so I got the lens about a week ago... and I find it very hard to fall in love with.
I already have the 40 1.2 glued to my camera, but this one I find a little bit too difficult to work with. I don't do portraits and I'm mostly on the street/landscape camp.
I like the rendering but the focus throw seems a bit too long, the focus ring a bit stiff (I guess it's to add a bit more precision), and I find nailing focus on a longer FL like this one is HARD even with assists, at least when WO or nearly. It's also almost as heavy as the 24-120z.
Does anyone have an 85 1.8S as to compare them on some level? I'm leaning towards returning this one tb.
I had no problem falling in love with it , and realy needed something narrower than my Super Wide Heliar and APO-Lanthar 35mm.
I havent tried the Nikon 85mm S, but if you dont like that type focal lenght, another brand lens propably wont change that. Also I havent tried the Nokton 40/1.2, but the 50/1.0 and think the 75 handles better on the Zf without a grip. Compairing it to my very old Nikkor 85/2.0, the Voigtländer is lighter, if my memory is correct it's also more compact and lighter than the 85/1.4 AI-s that I used to have.
The focal plane at F1.5 is wafer thin but managable if I magnify.
I was choosing long and hard between the Nokton 40mm or APO-Lanthar 35mm, and would propably have gone with the 40 if I havent found a used Apo-lanthar on my birthday close to work...
(Nearly) wide open it is indeed challenging to nail focus, but not nearly as difficult as the Zeiss Otus 55 that I used on my D800 years back😀. Now with mirrorless that would be much easier though. I will certainly keep this lens as it serves my purposes well. There is a learning curve for sure.
Looks like a keeper lens. I think the 40/1.2 and 75/1.5 would be my ideal two lens setup for the Zf. And then perhaps adding a 28/1.5 if that comes to the z-mount.
The 40/1.2 was nowhere to be found i EU, except MPB and at very high price, when I was looking so I ended up with the APO-Lanthar 35mm. Anyway my three lens setup for the Zf is Super Wide Heliar 15mm, APO-Lanthar 35mm & Nokton 75mm, my dedicated two lens setup for my Zfc is Nokton D23mm & Macro APO Ultron D35mm, but I also realy like the 15mm on it.
And on my FM2 it's the Color-Skopar 20mm, Ultron 40m & Nokton 58mm, but they get some competition from Nikkor-lenses
I keep tossing around the idea of cancelling my 40 preorder for one of the apo but I don’t need the super clinical. I like the idea of some character from the 40, but hate waiting.
Wish they made a 24 or 28 also. 24, 40 or 50 and the 75 would be a nice trio for the zf
A 24mm would be at the top of my wishlist, I still have my old Nikkor & the Color-Skopar 25mm LTM which is great on film.
The APO-Lanthar 35 is realy something special, it feels like it improves the sensor in the camera or something. I just snapped one with the 35mm at F2.0 (when I was out to get to know the Nokton 75mm).
, and realy needed something narrower than my Super Wide Heliar and APO-Lanthar 35mm. 
