The 35/1.2 SE is 387g and official price is 115K yen while the VM version is 332g and 135K yen (based on official specs).
The 40/1.2 SE is 340g and 100K yen while the original E-mount version is 420g and 135K yen and VM is 315g and 120K yen.
The 50/1.2 SE is 383g and 115K yen while the original E mount version is 434g and 150K and VM is 347g and 135K.
The new versions are priced nicely compared to previous E-mnount versions, VM seems to be priced in the middle.
Looks like 35/1.2 is coming out in May (no specific date yet), and 40/1.2 in June, and finally 50/1.2 in July.
40/1.2 and 50/1.2 seem optically same as previous versions but without the clickless apertures and with different housing, optimized to be smaller and lighter.
p.1 #2 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
any reasoning behind this? I'd expect them to bring something that is available in M to E mount (75mm) or something completely new (90mm or even bigger)... why make changes to these (40&50 1.2)? I don't get it?
cheers, A.
Juha Kannisto wrote:
These 3 lenses can now be found on Cosina's website:
They look quite different to the previous versions externally:
The 35/1.2 SE is 387g while the VM version is 332g (based on official specs).
The 40/1.2 SE is 340g while the original E-mount version is 420g and VM is 315g.
The 50/1.2 SE is 383g while the original E mount version is 434g and VM is 347g.
Looks like 35/1.2 is coming out in May (no specific date yet), and 40/1.2 in June, and finally 50/1.2 in July.
40/1.2 and 50/1.2 seem optically same as previous versions but without the clickless apertures and with different housing, optimized to be smaller and lighter. ...Show more →
p.1 #3 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
35/1.2 is of course new to E-mount and corresponds to the recently released VM III. I suppose Cosina figured that similarly designed new versions of 40/1.2 and 50/1.2 might sell nicely at lower price point with these new size-optimized designs. There was probably no great design challenge in porting 40/1.2 and 50/1.2 to the same style. I think 50/1.2 has not sold so well at least in Japan since the original E-mount version was priced relatively high and many people already had the 40/1.2...
They now call these lenses the SE series on their website but I didn't find anything that would have stated what SE stands for exactly. They mention that the lenses are specifically for Stills photography (as clickless aperture was dropped) so maybe S in SE stands for Stills or something like that...
bobek13 wrote:
any reasoning behind this? I'd expect them to bring something that is available in M to E mount (75mm) or something completely new (90mm or even bigger)... why make changes to these (40&50 1.2)? I don't get it?
p.1 #4 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
I'm seeing slightly different marking on the focus ring and aperture ring? So maybe handling of the new SE lenses will be slightly different? It's very very confusing why they put the new lenses out there with seemingly the same optical formula. Maybe the operation and feel in the hand is drastically improved?
At least it seems like the pricepoint went down a bit? 88020 for the CV40SE is a little bit less than I paid for my CV40 on a promotion. I am just confused why Cosina made these.. other them to show that they could
p.1 #5 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
..or they just follow the apple naming, similar performance but smaller and lower price point
Juha Kannisto wrote:
They now call these lenses the SE series on their website but I didn't find anything that would have stated what SE stands for exactly. They mention that the lenses are specifically for Stills photography (as clickless aperture was dropped) so maybe S in SE stands for Stills or something like that...
p.1 #8 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
zz wrote:
I'm seeing slightly different marking on the focus ring and aperture ring? So maybe handling of the new SE lenses will be slightly different? It's very very confusing why they put the new lenses out there with seemingly the same optical formula. Maybe the operation and feel in the hand is drastically improved?
At least it seems like the pricepoint went down a bit? 88020 for the CV40SE is a little bit less than I paid for my CV40 on a promotion. I am just confused why Cosina made these.. other them to show that they could
I guess they changed the focus ring to make the new versions more compact and aperture ring dropped the clickless aperture feature so it's also designed differently. Probably the handling will be a bit different but not sure if it is actually improved. I think there was no problem with handling with the original versions.
They wouldn't sell many of these new versions to people who already bought the corresponding old versions but might attract more new customers with the lower prices and the more size-optimized designs.
There is a rather significant price difference with the official prices, for example 100000 yen vs. 135000 yen for the 40/1.2 new vs. old. With the actual street prices the differences will be smaller since the old versions have already dropped in price to some extent but the new versions will likely drop lower over time as well. Currently the old 40/1.2 sells for 100720 yen at Map Camera vs. 88020 yen for the new version.
p.1 #11 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
Everyone who was telling me I'm stupid and that all manufacturers will be making small and slow lenses because nobody wants speed, take note, not one but three fast lenses.
p.1 #12 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
I wish Cosina make lenses with built in (retractable) lens hoods.
pdmphoto wrote:
The comparison pics of the 40 show a more exposed front element. I often don't use a hood with mine, but the new SE may not fare as well without it
I'm attracted to the lower weight of the new designs compared to the previous E-mount versions of 40/1.2 and 50/1.2 but I wouldn't sell my existing copies to replace them with the new versions, as all are excellent copies and resale value would probably be less than the new versions cost as new for now. I already got the VM 35/1.2 III too but not planning to replace that either as it works very well on my Sony A9 and my Sigma fp.
Stevvi wrote:
you did guess well!
I have to say, I like the new design as well, but this will not convince me to replace my current version.
p.1 #17 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
Beni wrote:
Are the optics any different? For example is the 50mm 1.2 the same as the non SE Nokton?
As far as we can tell it's a copy paste optical design in a smaller package.
p.1 #18 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
It's very enticing to me, having yet to buy a 40/1.2. The 80 grams off down to 340g brings it under the (365g) 50/2 I'd pair it with. Once they go over 400g I have to think longer about buying them.
So yes, and any RRP reduction with our sinking currency would be more reason to buy in. Also like the continuous knurl on the aperture ring, the gap in the focus ring will guide the finger/thumb across the same width ring as the older lens. June, OK.
(Cosina tend to concentrate their efforts aorund 35-50mm if you look a their ranges, old school street style)
p.1 #19 · Voigtländer SE series lenses announced (35/1.2, 40/1.2, 50/1.2)
It seems that 40/1.2 and 50/1.2 are optically identical to previous E-mount versions as Cosina used the same sample photos for both versions and all specs regarding optical design seem identical. Also the DC Watch article talked about the changes and nothing was mentioned about changes in the optical side...
Of course the 35/1.2 might have some minor changes compared to VM III since it is stated to be optimized for Sony. The angle of view is slightly different for the VM and E-mount versions too according to specs.
Beni wrote:
Are the optics any different? For example is the 50mm 1.2 the same as the non SE Nokton?
zz wrote:
