I did the same exact thing :D love them both, even though sometimes I have the itch to go for a leica summicron or summilux...but really, 400EUR vs 2000-3000EUR, is ridiculous and not justifiable for a non-pro shooter. I perfecly enjoy my film photography with this Nokton
I had the option to buy a v4 summicron 35mm last week and had basically made up my mind already. The guy leant me the lens for a week and i took photos on film and digital over the weekend and had decided it was a pretty good lens but did I find it to be worth the ridiculous price? Not at all. This video was like a godsend, as I spent most of my hours at work thinking about what to do. What Matt says is absolutely true, Save yourself the trouble and get the nokton, enjoy its character and take photos. Revisit or don't, the summicron when you are ready wealth wise.
The Nokton 35 is a great lens, nice to see it getting some love. Compact, fast, versatile, and it has a good balance between modern rendering and classic lower contrast. The optical design was intended to emulate the older Leica Summilux design, but with modern coatings.
good lighting, no annoying music, straight forward and clear real life reviews and images. perfect review. just found you today; I subbed. good luck with your photography and much more to you and your family.
I wrote this about the Voigtlander 35/1.4 sc a little while ago: Let me begin this review by saying that I would have preferred the Leica 35mm Summicron when I bought my Leica M6 a little while ago. Unfortunately my budget was not able to match my enthusiasm. Therefore, like many new rangefinder shooters I looked at cheaper options. Voigtlander stands out by having a wide range of reasonably priced lenses with a reputation of acceptable to exceptional image quality. I also wrestled for a while with the difficult choice of choosing between a 35mm "all-rounder" and a "nifty 50" and eventually came to the conclusion that for my style of shooting at the moment an "all rounder" made more sense. Let's be honest, most people interested in rangefinders would probably prefer a Leica. Unfortunately Leica bodies and glass cost a pretty penny. Therefore we often settle for Voigtlander and other cheaper options. Firstly, the price of the Nokton 35/1.4 makes it not only very attractive to Leica M users but also actually possible rather than pie in the sky. Brand new, the Nokton Classic 35/1.4 is about C$900 with tax. Its Leica counterpart, the 35mm Summilux f1.4 is about C$7,000 with tax. Also, due to less collectability, Voigtlanders tend be even better deals on the used market and can go for substantially less than their new price. In contrast, used Summiluxes are quite rare and tend to hold closer to their new value or even gain over time. This is great if you're selling Leica lenses but not so great when you're buying into the rangefinder world. However, there is a caveat with this lower price bar; as affordable as the Nokton 35/1.4 may be, in many reviews it is not regarded as optically brilliant as the legendary Summilux. The question is; maybe you can handle the price of the Nokton but can you handle the image quality? I'll start at the beginning of my experience with the Nokton 35/1.4 and try to remain objective. Firstly, the Nokton's design is called classic because it is. The Nokton is fashioned after classic Leica lenses and therefore looks simply awesome on my black Leica M6. The build quality is also excellent. No slop, no slack and just the right amount of resistance when focussing to keep the focus point between shots. If you have used older top quality lenses in the past this lens will not disappoint. At 200 grams the lens feels solid without feeling heavy and balances nicely on my M6. The ergonomics in my opinion are excellent and very intuitive. I found that using the focus tab was very easy and changing apertures by feel was also a breeze even on my first roll of film. The aperture ring has horizontal tabs which I find easier to operate than most of the manual lenses I have used in over 35 years. This lens is wonderfully compact, It's hard to believe that such a fast lens can be kept so diminutive. This lens will make a great "carry all day" rig with any rangefinder. I'm sure I will feel "laden down" next time I use an SLR. In terms of usefulness and practicality a 35mm f1.4 speaks for itself. Many photographers are simplifying their gear these days and looking at a one lens system. This minimalist approach may be a holy grail but a fast 35mm is probably the most versatile focal length available and makes a serious single lens contender. Don't get me wrong, I love a 50mm lens which is also very versatile and has the amazing power to "hone in" on the perfect composition. Unfortunately a 50mm needs a little more space and often feels a little "tight" which can limit scenic compositions, group shots and interior work. To sum things up so far, this little lens is cheap, neat, petite and sweet (looking). I'm really hoping it actually takes good pictures! So without further ado, let's get to the nitty gritty. How does this Japanese miracle perform optically? Well, considering some of the more negative reviews online the lens performed better than I expected! My first roll was using Portra 400. Boy do I love this film. The colours were subtle but very pleasant. I found that my exposures were bright and clear with good saturation and average contrast. There was a hint of vignetting wide open but nothing too crazy and not untypical for a fast lens. I think that vignetting under lower light will usually blend with the shadows or the out of focus background. To be honest, I quite like a mild vignette in my analogue pictures! I found sharpness to be generally great with perhaps a suggestion of softness at the edges that did not overly stand out unless I was looking for it. Let's be honest, If you demand edge to edge sharpness wide open in a fast lens in any format or system you need to be prepared to pay very handsomely for it. As for barrel distortion, I didn't shoot any images that would make it obvious on my first roll and later when I deliberately shot some wooden siding wide open, it was still not obvious in the print. Conclusion, this lens may technically have slight barrel distortion but this is not noticeable to me in real-world shooting. Now for the nitty-gritty; the only thing that may be an issue with some shooters concerning the rendering of this lens is flare. Some obvious flare appeared on a shot of a bright stained-glass window from inside a quite dark church. Not to worry, this flaring did not appear under regular shooting conditions. I have noticed in some later shots a distinct "glow" when you see a very bright highlight in the print but this does not generally look bad or appear ugly. To some people this flare is regarded as "classic lens character" or "dreamy", to others it's seen as a distraction or a detraction for any kind of professional application. I believe the flare question will be the acid test for this lens with many photographers. Keep in mind that this is the sc or single-coated version of the lens, the mc version will probably have noticeably less flare. Personally I can live with a little flare, others may not. In terms of value, performance and specifications this lens is hard to beat IMO. My advice is that If you have found a Leica body then look for a good deal on a used CV 35/1.4 so you can enjoy shooting while you save for your Summilux. However, I must admit that with the extra C$6,000 needed for the Leica glass I might be tempted to spend the cash on a bucket list trip instead. Happy shooting : )
I had one of these for a long time. Hated it. It could have been that I just had a bad copy because if I didn't really take a lot of time to focus nothing was ever sharp. On the flip here, a buddy of mine also had one at the same time and absolutely loved it and always got sharp results. I am not ruling this out as a good lens, as stated I feel like mine was just a bad copy and probably needed to be adjusted. What ended up happening is I sold this, bought the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 and used nothing but that for about three years, then decided to sell that and got the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 Biogon and have never looked back. Still have the Zeiss in addition to the Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f2 which is absolutely stunning if you have never used one, and costs about the same as the Voigtlander you own on the used market; granted you would be loosing light intake capabilities, the character and classic Summicron look is all there for a fraction of the price of 35 Cron ASPH that you previously owned.
This is what review should look and sound like. direct to the point. no bullshit. right to point in every second of the review. Thank you Matt. I myself am a big fan of Voigtlander. 10mm 35mm, 12mm and 16mm now waiting to put my hands on 50mm 1.2 they just did.
Just gonna put my .02 in this because I’m assuming some folks will see this review and start researching reviews and there will be a ton of positive countered by a ton of negative reviews. What I notice is that a lot of people complain about the size or clinical look of modern lenses and say “why doesn’t leica produce the classics with modern materials and coatings??” Leica won’t, but Voigtlander did. This lens is made to mimic the 35mm summilux v1 in size and performance. I’ve seen comparisons and the Nokton is sharper with the trade off being barrel distortion. Barrel distortion doesn’t bother me for this lens because I am shooting life with it which includes people usually. If Leica put their name on this lens, my suspicion is that people would be clamoring for it. It also works fantastically well on my Xpro2. Seriously, a 35 ONE POINT FOUR for M-mount that sticks out maybe an inch and a half from the body, and is fantastically constructed....for 400ish used??? No brainer If you’re new to M mount and want a small setup, try this 21mm f4 skopar (the smallest lens I own other than the 35mm Elmar), 35mm 1.4 Nokton, 50mm 1.5 Nokton (one of their best, but larger then the other two”
Absolutely agree with you. I find CV lenses to be some of the best bang for your buck lenses around. My personal fav is the 40mm 1.4. Aside from that, I currently run a Zeiss 58mm Biotar and Canon 85mm Serenar with their respective m42 and L39 mounts running through a Voigtlander close focus adapter on my A7rii -- it's a dream combo!
This lens lives on my A7II since the day I bought it years ago also paid $400 for it. Love the form factor makes amazing photos and the bokeh it produces has character great for everyday photography. The only time I take it off is when I do some rare macro or portrait work. I also have a 50 Minolta lens but I find the 35mm focal length best for all around work
Dear Matt, i really appreciate your "family man/dad"honesty.The teal world needs of kitchen repairs or new table-tops outweigh the needs of some lens, no matter how incredible those lens are. I had to sell some valuable Hotwheels and vinyls of mine just to get some house repairs done.My well wishes to you and your family
I had one about ten years ago. It had some vignetting wide-open so I eventually sold it. I don't usually shoot wide-open but I had to once, as it was a dimly lit interior. I think it has some distortion, too, but not enough to notice unless you were shooting interiors. I was shooting it with film and I got some nice images with it - I'll happily admit that. It's still a way better lens than an SLR equivalent. Have you seen the size of those things? I can't believe there are people out there so devoted to DSLRs, but there you have it. Film SLRs, well, I can totally understand that, but only for specialized uses, like macro or with long lenses.
I've been using the 7artisans 35mm f/2 since this summer. You can get it usually for under 250 USD new. It's a fantastic lens for the price. Feels great to use. Gives good results. It's not as sharp wide open as voigtlander lenses but for my needs it's perfect.
I’m using the Minolta 40mm Rokkor-M lens. I love the lens! I believe it might be slightly smaller than any 35mm and it’s a nice medium between street and portrait lens. The best bit is that is extremely cheap. I got mines for $400 about 5 years ago
Hi there Matt and thanks for another great video. I must say though that I don't totally agree with you on the quality of this lens. IMHO and after shooting with this lens on film (Leica M3) and digital (Leica M9) even after having my lens CLA by a pro. On the plus side: very light, very well made, very fast On the minus: focus ring a bit under par to other greater manufaturer's 35mm, sharpness and micro contrast not to the high standards of pricier lenses So, although I agree with the title (compact, fast and affordable), I'd prefer going for a less expensive 7 artisans 35mm, or an old Canon LTM 35mm f1.8 (a bit slower) if money is the issue or a (very) slightly more expensive Voigtlander ULTRON 35mm f 1.7 which is much much sharper albeit a bit slower. But I do get the point: better a lesser expensive lens and keep shooting rather than not shooting at all because (I agree there as well) after all it's the photog that makes apicture great, not the material. Thanks again for all your good work
I couldn't care less about brick walls and pixel peeping, so this was a perfect review IMO. Happy to hear your short note on the f/2.5 Color-Skopar, cause I just bought it as my first lens for my newly acquired M5. :D
@@chriszhang654 the Nokton 58 is fantastic. just the right amount of sharp and softness, a great portrait lens. works also great on the Fuji GFX. i can absolutely recommend it if you dont mind that is MF only.
It's awesome to see you regularly making videos again. It's nice to see more Ohio film shooters and photogs in general online too. Keep up the good work!
The lens living on my M lately has been the Leica 40mm Summicron-C f/2. It is also in this price range ($4-500). You just got to get used to losing a bit with the 35mm lines. But it has served me well for the time being - on both film and digital.
Chris Routledge I would definitely recommend this lens! It’s cheaper and still great quality! It’s sharp wide open and gives you clean photos with the hood or not. I would recommend getting the Voightlander hood, and not a third party hood.. otherwise you’ll get some major vignetting on the corners
I shoot in a vintage/retro style, so the 1958 Summicron does me just fine. Paid $700 for it. I don't need modern Leica lenses, I have several vintage ones. I have never shot with a Voigtlander but everything I have ever heard about them a has been 100% positive.
This is my first M mount lens when I went to Leica and It's still my most used lens. I have even thought about selling my 28 and 50mm lenses and just have this lens...
I must say I used my nokton 35 for weddings, food photos and even small video work and it's amazing. On digital body you'll run into problem with color fringing, but unless you're doing video that should be no problem. Also, I bought sigma 35mm 1.4 for sony A7ii, but the setup was so huge that I almost never used it. With nokton on the other hand, it doesn't even fell like I'm working. It's small, it's compact, and it's definetly good enought for the price. Plus tip for Sony A7 users, if you force camera in aps-c mode you're also getting pretty good 50mm f2 eq.!
"Took the remaining money and bought new countertops for our kitchen, a new sink and a new dishwasher" is the most relatable sentence I have ever heard in a lens review. This also means that for you the Voigtlander is literally everything and the kitchen sink...
i made quite a good deal on my 50mm F2 Zeiss. Got it for 420€ used and i absolutely love that lens. it is by far the sharpest lens i have ever seen. I also bought the 40mm 1.4 Nokton for my A7 a while ago. Still a great lens with a lot of character.
Hi Matt- can u plz do an episode on how to accurately frame/compose with a rangefinder? Even accurate focusing? It’s my only worry about transitioning to rangefinders since I’m used to framing right thru the lens on my SLR. Thanks!
Hi Matt. I have this lens and agree with all that you’ve said about it. I recently purchased a Leitz Summaron 35mm 3.5 and really like it too. Unique old look but great for a 60 year old lens. They are available in the same price range as the lens you reviewed. Thanks for the video. Keep them coming.
I have the Voigtländer 40mm f1.4 Nokton Classic and use it on my analogue Leica CL and Fujifilm X-Pro2. It's a fabulous lens and great deal in terms of what you pay for vs much more expensive Leica M mount glass.
Everything you said in the video is perfectly true and understandable. The photos you took are amazing and it's hard to tell the difference. I personally had that lens when I started out and hated it. I don't know if it was because of a placebo or just the way I shot when starting out. So it makes me wonder about trying it again. I haven't tried the 35mm f2 7artisans lens but it looks really good and would consider trying that as a cheap alternative. I also have the 35mm cron Asph and love it but sometimes it really is tough to justify.
If it's any help to anyone, as a former professional news photographer I own and use a variety of M-mount lenses, including modern Leica, Zeiss ZM and Voigtlander. I still shoot now and again but only shoot film (B&W or colour neg). A few thoughts: - In the past 20 years Leica M lenses have been creeping up in price to the point where I think they no longer represent good value. In 1999, my 35mm f2 ASPH was $1250 new. The price has since tripled. This has been Leica's sales strategy: limited production sold more and more to collectors, and people who see cameras as jewellery. Nothing wrong with that and credit to them for surviving the digital revolution as a niche manufacturer, because not everyone did. - if MTF graphs, photos of brick walls and microscopes are your thing, then I imagine Leica comes out a bit ahead. However I find that this pursuit of barely-visable perfection is sometimes at the cost of character, so much so that I find some of the modern Leica lenses to be bit, well, boring... especially compared to the previous generations. - I actually far prefer the Zeiss ZM 21mm and 28mm biogon lenses over the Leica equivalents, especially for colour. They really are stunning lenses. - There have been some issues with QC on some of the Zeiss ZM lenses, I've not experienced any, but I've had QC issues on Leica lenses too (sticky aperture rings, fragile lens hoods). Zeiss ZM build quality though is a bit behind Leica (except Summarit) and Voigtlander (except the early generation production). - Voigtlander build quality has come ahead leaps and bounds over the past few years, and I think they're on a par with Leica now (and better than the Summarits). - What really annoys me is that some of the Leica lenses have a different look and feel, especially in their colour renditions. Zeiss ZM is the best on this with the T* coating, and Voigtlander is doing much better on this, especially with the 21mm, 35mm and 50mm Noktons there's a consistency of look and feel of the images shot within this family. - Neither Leica, Zeiss or Voigtlander seem to be able to nail a consistent bokeh throughout their lens ranges, and there are good and bad examples in each stable. - Right now I'm loving the Voigtlander 21-35-50 Nokton line-up, I still love the Zeiss ZM 21-28-50 line-up, while my Leica glass is getting less and less use. - Finally, for a camera body, I've never found anything I like more than an M6 TTL! To sum up, there's a tendency to talk about Voigtlander only as a cheap alternative to Leica, with some angst about whether or not they are as good. I would say go for the Voigtlander (or Zeiss) and feel happy in the fact that you're not missing out on anything except, possibly, pride of ownership.
After talking with you over Instagram a few weeks back, I decided on this lens over the 2.5 just for the extra stop or so of light. It’s definitely one of the SHARPEST lenses I’ve ever owned. I love the size of it as well. The only recommendation I have for people looking at this lens is to get the Voightlander hood! I picked up a couple hoods for my lens, but noticed some major vignetting around the corners because my hood is just a tad too far out past the lens. So go pick up the Voightlander hood if you decide to pick this lens up! :))
Hey I just bought this lens and I'm looking for a hood now... The Voigtlander hood is expensive though - can you tell me is it reversible? If it's not I'd be just as happy with a cheap screw in hood - I vignette everything in Lightroom anyway!
Voigtlander has really good stuff, I never could afford a Leica anything but I was able to purchase A Voigtlander Vito BL that has a 50mm 3.5 Color-Skopar lens attached to it. I finished my first roll through it a few weeks ago, unfortunately I live in Paradise CA, and that means I had to leave it and my undeveloped rolls behind. Fortunately the house my family was renting is still standing, but is fully condemned. But yeah, I like Voigtlanders stock. I'm stoked to see the quality their new lenses bring. -Shane
Another excellent Voigtlander lens is the 50mm f1.2 Nokton. It will give the Leica 50mm f2 APO , which by the way goes for a cool $7995 only, a good fight at f2.0. I seriously doubt if people will be able to pick out which photo is taken with the Leica.
I’ve found that this lens is great on film and pretty crappy on digital at f/1.4. At least on the copy that I had. It also was decent closer up, but really soft the further the subject got away from the camera. But stopping down a bit for wide shots and then shooting closer stuff wide open isn’t too bad, especially for the money.
I bought my M6 with one of these lenses, and I've hardly ever removed it :-) Love that lens so much, awesome value for money. I'm actually thinking of getting a micro four thirds body, just to use that lens on a digital camera.
Hi Matt, Just picked up one of these to go with my M2. My concern is the one small focusing tab as the only way to focus on this compact lens, when shooting vertically (portrait mode). I usually like to raise my right hand when shooting vertically, but then the focus tab is difficult to reach with the left hand. I find it uncomfortable to lower the right hand when shooting vertically. Do you have a trick for this, or just focus horizontally and then flip the camera vertically just before shooting? Keep up the great work!
nice clear video and I like the atmosphere/ambiance in the aire in your photos. any opinion on version 1 vs version 2? Do you feel that lens has digital like renderings? (I'm trying to stay away from that.) thanks!
Hey there Matt! Glad I found this video and hope you can answer me that: I am planning to dive in into Analog (Colour), and I dont know which model to get. SC or MC? One of them got this amazing "circle lenseflair" if you shoot abit against the sun. Perhaps you know which one. Would be so thankful!
Great vid! I was looking into getting this for my A7III. I ended up coming across a Pentax SuperTakumar 50mm 1.4 that has similar characteristics of this voigtlander.
this is the only lens i used many years with my trusted M4-P, i never wanted another lens. pair this with pushed 1600 film, and i feel always "safe" in any condition.
Hey Matt, big fan of your videos mate they’re brilliant! Was just wondering if you think there’s a big difference between this 35 1.4 and the 35 2.5 color Skopar? Here in the uk the 1.4 is about £200 more. Also I’m eyeing up an M6 that comes with the skopar! Is it really worth the upgrade or not so much?
Love this review Matt!!! Please keep doing videos like this!! Glad you made the decision, I think considering what you got after selling the Summicron, it’s totally worth it. I don’t know if you heard about it, the Chinese lens maker 7Artisan make great lenses, I tried their 35/2 and the new 28/1.4, absolutely amazing! But their 50/1.1 is shit. Give them a look, the 35/2 especially has a very strong Summicron look, and it only cost under $200!
Love your real life realism❤️ i have had those Leica over 5000e lenses. Then i was thinking life. Life first over piksel peeping. With that money i live and travel. Expierence life and world with camera still with me. This lens is still more than good enough with my leica m body🙏
one more voightlander lens to consider, on the wide end of the spectrum, the 21 mm f 1.2 ( Leica M mount); tried it on an M 8 in a camera store in a dark mall, the image was fantastic, just like those B&W ones you show on this video, using 2000 ISO on this camera, NO under exposed blacks!!!- just a great shot , guess you would call it a "low_Key" shot. turned out great, so I would HIGHLY recommend this lens too, even for APS-C cameras [would be 35 mm focal length equivalent]; but at Australian $850 it's a real bargain compared to the Leica version.
@mattday u sir have just saved me a ton of cash! well sort of, i'm gonna use the extra money to get the leica mp-4. along with this lens i think it'll be a dope little set up for my street photography! subbed!
I m using zeiss 35 biogon f2.8. It is a little pricey compared to this, but this lens is incredible. It is as good as Leica 35 f2. And it is compact. But you do need to sacrifice on the aperture.
I just pulled the trigger on a used m240 and have been watching all of your content trying to decide which 35mm and 50mm lens to start with. This voigtlander is definitely in the running! Thanks for all this great content! :) I was hoping to get your input on something else. I do have a collection of vintage lenses and would love to try adapting some of them to the Leica. I am not clear on how the rangefinder features would work with an adapted lens. This is my first rangefinder so I’m still wrapping my head around the features. (I don’t have the camera yet!). Will the rangefinder focusing actually work with these lenses? How do I know the framing? Also, are there any specific mounts that adapt better to the M mount, and where the adapter wouldn't add too much to the size? Thanks for any input. A couple of my favorite lenses are the Minolta 58 f.14, Minolta 45f2, Nikkor 50f2, and Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35 f2.4 (M42 mount). I have others but these are particularly good and not too large. Hoping to try one or more of those. Thanks!
Hi Matt! Thanks for the review! Have you tested it on the XT-3? I've just got a X-pro 1 (yes in 2018) and at the moment I'm using old Minolta lenses but I was thinking about getting the Mitakon 35mm but now the Voigtlander it's tempting me. Thanks!
Absolutely love the colors of the two pictures at 2:40. Which film did you use? Or was it digitally edited? I‘m looking for a film which has slightly faded colors.
Great vid as always. The Voigtlander glass is well worth singing praises over. I had the 35 color skopar for the first year of shooting on the M2, and man was it great. Now you have me considering selling off my 35 cron to go with the 1.4 voigt 😅🤔
Came here to say thanks for the great review. I bought the Voigtländer 35mm 1.4 m.c. some time ago after seeing your review and just love it. I use it with my M6 and M2. I also own a Zeiss 50mm 1.5 Sonnar which I discovered after you mentioned it in a video years ago. I only own and use these two with my both Ms and they perform great.
Shhh, don't let the Voigtlander secret out :-). I shoot nothing but Voigtlander on my M, couldn't be happier with them. The new 50 1.2 is superb by any standard.
Hi Matt, such a nice vid! I’ve been thinking to get a Leica for the longest time but have always hesitated because of the lenses price, your review and view on this lens has me thinking I would like to try it... keep up the great content, can wait for the next vid!
Hi Matt, I know u had the X mount mitakon 35 0.95, and its about the same price as this Voigtlander 35 1.4 (which can be easily adapted to fuji). Which 35mm would you choose for the fuji system? Im willing to buy a 35mm focal lenght which I dont have and im trying to make my choice. Which is best in terms of size, weight, microcontrast, render, feel, etc. Any feedback? Thanks a lot
I’ve used the Voigtländer 40mm f1.4 on my M5 for the last couple of years, it’s a marriage made in heaven to me, but may try and pick up a 35 and see what it’s like.
This lens is awful on digital, though (coming from a Leica M240 user). The colors aren't accurate (it has warm cast to it), and the corner performance is distracting unless you stop it down past F4. But on film (specifically B&W), all of that doesn't matter, and the photos look amazing. Your sample shots are great btw.
Hi Matt, you have a video with the Zeiss 35 f2. Do you still own that one and how does it compare to the Voigtlander? I'm interested in buying the Zeiss because of some of the distortion the Voigtlander produces.
For the price of it, it is a bargain because it's f1.4 and f1.4 comes in handy if you find yourself in darker situations just like the documentation of your child's birth. Keep up it up Matt!!
Hmm if 1.4 is not must have, the 7artisans 35mm f2 for M mount is also crazy and cheap. Also very nicely built. Around 200€ for a lens that does 95% of what 35mm f2 summicron? Yes please.
Hi Matt, is Voigtländer Nokton 40mm 1.4 + leica T = good pairing? Will it become manual mode?? I m using it for portrait photography. Thanks Guru for advice!!! 😄
Am I going to buy an m6 cause I follow your channel? Sure.
Am I going to buy a voigtlander cause I can't afford a leica lens? Absolutely.
Hilarious!
I did the same exact thing :D love them both, even though sometimes I have the itch to go for a leica summicron or summilux...but really, 400EUR vs 2000-3000EUR, is ridiculous and not justifiable for a non-pro shooter. I perfecly enjoy my film photography with this Nokton
It's a year later Igor, did you get your M6?
Can confirm just did this
I really appreciate that not only is this a good review, the example photos are really good photos. That is rare
I had the option to buy a v4 summicron 35mm last week and had basically made up my mind already. The guy leant me the lens for a week and i took photos on film and digital over the weekend and had decided it was a pretty good lens but did I find it to be worth the ridiculous price? Not at all. This video was like a godsend, as I spent most of my hours at work thinking about what to do. What Matt says is absolutely true, Save yourself the trouble and get the nokton, enjoy its character and take photos. Revisit or don't, the summicron when you are ready wealth wise.
The Nokton 35 is a great lens, nice to see it getting some love. Compact, fast, versatile, and it has a good balance between modern rendering and classic lower contrast. The optical design was intended to emulate the older Leica Summilux design, but with modern coatings.
good lighting, no annoying music, straight forward and clear real life reviews and images. perfect review. just found you today; I subbed. good luck with your photography and much more to you and your family.
I wrote this about the Voigtlander 35/1.4 sc a little while ago:
Let me begin this review by saying that I would have preferred the Leica 35mm Summicron when I bought my Leica M6 a little while ago. Unfortunately my budget was not able to match my enthusiasm. Therefore, like many new rangefinder shooters I looked at cheaper options. Voigtlander stands out by having a wide range of reasonably priced lenses with a reputation of acceptable to exceptional image quality. I also wrestled for a while with the difficult choice of choosing between a 35mm "all-rounder" and a "nifty 50" and eventually came to the conclusion that for my style of shooting at the moment an "all rounder" made more sense.
Let's be honest, most people interested in rangefinders would probably prefer a Leica. Unfortunately Leica bodies and glass cost a pretty penny. Therefore we often settle for Voigtlander and other cheaper options. Firstly, the price of the Nokton 35/1.4 makes it not only very attractive to Leica M users but also actually possible rather than pie in the sky. Brand new, the Nokton Classic 35/1.4 is about C$900 with tax. Its Leica counterpart, the 35mm Summilux f1.4 is about C$7,000 with tax. Also, due to less collectability, Voigtlanders tend be even better deals on the used market and can go for substantially less than their new price. In contrast, used Summiluxes are quite rare and tend to hold closer to their new value or even gain over time. This is great if you're selling Leica lenses but not so great when you're buying into the rangefinder world. However, there is a caveat with this lower price bar; as affordable as the Nokton 35/1.4 may be, in many reviews it is not regarded as optically brilliant as the legendary Summilux.
The question is; maybe you can handle the price of the Nokton but can you handle the image quality?
I'll start at the beginning of my experience with the Nokton 35/1.4 and try to remain objective. Firstly, the Nokton's design is called classic because it is. The Nokton is fashioned after classic Leica lenses and therefore looks simply awesome on my black Leica M6. The build quality is also excellent. No slop, no slack and just the right amount of resistance when focussing to keep the focus point between shots. If you have used older top quality lenses in the past this lens will not disappoint. At 200 grams the lens feels solid without feeling heavy and balances nicely on my M6. The ergonomics in my opinion are excellent and very intuitive. I found that using the focus tab was very easy and changing apertures by feel was also a breeze even on my first roll of film. The aperture ring has horizontal tabs which I find easier to operate than most of the manual lenses I have used in over 35 years. This lens is wonderfully compact, It's hard to believe that such a fast lens can be kept so diminutive. This lens will make a great "carry all day" rig with any rangefinder. I'm sure I will feel "laden down" next time I use an SLR.
In terms of usefulness and practicality a 35mm f1.4 speaks for itself. Many photographers are simplifying their gear these days and looking at a one lens system. This minimalist approach may be a holy grail but a fast 35mm is probably the most versatile focal length available and makes a serious single lens contender. Don't get me wrong, I love a 50mm lens which is also very versatile and has the amazing power to "hone in" on the perfect composition. Unfortunately a 50mm needs a little more space and often feels a little "tight" which can limit scenic compositions, group shots and interior work.
To sum things up so far, this little lens is cheap, neat, petite and sweet (looking). I'm really hoping it actually takes good pictures!
So without further ado, let's get to the nitty gritty. How does this Japanese miracle perform optically?
Well, considering some of the more negative reviews online the lens performed better than I expected!
My first roll was using Portra 400. Boy do I love this film. The colours were subtle but very pleasant. I found that my exposures were bright and clear with good saturation and average contrast. There was a hint of vignetting wide open but nothing too crazy and not untypical for a fast lens. I think that vignetting under lower light will usually blend with the shadows or the out of focus background. To be honest, I quite like a mild vignette in my analogue pictures!
I found sharpness to be generally great with perhaps a suggestion of softness at the edges that did not overly stand out unless I was looking for it. Let's be honest, If you demand edge to edge sharpness wide open in a fast lens in any format or system you need to be prepared to pay very handsomely for it.
As for barrel distortion, I didn't shoot any images that would make it obvious on my first roll and later when I deliberately shot some wooden siding wide open, it was still not obvious in the print. Conclusion, this lens may technically have slight barrel distortion but this is not noticeable to me in real-world shooting.
Now for the nitty-gritty; the only thing that may be an issue with some shooters concerning the rendering of this lens is flare. Some obvious flare appeared on a shot of a bright stained-glass window from inside a quite dark church. Not to worry, this flaring did not appear under regular shooting conditions. I have noticed in some later shots a distinct "glow" when you see a very bright highlight in the print but this does not generally look bad or appear ugly. To some people this flare is regarded as "classic lens character" or "dreamy", to others it's seen as a distraction or a detraction for any kind of professional application. I believe the flare question will be the acid test for this lens with many photographers. Keep in mind that this is the sc or single-coated version of the lens, the mc version will probably have noticeably less flare. Personally I can live with a little flare, others may not.
In terms of value, performance and specifications this lens is hard to beat IMO. My advice is that If you have found a Leica body then look for a good deal on a used CV 35/1.4 so you can enjoy shooting while you save for your Summilux. However, I must admit that with the extra C$6,000 needed for the Leica glass I might be tempted to spend the cash on a bucket list trip instead. Happy shooting : )
I had one of these for a long time. Hated it. It could have been that I just had a bad copy because if I didn't really take a lot of time to focus nothing was ever sharp. On the flip here, a buddy of mine also had one at the same time and absolutely loved it and always got sharp results. I am not ruling this out as a good lens, as stated I feel like mine was just a bad copy and probably needed to be adjusted. What ended up happening is I sold this, bought the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 and used nothing but that for about three years, then decided to sell that and got the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 Biogon and have never looked back. Still have the Zeiss in addition to the Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f2 which is absolutely stunning if you have never used one, and costs about the same as the Voigtlander you own on the used market; granted you would be loosing light intake capabilities, the character and classic Summicron look is all there for a fraction of the price of 35 Cron ASPH that you previously owned.
Thanks Matt ! Internet users love you because when you speak you inspire a lot of trust and honesty...
This is what review should look and sound like. direct to the point. no bullshit. right to point in every second of the review. Thank you Matt. I myself am a big fan of Voigtlander. 10mm 35mm, 12mm and 16mm now waiting to put my hands on 50mm 1.2 they just did.
Just gonna put my .02 in this because I’m assuming some folks will see this review and start researching reviews and there will be a ton of positive countered by a ton of negative reviews. What I notice is that a lot of people complain about the size or clinical look of modern lenses and say “why doesn’t leica produce the classics with modern materials and coatings??” Leica won’t, but Voigtlander did. This lens is made to mimic the 35mm summilux v1 in size and performance. I’ve seen comparisons and the Nokton is sharper with the trade off being barrel distortion. Barrel distortion doesn’t bother me for this lens because I am shooting life with it which includes people usually. If Leica put their name on this lens, my suspicion is that people would be clamoring for it. It also works fantastically well on my Xpro2. Seriously, a 35 ONE POINT FOUR for M-mount that sticks out maybe an inch and a half from the body, and is fantastically constructed....for 400ish used??? No brainer
If you’re new to M mount and want a small setup, try this
21mm f4 skopar (the smallest lens I own other than the 35mm Elmar), 35mm 1.4 Nokton, 50mm 1.5 Nokton (one of their best, but larger then the other two”
@Christopher Coppola .... GRACIAS, Thanks.
The nokton 35 only looks like 35 lux v1, but the optical design is a copy of 35 cron v1.
Absolutely agree with you. I find CV lenses to be some of the best bang for your buck lenses around. My personal fav is the 40mm 1.4. Aside from that, I currently run a Zeiss 58mm Biotar and Canon 85mm Serenar with their respective m42 and L39 mounts running through a Voigtlander close focus adapter on my A7rii -- it's a dream combo!
This lens lives on my A7II since the day I bought it years ago also paid $400 for it. Love the form factor makes amazing photos and the bokeh it produces has character great for everyday photography. The only time I take it off is when I do some rare macro or portrait work. I also have a 50 Minolta lens but I find the 35mm focal length best for all around work
Dear Matt, i really appreciate your "family man/dad"honesty.The teal world needs of kitchen repairs or new table-tops outweigh the needs of some lens, no matter how incredible those lens are. I had to sell some valuable Hotwheels and vinyls of mine just to get some house repairs done.My well wishes to you and your family
I had one about ten years ago. It had some vignetting wide-open so I eventually sold it.
I don't usually shoot wide-open but I had to once, as it was a dimly lit interior. I think it has some distortion, too, but not enough to notice unless you were shooting interiors. I was shooting it with film and I got some nice images with it - I'll happily admit that.
It's still a way better lens than an SLR equivalent. Have you seen the size of those things? I can't believe there are people out there so devoted to DSLRs, but there you have it. Film SLRs, well, I can totally understand that, but only for specialized uses, like macro or with long lenses.
Amen Matt ... there is so much more to enjoy about the lens than sharpness.
I've been using the 7artisans 35mm f/2 since this summer. You can get it usually for under 250 USD new. It's a fantastic lens for the price. Feels great to use. Gives good results. It's not as sharp wide open as voigtlander lenses but for my needs it's perfect.
I’m using the Minolta 40mm Rokkor-M lens. I love the lens! I believe it might be slightly smaller than any 35mm and it’s a nice medium between street and portrait lens. The best bit is that is extremely cheap. I got mines for $400 about 5 years ago
Hi there Matt and thanks for another great video. I must say though that I don't totally agree with you on the quality of this lens. IMHO and after shooting with this lens on film (Leica M3) and digital (Leica M9) even after having my lens CLA by a pro.
On the plus side:
very light, very well made, very fast
On the minus:
focus ring a bit under par to other greater manufaturer's 35mm, sharpness and micro contrast not to the high standards of pricier lenses
So, although I agree with the title (compact, fast and affordable), I'd prefer going for a less expensive 7 artisans 35mm, or an old Canon LTM 35mm f1.8 (a bit slower) if money is the issue or a (very) slightly more expensive Voigtlander ULTRON 35mm f 1.7 which is much much sharper albeit a bit slower.
But I do get the point: better a lesser expensive lens and keep shooting rather than not shooting at all because (I agree there as well) after all it's the photog that makes apicture great, not the material.
Thanks again for all your good work
I love this lens! It was my first lens on my first and only Leica, but it's been adapted to everything else I shoot on. Love all its imperfections...
I couldn't care less about brick walls and pixel peeping, so this was a perfect review IMO. Happy to hear your short note on the f/2.5 Color-Skopar, cause I just bought it as my first lens for my newly acquired M5. :D
The cheaper voightlander colok skopar lenses are so good. I'v used the 25mm f4 on my xpro and it's amazing. The build quality is out of this world.
I feel like the Voigtländers are so underrated. I am using the 58mm f/1,4 Nokton on my Fuji XT-2 and it is a stellar lens.
the 35 biogon is also Fantastic. and for Nikon users : Voigtländer 58.
How's that lens? I've only heard it before but never got to use it.
@@chriszhang654 the biogon ? supersharp, contrasty ,zeiss like. lots of micro contrast.
@@MarcS4R the Voigtlander 58. I'm choosing between that and Nikkor 50 1.2 and just wondering in terms of optics which one is better?
@@chriszhang654 the Nokton 58 is fantastic. just the right amount of sharp and softness, a great portrait lens. works also great on the Fuji GFX. i can absolutely recommend it if you dont mind that is MF only.
@@MarcS4R Thanks for the reply. I'm using the Nikon FM2 which is MF whatsoever. I'm just not too sure about the angle of view on a 58mm lens...
It's awesome to see you regularly making videos again. It's nice to see more Ohio film shooters and photogs in general online too. Keep up the good work!
Recently got this lens in combo with my new leica SL type 601 and boy what a combo!! Im extremely satisfied
I like that you kept it real in your review. Nice pics as well.
The lens living on my M lately has been the Leica 40mm Summicron-C f/2. It is also in this price range ($4-500). You just got to get used to losing a bit with the 35mm lines. But it has served me well for the time being - on both film and digital.
Nice! Got the 35mm f2.5 and 21mm f4 color-skopar for my x-pro2 and super happy with it
Thanks Matt, this is much more helpful than the vast majority of reviews. My mind is (almost) made up to buy one of these.
Chris Routledge I would definitely recommend this lens! It’s cheaper and still great quality! It’s sharp wide open and gives you clean photos with the hood or not. I would recommend getting the Voightlander hood, and not a third party hood.. otherwise you’ll get some major vignetting on the corners
@@trsc32 Thanks for this, and a good tip about the hood.
I had the 35mm f2.5 Skopar lens when I had my Leica II and that lens was Tiny! It also paired well with an Olympus M4/3 camera I had at the time.
I shoot in a vintage/retro style, so the 1958 Summicron does me just fine. Paid $700 for it. I don't need modern Leica lenses, I have several vintage ones. I have never shot with a Voigtlander but everything I have ever heard about them a has been 100% positive.
This is my first M mount lens when I went to Leica and It's still my most used lens. I have even thought about selling my 28 and 50mm lenses and just have this lens...
I must say I used my nokton 35 for weddings, food photos and even small video work and it's amazing. On digital body you'll run into problem with color fringing, but unless you're doing video that should be no problem.
Also, I bought sigma 35mm 1.4 for sony A7ii, but the setup was so huge that I almost never used it. With nokton on the other hand, it doesn't even fell like I'm working. It's small, it's compact, and it's definetly good enought for the price.
Plus tip for Sony A7 users, if you force camera in aps-c mode you're also getting pretty good 50mm f2 eq.!
There is a difference between the M-Mount and the E-Mount ? Do toi have an adapter ?
Sorry for my english (french🙋)
"Took the remaining money and bought new countertops for our kitchen, a new sink and a new dishwasher" is the most relatable sentence I have ever heard in a lens review.
This also means that for you the Voigtlander is literally everything and the kitchen sink...
Another great one Matt. Nice little lens and nice photos..
i made quite a good deal on my 50mm F2 Zeiss. Got it for 420€ used and i absolutely love that lens. it is by far the sharpest lens i have ever seen. I also bought the 40mm 1.4 Nokton for my A7 a while ago. Still a great lens with a lot of character.
Just wanted to let you know that I'm happy to see new videos from you coming out again. Always great content Matt!
Just ordered an M6, i am Thinking of either this lens or the ZEISS 35mm F2. Thank you for this video.
Hi Matt- can u plz do an episode on how to accurately frame/compose with a rangefinder? Even accurate focusing? It’s my only worry about transitioning to rangefinders since I’m used to framing right thru the lens on my SLR. Thanks!
Hi Matt. I have this lens and agree with all that you’ve said about it. I recently purchased a Leitz Summaron 35mm 3.5 and really like it too. Unique old look but great for a 60 year old lens. They are available in the same price range as the lens you reviewed. Thanks for the video. Keep them coming.
The focus shift is fixed in version 2 of this great lens! Great vid!
How do you identify which version of the lens you have? I've experienced sharpness issues wide open with my Nokton.
@@MescalinPlayer Its pretty soft wide open still. I like that. It says "II" in the front!
I have the Voigtländer 40mm f1.4 Nokton Classic and use it on my analogue Leica CL and Fujifilm X-Pro2. It's a fabulous lens and great deal in terms of what you pay for vs much more expensive Leica M mount glass.
Great little lens, perfect also for M8 M9’s. Thanks for the video.
Good dad after all. That why i love the quote " trophies carry dust, memories last forever."
Everything you said in the video is perfectly true and understandable. The photos you took are amazing and it's hard to tell the difference. I personally had that lens when I started out and hated it. I don't know if it was because of a placebo or just the way I shot when starting out. So it makes me wonder about trying it again. I haven't tried the 35mm f2 7artisans lens but it looks really good and would consider trying that as a cheap alternative. I also have the 35mm cron Asph and love it but sometimes it really is tough to justify.
One of the best CV Lenses...
21mm f4 (compact)
35mm f1.4
50mm 1.5 (LTM)
can compare closely to Leica... great Japanese quality
Awesome video Matt! i love the way you shot this one and as always fantastic content from you.
Now that you own a M10 and SL2, it would be nice if you could revisit some of your lenses on digital and how they compare with film.
If it's any help to anyone, as a former professional news photographer I own and use a variety of M-mount lenses, including modern Leica, Zeiss ZM and Voigtlander. I still shoot now and again but only shoot film (B&W or colour neg). A few thoughts:
- In the past 20 years Leica M lenses have been creeping up in price to the point where I think they no longer represent good value. In 1999, my 35mm f2 ASPH was $1250 new. The price has since tripled. This has been Leica's sales strategy: limited production sold more and more to collectors, and people who see cameras as jewellery. Nothing wrong with that and credit to them for surviving the digital revolution as a niche manufacturer, because not everyone did.
- if MTF graphs, photos of brick walls and microscopes are your thing, then I imagine Leica comes out a bit ahead. However I find that this pursuit of barely-visable perfection is sometimes at the cost of character, so much so that I find some of the modern Leica lenses to be bit, well, boring... especially compared to the previous generations.
- I actually far prefer the Zeiss ZM 21mm and 28mm biogon lenses over the Leica equivalents, especially for colour. They really are stunning lenses.
- There have been some issues with QC on some of the Zeiss ZM lenses, I've not experienced any, but I've had QC issues on Leica lenses too (sticky aperture rings, fragile lens hoods). Zeiss ZM build quality though is a bit behind Leica (except Summarit) and Voigtlander (except the early generation production).
- Voigtlander build quality has come ahead leaps and bounds over the past few years, and I think they're on a par with Leica now (and better than the Summarits).
- What really annoys me is that some of the Leica lenses have a different look and feel, especially in their colour renditions. Zeiss ZM is the best on this with the T* coating, and Voigtlander is doing much better on this, especially with the 21mm, 35mm and 50mm Noktons there's a consistency of look and feel of the images shot within this family.
- Neither Leica, Zeiss or Voigtlander seem to be able to nail a consistent bokeh throughout their lens ranges, and there are good and bad examples in each stable.
- Right now I'm loving the Voigtlander 21-35-50 Nokton line-up, I still love the Zeiss ZM 21-28-50 line-up, while my Leica glass is getting less and less use.
- Finally, for a camera body, I've never found anything I like more than an M6 TTL!
To sum up, there's a tendency to talk about Voigtlander only as a cheap alternative to Leica, with some angst about whether or not they are as good. I would say go for the Voigtlander (or Zeiss) and feel happy in the fact that you're not missing out on anything except, possibly, pride of ownership.
After talking with you over Instagram a few weeks back, I decided on this lens over the 2.5 just for the extra stop or so of light. It’s definitely one of the SHARPEST lenses I’ve ever owned. I love the size of it as well. The only recommendation I have for people looking at this lens is to get the Voightlander hood! I picked up a couple hoods for my lens, but noticed some major vignetting around the corners because my hood is just a tad too far out past the lens. So go pick up the Voightlander hood if you decide to pick this lens up! :))
Hey I just bought this lens and I'm looking for a hood now... The Voigtlander hood is expensive though - can you tell me is it reversible? If it's not I'd be just as happy with a cheap screw in hood - I vignette everything in Lightroom anyway!
Voigtlander has really good stuff, I never could afford a Leica anything but I was able to purchase A Voigtlander Vito BL that has a 50mm 3.5 Color-Skopar lens attached to it. I finished my first roll through it a few weeks ago, unfortunately I live in Paradise CA, and that means I had to leave it and my undeveloped rolls behind. Fortunately the house my family was renting is still standing, but is fully condemned. But yeah, I like Voigtlanders stock. I'm stoked to see the quality their new lenses bring. -Shane
Another excellent Voigtlander lens is the 50mm f1.2 Nokton. It will give the Leica 50mm f2 APO , which by the way goes for a cool $7995 only, a good fight at f2.0. I seriously doubt if people will be able to pick out which photo is taken with the Leica.
I finally have the exact same set up as you! I will forever rant about how amazing this lens is; I even throw it on my Fuji's for time to time.
Thanks for the vid Matt. I am thinking of getting the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 of my M9. I`ve read some great reviews and it seems a bargain.
I’ve found that this lens is great on film and pretty crappy on digital at f/1.4. At least on the copy that I had. It also was decent closer up, but really soft the further the subject got away from the camera. But stopping down a bit for wide shots and then shooting closer stuff wide open isn’t too bad, especially for the money.
Sensor stacks pose trouble for some film-designed lenses!
I bought my M6 with one of these lenses, and I've hardly ever removed it :-) Love that lens so much, awesome value for money. I'm actually thinking of getting a micro four thirds body, just to use that lens on a digital camera.
Ha. Thanks for the quick review. I just bought this lens for a trip a few weeks ago and love it so far... 👍
I bought the Skopar 2.5 after you mentioned it in a video once. This is now on the shopping list.
Hi Matt, Just picked up one of these to go with my M2. My concern is the one small focusing tab as the only way to focus on this compact lens, when shooting vertically (portrait mode). I usually like to raise my right hand when shooting vertically, but then the focus tab is difficult to reach with the left hand. I find it uncomfortable to lower the right hand when shooting vertically. Do you have a trick for this, or just focus horizontally and then flip the camera vertically just before shooting? Keep up the great work!
nice clear video and I like the atmosphere/ambiance in the aire in your photos. any opinion on version 1 vs version 2? Do you feel that lens has digital like renderings? (I'm trying to stay away from that.) thanks!
Hey there Matt! Glad I found this video and hope you can answer me that:
I am planning to dive in into Analog (Colour), and I dont know which model to get. SC or MC?
One of them got this amazing "circle lenseflair" if you shoot abit against the sun. Perhaps you know which one.
Would be so thankful!
I really liked the noise on the first few photos you showed. Good stuff.
Bought the Leica equivalent (pre asph) for 750 eur. I like it more than the nokton.
Great vid! I was looking into getting this for my A7III. I ended up coming across a Pentax SuperTakumar 50mm 1.4 that has similar characteristics of this voigtlander.
I love my Konica Hexar AF. It’s basically a KILLER 35mm f2 lens attached to a seriously quirky body and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
this is the only lens i used many years with my trusted M4-P, i never wanted another lens. pair this with pushed 1600 film, and i feel always "safe" in any condition.
Hey Matt, big fan of your videos mate they’re brilliant! Was just wondering if you think there’s a big difference between this 35 1.4 and the 35 2.5 color Skopar? Here in the uk the 1.4 is about £200 more. Also I’m eyeing up an M6 that comes with the skopar! Is it really worth the upgrade or not so much?
Love this review Matt!!! Please keep doing videos like this!! Glad you made the decision, I think considering what you got after selling the Summicron, it’s totally worth it. I don’t know if you heard about it, the Chinese lens maker 7Artisan make great lenses, I tried their 35/2 and the new 28/1.4, absolutely amazing! But their 50/1.1 is shit. Give them a look, the 35/2 especially has a very strong Summicron look, and it only cost under $200!
Love your real life realism❤️ i have had those Leica over 5000e lenses. Then i was thinking life. Life first over piksel peeping. With that money i live and travel. Expierence life and world with camera still with me. This lens is still more than good enough with my leica m body🙏
I have the 40mm 1.4 and love it. I may pick up the hood though mostly because I like the way it looks
one more voightlander lens to consider, on the wide end of the spectrum, the 21 mm f 1.2 ( Leica M mount); tried it on an M 8 in a camera store in a dark mall, the image was fantastic, just like those B&W ones you show on this video, using 2000 ISO on this camera, NO under exposed blacks!!!- just a great shot , guess you would call it a "low_Key" shot. turned out great, so I would HIGHLY recommend this lens too, even for APS-C cameras [would be 35 mm focal length equivalent]; but at Australian $850 it's a real bargain compared to the Leica version.
andy van hi 👋🏻 voigtlander 21mm f1.2??? Not F4 or 3.5 or 1.8 ??? I am curious , I have also the M8 and looking into 21mm Voigtlander
Does the focus shift bother you at all? I'm hearing it's a common frustration among the owners.
@mattday u sir have just saved me a ton of cash! well sort of, i'm gonna use the extra money to get the leica mp-4. along with this lens i think it'll be a dope little set up for my street photography! subbed!
Great video Matt! I was wondering, what made you get rid of the Zeiss 35 Biogon that you reviewed a few years ago?
Was there any follow up on the comparisons between 35mm Voigtlander and Biogon?
I m using zeiss 35 biogon f2.8. It is a little pricey compared to this, but this lens is incredible. It is as good as Leica 35 f2. And it is compact. But you do need to sacrifice on the aperture.
I just pulled the trigger on a used m240 and have been watching all of your content trying to decide which 35mm and 50mm lens to start with. This voigtlander is definitely in the running! Thanks for all this great content! :)
I was hoping to get your input on something else. I do have a collection of vintage lenses and would love to try adapting some of them to the Leica. I am not clear on how the rangefinder features would work with an adapted lens. This is my first rangefinder so I’m still wrapping my head around the features. (I don’t have the camera yet!). Will the rangefinder focusing actually work with these lenses? How do I know the framing? Also, are there any specific mounts that adapt better to the M mount, and where the adapter wouldn't add too much to the size? Thanks for any input.
A couple of my favorite lenses are the Minolta 58 f.14, Minolta 45f2, Nikkor 50f2, and Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35 f2.4 (M42 mount). I have others but these are particularly good and not too large. Hoping to try one or more of those.
Thanks!
I have this lens. It's great fun. Barrel distortion is significant but adds character in my opinion.
agree, ... barrel distortion mars or impairs the IQ but who cares, ... price-wise, size-wise, .. it's a great value to the leica user.
If staight lines matter to you then you don't call this character and better get a different lens.
I got one a week ago and its already my favorite lens
Hi Matt! Thanks for the review! Have you tested it on the XT-3? I've just got a X-pro 1 (yes in 2018) and at the moment I'm using old Minolta lenses but I was thinking about getting the Mitakon 35mm but now the Voigtlander it's tempting me. Thanks!
Absolutely love the colors of the two pictures at 2:40. Which film did you use? Or was it digitally edited? I‘m looking for a film which has slightly faded colors.
I had one voigtlander 50/1.7, it was my favorite lens all time, sold it once, sooo regret that I actually bought it back eventually
Great review. Congratulations on the family.
Great vid as always. The Voigtlander glass is well worth singing praises over. I had the 35 color skopar for the first year of shooting on the M2, and man was it great. Now you have me considering selling off my 35 cron to go with the 1.4 voigt 😅🤔
Nick Exposed Priorities. I am loving our new countertops and having a dishwasher. 🤣👊🏻
@@mattdayphoto Haha, I bet!
35 cron is easily better esp in the bokeh and specular highlights. But bang for buck, hands down this! The build quality is so awesome...
Came here to say thanks for the great review. I bought the Voigtländer 35mm 1.4 m.c. some time ago after seeing your review and just love it. I use it with my M6 and M2. I also own a Zeiss 50mm 1.5 Sonnar which I discovered after you mentioned it in a video years ago. I only own and use these two with my both Ms and they perform great.
Shhh, don't let the Voigtlander secret out :-). I shoot nothing but Voigtlander on my M, couldn't be happier with them. The new 50 1.2 is superb by any standard.
My favourite lens, use it on my M2 and it's a primary lens for my Sony A7; lovely swirly blurry bits.
Hi Matt, such a nice vid! I’ve been thinking to get a Leica for the longest time but have always hesitated because of the lenses price, your review and view on this lens has me thinking I would like to try it... keep up the great content, can wait for the next vid!
I sold all my cameras because non stop eating baby ; -(
Hi Matt, I know u had the X mount mitakon 35 0.95, and its about the same price as this Voigtlander 35 1.4 (which can be easily adapted to fuji). Which 35mm would you choose for the fuji system? Im willing to buy a 35mm focal lenght which I dont have and im trying to make my choice. Which is best in terms of size, weight, microcontrast, render, feel, etc. Any feedback? Thanks a lot
I’ve used the Voigtländer 40mm f1.4 on my M5 for the last couple of years, it’s a marriage made in heaven to me, but may try and pick up a 35 and see what it’s like.
This lens is awful on digital, though (coming from a Leica M240 user). The colors aren't accurate (it has warm cast to it), and the corner performance is distracting unless you stop it down past F4.
But on film (specifically B&W), all of that doesn't matter, and the photos look amazing. Your sample shots are great btw.
I love my color skopar lens. I use it on both my M3 and my M8.
This item seems loverly but my price point lines up with the color skopar.
Hi Matt, you have a video with the Zeiss 35 f2. Do you still own that one and how does it compare to the Voigtlander? I'm interested in buying the Zeiss because of some of the distortion the Voigtlander produces.
For the price of it, it is a bargain because it's f1.4 and f1.4 comes in handy if you find yourself in darker situations just like the documentation of your child's birth.
Keep up it up Matt!!
But “what’s up guys? Matt day here “ ?? Anyway. Great review! Great lenses! Keep sharing!
M6 + VM1.4/35S.C.: My current everyday setup. Yes, fast and compact, but don't like its distortion.
I have the 49 mm 1.4 and the 35mm f1.7 .., amazing 🤩
Matt, glad to see you'ce got your health back. Looking good Bro!
yeah.. I agree with you, Matt. Life's got priorities. A 5-grand lens won't cut the list for me too! Like this video!
Hmm if 1.4 is not must have, the 7artisans 35mm f2 for M mount is also crazy and cheap. Also very nicely built. Around 200€ for a lens that does 95% of what 35mm f2 summicron? Yes please.
Hi Matt, is Voigtländer Nokton 40mm 1.4 + leica T = good pairing? Will it become manual mode?? I m using it for portrait photography. Thanks Guru for advice!!! 😄
Yes, great video and very helpful in good English. Thanks!