I totally agree take on this, but as a photographer too I’ve NEVER been bothered about absolute sharpness. I find most extremely sharp lenses to be way too clinical and boring. No one ever zooms in 100% bar us. I shot a huge billboard on a Tamron 35 1.8 which was my worst lens, like not sharp at all and it’s absolutely fine. Sharpness is overrated, character is what matters and I find the 1.5 has it in spades over any of the APO’s (bar the summi)
The Ultron is super small so if small size & convenience are your top priority, that’s the lens to get! The version II is also quite a looker. The focus tab makes it easier to pull focus quickly. If you need top image quality and aren’t walking around all day with the camera around your hand/neck, you’ll love the Lanthar.
Having both lenses, I appreciate your test and I'm really with you on the results. Nevertheless, I think the comparison is not really fair in the sens that both lenses are not for the same purpose. For example I can't really imagine bringing the big APO lenses on a walk around or just for fun, the size and weight is a real issue.
Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
Hi Matt, if you look carefully at your mid-zone sharpness test in the mirror you will clearly see that your TTartisan and Voigtlander shots are not focused on the same distance so the problem is more one of focusing distances (and depth of field) than sharpness. For instance at 4:07 you will see that "LEICA"is sharp on the Voigtlandershot while it is not on the TT's (apo to add injury to injury); same at 4:22, look at the Leica logo red patch on the Voigt and see it is shaper than the TT's. If you want to pixel-peep, make sure your time is used efficiently, and provide reliable info, you need to be on a tripod and make sure both lenses are focused identically. Excellent idea but somewhat problematic execution ;o) All the best,
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom interesting. I have compared mine with many other 35 mm (including APS-C 23s for Leica CL and Fuji X-pro and 45 Hassie) and did not see that. I’ll double-check (not before the end of the month though). My guess is yours may have a lens misalignment if any.
Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voiglander apo f 2 I have also used.
@@BrunoChalifour Sounds great:) I would like to get that lighter version I, but on the other hand, that brass thick paint looks sooooo nice. I love that painted version, like 21/3.5 Color-Skopar, or 28/2 Ultron II. 288g, plus on my Sony a7c with extra 50g of adapter - 338g isn't that bad, like 40/1.2 E.
I sometimes wish I liked the 35 mm focal length, but for general walk-about use I prefer something wider, such as 28 mm or, for landscapes, 20 mm. Although the M10-P has frame lines for 28 mm, as a spectacle wearer I can never see the whole of the viewfinder image. This would not be a problem with a 35 mm lens. I never developed the skills of using an M camera for portraiture, preferring to use DSLRs and now mirrorless. I know 35 mm can be used very effectively for portraits, as you have so often shown, but I tend towards 50 mm and upwards. If I need something a little bit wider, I have that covered by zoom lenses. Despite not being a fan of the 35mm focal length, I enjoyed the video, and found it very informative. You are right about not needing the sharpest lenses, especially for portraiture. One of my favourite lenses was the Nikon 58mm f1.4, which was built with certain "flaws" to give it an unique rendering. I wish now that I had kept that lens when I went mirrorless. It would work great with Nikon's FTZ adaptor. I might buy another, as it should also work on the SL2-S in manual mode. My other favourite portrait lens is the Pentax 77mm f1.8 Limited, which I still have. Again it might not stand up to more modern lenses when it comes to outright sharpness but, oh my, the rendering is to die for! You should try one on your M cameras, Matt.
Hi Brian thanks! Sorry just trying to catch up after a busy week. Yes i'm more of a 28mm guy too but sometimes I carry a small 35mm. Yes 35mm can be OK for portraits but like you I prefer 50mm. I plan to play around with cheaper Nikon lenses on Leica for portraits for that imperfect look. I've not tried the 58mm f1.4. I have a Nikkor 50mm f1.2 but it has a tab on the back so I can mount to Leica digital. Thanks about the Pentax, I don't know that lens. (the Nikkor 135 2.8 Pre-AI renders very nicely too).
I finally decided on the Nokton 35mm f1.2 (sony version), despite its reputation for softness and color fringe. I have come to just love its rendering.
Hi Matt! this video is really helpful. I was waiting for your review of this lens just to understand if this "defect" of loss of sharpness in the middle area of the frame existed or not. I usually tend to put the subject right in that area of the field, following the rule of thirds, and I don't really like this drop in sharpness. So I'm a little undecided about the purchase (also given its current price) and I'm still in doubt about the Nokton Classic 1.4..... 🤯
Hey Andrea, sorry just catching up. Yes week in the mid area. Even if you have the face touching the outer frame the inner side of the face will be a bit soft I think.. but compared to shooting the 1.4 it will be much better in the corners.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom No, not "week" in the mid area, sorry to disagree here ;o) Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
You can not do test shots in a mirror, this includes the poor optical quality of the mirror in the result! Also go outside for good light and fast shutter speed and you have to do many pictures and then select the best because focus is always tiny little bit different! I have done thousands off test shots with Leica R lenses since 2012 and the results can vary depentent from the circumsdances a lot!
Thanks Markus, I appreciate your input. It’s hard to shoot outside in the uk in the winter months so if it’s raining I have to test inside. I do book some of my trips purely to escape the crappy weather and find decent light to test in.
Also Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
Thank's you did the retest! Very informative. A decline in sharpness in the midzone is a common thing seen in many aspherical lenses. The first lens where I noticed it was the Nikkor 1,8/28 mm AFS but there it shows only moderately and isn't annoying as the the lens is plenty sharp and still good enough even in the worst regions of the frame. Where it really bugged me enough to get rid of the camera it was mounted on, was with the Fuji X100f. But Fuji managed to remedy this problem with the next iteration of its lens in the X100v which is a camera I really love. BTW: Can you tell, if the 2/35 Ultron Asph. also suffers from an unsharp midzone?
Thanks Frank, TTA has less contrast so Nokton can look better but the resolution is greater on the TTA from my tests.. and very good if the light is behind the subject. Terrible if shoot at the light!
You may be right Frank. Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voigtlander apo f 2 (too long and cumbersome and no f 1.5 although probably slightly sharper) I have also used.
Crazy characteristics in terms of sharpness. But have you noticed the much colder colors too? I don't like this kind of cold color rendering. Makes skin tones to red, landscape to cold...
Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
4:06 Are you sure you didn't swap the labels on these? Maybe it's just UA-cam, but to me the image on the left looks noticeably better; the lens on the right seems to have more contrast-reducing flare, and the backwards “Leica” lettering seems noticeably smeary.
Thanks James, yes apologies i got them the wrong way around, (the 2 mid zone shots shared).. the "good" Nokton shot was captured closer to the edge and away from the weak spot if you look carefully at the un-cropped version.
The vignetting at f2 also looks a bit abrupt on the Nokton 1.5… I wonder if Voigtlander tried to cram too much into too small of a package, and the end result is a suboptimal compromise… for a fast pocket lens Ultron is still the way to go it seems, for the price point. My alternative would be the Zeiss Biogon f2 for a slightly different rendering P.S. thanks for taking the extra time and being thorough! It helps a ton for those of us “window shopping”.
No the Voigtlander is far from being a "suboptimal comprpmise" it has become my favorite 35 mm lens for its compactness and sharpness (and f 1.5) over my Summicron, and the TTartisan and Voigtlander APO that I have used - and yes, at f 1.5 and even f 2 there is some vignetting but although I am allergic to vignetting in most situations this one does not bother me and is easy to correct. Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
Indeed a sharper lens is not per se a better lens ! And that is what the majority of people don't understand. Now your tests are okay but they could be much better. In the past my favourite test channel was Dustin Abbott from Canada. A nice guy that always answers comments that make sense and knows his stuff, tests are proper, and he shows great real life examples. However he is more focussed on Sony, Canon Nikon lenses/mounts the variety of M and SL mount lenses is not that big but there are some. Then for a great 50mm comparison test there is Flavio Bosi, 47 degrees, take a look at that and learn, this is very deep in the rabbit hole. Success
Thanks RS! Yes this was a quick last minute test for my own peace of mind, then I decided to share it after. (I like doing selfie testing as I can see the lens, the aperture, the crop..and it's kind of how I shoot models. Agree I could do more controlled test. See tripod tests from first video (but yes there is always lots of room to improve so thanks for the mentioned channels).
TTA’s APO structure does help a lot I guess. But the color rendering of that lens is god awful imo, there seems like a yellow-ish cast on all the sample images. Meanwhile, Cosina might just cranked too much into a tiny body without doing enough tests. I would stick with mu Summilux 35 and Apo-lanthar 35.
sorry you have it wrong. The vid shows obvious misfocus in the beginning comparison. You should re-do it. The F1.5 was sharp on the word Leica, both shots.
Agreed. Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voigtlander apo f 2 (too long and cumbersome and no f 1.5 although probably slightly sharper) I have also used.
Yes sorry I did (the 2 mid-zone shots were the wrong way around. If you look carefully the "good" Nokton shot was taken closer to the edge of the frame so away from the more centred weak mid zone (from my tests), these were just 2 of many.
I bought the Voigtländer Nokton Classic-M 35 mm f/1.4 last year, but despite its excellent build quality, returned it. My Leica Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 FLE outperformed it handily in tests I did outside on my Leica CL and Leica SL2 cameras (both outfitted with Leica M to L adapters). I’ll be trying out a Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 50 mm f/2 later this year.
Hi John, yes that is like comparing chalk and cheese, as they say. One is a classic lens design so soft and mushy corners, the Leica is trying to be the cutting edge performance. The Leica easily wins. If you compare the Voigtlander APO vs Leica APO it's much similar (see my 50mm APO video a sa rough guide).
Not exactly do you really think Voigtlander did not do any test before releasing the lens? ;o) Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voigtlander apo f 2 (too long and cumbersome and no f 1.5 although probably slightly sharper) I have also used.
??? You sound very sure of your assessment here, have you ever used the TTartisan 35 and 50 mm f 1.4? I wonder. Besides, what kind of "soul" may a lens or a camera have, please can you explain that, I do not quite understand how this apply to these lenses? Now if you want to express a critical and somewhat jingoistic opinion on China and its people, that is a very different ball game. I wish Matt who travels a lot had picked up on this.
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I totally agree take on this, but as a photographer too I’ve NEVER been bothered about absolute sharpness. I find most extremely sharp lenses to be way too clinical and boring. No one ever zooms in 100% bar us. I shot a huge billboard on a Tamron 35 1.8 which was my worst lens, like not sharp at all and it’s absolutely fine. Sharpness is overrated, character is what matters and I find the 1.5 has it in spades over any of the APO’s (bar the summi)
Thanks and yes fair point.. i'm currently using older softer lenses!
Well i feel like I’m convinced not to get this 😅
Now it’s between utron f2 ii or Apo lanther f2, help me decide🥲
The Ultron is super small so if small size & convenience are your top priority, that’s the lens to get! The version II is also quite a looker. The focus tab makes it easier to pull focus quickly.
If you need top image quality and aren’t walking around all day with the camera around your hand/neck, you’ll love the Lanthar.
Well said!
Hey Hery, as C commented, get the Ultron for size (and enough performance), get the APO if you want the sharpest (maybe architecture shots.. for me)
Having both lenses, I appreciate your test and I'm really with you on the results. Nevertheless, I think the comparison is not really fair in the sens that both lenses are not for the same purpose. For example I can't really imagine bringing the big APO lenses on a walk around or just for fun, the size and weight is a real issue.
Thanks Steve! Yes true the APO lens is a monster and not a walkabout lens. The Nokton is a nice size/ weight (Alu version especially)
Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
Hi Matt, if you look carefully at your mid-zone sharpness test in the mirror you will clearly see that your TTartisan and Voigtlander shots are not focused on the same distance so the problem is more one of focusing distances (and depth of field) than sharpness. For instance at 4:07 you will see that "LEICA"is sharp on the Voigtlandershot while it is not on the TT's (apo to add injury to injury); same at 4:22, look at the Leica logo red patch on the Voigt and see it is shaper than the TT's. If you want to pixel-peep, make sure your time is used efficiently, and provide reliable info, you need to be on a tripod and make sure both lenses are focused identically. Excellent idea but somewhat problematic execution ;o) All the best,
Thanks Bruno! Yes sorry I didnt show the problem clearly. In real works use you’ll see the weakness pretty fast - photos just look soft/ missed
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom interesting. I have compared mine with many other 35 mm (including APS-C 23s for Leica CL and Fuji X-pro and 45 Hassie) and did not see that. I’ll double-check (not before the end of the month though). My guess is yours may have a lens misalignment if any.
I wanted to buy that lens, but now I have doubts...
Is it my eyes or some of those comparison shows Voigtlander actually be better/sharper than TT?
Thanks Misiesk, yes sorry I posted the images the wrong way around. When the crop is taken from near the edge of the frame the Voigtlander is OK.
Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voiglander apo f 2 I have also used.
@@BrunoChalifour I see. So 35/1.5 is pretty good then? Would you say its better than 40/1.2? I dont need 1.2, but want a nice sharp lens.
@@misiekziomal7121 I think so, yes.(until f 5.6, the 35 mm performs better), at 5.6 and beyond they are close.
@@BrunoChalifour Sounds great:) I would like to get that lighter version I, but on the other hand, that brass thick paint looks sooooo nice. I love that painted version, like 21/3.5 Color-Skopar, or 28/2 Ultron II. 288g, plus on my Sony a7c with extra 50g of adapter - 338g isn't that bad, like 40/1.2 E.
I sometimes wish I liked the 35 mm focal length, but for general walk-about use I prefer something wider, such as 28 mm or, for landscapes, 20 mm. Although the M10-P has frame lines for 28 mm, as a spectacle wearer I can never see the whole of the viewfinder image. This would not be a problem with a 35 mm lens. I never developed the skills of using an M camera for portraiture, preferring to use DSLRs and now mirrorless. I know 35 mm can be used very effectively for portraits, as you have so often shown, but I tend towards 50 mm and upwards. If I need something a little bit wider, I have that covered by zoom lenses. Despite not being a fan of the 35mm focal length, I enjoyed the video, and found it very informative.
You are right about not needing the sharpest lenses, especially for portraiture. One of my favourite lenses was the Nikon 58mm f1.4, which was built with certain "flaws" to give it an unique rendering. I wish now that I had kept that lens when I went mirrorless. It would work great with Nikon's FTZ adaptor. I might buy another, as it should also work on the SL2-S in manual mode. My other favourite portrait lens is the Pentax 77mm f1.8 Limited, which I still have. Again it might not stand up to more modern lenses when it comes to outright sharpness but, oh my, the rendering is to die for! You should try one on your M cameras, Matt.
Hi Brian thanks! Sorry just trying to catch up after a busy week. Yes i'm more of a 28mm guy too but sometimes I carry a small 35mm. Yes 35mm can be OK for portraits but like you I prefer 50mm. I plan to play around with cheaper Nikon lenses on Leica for portraits for that imperfect look. I've not tried the 58mm f1.4. I have a Nikkor 50mm f1.2 but it has a tab on the back so I can mount to Leica digital. Thanks about the Pentax, I don't know that lens. (the Nikkor 135 2.8 Pre-AI renders very nicely too).
I finally decided on the Nokton 35mm f1.2 (sony version), despite its reputation for softness and color fringe. I have come to just love its rendering.
Nice James! I like my 1.2 too.. and shoot B&W so it works for me
Hi Matt! this video is really helpful. I was waiting for your review of this lens just to understand if this "defect" of loss of sharpness in the middle area of the frame existed or not. I usually tend to put the subject right in that area of the field, following the rule of thirds, and I don't really like this drop in sharpness. So I'm a little undecided about the purchase (also given its current price) and I'm still in doubt about the Nokton Classic 1.4..... 🤯
Hey Andrea, sorry just catching up. Yes week in the mid area. Even if you have the face touching the outer frame the inner side of the face will be a bit soft I think.. but compared to shooting the 1.4 it will be much better in the corners.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom No, not "week" in the mid area, sorry to disagree here ;o) Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
Hey Matt
How have you found the rangefinder calibration on these non Leica lenses?
Thanks for your honest candid reviews
Regards Ron
It's normally pretty good out of the box but not 100% - say ok at f2-2.8 not 1.4
You can not do test shots in a mirror, this includes the poor optical quality of the mirror in the result! Also go outside for good light and fast shutter speed and you have to do many pictures and then select the best because focus is always tiny little bit different! I have done thousands off test shots with Leica R lenses since 2012 and the results can vary depentent from the circumsdances a lot!
Thanks Markus, I appreciate your input. It’s hard to shoot outside in the uk in the winter months so if it’s raining I have to test inside. I do book some of my trips purely to escape the crappy weather and find decent light to test in.
Also Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
Thank's you did the retest! Very informative. A decline in sharpness in the midzone is a common thing seen in many aspherical lenses. The first lens where I noticed it was the Nikkor 1,8/28 mm AFS but there it shows only moderately and isn't annoying as the the lens is plenty sharp and still good enough even in the worst regions of the frame. Where it really bugged me enough to get rid of the camera it was mounted on, was with the Fuji X100f. But Fuji managed to remedy this problem with the next iteration of its lens in the X100v which is a camera I really love. BTW: Can you tell, if the 2/35 Ultron Asph. also suffers from an unsharp midzone?
Thanks, I’ve not seen this on the 35/2 lens. I bought that one but won’t buy the 1.5
The TTArtisan looks less sharp than the Nokton? I suppose it could just be a UA-cam thing.
Thanks Frank, TTA has less contrast so Nokton can look better but the resolution is greater on the TTA from my tests.. and very good if the light is behind the subject. Terrible if shoot at the light!
You may be right Frank. Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voigtlander apo f 2 (too long and cumbersome and no f 1.5 although probably slightly sharper) I have also used.
Crazy characteristics in terms of sharpness. But have you noticed the much colder colors too? I don't like this kind of cold color rendering. Makes skin tones to red, landscape to cold...
Hey Tobi! As you know I do mostly b&w so don’t notice colours too much. Leica are cold colours, Voigtlander seemed ok, TTA colours not great.
Do you know white balance?
Maybe it’s because I’m uncultured, but the TTArtisan looked better to me in almost every shot! Thank you 🙏
Yes the TTA APO offers a lot for the price, just don't point it towards the bright light
Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
4:06 Are you sure you didn't swap the labels on these? Maybe it's just UA-cam, but to me the image on the left looks noticeably better; the lens on the right seems to have more contrast-reducing flare, and the backwards “Leica” lettering seems noticeably smeary.
Thanks James, yes apologies i got them the wrong way around, (the 2 mid zone shots shared).. the "good" Nokton shot was captured closer to the edge and away from the weak spot if you look carefully at the un-cropped version.
This test is shit
The vignetting at f2 also looks a bit abrupt on the Nokton 1.5… I wonder if Voigtlander tried to cram too much into too small of a package, and the end result is a suboptimal compromise… for a fast pocket lens Ultron is still the way to go it seems, for the price point. My alternative would be the Zeiss Biogon f2 for a slightly different rendering
P.S. thanks for taking the extra time and being thorough! It helps a ton for those of us “window shopping”.
Thanks! Yes I love the f2 Ultron.
No the Voigtlander is far from being a "suboptimal comprpmise" it has become my favorite 35 mm lens for its compactness and sharpness (and f 1.5) over my Summicron, and the TTartisan and Voigtlander APO that I have used - and yes, at f 1.5 and even f 2 there is some vignetting but although I am allergic to vignetting in most situations this one does not bother me and is easy to correct. Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances.
Indeed a sharper lens is not per se a better lens !
And that is what the majority of people don't understand.
Now your tests are okay but they could be much better.
In the past my favourite test channel was Dustin Abbott from Canada.
A nice guy that always answers comments that make sense and knows his stuff, tests are proper, and he shows great real life examples.
However he is more focussed on Sony, Canon Nikon lenses/mounts the variety of M and SL mount lenses is not that big but there are some.
Then for a great 50mm comparison test there is Flavio Bosi, 47 degrees, take a look at that and learn, this is very deep in the rabbit hole.
Success
Thanks RS! Yes this was a quick last minute test for my own peace of mind, then I decided to share it after. (I like doing selfie testing as I can see the lens, the aperture, the crop..and it's kind of how I shoot models. Agree I could do more controlled test. See tripod tests from first video (but yes there is always lots of room to improve so thanks for the mentioned channels).
TTA’s APO structure does help a lot I guess. But the color rendering of that lens is god awful imo, there seems like a yellow-ish cast on all the sample images. Meanwhile, Cosina might just cranked too much into a tiny body without doing enough tests. I would stick with mu Summilux 35 and Apo-lanthar 35.
Thanks for thoughts, agreed. Yes APO lenses are still top!
sorry you have it wrong. The vid shows obvious misfocus in the beginning comparison. You should re-do it. The F1.5 was sharp on the word Leica, both shots.
Thanks. Yes the examples were shared the wrong way around. Sorry for this. First example is sharper as closer to the edge and away from weak mid zone
Agreed. Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voigtlander apo f 2 (too long and cumbersome and no f 1.5 although probably slightly sharper) I have also used.
I think you mixed up some test shots and labelled them the wrong way ( at 4:04 most definitely! )
That's how it looked to me as well.
Yes sorry I did (the 2 mid-zone shots were the wrong way around. If you look carefully the "good" Nokton shot was taken closer to the edge of the frame so away from the more centred weak mid zone (from my tests), these were just 2 of many.
Yes sorry, they were the wrong way around, see reply below.
I bought the Voigtländer Nokton Classic-M 35 mm f/1.4 last year, but despite its excellent build quality, returned it. My Leica Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 FLE outperformed it handily in tests I did outside on my Leica CL and Leica SL2 cameras (both outfitted with Leica M to L adapters). I’ll be trying out a Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 50 mm f/2 later this year.
Hi John, yes that is like comparing chalk and cheese, as they say. One is a classic lens design so soft and mushy corners, the Leica is trying to be the cutting edge performance. The Leica easily wins. If you compare the Voigtlander APO vs Leica APO it's much similar (see my 50mm APO video a sa rough guide).
Matt - your such a tease 😎
Ha thanks Michael
They should hire you to consult before actually taking the lens into production!
Haha yes! Maybe i'll offer my services..if i've not been blacklisted :)
Not exactly do you really think Voigtlander did not do any test before releasing the lens? ;o) Check the video (4:07 and 4:22) and see that the results are not reliable (the lenses are not focused on the same planes/distances and the Voigtlander appears sharper than the TT artisan in different planes/focusing distances. The Voigt f 1.5 has become my favorite lens because of its sharpness, compactness, and max aperture over the Summicron, TTartisan 1.4 and Voigtlander apo f 2 (too long and cumbersome and no f 1.5 although probably slightly sharper) I have also used.
The Voigtländer has much better color than the TT.
Yes 110%
Soulless Chinese products though, meh
Thanks TJ, yes I usually prefer non-Chinese but occasionally they do OK. *Not this one, this is just sharp.
??? You sound very sure of your assessment here, have you ever used the TTartisan 35 and 50 mm f 1.4? I wonder. Besides, what kind of "soul" may a lens or a camera have, please can you explain that, I do not quite understand how this apply to these lenses? Now if you want to express a critical and somewhat jingoistic opinion on China and its people, that is a very different ball game. I wish Matt who travels a lot had picked up on this.