p.10 #1 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Here is a comparison at mid-distance (Voigtlander vs Zeiss) both at f/1.4.
Voigtlander (TOP), Zeiss ZM (bottom). The Voigtlander shows way more LoCA at f/1.4 and has slightly less contrast. The Zeiss is sharper, more contrasty and better corrected for CA. However, I feel the Voigtlander's rendering is a tad smoother.
Here is a 1:1 crop at the focused area. (Using Live view on the Leica. Zeiss on the LEFT and Voigtlander at Right. (both at f/1.4)
p.10 #3 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Fred Miranda wrote:
Here is a comparison at mid-distance (Voigtlander vs Zeiss) both at f/1.4.
Looks like the focus fall off is a little faster on the CV in the crops and the uncropped. The CV seems to have less DOF at the same aperture, which is consistent when I tested against the other 35mms earlier.
p.10 #4 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Fred Miranda wrote:
I will post some 1:1 crops straight from LR shortly. I can already tell you that the Voigt can't keep up with the ZM at infinity at wide apertures. (At close distance is no contest)
The ZM on the Leica is at Sigma 35/1.2 level. I'm floored. Too bad we can't get this performance on the Sony even with the PCX front lens mod.
Hi Fred,
When the weather warms up a little and I am able I will try my Zeiss 35 f1.4 Distagon ZM on my A7rII Kolari modded UT sensor camera. Once I get some results, I will post them.
p.10 #6 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Looks like the focus fall off is a little faster on the CV in the crops and the uncropped. The CV seems to have less DOF at the same aperture, which is consistent when I tested against the other 35mms earlier.
The CV 35/1.2 III optical design allows for more RSA at f/1.4, especially at close distance compared to the Zeiss. So the former is capable of smoother rendering at most of the frame, except for the corners. (In detriment of some resolution and contrast).
On the other hand, the Zeiss's higher contrast 'and resolution' can be attributed to a higher SA correction and lower axial CA. Rendering is never harsh for the Zeiss but OOF areas around the center and mid-field can be more structured compared to the Voigtlander. I'd say they have different looks and it's not hard to spot them when presented side by side. I will post more samples later on.
p.10 #7 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Fred Miranda wrote:
The CV 35/1.2 III optical design allows for more RSA at f/1.4, especially at close distance compared to the Zeiss. So the former is capable of smoother rendering at most of the frame, except for the corners. (In detriment of some resolution and contrast).
On the other hand, the Zeiss's higher contrast 'and resolution' can be attributed to a higher SA correction and lower axial CA. Rendering is never harsh for the Zeiss but OOF areas around the center and mid-field can be more structured compared to the Voigtlander. I'd say they have different looks and it's not hard to spot them when presented side by side. I will post more samples later on....Show more →
Interesting. I thought it was a property of that optical design as the CV 35 1.2 v3 has thinner DOF at the same aperture then all other 35mms, even those with more SA. But this is beyond my knowledge..
I would be curious about your RSA thought if you stop both lenses down to F4. And compare if the ZM still has the slower transition once the CV 35 1.2 SA is gone.
Anyway, agreed the renderings are easy to spot the difference.
p.10 #9 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Interesting. I thought it was a property of that optical design as the CV 35 1.2 v3 has thinner DOF at the same aperture then all other 35mms, even those with more SA. But this is beyond my knowledge..
I would be curious about your RSA thought if you stop both lenses down to F4. And compare if the ZM still has the slower transition once the CV 35 1.2 SA is gone.
Anyway, agreed the renderings are easy to spot the difference.
It's also dictated by distance. The Voigtlander has much less RSA after ~1.5m. When shooting wide open this is very noticeable.
I don't know which one I like more. The strong contrast and higher resolution from the ZM or the smoother rendering from the Voigtlander.
The Zeiss 35/1.4 ZM weighs 382g and the Voigtlander 35/1.2 III 328g (54g difference). The Zeiss is noticeably longer.
One main difference is that the Zeiss has FLE (floating element group) which allows for a much better performance at MFD. Some could say MFD performance is the Voigtlander's achilles heel.
p.10 #11 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Fred Miranda wrote:
It's also dictated by distance. The Voigtlander has much less RSA after ~1.5m. When shooting wide open this is very noticeable.
I don't know which one I like more. The strong contrast and higher resolution from the ZM or the smoother rendering from the Voigtlander.
The Zeiss 35/1.4 ZM weighs 382g and the Voigtlander 35/1.2 III 328g (54g difference). The Zeiss is noticeably longer.
One main difference is that the Zeiss has FLE (floating element group) which allows for a much better performance at MFD. Some could say MFD performance is the Voigtlander's achilles heel.
I don't have an issue with either lens' sharpness, though others might as you say.
Yeah, I didn't find the weight difference much. But, I did find the closer MFD, stouter shorter build with larger MF ring of the CV preferable. I found the CV 35 1.2 was easier to accurately focus magnified and using shimmering as well, which is a big deal (to me at least).
p.10 #12 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
nehemiahphoto wrote:
I don't have an issue with either lens' sharpness, though others might as you say.
Yeah, I didn't find the weight difference much. But, I did find the closer MFD, stouter shorter build with larger MF ring of the CV preferable. I found the CV 35 1.2 was easier to accurately focus magnified and using shimmering as well, which is a big deal (to me at least).
Same here. Both are sharp at center.
I found that beyond 1.2m distance, the CV 35/1.2 III is plenty sharp at center just like the 40/1.2 and 50/1.2 Nokton lenses. At closer distances and specially MFD, the lack of FLE translates to more SA, which robs resolution and contrast but it's still a nice look. (dreamy, glow, etc.)
Away from center though, where we usually place our subjects, the Zeiss is noticeably sharper at any distance and especially at close distance. Stopped down to f/4, they became very similar except for the very corners where the Zeiss is still better.
Having said that, when comparing images from these lenses side by side without magnifying the focus area, I'm more drawn to the Voigtlander character for its noticeable smoother rendering compared to the Zeiss 35/1.4 ZM. Some shooters prefer the 35/1.4 ZM's higher contrast better. It reminds me of the 50/1.4 ZA's look.
p.10 #13 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Hi Fred, could you take a picture of both lenses side by side?
Apr 17, 2020 at 05:08 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.10 #14 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Fred Miranda wrote:
Same here. Both are sharp at center.
I found that beyond 1.2m distance, the CV 35/1.2 III is plenty sharp at center just like the 40/1.2 and 50/1.2 Nokton lenses. At closer distances and specially MFD, the lack of FLE translates to more SA, which robs resolution and contrast but it's still a nice look. (dreamy, glow, etc.)
Away from center though, where we usually place our subjects, the Zeiss is noticeably sharper at any distance and especially at close distance. Stopped down to f/4, they became very similar except for the very corners where the Zeiss is still better.
Having said that, when comparing images from these lenses side by side without magnifying the focus area, I'm more drawn to the Voigtlander character for its noticeable smoother rendering compared to the Zeiss 35/1.4 ZM. Some shooters prefer the 35/1.4 ZM's higher contrast better. It reminds me of the 50/1.4 ZA's look.
I had the Zeiss ZM 35 f/1.4 and used it both on a Sony A7r II and the Leica M10. No question the lens was much better on the Leica. Nevertheless I liked the lens for the same things on both Sony and Leica and didn't like it for the same things and didn't like it for the same things on both cameras. I always really liked images from it at both infinity and at quite close range < 1m (it actually quite good for even macro with extension). What I didn't like it for was typical portrait distances of 2 - 5m. I found the bokeh to always be a bit funky at those distance especially into the corner. Highlights toward the corner especially have a funky diamond shape. Although I really liked the lens in the end I found myself using the CV 40 f/1.2 on the Sony a lot more mainly because I liked the mid range with it so much more and I found myself shooting in that range more. I am guessing (and it looks like) the new CV 35 f/1.2 III is going to be a slightly better and a bit wider version of the CV 40 f/1.2 and I expect the same tradeoffs that I saw with the ZM 35 f/1.4. Depending on what you shoot both can be excellent choices. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
p.10 #16 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
OMG Fred bought a Leica. I missed all of this. I’m lost on this lens if it’s good or not for our Sony. There talking a E mount
Apr 17, 2020 at 09:00 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.10 #17 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
GMPhotography wrote:
OMG Fred bought a Leica. I missed all of this. I’m lost on this lens if it’s good or not for our Sony. There talking a E mount
The e-mount version was announced today. It is in a new slightly smaller and lighter housing without the ability to do a clickless aperture. The 40 f/1.2 and 50 f/1.2 are also available in this new housing. Surprisingly these lenses are also a bit cheaper. The new CV 35 f/1.2 III looks to be a lot like the 40 f/1.2 but is of course slightly wider.
Fred also has some nice samples with it, but is working on a full comparison with the Zeiss ZM 35 f/1.4 but needed to get a new version of his VM lens to get it to work properly with a Leica camera (his lens didn't reach infinity focus on the Leica).
p.10 #18 · In Stock: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton III Aspherical
Steve Spencer wrote:
The e-mount version was announced today. It is in a new slightly smaller and lighter housing without the ability to do a clickless aperture. The 40 f/1.2 and 50 f/1.2 are also available in this new housing. Surprisingly these lenses are also a bit cheaper. The new CV 35 f/1.2 III looks to be a lot like the 40 f/1.2 but is of course slightly wider.
Really interesting direction. Looking for the announcement now...
Go Fred Go !