Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.4 wide open example photos

[filmfan]

So with all the talk about lousy bokeh associated with the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm lens, I went ahead and bought one anyways just to see for myself whether it worked for me or not.

My conclusion is that although the out of focus areas are not up to the challenge of some Leica lenses, it is certainly not intolerable-- especially when one considers all the other positive characteristics of this lens: size, speed, handling, and PRICE.

Below are some random examples of wide open shots from my first two rolls of film shot with the Nokton. I am using the SC copy and processing in Rodinal 1+100 stand)

1. Neopan 100 ACROS
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/5-5.jpg?w=1024


2. Neopan 100 ACROS (pushed to 400)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/46.jpg?w=1024


3. Neopan 100 ACROS (orange filter)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/19.jpg?w=1024


4. Neopan 100 ACROS (orange filter)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/35.jpg?w=1024


5. HP5+ 400 (pushed to 800)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/16.jpg?w=1024


6. HP5+ 400 (pushed to 800)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/22.jpg?w=1024


7. HP5+ 400 (pushed to 800)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/61.jpg?w=1024


8. Neopan 100 ACROS (orange filter)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/7.jpg?w=1024


9. HP5+ 400 (pushed to 800)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/74.jpg?w=1024


10. HP5+ 400 (pushed to 800)
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/81.jpg?w=1024



Post some more wide open shots from the Nokton 40mm (or 35mm if you want), and/or give your opinion on the quality of the lens wide open if you wish to do so.

[ferider]

OOF of the 40/1.4 is very good. The only Leica normal that I know is better is the 50/1.4 ASPH.

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/2011/0511-B/i-VNpgGzg/0/O/41-Scan-110521-0017.jpg

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/2011/0511-B/i-98p5vV5/0/XL/41-Scan-110521-0034-XL.jpg

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/2011/1011-B/i-ZQXJmRw/0/O/55-tmx400-Scan-111009-0003.jpg

(this one was part of a lens quizz - many thought it was shot with a Sonnar)

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/2011/1011-B/i-fcHBCNS/0/O/B-uncropped.jpg

Roland.

[back alley]

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4035/4335823033_03d9ec3fc2_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2783/4336565344_b57a7e43e8_b.jpg

[back alley]

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2702/4336568602_af95b5d7a7_b.jpg

[Stuart John]

Nokton 40mm 1.4 wide open on the Sony NEX C3.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3357/U3357I1325103923.SEQ.0.jpg

[Stuart John]

Heres another from the Nokton and the NEX C3. Not wide open this though.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3357/U3357I1325103921.SEQ.0.jpg

[back alley]

is that a toaster/radio?

[Stuart John]

Yep you can listen to music while making toast

[back alley]

i have never seen one before...didn't even know they existed...very cool!

[Dirk]

I must have one. I mean the toaster radio. The Nokton is nice, but the toaster radio is BRILLIANT!

[back alley]

the coolest appliance that i have is a cordless iron...

[Bob Michaels]

Both with a Nokton 40mm MC at f1.4

Bishop Pringle at the Holy Ghost Headquarters of Jesus Christ in South Apopka Florida

http://bobmichaels.org/Religion%20-%20south%20Apopka/slides/Pringle-giving-Holy-Ghost.jpg

Bishop Washington at the Temple of Faith in South Apopka Florida

http://bobmichaels.org/Religion%20-%20south%20Apopka/slides/Bishop-Washington-&-little-girl.jpg

[Krosya]

I have CV 40 and like it a lot. I dont know why some people dont like it - I think it's a great lens even if it was more expensive. There are some lenses in CV or even Leica lineup that cost more and dont draw as nice IMO.

[filmfan]

Here are some more... all shot on Neopan 100 ACROS (orange filter)

1.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/29.jpg



2.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/4-5.jpg?w=1024



3.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/76.jpg



4.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/123.jpg?w=1024


5.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/116.jpg?w=1024

[kermaier]

http://kermaier.smugmug.com/Photography/Public-Samples/i-L8khGC4/1/L/EPSN4941-1-L.jpg
R-D1s, ISO 400, f/1.4

[35mmdelux]

I'm always surprised how inexpensive the lens is. I wish it would have been avail when I started shooting Leica 20 years ago.

[filmfan]

HP5+ @1600

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/500/823.jpghttp://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/82.jpg

[Richard G]

What's the drill on SC vs MC? There's a new one of these near here: I presume it's MC. How do you tell? I've read lousy bokeh and not sharp wide open: obviously rubbish on both counts.

[noimmunity]

After the side-by-side test that Roland did with the Nokton 40 and the C Summicron, I'm surprised anybody ever gives this a second thought. The Nokton 40 has better bokeh to most eyes than the summicron.

But I still have a soft spot for the Rollei 40/2.8 !

[Bob Michaels]

.................... I've read lousy bokeh and not sharp wide open: obviously rubbish on both counts.

I cannot comment about boken since I am one of those who tries to get the viewer to see what is in focus, not the other way around.

I find the 40 Nokton to be very usable at f1.4. Not spectacular but usable. Quite a feat since it is both f1.4 and priced very reasonably. I will say that I think I get better results than some of the images posted in this thread, but that is a personal opinion. Maybe I just never found the part of the image that was supposed to be in focus, but many look downright fuzzy to me.

I will say that I shoot the Nokton wide open only when there is not enough light to stop down 1 or 2 stops.

[Landberg]

taken with r-d1s

http://www.rikardlandberg.se/gfx/uploads/blog/big/1321369566.jpg

taken with CLE, t-max 400
http://www.rikardlandberg.se/gfx/uploads/blog/big/1319051391.jpg

[Trius]

the coolest appliance that i have is a cordless iron...
But I bet you've lost manual :p

[filmfan]

HP5+ @1600, ID-11 1+0

1.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/113.jpg?w=1024


2.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/122.jpg?w=1024


3.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/7-5.jpg?w=1024

[filmfan]

I will say that I think I get better results than some of the images posted in this thread, but that is a personal opinion. Maybe I just never found the part of the image that was supposed to be in focus, but many look downright fuzzy to me.

I've also noticed that you over-sharpen your images quite drastically. To each, their own...

[Bob Michaels]

I've also noticed that you over-sharpen your images quite drastically. To each, their own...

Yes, I do sharpen my images for display as a 800 pixel wide JPG. I sharpen differently for my normal exhibition print size of 10x12.5". They appear to have the same (maximum without artifacts) degree of sharpness to my eye. I don't like images that look fuzzy to me. But as you say, "to each, their own". We certainly have our own preferences.

[filmfan]

Yes, I do sharpen my images for display as a 800 pixel wide JPG. I sharpen differently for my normal exhibition print size of 10x12.5". They appear to have the same (maximum without artifacts) degree of sharpness to my eye. I don't like images that look fuzzy to me. But as you say, "to each, their own". We certainly have our own preferences.

Agreed. I like the fuzz;)

[helenhill]

HP5+ @1600, ID-11 1+0
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/7-5.jpg?w=1024

Love shot #3 ...Wonderful Playful Expression ...:)

[maccaco]

HP5+ @1600, ID-11 1+0

2.
http://stwilsonphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/122.jpg?w=1024




Extraordinary! Photo beautiful and full of energy! Splendid!
Congratulations!

[CrisR]

M8 wide open in France

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8435/7803090926_960cbc9bc0_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crisrose/7803090926/)
French Sausage (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crisrose/7803090926/) by Cris Rose (http://www.flickr.com/people/crisrose/), on Flickr

[CrisR]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7110/7832342266_8c54366014_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crisrose/7832342266/)
Frenchman and his Organ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crisrose/7832342266/) by Cris Rose (http://www.flickr.com/people/crisrose/), on Flickr