fwdesign wrote:
Thanks for the comparisons Fred! Looks like both FLE and the Voigtlander 35/1.5 are impressive in their own ways: the FLE is shockingly good for a >25yr old optical design, and the 35/1.5 is shockingly good for such a tiny lens (not that the FLE is that much larger).
The Leica 35/1.4 Lux ASPH. was definitely ahead of its time when it was announced more than 25 years ago. Today, it's an old optical design but Leica still believes it's a high performance lens because the newer 2022 model still shares the same optical formula.
It's also a compact lens but the new Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton is noticeably smaller. The Leica weighs about the same as the Voigtlander brass version. (15g heavier)
Fred Miranda wrote:
Here is one sample with the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton vs Leica 35mm f/1.4 FLE at ~1.5m:
lensfan wrote:
Considering the high speed shutter, was silent shutter/e-front curtain involved here (or what do they have on Leica these days)? There seem to be half-circles in Leica images.
The photos of the car were shot on a Sony, which you can see based on the file names, but also based on what Fred posted in another thread. It's unclear which Sony body (looks like 36MP) and whether or not it has been modded with a thin cover glass over the sensor to better approximate Leica performance. Therefore it's not related to anything with the Leica M10-R sensor or how it shoots in live view, which is full mechanical shutter, IIRC. It's the M11 that introduced full e-shutter capability, but no EFCS, IIRC.
If you look at the crops of the VM35/1.5 I posted earlier in the other VM35/1.5 thread, taken from the images provided by Juha and shot on a Sony a7C, you can see similar strange rendering. I suspect it's mostly the lenses, but looking forward to Fred's comparisons between Leica and Sony bodies at nearer focusing distances to see if the thicker Sony sensor stack affects bokeh character.
rscheffler wrote:
The photos of the car were shot on a Sony, which you can see based on the file names, but also based on what Fred posted in another thread. It's unclear which Sony body (looks like 36MP) and whether or not it has been modded with a thin cover glass over the sensor to better approximate Leica performance. Therefore it's not related to anything with the Leica M10-R sensor or how it shoots in live view, which is full mechanical shutter, IIRC. It's the M11 that introduced full e-shutter capability, but no EFCS, IIRC.
If you look at the crops of the VM35/1.5 I posted earlier in the other VM35/1.5 thread, taken from the images provided by Juha and shot on a Sony a7C, you can see similar strange rendering. I suspect it's mostly the lenses, but looking forward to Fred's comparisons between Leica and Sony bodies at nearer focusing distances to see if the thicker Sony sensor stack affects bokeh character....Show more →
That comparison was done on the Sony A74 adapted. A proper rendering comparison will be done on the M10-R. Yes, the Leica M body does not have EFCS until electronic shutter was implemented on the M11.
That’s a real pity! I thought Fred would carry on using the Leica M10 R for consistency of rendering. Neither lens is optimised for the Sony so it seems less relevant. (I do have a Sony A7rIV, but prefer the CV lenses made for it - 40/1.2 - every time, or the Sigmas). Can I ask for similar close up photos on the Leica as well? I would be very interested in close-up mid-field rendering of all three fast 35s (focus/recompose - which would tell us much about real world fast use) if that is possible (as well as the usual centre frame). Thanks for the great work!
wolfloid wrote:
That’s a real pity! I thought Fred would carry on using the Leica M10 R for consistency of rendering. Neither lens is optimised for the Sony so it seems less relevant. (I do have a Sony A7rIV, but prefer the CV lenses made for it - 40/1.2 - every time, or the Sigmas). Can I ask for similar close up photos on the Leica as well? I would be very interested in close-up mid-field rendering of all three fast 35s (focus/recompose - which would tell us much about real world fast use) if that is possible (as well as the usual centre frame). Thanks for the great work!...Show more →
That was a quick rendering test was shot on the Sony A74. During that time, my personal M10-R malfunctioned and I had to sent it to Leica for repair. I ended up getting a M10-R loan from B&H a few days ago to continue this review.
I will post side by side rendering comparisons between the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton, Leica 35mm f/1.4 FLE and Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 II Nokton SC on the M10-R next.
Fred Miranda wrote:
That comparison was done on the Sony A74 adapted. A proper rendering comparison will be done on the M10-R. Yes, the Leica M body does not have EFCS until electronic shutter was implemented on the M11.
Small note, the M11 added ES but not EFCS. I wish it did have EFCS as it would greatly reduce the shutter noise from the current mechanical shutter.
highdesertmesa wrote:
Small note, the M11 added ES but not EFCS. I wish it did have EFCS as it would greatly reduce the shutter noise from the current mechanical shutter.
Yes that's correct, there is no EFCS option in mechanical mode for the M11 but as far as rendering, electronic shutter has the same effect mitigating issues.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Yes that's correct, there is no EFCS option in mechanical mode for the M11 but as far as rendering, electronic shutter has the same effect mitigating issues.
ES: rolling shutter possible, no effect on bokeh
EFCS: no rolling shutter but may degrade bokeh at wide apertures and high shutter speeds
Love your work Fred, and also the others that have contributed.
For enviromental portraits, that softness wide open will be a benfit for those who have older faces, hopefully that midzone isnt to bad?
A lens like this will be a great portraiture lens. It’s not a character lens and the bokeh looks a lot like the Nokton 1.2 and the Distagon. Some of the samples here and on Leica Forum seem to point in this direction. Wide open is not what I would use for landscape as most of the time it would be stopped down.
Have there been any comparisons made between the Voigtlander 35/1.5 and Zeiss Distagon yet that anyone has seen? I'm super curious to know how the two stack up
astrobuoy wrote:
Have there been any comparisons made between the Voigtlander 35/1.5 and Zeiss Distagon yet that anyone has seen? I'm super curious to know how the two stack up
Yeah I need a reason to keep my Distagon. Haven’t used it in a couple of years. Just..too..big….
astrobuoy wrote:
Have there been any comparisons made between the Voigtlander 35/1.5 and Zeiss Distagon yet that anyone has seen? I'm super curious to know how the two stack up
You have to stack two of the VMs to match the ZM.
In seriousness, it would be good to know given how highly regarded the ZM is, in respect to optical quality.
Unfortunately I no longer own the Zeiss 35/1.4 ZM Distagon but even without side by sides, it's safe to say that the Zeiss is sharper wide open and rendering is a bit more structured compared to the new f/1.5 Nokton. Same story goes for the Leica FLE although the latter is not as sharp as the ZM, especially at mid-field.
The new Voigtlander 35/1.5 Nokton's rendering and resolution seem similar to the 35/1.2 III Nokton's stopped down slightly. Compared to the Zeiss or Leica, transition zone is smoother but micro-contrast and resolution are not as high when shooting wide open and especially at close distance.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Unfortunately I no longer own the Zeiss 35/1.4 ZM Distagon but even without side by sides, it's safe to say that the Zeiss is sharper wide open and rendering is a bit more structured compared to the new f/1.5 Nokton. Same story goes for the Leica FLE although the latter is not as sharp as the ZM, especially at mid-field.
The new Voigtlander 35/1.5 Nokton's rendering and resolution seem similar to the 35/1.2 III Nokton's stopped down slightly. Compared to the Zeiss or Leica, transition zone is smoother but micro-contrast and resolution are not as high when shooting wide open and especially at close distance....Show more →
Thanks for this experience-based information. (In my case, I have the Distagon 1,4/35mm ZM, and a Leica Summaron 3.5cm f/3.5, so, am pondering which other 35mm lenses to, well, accumulate.)
astrobuoy wrote:
Have there been any comparisons made between the Voigtlander 35/1.5 and Zeiss Distagon yet that anyone has seen? I'm super curious to know how the two stack up
My Nokton is sitting in the DHL warehouse in Singapore, we just need them to get a move on and I'll be able to do a comparison of some description.
