Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC Lens First Impressions:
There’s actually a story as to why I wanted to get the new Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC (version 2) in to review. I was looking through some of my portraits, and I was starting to miss some of that classic looking bokeh I see in some photos taken with older lens designs. So, I started to do a Google search for lenses that weren’t insanely priced but that would also give that nice, classic rendering. I ended up looking at the first version of the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4, which I totally forgot about (there are so many lenses these days, it’s so hard to keep track). Then, I realized that a newer version was out, and I thought it’d be great to review it. So, here are my first impressions of it.
In terms of build, I love this thing :). It feels like I went back in the past, and grabbed something right off the shelves of a camera store. In other words, it feels like vintage glass in terms of build, which is a complement, not criticism. Everything feels well made, and the lens overall just feels really solid. The focus ring is decently tight, which gives you a bit more control as you rotate it, especially if you need precise focusing at f1.4 yet at the same time, still smooth as butter. The aperture ring clicks solidly in place as you turn it. The Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC is also essentially all metal. I also love the weight of this lens. It’s 189 g, which is not bad at all but it just has such a nice heft to it for such a compact lens. Overall, $649 does not feel like a crazy price for such quality.
The only thing is, if you want the lens hood, you’ll have to purchase it separately for $69. But I will say this: The Voigtlander LH-6 Lens Hood is totally worth it. In addition to protecting against flare, it’s really well-made with metal parts, and it attaches in a bayonet style, so it doesn’t get knocked off accidentally. I actually think it’s better than my special edition Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH Black Paint version, and I know that thing is super expensive. My Summicron’s is a clip on type. I don’t have a pic of the Summicron’s here but you can check out my review of that lens. There’s a pic there.
As for Image quality, I absolutely love what I’m getting so far. Of course, I will go into more details in my review but the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II is very sharp, and with 10 aperture blades, bokeh is ultra smooth. In fact, the bokeh is actually quite amazing…it’s pretty much exactly what I was looking for. It does vignette a bit at f1.4 but it just seems to only add to that classic rendering to me. The Nokton 35mm f1.4 II produces images that really have a nice glow too. Basically, if you want a lens with tons of character, this is DEFINITELY one you should consider. I don’t really use a 35mm much but even I’m considering buying this one. So far, I haven’t had a chance to try the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 II during a portrait session but I will at the end of the week, so I can’t wait. I think this lens will produce some killer fashion shots with a unique look to them. Of course, I will post those images here in my upcoming review.
What are the differences between this version and the old? According to Voigtlander, the optical design has been refined to meet the demands of the newest sensors in digital cameras. Field curvature and astigmatism have also been significantly reduced for improved focusing accuracy and sharpness. While these improvements are welcomed, Voigtlander also made sure to retain the classic signature look that this lens renders. So, you’ll still get that great character from this lens, and also the beautiful bokeh that the first version produces.
Like the first version the Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 II MC also comes in multi-coating and single coating. 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.
So, stay tuned because a review of this lens is coming soon. All images here were shot with my Leica SL. However, I have shot a few images on film; I just wanted to see what I would get, and I may post them here too. I may even do a short comparison test (maybe bokeh, I’m not sure yet) between this lens, and my old 35mm Summicron-M version 4 or as some call it, the “Bokeh King”. I know, it’s not an f1.4 lens but I don’t have an old version of a 35mm Summilux lying around, so it’ll have to do :). Besides, I think it’ll be kind of fun. Thanks for stopping by!
For those interested in purchasing this lens, the link is below. You can also find the first version selling for $100 less now:
