Anyone using the 50/35/28 1.5 Noktons on the Z mount?
Apart from the obvious omission of AF how do these compare to the cheaper 50/35 1.4 Z lenses for a classic look?
I'm considering picking up M lenses again with a view to getting back into M's at a later date. I guess not having a chipped lens isnt great for focus confirmation but I tend to magnify punch in anyways.
I have the 1.2 Noktons in 35 and 50 that I use on my Zf. I only just got the 50 and haven't had a chance to look at the shots on a big screen yet, but I have no complaints about the 35. The TTA 6-bit adapter gives you focus confirmation, but lately I've been relying more on focus peaking again (and the better machined Voigtlander close focus adapter) because it's just faster for me but YMMV.
ottokbre wrote:
Anyone using the 50/35/28 1.5 Noktons on the Z mount?
Apart from the obvious omission of AF how do these compare to the cheaper 50/35 1.4 Z lenses for a classic look?
I'm considering picking up M lenses again with a view to getting back into M's at a later date. I guess not having a chipped lens isnt great for focus confirmation but I tend to magnify punch in anyways.
I have used my Nokton and multiple Voigtlander lenses with an adaptor.....
I don't like the feel/use of the MF lens when connected to an adaptor. Its just not my favorite thing to do. I much prefer using the Native Voigtlanders on Z-
I have also adapted Leica Glass to Nikon and again they just don't feel very good to me. The adaptor is tiny but the look just drives me crazy. So I would say try them out before you really invest again into M mount glass to use on Nikon.
As far as focus confirmation- The TTartisan 6 bit adapter works great for 28/35/50/75/90/135 and focus confirmation is the same as it would be with native MF glass.
I also think the 35 1.4 is a really special lens in Nikons lineup if you are after more character wide open. Especially at the price point. Good Luck!
Last option would be to grab some cheap F mount screw drive glass. There is a new monster adaptor that contains the AF motor and works really well on the Z cameras!!!! So the old 50 1.4's, 35/2 etc are work great but the adaptor is a bit big- Its the only drawback.
I do love the vintage vibe from some of those lenses though!!!!
I have the 35 and 50 1.5 Noktons, and an M9 and ZF (with the TTArtisan chipped adapter that allows focus confirmation).
I agree with Rusty that using them on my ZF isn’t my favorite thing to do, even though objectively the ZF is one of the better manual focus capable cameras. I actually slightly prefer using them on the Z6iii due to the grip, but ymmv on that.
While I prefer using focusing tabs on these lenses, I do find that the lens size in the Nikon cameras is a bit awkward given the large size of the Z mount. It just looks weird to me. That said, I prefer being able to use the lenses on my M9, and prefer focus tabs, so I’ll live with it.
Using these in an adapter is generally good, but there are some annoyances like getting incorrect exif data. For example, even if I mark the correct “non-cpu” lens value on the ZF, using the TTArtisan adapter set to “35”, the exif data shows as “35mm f/0”. So if I have two 35mm lenses, the exif data won’t tell them apart. With a Z mount Voigtlander, you’ll get the right exif.
So, tradeoffs. I’d rather have the option than not, and as Scott said, you can get the Techart AF adapter to make them autofocus. I had that for a bit, but it, combined with my brass 35/1.5, felt too heavy to me.
RustyRus wrote:
I don't like the feel/use of the MF lens when connected to an adaptor. Its just not my favorite thing to do. I much prefer using the Native Voigtlanders on Z-
I have also adapted Leica Glass to Nikon and again they just don't feel very good to me. The adaptor is tiny but the look just drives me crazy. So I would say try them out before you really invest again into M mount glass to use on Nikon.
This is really helpful feedback. I noticed not caring much for it when I shot a Sony A7C. The focus ring just felt like it was pushed too far forward. Same with focus tabs, which I love, were just not in the right place anymore.
RustyRus wrote:
Last option would be to grab some cheap F mount screw drive glass. There is a new monster adaptor that contains the AF motor and works really well on the Z cameras!!!! So the old 50 1.4's, 35/2 etc are work great but the adaptor is a bit big- Its the only drawback.
I have a few D lenses. The 85/1.8 which looks killer in B&W. Awful manual focus feel so maybe the adapter makes that a non-issue.
RustyRus wrote:
I do love the vintage vibe from some of those lenses though!!!!
weezintrumpete wrote:
Using these in an adapter is generally good, but there are some annoyances like getting incorrect exif data. For example, even if I mark the correct “non-cpu” lens value on the ZF, using the TTArtisan adapter set to “35”, the exif data shows as “35mm f/0”. So if I have two 35mm lenses, the exif data won’t tell them apart. With a Z mount Voigtlander, you’ll get the right exif.
If you don't care about focus confirmation, you get a dumb adapter and then your "non-cpu data" is gospel and you get good EXIF in an extremely counter-intuitive way.
You can even set what aperture you are shooting at in the latest update.
I ultimately haven't taken to using M glass on the Z's. The ergos are just kind of weird with a tiny lens and a bigger camera, and the minimum focus distances are oftentimes limiting. I would recommend buying a kit based solely around the M and not necessarily worrying about how the Z's get along with it.
That said, I have the 50 f/1.5 for my M2 and the Z version of the 28 f/1.5. The 50 is fine on Z, very good as an all-arounder on M. I bought the nickel one which is unnecessarily heavy on an M, so probably don't do that. Still, it covers a lot of ground for me there. On Z, it's the limited minimum focus distance that keeps it from seeing much use. It does, however, have a unique and pleasant look for portraits, so I will occasionally use it for that on a Z. Just not much else.
The 28 is good on a Z, but I have never wished I could have it on an M (probably would if I had a digital one). I've also got an M and Z version of the 40 f/1.2. The M version is unpleasantly dense for an M body. It seems to get along with the Z sensor just fine, but the Z version of the lens has better ergonomics and a closer MFD.
All of the above with TTA 6-bit adapters and Zf or Z8.
I care more about the focus confirmation than the exif data. Is there not an adapter that can do focus confirmation and correct exit data using the cameras built-in function? I wonder if there’s some limitation around that.
RoamingScott wrote:
If you don't care about focus confirmation, you get a dumb adapter and then your "non-cpu data" is gospel and you get good EXIF in an extremely counter-intuitive way.
You can even set what aperture you are shooting at in the latest update.
weezintrumpete wrote:
I care more about the focus confirmation than the exif data. Is there not an adapter that can do focus confirmation and correct exit data using the cameras built-in function? I wonder if there’s some limitation around that.
The adapters that give focus confirmation are telling the camera that it's an autofocus lens, so the camera has no reason to resort to the non-CPU data.
OffTrail wrote:
The adapters that give focus confirmation are telling the camera that it's an autofocus lens, so the camera has no reason to resort to the non-CPU data.
RustyRus wrote:
As far as focus confirmation- The TTartisan 6 bit adapter works great for 28/35/50/75/90/135 and focus confirmation is the same as it would be with native MF glass.
I assume this helps with IBIS too right? Rather than having to sort through menus?
ottokbre wrote:
I assume this helps with IBIS too right? Rather than having to sort through menus?
yea you don't have to screw with it-
You are 100% correct though with the adaptor and a MF lens, it throws off the balance a bit for my taste. I came to the conculsion, use M lenses on m bodies and call it a day. I know a few people that only shoot M lenses on other bodies so some people love it!
I've used the CV 35mm f1.5 on Z bodies occasionally.
It works very well on the TTartisan 6bit adapter - focus confirmation, IBIS, etc all work as intended.
It also works on the Techart autofocus adapter, but outside of the central region the autofocus is very unreliable. I wouldn't recommend it.
Similar to what others have said in this thread, I also don't really enjoy using this lens on Nikon cameras. Can't exactly put my finger on it, but feels a bit off ergonomically and the lens also suffers a bit from the thicker filter stack. I much prefer using the 35/1.5 on the Leica..
In terms of rendering: I generally like how it draws and imo it's "sharp enough" wide-open, but the relatively strong LoCa can be annoying sometimes.
Here are some pics with the lens on the Z7 or Zf (full size on flickr in case you want to pixel-peep):
fjablo wrote:
I've used the CV 35mm f1.5 on Z bodies occasionally.
It works very well on the TTartisan 6bit adapter - focus confirmation, IBIS, etc all work as intended.
It also works on the Techart autofocus adapter, but outside of the central region the autofocus is very unreliable. I wouldn't recommend it.
Similar to what others have said in this thread, I also don't really enjoy using this lens on Nikon cameras. Can't exactly put my finger on it, but feels a bit off ergonomically and the lens also suffers a bit from the thicker filter stack. I much prefer using the 35/1.5 on the Leica..
In terms of rendering: I generally like how it draws and imo it's "sharp enough" wide-open, but the relatively strong LoCa can be annoying sometimes.
Here are some pics with the lens on the Z7 or Zf (full size on flickr in case you want to pixel-peep):
fjablo wrote:
I've used the CV 35mm f1.5 on Z bodies occasionally.
It works very well on the TTartisan 6bit adapter - focus confirmation, IBIS, etc all work as intended.
It also works on the Techart autofocus adapter, but outside of the central region the autofocus is very unreliable. I wouldn't recommend it.
Similar to what others have said in this thread, I also don't really enjoy using this lens on Nikon cameras. Can't exactly put my finger on it, but feels a bit off ergonomically and the lens also suffers a bit from the thicker filter stack. I much prefer using the 35/1.5 on the Leica..
In terms of rendering: I generally like how it draws and imo it's "sharp enough" wide-open, but the relatively strong LoCa can be annoying sometimes.
Here are some pics with the lens on the Z7 or Zf (full size on flickr in case you want to pixel-peep):
Really wonderful photos, wow. I have the same lens and absolutely love it and your photos show why.
Do you have the aluminum or brass version? I have the brass one (so that the black paint would match my M9), but think the aluminum version would handle much better on my Zf or Z6III.
weezintrumpete wrote:
Really wonderful photos, wow. I have the same lens and absolutely love it and your photos show why.
Do you have the aluminum or brass version? I have the brass one (so that the black paint would match my M9), but think the aluminum version would handle much better on my Zf or Z6III.
Thanks a lot!
I have the black aluminium version as I preferred the lighter weight. It probably balances a bit better when adapted, too - a bit less front heavy. Then again the brass version is also not exactly heavy at 284g
I came across the Typoch 28/1.4 locally and am trying it out on the Z. It's defiantly not intuitive to the 'ol muscle memory to operate. Love the output though. I would have preferred smaller lenses on the M but it seems to scale better on a Z even if the handling is awkward.
