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 p.1 #1 · New Voigtlander 35mm, 40mm & 50mm f/1.2 Nokton Review | |
The updated 35,40 and 50mm f/1.2 Nokton lenses, along with their matching hoods, are now in stock at:
B&H Photo: Voigtlander 35mm, 40 and 50mm f/1.2 Nokton lenses
CameraQuest: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 IV Nokton, Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 II Nokton and 50mm f/1.2 II Nokton
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Cosina has recently updated their f/1.2 Nokton lenses. The new versions are: Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 IV Nokton, Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 II Nokton, and Voigtlander 50mm f/1.2 II Nokton, all designed for the Leica M-mount.
Since the optical formulas, number of aperture blades, and minimum focus distances remain the same, I won't be doing a full in-depth review this time because these lenses have already been reviewed extensively in both Leica M and Sony E-mount versions. Instead, I'll be comparing them side by side, focusing on resolution, contrast, color correction, and overall rendering.
Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 Version II, 50mm f/1.2 Version II, and 35mm f/1.2 Version IV Nokton lenses
So what's new? At first glance, it's mostly cosmetic. The front ring material has been updated from silver chrome-plated brass to black, giving the lens a more unified and understated look. This change was driven by feedback from photographers who preferred an all-black finish. I'll admit, I initially liked the chrome "nose" for its classic touch, but after spending time with the all-black Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Version IV, 40mm f/1.2 Version II, and 50mm f/1.2 Version II, I've come around. The cleaner, all-black finish has grown on me and now feels more cohesive, especially on modern cameras.
Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 Version II, 50mm f/1.2 Version II, and 35mm f/1.2 Version IV Nokton lenses
Even though the core design hasn't changed, there's something worth noting. It looks like Cosina has improved the aspherical element manufacturing. With the original 40mm f/1.2, for instance, the onion ring pattern in bokeh highlights was quite noticeable. That artifact seems to have been significantly reduced in the new version. For those who were bothered by that, along with the chrome front, this updated model might be a solid reason to consider switching.
Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 Version II Nokton lens
That said, if you already own these lenses and don't mind the look or the earlier aspherical quirks, there's not a major technical reason to upgrade.
Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 Version II Nokton lens
Instead of reviewing each one individually, I'll be comparing the three focal lengths — 35mm, 40mm, and 50mm — focusing on differences in resolution, contrast, and overall rendering. Even though they share a modern, high-contrast signature, there are subtle but important differences between them. I'll include plenty of samples to help show how each one performs in real-world shooting.
Voigtlander 50mm f/1.2 Version II Nokton lens
Aside from the differences in focal length, size, and weight, there are a few spec differences worth pointing out.
The Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton Version IV, 40mm f/1.2 Nokton Version II, and 50mm f/1.2 Nokton Version II share a similar optical philosophy with 4 aspherical surfaces each, but differ in other ways. The 40mm is the only one with 10 straight aperture blades, while the 35mm and 50mm have 12. It’s also the lightest and most compact of the three. The 35mm is the longest and can only use the LH-14 hood, as the larger LH-15 will cause vignetting.
Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 II Nokton and Voigtlander 50mm f/1.2 II Nokton with the LH-14 (smaller) and LH-15 (larger) hoods
The 50mm is the heaviest and has the longest minimum focus distance at 0.7m, whereas the 35mm and 40mm can focus down to 0.5m. While they share a similar modern rendering style, these subtle differences in handling and design may influence which focal length is the best fit.
Here’s a breakdown:
Aperture blades (straight)
The CV 40/1.2 II Nokton is the only one with 10 blades. The other two have 12.
• CV 40/1.2 II: 10 blades
• CV 35/1.2 IV: 12 blades
• CV 50/1.2 II: 12 blades
Weight (measured without caps)
The 50/1.2 II is the heaviest of the three.
• CV 40/1.2 II: 267g
• CV 35/1.2 IV: 299g
• CV 50/1.2 II: 323g
Length
The 35/1.2 IV is the longest.
• CV 40/1.2 II: 44.7mm
• CV 35/1.2 IV: 51.8mm
• CV 50/1.2 II: 50.4mm
Bayonet hoods (sold separately)
Note: the LH-15 is too large for the 35/1.2 IV and causes vignetting.
• CV 40/1.2 II: LH-14 or LH-15
• CV 35/1.2 IV: LH-14
• CV 50/1.2 II: LH-14 or LH-15
Optical formulas
All three use 4 aspherical surfaces, but the layout differs:
• CV 40/1.2 II: 6 groups 8 elements
• CV 35/1.2 IV: 7 groups 9 elements
• CV 50/1.2 II: 6 groups 8 elements
Minimum focus distance
• CV 40/1.2 II: 0.5m
• CV 35/1.2 IV: 0.5m
• CV 50/1.2 II: 0.7m
Next, I'll compare how the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton IV, 40mm f/1.2 Nokton II, and 50mm f/1.2 Nokton II perform at infinity, focusing on resolution, contrast, and lateral chromatic aberration correction.
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