Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X Lens Review for Fuji X

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X Lens Review for Fuji X:

I am a huge fan of Fujifilm native lenses but like many others, I just want something different sometimes for my Fuji camera.  It’s good to have variety, and there are actually quite a lot of lenses to choose from for X Series cameras that are X mount, and not made by Fujifilm.  For instance, if you want to have a little manual focus fun, there’s the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens.  I’ve been a big fan of Voigtlander lenses for a long time, and when I heard about this lens for the first time, I was definitely excited to test it out.  Here’s what I think of it.

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Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X Lens Build Quality:

One of the reasons why I’ve always enjoyed using Voigtlander lenses is because they are generally well-made optics.  I’ve tried many of the VM mount lenses, and the build has always impressed me.  I’m happy to say that this is definitely true with the Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens as well.  Thanks in part to the lens barrel being made of all metal, this is one solid optic that is clearly a high quality product.  The lens feels great in the hands, and has that feel of a lens made in the past (retro feel and style).  Furthermore, the focus ring is buttery smooth with just the right amount of resistance to make manual focus feel nice and rewarding.  The aperture ring also clicks nicely into position as you rotate it.  Lastly, the 35mm f1.2 has electronic contacts for information communication with the camera.

↑ The Fujifilm X-T3 with the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens attached.

Besides being well-made, the Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens is light and compact, especially when you consider its f1.2 maximum aperture.  This lens isn’t just Voigtlander’s VM mount version that has X mount attached to it.  This is a redesigned lens for X mount, so it’ matches the X Series cameras quite well, and therefore, it is a joy to use with the cameras.

I was walking around a lot with this lens, and it made a wonderful companion to my X-T3.  But even if you don’t have an X-T3, it balances quite well with all of the Fujifilm camera bodies in general including the smaller ones like the X-E4.  Weighing in at only 6.9 oz/196 g, the 35mm f1.2 is light enough to carry around all day without feeling fatigue.  With dimensions of 2.3 x 1.6″/59.6 x 39.8 mm and a 46mm filter thread, it’s also compact enough that it can be quite discreet for times when you are shooting candids on the street, for example.  Overall, if you’re looking for something that is handy, and easy to use, the 35mm f1.2 is a great choice.

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X Lens Focus:

As for focusing, it’s not too difficult to manually focus the Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens.  The focus throw isn’t too long, and for the most part, it just takes some practice and getting used to, if you haven’t done it in a while.  My eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, so it still took me some time to manually focus at f1.2 for some of the shots.  I had my occasional misses as well.

What helped me a lot were the features in my X-T3.  I mainly relied on focus peaking but there were times when I also used magnification.  The EVF is decent too.  I also used smaller apertures at times, to increase my depth of field.

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X Lens Image Quality:

The Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens has been designed specifically for the Fujifilm X Series, and overall, the image quality is great.  There are even 12 aperture blades, which I feel is quite generous for this 50mm equivalent lens.

↑ Here’s a photo I took with the camera set at 160 ISO, and the lens set at f5.6.

↑ This was taken with f4 and 2000 ISO.

↑ I shot with with the lens set at f8 using 400 ISO.

Sharpness for the most part is exceptional.  I say for the most part because at f1.2, there is a bit of softness to the image.  I don’t feel it’s something you will really notice unless you’re pixel peeping though.  Furthermore, as you stop down to just f1.4, sharpness improves noticeably.  By f2.8, sharpness has improved considerably.  As for corners, they hold up pretty well, and of course, improve as you stop down.

↑ Here is a photo taken at f1.2 with 160 ISO.

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

↑ This was taken at f8 using 160 ISO.

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

↑ Here’s another photo taken with f8 but this time, using 640 ISO.

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

Other features of the Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens, include good color and contrast.  There’s really nice 3 dimensional depth to the images.  There is some vignetting at f1.2 but it’s pretty well-controlled.  Furthermore, by stopping down to just f1.4, vignetting is greatly reduced.  It’s pretty much all gone by f4.  There is the occasional flare but for the most part, if you’re not taking shots where you are actively trying to make the lens flare, I think you will be alright.  Overall, I feel like this is a lens that is more about its character than technical perfection.  Don’t get me wrong; it still measures up to what we consider as a modern day lens on the technical side of things, and it will still produce very sharp results.  However, there’s maybe a little bit extra that can’t be quantified as easily, if you get my drift.

↑ Heres a photo taken using f8 and 500 ISO.

↑ This photo was taken using 160 ISO and f8.

↑ Here’s another photo taken using f8 and 400 ISO.

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X Lens Bokeh:

As for bokeh, it is quite good, thanks in part to its 12 aperture blades.  It is beautifully soft, and smooth in every way.  I didn’t see an harshness or weird looking artifacts in the images.  I feel the bokeh is definitely one of this lens’ strengths.  I tested this lens months ago when Covid cases were quite high here in New York City, so unfortunately, I did not do many model shoots.  However, I feel the Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens would be a fantastic lens for portraits.

↑ Here’s an example taken using f1.2 and 160 ISO.

↑ Here’s another taken at wide open aperture using 160 ISO.

Pros And Cons:

Pros:

• Well-built lens.
• Compact and light.
• For those who are fans of manual focus lenses that have a retro look and feel.
• Overall, great image quality with a hint of character to it.
• Well-controlled vignetting
• Beautiful bokeh.

Cons:

• A little soft at f1.2.
• You either love manual focus or don’t.

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X Lens

Producing a 50mm equivalent lens in a system like the Fujifilm X Series isn’t an easy task because it’s a very popular focus length, and therefore, there is a lot of competition.  However, I feel there’s definitely room for the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens because it does offer a nice combination of features that sets it apart from its competitors. 

↑ I used f5.6 here and 160 ISO.

↑ One last photo of the X-T3 with the Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens attached.

Some of these features include the build, which is what one would expect from Voigtlander.  This lens is definitely solid.  The 35mm f1.2 is also ultra compact and light.  It has a retro feel, and appearance that will match the overall style of Fujifilm cameras.  Lastly, it does have great image quality with a bit of character to it.  Currently, it retails for $649, which isn’t cheap but I feel the build alone makes the price justifiable.

Overall, I like seeing other manufacturers producing lenses for the X Series system, and I hope this is not the last lens we see from Voigtlander.  I think they did a great job here, and it’s something I definitely recommend.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If you’re considering purchasing the Nokton 35mm f1.2, and my review helped you decide, please help support this site by purchasing from the links below or any mentioned in this review.  It will not cost you anything extra. Thank you for your support!

Nokton 35mm f1.2 X lens at BH Photo