I've owned both lenses - I had the Nokton first and sold it to buy the Summilux. I would say @ F/1.4 the Panny lens is sharper overall, but like many have said, the Nokton has certain character. It's been months now and when reviewing my pictures and video from this summer I know immediately what was shot with the Nokton. I prefer the Panny now but I'm starting to swing back the other way. For photos the Panny is lightning quick and takes beautiful images. Build quality can't be beat on the Voitlander. Tough call here - if money is tight, go with the Panny.
@kazuo The resellers will always get dealer's price, and you'd be surprised at how much margin they can still make despite the current selling price. My friend is an official dealer of Voigtlander lenses in Asia, he imports them directly from Japan and resells them regionally, so I know how much margin he makes off each lens : )
It's like Apple resellers, do you know how much money they make off each unit? For a while I was tempted to set up an Apple franchise as well! Bloody good money
Hey guys, after playing with a buddy's Nokton this weekend, I realized MY Nokton has a couple millimeters of play where it mounts. Doesn't appear to affect the image, but now it's just going to annoy me! Think the warranty covers that kind of defect?
@stonebat For that matter, you should also be looking at M42 lenses. As M4/3 continues to gain popularity, and with the advent of NEX 7, I foresee the value of MF lenses rising. One thing I have observed about prime lenses is that they are recession proof. Very few things in this world can lay claim to that. Just look at the recent pries for C/Y Zeiss, and now CZ Jena lenses. I just collected a series of C/Ys and Flektogons, and I managed to find very minty copies but I paid a premium for each of them. Back in 2009, some of these very good copies were going for paltry US$150, cos everyone was trying to embrace AF. A minty C/Y 85mm now is going for as much as US$700 would you believe it?
The CV 25mm price had jumped from $900 to $1250. Then it came down under $1K. The price could go down more, but I ordered it cuz I can afford it at the current price. If it had been $1500 or more, it would have been a different story. I like Lumix and PL lenses, but they tend to lose values... quickly. Resale value of "modern" manual focus lenses are likely to go up as the raw material cost and the labor cost go up. You know Leica will raise the price of M lenses again. M43 system is gaining more popularity where Nokton production is being limited.
Frankly I won't say I will never sell the lens. Of course I will sell it one day. Until then, I will shoot more video with it for free... or at profit. This is like I walk into a restaurant, eat a scrumptious meal, and get paid. Hehe.
@stonebat Used to own it...After a while of using i decided...Nokton all the way for me! I just prefer nicer build to go with the great optics. Problem I still have with modern lenses is the plastic obsession....even damn mounts are plastic on some lately! They cant say its extra cost to make or adds weight...if sony can do it with their standard crappy Nex e-mounts (including Sony themselves with some a-mounts) why cant others?
If your paying a lot of cash for a lens/cameras it should be built for war! haha
Thanks @mimirsan. You own PL 25. If you say so, I will buy into your words.
14-42 X changed my lens lineup. It's a pancake with OIS and zooming. It made me to sell 14mm, 20mm, 14-45. Frankly I was expecting more video friendly features from PL 24mm. But who knows? I might be holding the Leica lens on my right hand next year. You know, "do not let your left hand know what your right hand does clicking the red order button."
Stonebat Congrats on your purchase as the Nokton is awesome. But... AF speed on the PL25mm f1.4?...and the focus motor?...its pretty silent. Its silent and pretty fast.Way more than the 20mm! Does hunt though (with that same kind of breathing the 20mm f1.7 suffers from) But anyway glad you getting the superior lens finally!
I tried to order the PL 25mm 1.4. But Panasonic Shop is giving me too much heartburn. They screwed my order twice this week. I can no longer order from their site until the 1st day of next year. WTF...
While I was waiting, I learned more about the PL 25mm 1.4. Its AF speed is only slightly faster than 20mm 1.7. They might use the same type of slow motor. Not as silent as "HD" ready m43 lenses. AFC does focus hunting.
summilux seems to handle OOF highlights better, but the Nok has more character. My own conclusion: if you are into narrative filmmaking like me, own a Nok. if you do docus, and street journalism, Summilux is better(the AF will save alot of heartache)
>pls notice the distance change btw the aperture n focus ring while focusing right, I didn't look at the right place >you get a photo portrait lens that makes people look amazing. right also