The 35mm f1.4 Size comparison - Sigma 35mm f1.4 vs Voigtlander 35mm f1.4

One thing that has always amazed me is the tiny size of the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 and the similar M mount Leica 35mm Summilux.  These lenses, for how much light they let in, are physically very small.  Compared to my Sigma 35mm f1.4 it is probably less than one third the size.

I have a theory that a large distance from lens flange to sensor / film plane to accommodate a mirror box leads to both a loss it light levels, and also of image quality.   If you consider the reverse application, a projector, image quality and light levels do deteriorate the further away the place of projection.

In this case, as the Sigma is a much more modern design, image quality is significantly better than the Voigtlander; though I would be interested to see how it compares to the expensive Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH.

Here's a comparison between the two lenses.

Rockwell Nokton Review

I recently read a review by Ken Rockwell on the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton that I often use with the NEX.  His review was quite negative, but when a new Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux ASPH is literally 10 times the price to buy new, maybe he is missing the point.  I am sure the Summilux is a sharper lens, but for this money, so it damn well should be.

I have noted in a recent review that colour and sharpness of the Nokton significantly improves as it is stopped down, and I am sure wide open the Summilux will be better.  However, as I have shown with other fast wide angles, this is a common issue.

Using Leica M mount lenses has well and truly gone beyond the high end, very wealthy Leica M photog; which I think is all that he cares about.  Many people use them with EVILs, like me, which also are 1/10^th the price of an M9.

For under $500 used or $700 new, there is no smaller, sharper 35mm f1.4 lens out there.  For any small 35mm lens by Leica, you would need at least $1200 more for the marginally better 35mm f2.5 Summarit; and for other 3^rd party brands you’d need an extra $700 for a Carl Zeiss 35mm f2.  A Leica 35mm f2 pre-ASPH Summicron, still goes for $2000+ used for a 25 year old lens.  Any of these lenses are at least 1 stop slower than the Nokton.

In Mr Rockwell’s defence (and to whom his blog seems to be aimed at) I noticed how picky Leica owners can be when I sold my Leica 90mm f2 Summicron.  Sure my lens wasn’t perfect but it was amazing what Leica owners would pick at.  The tiny mark here or there became a very big deal.  The true Leica Man wants it all.

Sony NEX-3, Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton

Footnote:  Steve Huff's article on the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton is, in contrast, VERY positive; even when shooting on an M9.  He believes that the Nokton's 'flaws' are actually positives as they render the photograph in a much more classical way, like older Leica lenses.  Huff believes that this is a lens with 'Leica magic' (suggesting there's some characteristics that are like a $10K Leica Noctilux!); and for the price point, an unbeatable combination.  My point precisely.

Looking for a Night Street Shooter - Part 3 - The Lens

....CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST

So I needed a wide angle Leica M mount lens, that’s  very compact, and preferably with a fast aperture for shallow depth of field.....which normally means MEGA bucks.  A new Leica 35mm Summilux is $6,500!!!  And even a ratty 40 year old used one is approaching $2K!!

After looking over cameraquest.com – a website specialising in Voigtlander cameras and lenses – I discovered a solution may be at hand.  

Voigtlander is the name of an old German camera company, that was at it’s zenith pre-WWII and enjoyed a revival in the 1950’s.  About 12 years ago the rights to the name were acquired by Cosina in Japan, who then started making Leica mount cameras and lenses.

Four lenses seemed a possibility – the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Snapshot Skopar had excellent reviews, was very compact , but not really that fast.  The 28mm f2 Ultron was a bit too big to be pocketable, and the 40mm f1.4 Nokton a little bit too telephoto for APS-C sensor.

However the new 35mm f1.4 Nokton Classic looked just right – very compact, fast aperture, Leica M mount....and not ridiculously expensive.  Interestingly, it comes in two forms – Multi coated for higher contrast and punchy colours (like almost all other new lenses) and the special Single Coated model that had lower contrast, but gave more shadow detail.  Nice for Black and White.

Most blogs rate this lens well.  It has a little bit of barrel distortion with some light fall off at f1.4, good sharpness, and is overall similar to the previous generation Leica 35mm Summilux (non-ASPH); though not quite as good as the latest ASPH model.  The corner light fall off isn’t so much an issue on a NEX due to the APS-C crop sensor, but would need to be remembered when shooting film.

There weren’t any used ones to be found on eBay or locally, but just as I was about to buy a new one from Camera Quest, a used one popped up on Kijiji, with a $250 saving vs new – PERFECT!!  So I contacted the seller faster than a cat with its tail on fire, and it turned out that the lens was basically brand new, so we did the deal.  He had bought it and then decided he wanted a Leica Summicron for his M9.  This guy was loaded – he had just bought an M9 and a 50mm Summilux as he was “just getting into photography”.   A $12K spend alone!  Plus a $3,500 35mm Summicron.

This 35mm f1.4 Nokton I purchased turned out to be a Single Coat example.  Buying new, I would have chosen the Multi Coat as it suits my photographic style better, but as one forum suggested, its easier to increase contrast and saturation on a more neutral picture on Photoshop, than go the other way around.  So really, not a loss.

Right camera, right lens, READY TO SHOOT!!

TO BE CONTINUED......

Photos continued from Nuit Blanche Art Festival, October 2010

Sony NEX3 with Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton lens