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Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

thrice
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p.6 #1 · p.6 #1 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
We will see this in more detail when I post rendering tests with subjects focused at MFD, 1m, 2m, 3m, etc...
Generally the Leica is sharper and has higher micro-contrast wide open, especially at close and mid distances. However, the Voigtlander shows smoother transition zone and less bokeh outlining. I like the Leica's structural rendering by many will prefer the Voigtlander's here.

Here is one sample with the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton vs Leica 35mm f/1.4 FLE at ~1.5m:

+35 on the texture slider on the voigt side and the in-focus areas are almost indistinguishable to me. As you say that's higher micro-contrast at play.

Dec 05, 2022 at 04:43 PM

rscheffler
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p.6 #2 · p.6 #2 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

^ The VM still looks nervous to my eyes, but at normal full image viewing size and distance, probably not that noticeable.

RexGig0 wrote:
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.)

What imaging characteristics are important to you? Modern, good sharpness and contrast? Vintage aberrations at and near wide open?

The ZM would address the first - sharp and clean rendering at nearer distances. The Summaron is more vintage but not that fast, therefore not as interesting for when you want more character style bokeh. Apparently it's very good stopped down.

Maybe a small 35/2 or 35/1.4? If you want something more modern, then the VM35/2 or this 35/1.5. If you want more aberrations/character, then perhaps an older lens design like the Canon 35/2 LTM, Light Lens Lab 35 Cron replica or the VM35/1.4 classic, which is very similar to the 35 Lux pre-ASPH.

I'm sure there are others, such as the various Leica 35 Cron versions, if you want to spend that much.

Dec 06, 2022 at 02:36 AM

Paul.S
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p.6 #3 · p.6 #3 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

Hmmm, good try but it's still softer.

Paul

Dec 06, 2022 at 05:41 AM

wolfloid
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p.6 #4 · p.6 #4 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

To me it is clearly softer, and at my screen magnification even seems to have something of a fuzz about it.

Dec 06, 2022 at 06:53 AM

RexGig0
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p.6 #5 · p.6 #5 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

rscheffler wrote:

What imaging characteristics are important to you? Modern, good sharpness and contrast? Vintage aberrations at and near wide open?

The ZM would address the first - sharp and clean rendering at nearer distances. The Summaron is more vintage but not that fast, therefore not as interesting for when you want more character style bokeh. Apparently it's very good stopped down.

Maybe a small 35/2 or 35/1.4? If you want something more modern, then the VM35/2 or this 35/1.5. If you want more aberrations/character, then perhaps an older lens design like the Canon 35/2 LTM, Light Lens Lab 35 Cron replica...Show more →

Thanks for asking. My Distagon ZM and the Summaron do, indeed, provide very different visual results, either of which may be desirable for a specific purpose. Normally, at 35mm, I am more interested in the “modern” look, which is why I am interested in this relatively small Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5. The Distagon’s size is OK when I am hand-carrying the camera, actively shooting, but if the camera is hanging by the strap, a smaller lens is desirable.

I would rather not become interested in the various Leica ‘Cron versions, preferring to avoid the temptation to raid my retirement accounts.

Dec 06, 2022 at 07:01 AM

Desmolicious
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p.6 #6 · p.6 #6 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

RexGig0 wrote:
Thanks for asking. My Distagon ZM and the Summaron do, indeed, provide very different visual results, either of which may be desirable for a specific purpose. Normally, at 35mm, I am more interested in the “modern” look, which is why I am interested in this relatively small Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5. The Distagon’s size is OK when I am hand-carrying the camera, actively shooting, but if the camera is hanging by the strap, a smaller lens is desirable.

I would rather not become interested in the various Leica ‘Cron versions, preferring to avoid the temptation to raid my retirement accounts.

The issue, for me, with the Distagon's size is the VF blockage on an M. If I used an SL or other mirrorless, it would not matter.

Dec 06, 2022 at 10:41 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.6 #7 · p.6 #7 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

I've added a second method of testing focus shift showing depth here:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1784972/1#16108575

Again, focus shift is well controlled with this lens.

Dec 06, 2022 at 11:42 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.6 #8 · p.6 #8 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

Paul.S wrote:
Hmmm, good try but it's still softer.

Paul

I was surprised the Leica is that much stronger wide open, especially since the focused area was at mid-field where the Leica is not optimal. I have confirmed this advantage with different subjects and will post a rendering comparison soon.

Dec 06, 2022 at 11:45 AM

rscheffler
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p.6 #9 · p.6 #9 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

RexGig0 wrote:
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.)

rscheffler wrote:
What imaging characteristics are important to you? Modern, good sharpness and contrast? Vintage aberrations at and near wide open?

The ZM would address the first - sharp and clean rendering at nearer distances. The Summaron is more vintage but not that fast, therefore not as interesting for when you want more character style bokeh. Apparently it's very good stopped down.

Maybe a small 35/2 or 35/1.4? If you want something more modern, then the VM35/2 or this 35/1.5. If you want more aberrations/character, then perhaps an older lens design like the Canon 35/2 LTM, Light Lens Lab 35 Cron replica or...Show more →
RexGig0 wrote:
Thanks for asking. My Distagon ZM and the Summaron do, indeed, provide very different visual results, either of which may be desirable for a specific purpose. Normally, at 35mm, I am more interested in the “modern” look, which is why I am interested in this relatively small Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5. The Distagon’s size is OK when I am hand-carrying the camera, actively shooting, but if the camera is hanging by the strap, a smaller lens is desirable.

I would rather not become interested in the various Leica ‘Cron versions, preferring to avoid the temptation to raid my retirement accounts.

Then I think the sweet spot will be one of the recent VM 35s. The f/1.5, seems to be a happy balance between the compactness of the f/2 and the sheer speed of the f/1.2 v3. I wouldn't consider the slower ZM options. The f/2 is a very good lens, but not that small for its speed. The f/2.8 is very small, but you already have similar in the Summaron, though it would be more modern. I had it for years and was happy with it. It's obviously not a bokeh-centric lens, but did have pleasantly smooth rendering at closer distances and very good flare resistance.

Dec 06, 2022 at 05:54 PM

thrice
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p.6 #10 · p.6 #10 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

My recollection of the ZM C-Biogon 35/2.8 is that the bokeh whilst not extremely rough was very structural and the lens very high contrast. That may also be because my memory was of using it on the M9.

Dec 06, 2022 at 06:25 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.6 #11 · p.6 #11 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Review

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Rendering compared to Leica 35mm f/1.4 FLE

Generally the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux FLE is sharper than the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton when shooting wide open at any distance, especially at close distance. The Voigtlander's rendering is smoother at transition zone and specular highlights have much less outlining compared to the Leica. To my eyes, the Leica's rendering is classic and more structured while the Voigtlander is smoother and less distracting.

Here are a few samples comparing the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton and Leica 35mm f/1.4 FLE:
All WIDE OPEN. Precisely focused at same exact location for both lenses using the M10-R + Visoflex.

Sample 1: At 2.5m