Thanks for the review Dustin. I find this lens a ton of fun to use. Build quality is superb, and as others have said it renders nicely for such a compact size. I personally like this f/l on FX; makes a lovely set with the 58mm 1.4 Nokton.
I got one of these very cheap in almost mint condition, and will be selling my canon 40mm 2.8. I think Dustin makes very fair comparisons. My personal feelings toward it are (keep in mind I'm not doing photos for a living) 1. Size. I find it easier to carry than a lens like my 35L. I think it performs admirably well in a lot of different applications. 2. The rendering seems more "painterly" to me than the canon 40mm. Sharpness isn't my main concern when shooting though. 3. Distance scale on the voigt allows me to zone focus. This is HUGE for me when being out and about. Once learned, the camera turns basically to a point and shoot. Probably the biggest reason I will keep it vs the canon. 4. F2 vs f2.8. I'll take double the light most times. :) Thanks for the reviews Dustin. Always well done and fair.
Great review! REally surprised by the performance on this one after seeing images from Ken Rockwell using the nikon version. The sharpness seemed better in the nikon version especially stacked against other nikon lenses like the 35mm f/2D and 50mm 1.8D.
I don't think I've directly compared them. The Canon lens would be a bit sharper, but the color rendition from the Voigtlander is a little better. I like both of those lenses quite a bit, actually. The Canon would probably be my preferred of the two for practical reasons (AF and IS)
Thanks for another well thought out review. The Tamron certainly held up well, too bad it didn't get a Bokeh comparison along with the Canon. 9:30 - Prefer the ball over the ring. 10:30 - Yikes, it's outlined and scratchy; where at 11:25 the Canon is smooth. 15:20 - Agreed. Additional expense must translate into time saved in Post and lack of problems that can not be corrected. The Voigt's a miss, good to know. YT, Rob
This lens is really going going to appeal to a group that is willing to sacrifice some level of supremely performing optics in favor of a very compact truly manual lens of outstanding build quality. It's always been on my list of lenses to buy and still is. My primary use would be for cinematography.
So far (which of course might change in the conclusion) will will very few who are not familiar with Voigtlander understand why they would choose this seemingly overpriced manual focus lens. In my experience is it particularly well suited for b&w and cameras which render that well (in my case Nikon D700 and Nikon Df - less happy with results on Nikon D5xxx and D7xxx series). Best of all is it on b&w film.
That seems like a reasonable conclusion. It does have a nice rendering, which does go beyond sharpness, which is why I do prefer it to the Canon 40mm f/2.8.
Kind of a letdown about the 40mm Voigt. My favorite Voigt is the Ultron 1.7/35 - really a fantastic lens, almost up to the standard of Zeiss Distagon 1.4/35
a bit of an unfair comparison, since the other lenses are designed for digital sensors, and the voightlander is designed as a vintage product and a better choice for non o.e.m. lens for film and rangefinder cameras, like their own Bessa or the Leica M series. and as such the CA, colour casts, vignetting, and other inherent digital sensor errors are NOT corrected for, as it's not expected to be needed, for the products it is designed for.
When a lens maker sells a lens in a Canon EF mount, they open themselves to comparisons with all competing products in that mount. That's how capitalism works.
i has that lens Dustin.....NOW IM TELLING YA.........buy the 58mm f1.4 Voigtlander Nokton ....... the single best God*amn lens youll ever set your hands on. ill eat your dirty socks if you dont flip over it.
I've heard good things about it, but I'm not sure it comes in a Canon mount. I actually compare the Ultron to the SMC Tak 50mm f/1.4 in my final episode (not aired yet)
Hmmm, yes and no. The Canon cannot match the gorgeous color rendering of the Voigtlander. Voigt glass is some of the most special I've used. If sharpness is your only priority, maybe, but if there are other considerations...
@@DustinAbbottTWI Could not agree more Dustin. Sharpness corner to corner seems to be the goal of modern lenses. To me they have become clinical and sterile. No character. I have shot this lens on my Nikon Df, Sony A7II, and Nikon Z6 with gorgeous color rendering. I have been turned off on the sharpness race and have been migrating to manual focus vintage lens.
Finally!!!! Been looking forward to this review from you for a very long time!
Btw, keep up the good work!! Love your videos! Keep at it!
Glad to help out!
Thanks for the review Dustin. I find this lens a ton of fun to use. Build quality is superb, and as others have said it renders nicely for such a compact size. I personally like this f/l on FX; makes a lovely set with the 58mm 1.4 Nokton.
It definitely has a lot of fans...for good reason.
I got one of these very cheap in almost mint condition, and will be selling my canon 40mm 2.8. I think Dustin makes very fair comparisons. My personal feelings toward it are (keep in mind I'm not doing photos for a living)
1. Size. I find it easier to carry than a lens like my 35L. I think it performs admirably well in a lot of different applications.
2. The rendering seems more "painterly" to me than the canon 40mm. Sharpness isn't my main concern when shooting though.
3. Distance scale on the voigt allows me to zone focus. This is HUGE for me when being out and about. Once learned, the camera turns basically to a point and shoot. Probably the biggest reason I will keep it vs the canon.
4. F2 vs f2.8. I'll take double the light most times. :)
Thanks for the reviews Dustin. Always well done and fair.
That seems like a fair summation. This is lens that in many ways is greater than the sum of its parts.
More reviews of this lens manufacturer please! Been hearing quite good rave about them!
That's easier said than done, as they had few Canon mount lenses and most of them are now discontinued in North America.
Great review! REally surprised by the performance on this one after seeing images from Ken Rockwell using the nikon version. The sharpness seemed better in the nikon version especially stacked against other nikon lenses like the 35mm f/2D and 50mm 1.8D.
I can obviously only account for what I see personally.
Do you plan to review the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm and 50mm lenses?
I’ve got the 40mm F1.2 and the 110mm on my radar, but not scheduled yet.
Hi Dustin. How would you compare the rendering of this lens to Canon's EF 35mm f2 IS USM ? what about the feel of the image quality of both compared?
I don't think I've directly compared them. The Canon lens would be a bit sharper, but the color rendition from the Voigtlander is a little better. I like both of those lenses quite a bit, actually. The Canon would probably be my preferred of the two for practical reasons (AF and IS)
Wondering if you will do a review for the Sigma 40mm 1.4 Art Lens?
It's on next month's schedule, which may mean that it will be March before you see coverage. I'm seriously backlogged.
Thanks for another well thought out review.
The Tamron certainly held up well, too bad it didn't get a Bokeh comparison along with the Canon.
9:30 - Prefer the ball over the ring.
10:30 - Yikes, it's outlined and scratchy; where at 11:25 the Canon is smooth.
15:20 - Agreed.
Additional expense must translate into time saved in Post and lack of problems that can not be corrected.
The Voigt's a miss, good to know.
YT,
Rob
These type of image quality reviews allow people to interpret the data for themselves. Some are delighted with the performance; others aren't.
i forgot to say HUGS TO DUSTIN* in my last post, so Double-Hugs :)
+Theoria Apophasis Why thank you. Right back at you!
great review -- is it available in Nikon?
It is, yes
This lens is really going going to appeal to a group that is willing to sacrifice some level of supremely performing optics in favor of a very compact truly manual lens of outstanding build quality.
It's always been on my list of lenses to buy and still is. My primary use would be for cinematography.
That seems like a very accurate summation. It's a beautifully made lens that is a joy to use.
So far (which of course might change in the conclusion) will will very few who are not familiar with Voigtlander understand why they would choose this seemingly overpriced manual focus lens.
In my experience is it particularly well suited for b&w and cameras which render that well (in my case Nikon D700 and Nikon Df - less happy with results on Nikon D5xxx and D7xxx series). Best of all is it on b&w film.
That seems like a reasonable conclusion. It does have a nice rendering, which does go beyond sharpness, which is why I do prefer it to the Canon 40mm f/2.8.
Kind of a letdown about the 40mm Voigt.
My favorite Voigt is the Ultron 1.7/35 - really a fantastic lens, almost up to the standard of Zeiss Distagon 1.4/35
I haven't used that one, and don't think I've ever seen it in a Canon mount.
Indeed, it's a Leica M mount in it's current incarnation (it used to be Leica thread mount previously).
Nice Video :)
Thank you!
a bit of an unfair comparison, since the other lenses are designed for digital sensors, and the voightlander is designed as a vintage product and a better choice for non o.e.m. lens for film and rangefinder cameras, like their own Bessa or the Leica M series. and as such the CA, colour casts, vignetting, and other inherent digital sensor errors are NOT corrected for, as it's not expected to be needed, for the products it is designed for.
When a lens maker sells a lens in a Canon EF mount, they open themselves to comparisons with all competing products in that mount. That's how capitalism works.
i has that lens Dustin.....NOW IM TELLING YA.........buy the 58mm f1.4 Voigtlander Nokton ....... the single best God*amn lens youll ever set your hands on.
ill eat your dirty socks if you dont flip over it.
I've heard good things about it, but I'm not sure it comes in a Canon mount. I actually compare the Ultron to the SMC Tak 50mm f/1.4 in my final episode (not aired yet)
whats a Canon? :) ~ kidding
please review the Sony A9
No promises. The response to my appeal to Sony shooters to help fund a body to review Sony reviews on has been tepid.
Seems like the price of the 40mm ultron is not proportional to its image quality output.
Canon blows it out of the water.
Hmmm, yes and no. The Canon cannot match the gorgeous color rendering of the Voigtlander. Voigt glass is some of the most special I've used. If sharpness is your only priority, maybe, but if there are other considerations...
@@DustinAbbottTWI Could not agree more Dustin. Sharpness corner to corner seems to be the goal of modern lenses. To me they have become clinical and sterile. No character. I have shot this lens on my Nikon Df, Sony A7II, and Nikon Z6 with gorgeous color rendering. I have been turned off on the sharpness race and have been migrating to manual focus vintage lens.
I'm sorry I assumed Sony sent the A9 camera to all the professional photographers especially the ones on RUclips
I'm afraid I'm not a "big shot" :)
So they don't deliver top quality, but ask top prices. Might kill them for good.
That depends on your priorities. Color rendering and the overall look of images are special