Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC Lens Review

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC Lens Review:

How I ended up reviewing the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC is a funny story.  Well, maybe not a funny story but you get what I mean ;).  Keep in mind that it was around 1am but I was actually looking at some of my portraits, and was thinking it would be nice to change it up a bit.  I wanted something with a more classic bokeh, and so I starting googling.  I looked around, and came across some info on the first version of the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4.  The 35mm focal length is definitely not one of my favorite focal lengths but I love the overall look that this particular lens produced, and then I discovered a version two was recently released.  I guess I never paid attention but in fairness, so many things come out these days :).  So, I thought I’d see if I could get my hands on one to review, and to try out for myself.  I did get one on loan, and shot with it quite a bit.  Was I happy with the results?  Read on and find out!

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC Lens Build Quality:

Let’s start off talking about the build.  I think the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 II’s build is truly impressive, especially when you factor in the price, which is $649.  If you’re buying this for your Leica, and are maybe worried that it won’t match well, don’t be; I tried it on my Leica SL and my M6 TTL Millennium.  It looks and feels great on both.  Like the Leica cameras, the lens is all metal, and feels very solid.  It weighs 189 g, which gives it a nice heft considering the tiny size of this lens.  But don’t mistaken my use of the word heft for heavy because it’s not, it just feels like a quality product.

↑ Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC attached to my Leica M6 TTL Millennium.

Speaking of size, I just love the compact nature of this lens.  Look at the photos, it’s tiny!  The Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC even uses a 43mm filter, which is quite small, if you think about it, for an f1.4 lens.  It reminds me a lot of the 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH.  This is how a 35mm lens should be like in my opinion.  To me, a 35mm lens is something that should be versatile.  The focal length is good for environmental portraits, travel, street, and landscape just to name a few.  For all of that, you want something that is small, and easy to carry around.  Voigtlander really got it right making this 35mm so compact.

↑ Here’s a top view of the M6 to give you a better idea of how compact this lens is when mounted on a camera.

Voigtlander also got the functions right as well.  The focus ring is buttery smooth with just the right amount of tension for feel, and precise focusing when you need it, especially since this is an f1.4 lens.  I love the fact that there’s the focus tab on the ring as well.  It really adds not only to the ergonomics but also that rangefinder feel.  As for the aperture ring, it clicks solidly into position as you rotate it.  Seriously speaking, this lens has simply been a joy to use.

You can also attach the Voigtlander LH-6 Lens Hood onto this lens but it’ll cost you an additional $69, since it is not included.  It would’ve been nice, if it was included; however, It’s not insanely priced, and I still highly recommend it.  It’s beautifully made, and in addition to protecting against flare, it’s a great way to protect the front element from bumps, especially if you do a lot of walking around a crowded city.  Appearance wise, it also looks really good, and I love how it attaches to the lens.  Instead of a clip on, which just sucks sometimes because those can pop off accidentally when you knock it or a screw on, which is inconvenient, the LH-6 is mounted in a bayonet style way.  So, not only is it easy to remove and attach quickly, it also stays in place.

↑ All the photos here were taken with the Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC mounted on my Leica SL.

Lastly, the Voigtlander 35mm comes in two versions: an MC (multi-coated) and an SC (single coated).  The multi-coating gives you more of a natural rendering, and the single coating gives you a more classic one.  The one in this review is the multi-coated version.

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC Lens Image Quality:

Now let’s talk about the fun part: image quality.  If you’re looking for absolute tech spec sharpness and perfection, the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC might not be the lens for you.  With that said, I still found the image quality on a technical aspect to be exceptional.  Sharpness at f1.4 is very good in the center with edges being a bit soft but this lens does sharpen quite nicely, once you stop it down.  Even at f2, sharpness improves in the center, and along with the edges.  By f8, nearly the entire frame is very sharp.  Again, it might not be as sharp as some of those “latest and greatest” reference lenses but you can definitely get great results, especially stopped down.  I don’t like images that are not sharp, and I’m very happy with the results from this lens, so that should say something.

↑ This was taken at f4.

↑ This was taken at f8 around Wall Street.

↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.  While not the focus point, look at the traffic signs that are behind the couple.  As you can see, the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 is a very sharp lens when stopped down.

↑ Here’s another 100% crop of the photo above.  While not the focal point, you can read the paragraphs on that sign “Exploring Lower Manhattan”.

↑ This was taken at f8 at 2500 ISO.

Color rendering is also very nice, and so is contrast.  This lens does flare on occasion though, and there is a fair amount of vignetting at f1.4.  Stopping down to f4 helps you remove nearly all of it, and by f5.6, it’s all clear.

↑ Here’s another photo taken at f8.

↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.

↑ Here’s another 100% crop of the photo above.  As you can see, you can clearly read the letters on the manhole cover.

↑ This was taken at f1.4.

↑ This was taken somewhere in the Lower East Side.

Also, I should note that since this is the version two of the lens, the optical design has been refined to meet the demands of newer sensors in cameras.  Field curvature and astigmatism have also been significantly reduced for improved focusing accuracy and sharpness.  But Voigtlander made it clear that even with these improvements, the classic signature look that this lens renders has been retained, which leads me to what makes this lens truly great in my opinion.

↑ This was taken at f4.

↑ This was taken at f8.

↑ If I remember correctly, this was taken at f8.  Black and white conversion was done in Photoshop CC Camera Raw.

The Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC isn’t about tech spec perfection; it’s about character, glow, and that classic rendering, which this lens does so well.  Honestly, I can go on, and on about this technical feature and that but at the end of the day, I just love the look that this lens produces, especially at f1.4.  It’s imperfect, which makes it perfect.  For example, things like vignetting are actually beneficial in a lens like this, if you ask me. They can add to the look that this lens renders.  The Voigtlander is also sharp enough by modern standards (especially when stopped down), so I do not feel like I’m really sacrificing anything just for that classic rendering.

↑ This is a picture of the Oculus.

↑ This was taken at f8.

↑ This was taken somewhere in Little Italy.

Speaking of that classic rendering, I just love the bokeh coming from this lens at f1.4.  Of course, not everyone might agree with me, since bokeh is subjective.  As they say, different strokes for different folks.  I showed some friends the pictures I took with the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC, and some are downright in love with the bokeh while others are not.  For me, however, I just love those little bokeh balls created by this lens.  Photos with trees, leaves, and maybe a little sun in the background look so good, if you ask me.  I love the buttery smooth background, the sometimes swirly look, and as I said earlier, the fair amount of vignetting at f1.4 only seems to add to the look for me.  The only thing I regret was not shooting more at f1.4.  I probably should’ve added more shallow depth of field shots but I usually shoot 35mm lenses stopped down, and it’s hard to break the habit :).

↑ Here’s an example at f1.4.

↑ Here’s another at f1.4.

↑ This was taken at f1.4 as well.

↑ Here’s one more example at f1.4.

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC Lens Verdict:

Overall, I feel the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC has a lot offer.  Its compact, fast, and well-made.  It’s easy to carry around and use, and it produces such a beautiful classic rendering.  Yet at the same time on a technical aspect, I still think it’s a decent lens by modern standards.  I was shooting this lens all over New York City, and not once did I feel like I was getting anything that was significantly inferior to anything that other modern lenses in its class would produce, especially when stopped down.  In my opinion, this is an extremely versatile lens not just because of the focal length but also because of the way that it renders.  At $649, it’s won’t break the bank either.

I realize a 35mm lens is quite popular, and so maybe many of you already have one.  However, even for people who have a 35mm, I wouldn’t think it was crazy to buy this one to add to the collection just to get a different look.  In my opinion, the Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC can produce a unique enough look, especially at f1.4 where it’ll come in handy when you want to change things up.  Of course, if this is the only 35mm in the collection, that wouldn’t be bad either, since as I said, it’s still an exceptional overall lens that’ll produce great images.

I seriously enjoyed using the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC, and for me to praise it this much means a lot because I generally don’t like the 35mm focal length.  But I particularly enjoyed using this one.  It’s a lens I regret having to send back.  It’s not one of those clinically perfect lenses but man, does it have soul.  If you’re in the market for a 35mm lens, and want something with downright character, I’d highly recommend this one.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If you’re considering purchasing the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II, and my review helped you decide, please help support this site by purchasing from any of the links in this review.  It will not cost you anything extra.  Thank you for your support!

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II MC at B&H Photo

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II SC at B&H Photo

Voigtlander LH-6 Lens Hood at B&H Photo

30 comments… add one
  • Daryl Ovadia Link Reply

    I enjoy reading reviews of lenses that have this classic look. Technically different and designed to have reduced contrast while being sharp, these type lenses are becoming my favorite with digital sensors. I’m curious how this lens compares to the Leica 35mm Summilux ver. 2 that now sells for $2000 and up for a good sample? Thanks for a great review.

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Daryl!

      Thanks for the kind words and taking the time to read my review! As for how it compares to the older Lux, I have not used that lens in years, so I wouldn’t know. Not to discount the Lux but I would probably just save some of the cash, and go for the Voigtlander. It’s considerably cheaper, new, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did compare pretty well to the Lux. While completely different lenses and focal lengths, I just finished reviewing the Voigtlander 75mm f1.5, and it compared well with my 75mm Summilux. I did take some comparison shots from the two lenses but I don’t have enough material to write up a decent comparison between the two lenses. I hope this helps, and thanks for stopping by!

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Tomáš Vítek Link Reply

    Hello Friend.
    Thank you for the perfect review. I buy this lens for my Leica M4-2.
    I would like to ask your opinion about the Leica M4-2.
    Thank you.
    Tom.

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Tomáš!

      Thanks for the kind words, and for taking the time to read my review! The M4-2 is a great camera. You can’t really go wrong with any Leica M; they all work great and will last a lifetime. If you have any specific questions, let me know! Thanks for stopping by!

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Renat Link Reply

    Hi
    Now I’m just choosing which 35mm lens to buy for me. Your review helped me a lot. But there is a question about the light shine on bright objects. Such a glow sometimes happens when fingerprints remain on the glass. As I understand it, shooting at f1.4 this lens shows such effects. If you had experience shooting with other lenses below f2, tell me which ones should be considered for purchase.

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Renat,

      Apologies for the late reply! I’ve been terribly busy the past couple of weeks with work. I’m happy to hear my review helped, and thanks for taking the time to read it.

      As for your question, are you flexible in terms of focal length? If so, Voigtlander also makes a great 50mm. The Nokton f1.5 Aspherical. Beautiful lens, and great optics. Then there is the Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 although it is larger. Leica, of course, makes their own: the Summilux-M 35mm, which offers technical perfection. If you’d like a more old school character, you can also get the 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH. Let me know what you think.

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Vlad Link Reply

    I’ve noticed that MC version have a strong contast. Is it true?

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Vlad,

      Thanks for commenting! The MC version’s contrast is suppose to be a little stronger. According to Voigtlander, the MC version is suppose to give you a natural color rendering where as the SC version gives you a more classic one (more dreamy effect). I hope this helps!

      Best,

      Patrick

  • James Zhang Link Reply

    Hello Patrick,
    I bought vm 35/1.4II MC after reading your article, you wrote it in detail. This lens is really great. Now I put it on my Leica M6TTL . thank you for the article.

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi James,

      Thanks for taking the time to read my review! Congrats on the purchase, and I hope you continue to enjoy it! You’re shooting it with the M6? Would love to see some of the images sometime! Thanks for taking the time to comment, and stay safe!

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Ernst Link Reply

    Thank you for this great article! I am strongly considering this lens for my Leica M10. It’s too bad that Leica doesn’t have a classic rendering 35mm f/1.4 lens with a minimum focusing distance shorter than 1 meter. So my next Leica lens will probably not be a Leica lens 🙂

    Best regards,
    Ernst, Norway

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Ernst!

      Thanks for taking the time to read it! I know what you mean about the classic rendering. It’s why I kept a lot of my older glass :). Still, I think it would be great if Leica came out with more lenses like the 28mm Summaron that produce an old school rendering. As for the Voigtlander, it’s a great little lens; better than I initially thought. It was a lot of fun to shoot with it, and the price is decent. Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck on your decision! Thanks for stopping by,

      Best,

      Patrick

  • I owned the MC first version of this lens for a long time and loved it. Back when you published this post in the fall, you intrigued me to put the new version on my hit-list to purchase. I’m pleased to say I’ve just finally gotten around to buying it, and I really enjoy it so far. The bokeh is similar to the first version (thankfully, as I LOVED the swirly bokeh at f/1.4 on that lens) but this new version is a bit sharper with a touch more vibrant color when stopped down. Though the images even stopped down still have soul. I’m shooting it mostly with an M10. Thanks again for the review!

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Mark!

      It’s great to hear from you, and thanks for taking the time to read my review!

      Congrats on getting one, and I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it! This lens really does have soul, and because of that, it is still one of my favorite 35mm lenses currently out. I’m also a fan of the bokeh at f1.4 as well. Overall, I like this lens even a bit more than the 35mm f1.2 that I recently reviewed. I also love the size of it. It reminds me of my 35mm Cron V4. It’s just so handy and compact.

      I hope you continue to enjoy it, and thanks for stopping by! You must be getting some killer images from it paired with the M10 :).

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Loekito Mulyadi Link Reply

    Hi Patrick, a question, do you put clear/UV filter on it? Is there any problem when you attach filter and hood at the same time? Thanks.

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Loekito,

      This lens was loaned to me for review purposes, so I wasn’t given a filter to use with it. Plus, I don’t own any 43mm filters. However, I don’t think it would be a problem. There should be adequate room to fit a filter :). If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks for stopping by, and happy holidays,

      Best,

      Patrick

      • Mark Link

        For anyone wondering abut this, yes, that’s correct. No problem at all to use a filter with the hood.
        And thanks for the great review. Just got one to use with my M10.

  • Chris Nebard Link Reply

    Dear Patrick,
    First time I’ve commented here but I wanted to say how much I enjoy your reviews – and particularly those I’ve read on the new Sigma DG DN I Contemporaries.

    Your views on this small Nokton 35 f1.4 make it seem really tempting. I recently bought the SL2-S and I’m using the Sigma 45 as my main street lens – it transforms the user experience of the camera for me: solid, but small and light enough, and I love it. I’m seriously thinking of adding the 24mm f3.5 too, but this VM 35 f1.4 might just be my next purchase; it would be a great 2 lens setup with the Summarit 75 I have for a day on the streets, and for when I need my manual focus fix. The two obviously have very different qualities but both are nice, good value manual lenses, and offer a handy range for street work. So many choices – I can see this costing me a small fortune! 😂
    Thanks again,
    Chris.

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Chris,

      It’s great to hear from you, and thank you so much for the kind words! Appreciate you taking the time to read my reviews too!

      All those lenses you mentioned are great options, and honestly, it would be difficult for me to choose haha. The Sigma 24mm is a fantastic little lens, and actually, it would be a great match with the 45mm. Not only do the sizes of both lens compliment each other, I think the two focal lengths will too.

      The Voigtlander 35mm is also a nice lens. The build and feel of it is just about perfect. The images are also very unique and will compliment your Summarit well in terms of focal length. You might end up with both the Sigma and Voigtlander, if you’re not careful haha. Let me know if you ever have any questions, and I’ll try my best to answer them. I hope to hear from you again soon! Thanks for stopping by,

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Chris Nebard Link Reply

    Out of interest, Patrick, if you yourself had to choose between the numerous VM 35 offers (f1.2 – f2) for your SL2, which one might you go for? The more I read your review of the 35mm Nokton f1.2 iii, the more I think it might suit me better than the f1.4 MC. I want to keep the size & weight down but the new f1.2 iii doesn’t look enormous to be honest and if it is optically superior overall (I’m not suggesting it is), I’d seriously consider it.
    I think your observation above, that I’ll probably be getting both a manual focus 35 plus the Sigma 24mm f3.5, is fast becoming concrete reality.
    Thank you!

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Chris,

      Apologies for the late reply!

      I think if I had to choose a 35mm lens, I would probably go for two haha. I’d go for the f1.4 MC version because it has such a unique look to it. Plus, it is tiny, and reminds me of M lenses from the past :). I would then probably go for the Sigma 35mm f1.2. Yes, it’s huge but it has autofocus, so I am going to nail those shots at f1.2, plus pretty quickly I might add. The optics are also just incredible. It’s actually my current favorite 35mm lens.

      But the Nokton f1.2 is also a great lens. Optically it is also excellent, and yes, it really isn’t that large. I think some have said it is big but it’s an f1.2 lens. Of course, it’s going to be a little larger lol but if you’re okay with a 50 Summicron or a 50 Summilux, then the 35mm f1.2 won’t be an issue.

      The 24mm f3.5 is a beautiful lens. That’s something you should seriously consider but also take a look at the newer f2 version as well. It’s not much larger, and you have the benefit of a little more speed, if you need it.

      https://findingrange.com/2021/09/09/sigma-24mm-f2-dg-dn-contemporary-lens-review/

      If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Have a great weekend!

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Chris Nebard Link Reply

    ……and my apologies if the above is a silly question; I know that each of theses Voigtlander 35s render very differently wide open, and that such preferences come down to subjective views on the bokeh etc. but, for example, is one clearly better than the others in terms of less flaws (character), aberration, distortion, vignette, sharpness from, say, f2?
    Yes, I know I need to make my own mind up! 😆👍

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Don’t worry about it Chris, it’s not a silly question. The f1.2 has less flaws. It produces more of a modern look at wide open aperture. I hope this helps!

      As for making up your mind, it can take me several years before I buy a lens haha. You should always get what works for you, and sometimes, that can take a while :).

  • Chris Nebard Link Reply

    Thanks Patrick, great advice and much appreciated.

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Chris,

      Feel free to message me anytime, if you have questions! Have a great weekend!

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Kilian Harkema Link Reply

    I heard somewhere that ‘sharpness is a bourgeois concept’. Whether it is or not, I don’t like unsharp images either, and your review is great. Thanks a lot, it helped me greatly with my purchase decision!

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Kilian,

      Apologies for the late reply! Yeah, I heard that too lol. That’s just not my cup of tea ;). Thanks for taking the time to read my review! I hope you are enjoying the lens!

      Best,

      Patrick

  • Ian Link Reply

    If you liked this but want really great classic almost vintage rendering, you need to go with the sc model. The single coating for me was the only way to go

    • Patrick Link Reply

      Hi Ian!

      I will give it a try one of these days. Maybe I can get a copy and write a comparison with it, and my MC version too :). Thanks for stopping by!

      Best,

      Patrick

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