Per Lenstip, Nocton 1.2 is the highest resolving lens tested by them ever at F4 and in the center. At F8 everything is nice but not as nice as the center at F4. It can be a landscape lens, yes, but can work for people/portraits and low light much better than APO, being a F1.2.
Maioooooo wrote:
Hello,
I just placed an order for the 50mm 1.2 Nokton lens. Just stumbled on this review, would the APO be a better purchase? I have an A7 III and I want a good all-round lens for some nature and street photography. Would the APO be a better purchase?
Voigtlander 50/2 APO is shorter but 80 grams heavier (49mm thread for both)
The FE 55/1.8 was introduced in 2013 with three aspherical elements, including two double-sided,. It's currently being sold for $1,000 which is only $50 less than the new Voigtlander 50/2 APO!
It's not well corrected for CA (longitudinal and lateral), has noticeable onion-pattern in specular highlights and manual focusing is not linear.
Why does it cost so much after all these years? Perhaps because it is capable of very high resolution across the field even at wide apertures (no noticeable dips or field curvature), has fast/accurate/silent AF and it's compact/light at only 280 grams. In my view, it's a lens that does everything well from landscapes to portraits if you don't mind the uncorrected color aberrations. At wide apertures, a slight haze is visible due to SA under-correction which in turn gives images a pleasant lower contrast and smooth rendering.
Here is the full image thumbnail showing the area demonstrated at 1:1 magnification.
Mid-field at f/2.8: Just like in the center area, there is a noticeable improvement going from f/2 to f/2.8 for the FE 55/1.8 which almost matches the Voigtlander APO here.
Everyone has ben posting photos of the comet, Neowise - I have, myself, posted a couple to other forums. However, I haven't seen one on this forum.
My daughter and I spent time up on Logan Pass, Glacier Nat'l Park, a couple of nights ago photographing the Milky Way (Loxia 21). We briefly saw the comet just above a ridgeline to the north, then it was gone. On our way down to the Visitor's Center, we came around that ridge and there it was - between Mt Oberlin and the Garden Wall. This was around 1:30 am - later than most comet photos which tend to be around 11:30 - midnight, and have more sunset glow still in the sky. Being later, the sky is darker so this image has many more stars, so maybe the comet doesn't stand out as much. Still - a memorable night.
Logan comet LR by Doug Stevens, on Flickr
Sony A7RIII; ISO 3200 Voigtlander A-L 50mm f2 @ f2.8. Sky: 15 images stacked in Starry landscape Stacker. Foreground 4 stacked images at f4, approx 4 minutes, stacked in Photoshop.
I actually got to use the 50 apo at night as well and am very pleased with its performance wide open. I even shot some comet neowise with it that i havent worked on yet. This lens is a hidden gem for those that especially love mf and that awesome voigtlander rendering 🥰 I will try to post some pictures this week!
Cross-posted on the M-mount lens group:
I use the Voigtlander 50 APO on the Nikon Z7; it's by far my
best performing manual lens. I only shoot manual
on all my cameras, and, I mainly shoot m-mount lenses.
So, now for my question:
In lieu of there ever being a CV 50 APO in m-mount for
the Leica - my ideal preference! - does anyone know of,
or can recommend an m-mount lens that has similar acuity,
color fidelity and resolution as the CV 50 APO?
Thanks in advance for any and all serious responses. Oh, I am
aware of the Leica 50 APO, but have never used one and don't
know if it draws similarly enough to justify its purchase,
even if it might be a higher resolving lens.
Sorry for longish post and apologize if this isn't the appropriate place.
'can recommend an m-mount lens that has similar acuity, color fidelity and resolution as the CV 50 APO'
The obvious candidate is the 50AA, at 300g and with MTF results at about the same level, a little behind being an older 8/5 design. Many love that one for what it offers, others say it's 'clinical and too exact', understandably there is a range of opinion on the subject of rendering.
It's the heritage from macro lenses that make the 50 APO Lanthar so special. Others may know what to look for, I'd be interested to know too. If other 50s are as 'effortless' as the Voigtlander is - well, they are fine lenses too. ;-)
PS the Voigtlander 50/3.5 VM v4 is a good one, if speed and aperture is fine and you can work it. (I love it.)
philip_pj wrote:
'can recommend an m-mount lens that has similar acuity, color fidelity and resolution as the CV 50 APO'
The obvious candidate is the 50AA, at 300g and with MTF results at about the same level, a little behind being an older 8/5 design. Many love that one for what it offers, others say it's 'clinical and too exact', understandably there is a range of opinion on the subject of rendering.
It's the heritage from macro lenses that make the 50 APO Lanthar so special. Others may know what to look for, I'd be interested to know too. If other 50s are as 'effortless' as the Voigtlander is - well, they are fine lenses too. ;-)
PS the Voigtlander 50/3.5 VM v4 is a good one, if speed and aperture is fine and you can work it. (I love it.)...Show more →
I have and like the Voigtlander 50/3.5 VM too and while good is just not the same as you undoubtably know.
How do you think the more recent pre-Aspherical 50 does in comparison?
Sorry to sound like I'm whining, but I really want the cv 50 APO in m-mount.
Whining is good, best way to get change going. Should have revisited to say half in jest - but only half, since the colour and wall-to-wall sharpness are rather similar, lol. I'm no expert or even know much about Leica M 50s, from what I have read people buy on the 'je ne sais quoi' criterion.
I doubt any older M lenses look anything like the same, that is why many users of M cameras want Cosina to make an M version of the 50/2 APO Lanthar. The new glass formulas have given Cosina these advances, same with Leica's SL and the super fast new M lenses, and Sigma etc. It's why my CY lenses are only for special purposes now, or are irreplaceable. The Leica M users recognise quality, obviously.
tunisia wrote:
I have and like the Voigtlander 50/3.5 VM too and while good is just not the same as you undoubtably know.
How do you think the more recent pre-Aspherical 50 does in comparison?
Sorry to sound like I'm whining, but I really want the cv 50 APO in m-mount.
I currently own both lenses and have compared them side by side. Although the CV 50/3.5 is very sharp at center and extreme corners, at mid-field the 50/2 APO performs better in comparison. I will find my test and post it here.
A dawn shot of the the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone - about half an hour before sunrise from the lower Red Rock observation platform, North Rim Drive.
Now that we have the superb 50/2 APO. (can't find a fault on this lens), what's next for Voigtlander?
My personal dream set would be 28/2 APO, 50/2 APO and 90/2 APO. The former would be the trickiest and largest of them but it's certainty possible to design. All should have the same 12-blade aperture with round specular highlights at f/2 and f/2.8.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Now that we have the superb 50/2 APO. (can't find a fault on this lens), what's next for Voigtlander?
My personal dream set would be 28/2 APO, 50/2 APO and 90/2 APO. The former would be the trickiest and largest of them but it's certainty possible to design. All should have the same 12-blade aperture with round specular highlights at f/2 and f/2.8.
I second that regarding a APO version of a 28mm.
Wouldn't be surprised when a 35mm APO appears out from nowhere. Probably Voigtlander makes more money with a 35mm APO than a 28mm APO.
