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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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Voigtländer Nokton 1.4/58mm SL II - how good is it?
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:24 am
Post subject: Voigtländer Nokton 1.4/58mm SL II - how good is it?
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:24 am
Post subject: Voigtländer Nokton 1.4/58mm SL II - how good is it?
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Any experienes with that lens here?


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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:18 pm
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:18 pm
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I haven't used it so I can't speak from own experience, but this may be helpful to you: This photographer has lots of samples, taken with D3 and uploaded in original size on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=voigtlandernokton5814slll&m=tags&w=93402735%40N00&ss=2&s=int


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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:49 pm
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:49 pm
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Thanks Vilhelm!

Bokeh looks pretty good:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rondd5/2632227279/sizes/o/

Sharpness:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rondd5/2626221225/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rondd5/2706564449/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rondd5/2326081414/sizes/o/

although I do see a bit of LCA.

I have a chance to get like new one(s) and wondered...


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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:34 pm
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:34 pm
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I don't have it. But looking the samples, it seems to be, at least, at the level of his predecessors (topcor 1,4/58, MC kokkor 1,4/58 and hexanon 1,4/57).

Very nice purchase.

Rino.


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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:37 pm
Post subject: Re: Voigtländer Nokton 1.4/58mm SL II - how good is it?
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:37 pm
Post subject: Re: Voigtländer Nokton 1.4/58mm SL II - how good is it?
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kds315* wrote:
Any experienes with that lens here?


No direct experience. The review on photozone.de and, in particular, the paid review on diglloyd indicate that its a good lens. Lloyd compared it, favourably, to the Nikon Noct 58 ...

And, if you are feeling flush, I saw an original Cosina Topcor 58mm f/1.8 in Nikon mount on ebay recently (800 examples made). That was the lens on which the SLII version is based.


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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:46 pm
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:46 pm
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I think Koji has it.


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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 12:05 pm
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 12:05 pm
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I am getting myself a boxed mint copy from a local seller today, will post photos.

Vilhelm

Last edited by Esox lucius on Mon May 10, 2010 6:12 pm; edited 2 times in total


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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 2:21 pm
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 2:21 pm
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Interesting, Vilhelm, I look forward to your report.

I would like to hear also about the Nokton 1.1/50 for rangefinder. I'll open a different thread.


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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:00 pm
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:00 pm
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Well, first impression is important so here it is: Voigtländer Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II in Nikon Ai-S mount, used on a Nikon D3.

Unlike the SL I series lenses, SL II is chipped. It has a manually controlled aperture ring, but I can also set aperture using the dial on my DSLR. This is new to me, as my manual focus lenses are unchipped. Admittedly, this is very handy. Thanks to chip, I now have full metering (spot, center and matrix) in all shooting modes: Manual, Aperture priority, Shutter priority as well as full auto in Program mode. My copy does not exhibit the constant 2/3 EV overexposure reported by Photozone - Cosina seems to have corrected the chip bug in later copies. Serial is stamped in white letters 98203xx, which makes year of manufacture 2008.

Lens build tolerance is very precise, turn it left/right fast and you notice there is zero play. The focus ring is hard rubber and the focusing feel is as good as it can be (au par with Leica M glass). Manufacturing standards seem as high as that of SL I series, perhaps even slightly better. Lens is easy, smooth and medium fast to focus, thus much better suited for street photography (compared to the close-up gearing of the 180/4 and 125/2.5 APO-Lanthars). It looks stylish and more modern than the chrome SL I series. It focuses to 0.45m, magnification ratio is 1:5.8 and for a modern full-frame SLR lens it is small in size, weight only 320g. 9 rounded blades form a nice diaphragm.

Some quick test snaps, weather was dull and ranging from light to heavy overcast.

f/1.4


f/2


f/2


f/2.8


f/1.4


f/2


f/2.8


f/4


f/2


f/2


f/2


f/4


f/1.4


f/2


f/1.4


f/2


f/1.4


f/2


Photoset on Flickr (all files uploaded in original size)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mureena/sets/72157623909265409/

Last edited by Esox lucius on Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:10 pm; edited 2 times in total


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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:37 pm
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:37 pm
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I like what I am seeing.
Thanks Vilhelm for the report.


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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 7:34 am
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 7:34 am
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Just a few quick snaps, you're welcome Orio.

I'll use it for a couple of months and then summarize what I think of it. Look forward to posting more samples soon.

Vilhelm


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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:28 am
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:28 am
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More of a subjective opinion as I no longer have it (sold when I moved to Sony) but it was my favourite '50'. Still is. I have the Topcor now which I converted to A mount and it's also very good, though I haven't compared them directly. For the price the build and performance are very satisfying. It has a tendency to render somewhat like a painting wide open and adds a soft diffusion around the plane of focus under f2. This can give an illusion of softness, especially closer in but the razor thin slice of sharpness is still there. In this way, it reminds of the Zeiss Planar 85/1.4. CA's were well controlled, but present, purple fringe was very minor so as not to be a bother. Contrast excellent, but can be made to show some light artifacts if the sun plays prominently on its big glass. Good close focus for it's class, though not the best as mentioned above. Overall, highly recommended. Lots of samples on my page, you are welcome to view http://kellysereda.com/?q=Nokton. Click the 'photos' tab from this link.

K.


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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 12:45 pm
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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 12:45 pm
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Desaturated, cropped 30% and resized to web res

Voigtländer SL II 58mm f/1.4 Nokton @ f/5.6


Original size here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mureena/4626661764/sizes/l/


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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 4:42 pm
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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 4:42 pm
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Esox lucius wrote:
Well, first impression is important so here it is: Voigtländer Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II in Nikon Ai-S mount, used on a Nikon D3.

Thanks for the samples, they look great for an F/1.4 lens. Especially, LCA seems to be very well contained, which is good as there are not many APO lenses around this focal length.

Cheers!

Abbazz


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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:00 pm
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:00 pm
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Quote:


Thanks for the samples, they look great for an F/1.4 lens. Especially, LCA seems to be very well contained, which is good as there are not many APO lenses around this focal length.

Cheers!

Abbazz


Come to think of it, I can't recall a single APO lens at 50mm...


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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:17 pm
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:17 pm
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james wrote:
Quote:


Thanks for the samples, they look great for an F/1.4 lens. Especially, LCA seems to be very well contained, which is good as there are not many APO lenses around this focal length.

Cheers!

Abbazz


Come to think of it, I can't recall a single APO lens at 50mm...


There is one; KERN MAKRO SWITAR 50/1.8 & 50/1.9.


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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:36 pm
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:36 pm
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james wrote:
Come to think of it, I can't recall a single APO lens at 50mm...


Rodenstock Apo Rodagon 50mm f/2.8

Register length is too long on most SLRs though. And its not clear that it is a true apochromatic lens despite the name.


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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:27 pm
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:27 pm
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Enlarging APO Rodagon is quite likely APO lens I believe.
The EL Nikkors are all APO lenses even though they do not mention it.

They are not easy to use for today's SLRs, but micro 4/3 cameras can
use them relatively easily except their EFoV is in a half.


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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:49 pm
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:49 pm
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The beetle shot is stunning. I love the IQ.
Mike


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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 2:19 pm
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 2:19 pm
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Silly me. You guys can never be stumped!!!!

(Really impressive, in fact).


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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 3:29 pm
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 3:29 pm
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I'm waiting for this lens to be released in EOS mount.
Looks really good.


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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:37 pm
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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:37 pm
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Back on topic Smile

f/5.6 yes boring, stopped down quality is mostly dependent on sensor. Still, with moderate sharpening, the Nokton 58/1.4 delivers.



Uploaded original size for pixel-peeping here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mureena/4659827244/sizes/l/

I have now used the lens for about 3 weeks, and it is slowly climbing on my ladder of preferred 50mm lenses (my most favored focal length on full-frame).


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Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:05 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:05 pm
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Curious you are so drawn to the CV58. Can you eloborate why?
The Nikkor 50/1.2 has become one of my favorites, far more than the 50/1.4 AiS I sold off because it rarely saw use.


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Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:15 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:15 pm
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james wrote:
Curious you are so drawn to the CV58. Can you eloborate why?


Certainly.

Less geometric distortion (minimal barrel) than with other f/1.x 50-so mm lenses. Better corrected optics (longitudinal and lateral CA) than many other 50-so mm lenses. Topped up with handling and tolerances of the high Ai-S standard, perhaps even a notch more refined. It's a joy to handle as it handles with precision and feel.

I am a 50mm freak, I love that focal length/perspective on full-frame and I have more 50mm lenses than other lenses together. I elaborate more on the subject here: http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic,p,1037171.html#1037171


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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:04 pm
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:04 pm
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exposed at f/2, available in original size here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mureena/5514871533/sizes/l/in/set-72157623909265409/
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