p.1 #1 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
Would appreciate thoughts on the topic title. Trying to prevent adding more lenses I shouldn't as I've found some good deals locally on basically all of them so I'm fighting that inner urge to line up a bunch of voigtlander lenses on my shelf.
I'm mostly keen on 28-50.
Currently have the 50mm f1.2 Nokton, I love it. Had a decentered 50mm f2 APO, I liked it a lot but I feel like apart from CA improvements, the Nokton was only 2/3 stop behind the APO in terms of sharpness towards to the sides, and depth of field (apo has more, or renders like it does).
So Nokton has a bit more flexibility and isn't far off. And regarding the extreme edges.... well, the Nokton 50mm is wider anyway.
My copy is very sharp, even more so in the centre and has good subject isolation, whereas the APO had a more realistic render at the same aperture with the increased DOF and sharper further into the sides at larger apertures.
So, current plan is to go 50mm Nokton f1.2 + 28mm (probably APO when/if it comes out, though not certain about this - maybe the Nokton's more unique rendering will be funner) ... and skip the 35mm lenses.
I figure the 35mm Sigma will do for that. 50mm sigma when I want compact AF (though I'm yet to purchase either):
- The 35mm APO outlining on speculars in the background rendering (which I hate on the 50mm f1.8 from Sony), which the Sigma doesn't seem to have, and is quite close to otherwise. Also with a compact size and autofocus and a smoother background render...except maybe towards the edges(?).
- 35mm 1.2 nokton I believe (like the 50mm 1.2 nokton) has this not-so-great and obvious SA glow in closer range, but with the 50mm you naturally stand back quite often, with the 35mm I think it will be more of a problem unless you stop down or move further back... at which point I could use the Sigma or the Nokton, respectively....(?)
Sensible rationale...right? Am I missing out on anything notable by going this route? Would you pick a different combination, why?
I appreciate I could potentially be missing something particularly concerning rendering styles by skipping both voigtlander 35mms and only having a Sigma 35mm. Are the Sigmas that bland? I know the 50mm f2 DG DN doesn't get much attention here but that could perhaps be because people use it for personal family photos which is what I'm interested in it for.
Sep 25, 2025 at 05:19 AM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #2 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
I think your strategy makes sense. I have the CV 28 f/1.5 and the 50 f/1.2 SE both for Sony E mount and like both very much. I plan to get the CV 28 f/2 APO when it comes out, but will probably keep it alongside the CV 28 f/1.5. They are very different lenses. I have also have had the CV 50 f/2 APO a couple of times and really like it. I may get it again in the future, but I recently acquired the 35 f/2 APO ultron macro for Fuji X and I think I prefer that lens on Fuji X mount to the 50 f/2 APO Lanthar on Sony in most uses. The super short MFD of the lens for Fuji is something I use a lot. Both lenses are fantastic, however.
I think 28mm and 50mm especially on FF complement each other very well. I like 35mm with 75mm, so that too could be a quite viable combination.
Regarding your choice for AF lenses, I do like the Sigma DG DN contemporary lenses. The 35 f/2 in particular looks like a nice lens. I could quibble about better close focus performance, but it would be the lens I would choose for an AF 35mm.
I hope my thoughts help.
p.1 #3 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
Thank you @Steve Spencer, always appreciate your thoughts.
I have the same temptation to get the Voigtlander 50mm A-L again despite what I wrote. I really liked the build though, actually more than my 50mmf1.2 SE + a7cii. Something about the weight distribution, Nokton being a bit more front heavy and a tad larger (but minorly shorter iirc).
Mentally pairing that with the 28mm apo-lanthar makes sense too. "Going out for shooting on my own" sort of combo, nature and scenes with less of a focus on characters. Even though I know the 50mmf1.2 Nokton isn't all that far off. Maybe the APO has slightly better contrast as well so better for these walkabouts too .... this I'm not sure about and wish I tested more when I had them both. I thought so initially but with the limited (and not brilliant testing I did) I didn't notice much of a difference there.
They make these lenses too damn nice. I can't help walking over and picking it up. I don't get that with my other lenses.
So ... skip the 35mm... including the SE version ... I haven't seen it hold its value all that well here with that one so there's a bit of extra risk, despite not being available often.
I'm always going to take the 50mmf1.2 Nokton, would I actually carry it with the 35mm for people shots, instead of taking another compact AF, or an even wider lens and call it a day, I imagine not.
I had forgotten about voigtlander on fuji and that does look like a mighty nice combo, saw quite a few closeups of vegetation and the colours are lovely.
I have the x-e5 with the old 56mmf1.2 + 35mmf1.4 for people shots but was planning on 18mmf1.4 + 33mmf1.4 combo down the line for an alternative to taking the Sony for walkabouts... though I don't really know why and they'd be quite large on the x-e5 and at their level possibly not much of a difference with the Sony Sigma lenses.
Another temptation to ward off down the line.
If I go further than 50mm in the future for walk-abouts (which I think does help to isolate with compositions), then you're probably right that the 35mms will be more appealing, hopefully the Sigma 35 will do in that case.
p.1 #4 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
Yogifi wrote:
[...] Maybe the APO has slightly better contrast as well so better for these walkabouts too .... this I'm not sure about and wish I tested more when I had them both. I thought so initially but with the limited (and not brilliant testing I did) I didn't notice much of a difference there.
[...]
I'm sure you remember your thread about background blur. Here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1911290/2#16866214. With regards to macrocontrast here isn't any critical difference really for most situations between the 50/1.2 and APO 50/2. Check the image pairs for f/2.8 and /4 and try to see what difference your final processed images would have.
and
It's not my intention to be blunt, but.... How many cameras and lenses do you really need for, roughly, the same kind of images?
p.1 #5 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
28+50mm is a great pair. But do we know whether the APO version of VC 28mm is coming to the E-mount, though? Voigtlander has been selling the phenomenal 28mm f/2 Ultron in M-mount for a while now, and that lens never graduated to E. I am not an optical engineer, but maybe some designs are not cross-mount compatible?
Sep 25, 2025 at 02:35 PM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #6 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
old-gregg wrote:
28+50mm is a great pair. But do we know whether the APO version of VC 28mm is coming to the E-mount, though? Voigtlander has been selling the phenomenal 28mm f/2 Ultron in M-mount for a while now, and that lens never graduated to E. I am not an optical engineer, but maybe some designs are not cross-mount compatible?
We don't know whether the 28 f/2 APO Lanthar will come to E mount, but there are a couple of reasons to think it is likely to do so. First, the previous APO Lanthars (the 35 & 50 that are also in Leica M mount & the 65 & 110 macro which are only available in E mount) are all available for Sony E mount. That leads me to believe this one will be too. With regard to the 28 f/2 Ultron II, I am not surprised that it is not available for Sony E mount. Cosina has offered exactly 0 ultrons for Sony E mount. Somehow they must believe that these lenses aren't a good match for Sony E mount.
Second, many of us speculated that the hood for the 28 f/2 APO makes a lot more sense as the hood for a lens on a mirrorless camera as it is solid and doesn't have a slot like many Leica M mount hoods. Some of us think that points to an eventual release as at least a Sony E mount lens.
This is all speculation, however. Cosina has said nothing and you are right we shouldn't consider it as something that is going to happen until Cosina tells us that is what they are going to do.
p.1 #7 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
I ended up going with the 21mm f1.4, 35mm f2 APO, 40mm f1.2, 50mm f2 APO. If the 28mm f2 APO comes out in E mount, I will probably add it in. I enjoy a 28mm / 40mm combo over a 35mm / 50mm combo.
p.1 #8 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
There's also that there aren't really many options for 28mm on Sony... I think the compact one they do have gets a pretty bad rap.
Jonas B wrote:
I'm sure you remember your thread about background blur. Here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1911290/2#16866214. With regards to macrocontrast here isn't any critical difference really for most situations between the 50/1.2 and APO 50/2. Check the image pairs for f/2.8 and /4 and try to see what difference your final processed images would have.
and
It's not my intention to be blunt, but.... How many cameras and lenses do you really need for, roughly, the same kind of images?
I remember the thread, but what about it? Since getting a few other compact AF lenses I've been happier than with the 55mmf1.8, which I still like but just not as my go-to.
APO does have less background blur than the Nokton, at the same aperture and that's despite having a slightly narrower FOV. It was mentioned because people were saying same focal length = same background blur, but that's not actually true.
If you remember I posted an animated gif using the test images you showed to demonstrate as it was difficult from your shots.... but you can see it clearly here:
-https://i.imgur.com/kUZbYhb.jpeg didn't want to embed here but APO is on the left, nokton right - if you notice the railings there.
Yeah I don't think the contrast was really any different... I kind of want an excuse to get that APO 50 just because damn it's just nice to have but they aren't cheap and the money could go towards a 50mmf1.2 gm grey market.
Trying to avoid going for a full kit with the fuji --- but the 56mmf1.2 and the 35mmf1.4 often has a unique render compared to anything I've tried on Sony. I think partly the lenses themselves as well as the smaller sensor and fuji colours. I'm not planning to let go of it but I do usually reach for the Sony, though it's still a bit of a novelty.
I'm with you though, think it's better to get more intimate experience with fewer cameras and lenses than just simply owning more of the same, even if they have a different look. Just trying to find what I like best really. Purpose of the thread is to tame the desire to pick up too many ... damn Voigtlander making their lenses too nice.
DWOfPaul wrote:
I ended up going with the 21mm f1.4, 35mm f2 APO, 40mm f1.2, 50mm f2 APO. If the 28mm f2 APO comes out in E mount, I will probably add it in. I enjoy a 28mm / 40mm combo over a 35mm / 50mm combo.
I think i'd like 28/40 more than 50/35 too to be honest.
The nokton 50 is a little wider than 50 and the 40f1.2 a little narrower than 40. It's close I think, I went with the 50 before I had much experience with 45ish lenses. I think it's too close to justify it now... part of me wishes I went that way but I also heard the 50 renders the best out of the 35/40/50, and I do really love its rendering (except in close range + wide aperture).
p.1 #9 · Help picking a sensible combination of the Voigtlander APOs and Noktons
The 28/50 pairing seems like a good choice and I might have tried the former if it was available at the time. After acquiring the 65mm APO I have no interest in any of the CV 50's.
What I get out of my 21mm Nokton / 35mm APO / 65mm APO / 110mm APO makes me quite happy. The 65mm especially is likely the best lens I've ever owned and I'd give up all the others if forced to keep only one.
I spend a lot of time viewing images on this thread:
