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Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

I’m considering changing the “red” engraving color on the 'feet' distance scale of my Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton to yellow, orange, or white.

Yellow would align with the current Voigtlander Z-mount lenses, orange would be similar to what Leica uses, and white would resemble the color scheme Cosina offers for their Fuji X-mount lenses.

The primary goal is to enhance visibility, as I find the dark red hard to see in low light when reading the distance scale.

Which color do you prefer and why?

Here’s a simulation I created in Photoshop. The final colors might not be as vibrant as shown here, but this should give you an idea.

Original: Red

Yellow

Orange

White

Aug 05, 2024 at 06:16 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Big fan of the yellow that they use on Z. High vis, pops off the lens, doesn't blend in with all the other white elements despite being similar on paper.

What kind of paint are you thinking of using?

Aug 05, 2024 at 06:19 PM

ISO1600
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

yellow looks great

Aug 05, 2024 at 06:25 PM

TR3B
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

White - Looks clean and consistant

Aug 05, 2024 at 06:36 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Yellow. And I agree, it is really hard to see the dark red on these lenses. Strange choice by Cosina.

Aug 05, 2024 at 06:47 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Thank you for the feedback. I was initially leaning towards yellow, but I'm also considering white. The paint job only takes about 5 minutes with a paint stick.

Here's a look at how all the Voigtlander Z-mount lenses are colored, using the 75/1.5 Nokton as an example:

Aug 05, 2024 at 07:14 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

I decided to use yellow paint for the project, applying it with a Paint Stick from Markal. This is real paint and can only be removed with acetone once it's set.

There’s no need to remove the red paint first since there's sufficient space left in the engraving.

Here’s the process and the final result.

Blue tape is used to cover the white numbers to prevent any contamination.

Use the Paint Stick multiple times to ensure the engraving is fully filled with paint.

The result is very clean and easy to read, and I find it aesthetically pleasing as well!

Here's a look at the new 0.6m minimum focusing distance of my modified copy.

Aug 05, 2024 at 09:31 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Looks great!

Aug 05, 2024 at 09:51 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

RoamingScott wrote:
Looks great!

The best part is that I can easily see the numbers even in low light!

Aug 05, 2024 at 09:53 PM

Parariss
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

A valiant effort...to avoid the metric system!

Aug 06, 2024 at 02:37 AM

phinix
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Looks great Fred!
I'm a bit late to the party here, but I wanted to say I love the look of that old orange color on Minolta lens - those Rokkor-X labels.

Aug 06, 2024 at 05:27 AM

BastianK
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

I read the title and was hoping this is how to get rid of the chrome ring

Aug 06, 2024 at 05:41 AM

Clivem2
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Great job and yellow looks right to me. Red looks wrong. White would be ok.

Aug 06, 2024 at 06:21 AM

rsolti13
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Fred Miranda wrote:
I’m considering changing the “red” engraving color on the 'feet' distance scale of my Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton to yellow, orange, or white.

Yellow would align with the current Voigtlander Z-mount lenses, orange would be similar to what Leica uses, and white would resemble the color scheme Cosina offers for their Fuji X-mount lenses.

The primary goal is to enhance visibility, as I find the dark red hard to see in low light when reading the distance scale.

Which color do you prefer and why?

Here’s a simulation I created in Photoshop. The final colors might not be as vibrant as shown here,...Show more →

How about none of the above and paint with Super-LumiNova blue-white? Pics below I saw from someone that did this to an M10-P

https://www.keepthetime.com/blog/super-luminova/

Aug 06, 2024 at 06:51 AM

hmzimelka
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

BastianK wrote:
I read the title and was hoping this is how to get rid of the chrome ring

I'm sure that the chrome can easily be stripped from the brass in a strong acid bath, and then powder coated.

It's not difficult to remove the chrome ring. I've done it on the 40/1.4.

Yuri posted the guide here www.yukosteel.com

The Super-LumiNova looks very interesting. I would go so far as remove the red mounting dot on the lens, and fill that with Super-LumiNova too.

Aug 06, 2024 at 08:56 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

If you're curious, you can get six colors for a great price. Here's the set I bought:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016106WMC

Aug 06, 2024 at 10:43 AM

itai195
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Parariss wrote:
A valiant effort...to avoid the metric system!

I tend to use the metric markings on these lenses just because they’re way easier to see.

Aug 06, 2024 at 11:37 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

BastianK wrote:
I read the title and was hoping this is how to get rid of the chrome ring

I don’t have a problem with the chrome ring, but if you prefer black, you have a couple of options. You can either print it yourself or have a machinist create a black anodized version.

You can find the 3D print file here:
https://www.yukosteel.com/2024/07/mod-3d-printed-filter-mount-replacement.html

In the US, you can also share this 3D print with SK Grimes for a metal version:
https://skgrimes.com/

Aug 06, 2024 at 12:20 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

itai195 wrote:
I tend to use the metric markings on these lenses just because they’re way easier to see.

I can use both methods, but I trained myself to use the focusing tab by feel, so I prefer to have both options visible in any lighting condition.

Aug 06, 2024 at 12:22 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton: Color Mod

Now that I've seen how easy this is, I might do it with my other Voigtländer lenses too!

BTW, I used the black paint stick to paint the Sony logo on my A7R II:

Aug 06, 2024 at 12:23 PM

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