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25mm f/0.95 Voigtländer Nokton
  • 308 Replies sorted by
  • ShieldShield
    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.
  • stoneystoney
    Thanks. $20 plastic tree from ebay last year. Wal-Mart cheap light bulbs. Frankly it looks a whole lot better in photo :)

    GH2 firmware 1.1. Nokton at f/13. Long exposure. Then no color correction. Just little vignetting and sharpening applied for screen output.
  • proaudio4proaudio4
    stonebat,
    those look great. Really like the Christmas Tree!
  • stoneystoney
    Oh Nokton!!!
    20111214-P1000285.jpg
    1125 x 1500 - 1M
  • stoneystoney
    Just got the Nokton. Slightly lighter than Nikkor 50mm 1.4 with an adapter :)

    I was little afraid of mounting it because its huge rear element might bump into the mounting metal. the play was as tight as Lumix m43 lens.

    A quick test on a magazine cover. A head-n-shoulder shot then an eye only cropping. Very good details and nice color rendering. Love it!!!

    20111128-P1050045.jpg
    1500 x 1125 - 689K
    20111129-P1050046.jpg
    1125 x 1500 - 663K
    20111129-P1050056.jpg
    1500 x 1125 - 1M
  • stoneystoney
    Sure you can set up a fake Apple Store. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/07/21/the-ultimate-knock-off-a-fake-apple-store/
  • kazuokazuo
    @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
  • thepalaliasthepalalias
    Not sure, but you could always ask at least.
  • jweekejweeke
    Nope. Tight as can be.
  • stoneystoney
    Your buddy's had no play at all?
  • jweekejweeke
    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?
  • stoneystoney
    @kazuo I'm not a big fan of vintage lenses anymore. I own 6 vintage lenses. They are going to ebay as I find better modern alternatives. e.g. Samyang.

    CV 25mm lens... Those resellers prolly make very little or no profit under $1K price including shipping. This is good time to get this lens.
  • kazuokazuo
    @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?

  • stoneystoney
    Good resale value is important for me. :)

    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.
  • lenuisiblelenuisible
    +1
    But I doubt you will sell it anytime soon (unlike most of you lenses apparently)
  • kazuokazuo
    @stonebat
    Way to go, you won't regret the 0.95
  • MimirsanMimirsan
    @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
  • stoneystoney
    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."

    Spending will continue...
  • MimirsanMimirsan
    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!
  • stoneystoney
    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.

    I ordered Nokton 25mm 0.95 on ebay at $999.
  • kazuokazuo
    Nope.
  • fehafeha
    @kazuo
    does Summilux 25mm f/1.4 have OIS ?
  • kazuokazuo
    check out this webpage for comparisons between nokton and the new panasonic Summilux 25mm

    http://www.hybridcams.fr/2011/08/31/comparaison-panasonic-25mm-f1-4-vs-nokton-25mm-f0-95/

    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)
  • A_Boy_Named_SooA_Boy_Named_Soo
    Just bought 25mm Nokton off ebay for 943 Canadian. Can't wait to get it! Anyone know if Driftwood's settings work well with this lens?
  • lenuisiblelenuisible
    >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
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