excellent for the type and likely usage of the lens. The font size is a perfect match for the rings and half stops simplifies it further.
Sorry to say, it works really well (and fast) on EVF cameras, and Fred points out the slight FC is in the design, not from the Sony's sensor thickness. On rendering, the Zeiss imprint is there but the engaging colour palette is far better suited to most work than Zeiss's more brutalist look. The bokeh is lovely, and contrast seems just right. I feel like a Philistine stopping it down.
Sep 25, 2023 at 04:09 PM
p.33 #19Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Here is something I bet many don't know. The stock hood for this lens can be mounted in reverse for storage and even shooting when not needed. Doing this does reduce size a bit.
Sep 25, 2023 at 05:54 PM
p.33 #20Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton Review
Thanks for that piece of info. The saving in length is not huge, but every bit counts in storage. Cosina was probably embarrassed at making such a long lens, lol.
At 406 grams (with a nano B+W filter, hood and caps), it is one very usable lens. 442 grams even with a Novoflex adapter. It fits neatly between 50mm and 100mm too. A 100mm at f2 version would be a sensation.
Much as I dislike using M lenses, on principle as much as sensor issues, Cosina makes some lovely lenses for M only. Lucky people.
At 406 grams (with a nano B+W filter, hood and caps), it is one very usable lens. 442 grams even with a Novoflex adapter. It fits neatly between 50mm and 100mm too. A 100mm at f2 version would be a sensation.
Much as I dislike using M lenses, on principle as much as sensor issues, Cosina makes some lovely lenses for M only. Lucky people.
Sep 25, 2023 at 07:03 PM