Cosina-Voigtländer is on a roll at the moment, with new lenses coming out thick and fast, whether for M-mount, E-mount, micro four-thirds or SLR mounts. Less than a fortnight since we reviewed the older Voigtländer 50mm f/1.1 Nokton the Japanese company has announced yet another 50mm VM optic, this time with the increasingly popular f/1.2 maximum aperture. The new 50 mm VOIGTLÄNDER NOKTON f/1.2 ASPH was launched this week at the 2018 CP+ Show in Japan.
There are now three fast VM 50s in the lineup, the f/1.1 and f/1.5, plus the interesting and pretty vintage-style 50mm f/3.5. The lens is compact but will offer high performance and be capable achieving an impressive bokeh effect.
Despite the new design, it retains the classic external appearance, including the scolloped focus ring, that we liked so much on the older f/1.1.
40mm sibling
From the picture, this new lens looks very similar to its sibling, the 40mm f/1.2 Nokton, a lens which has proved extremely popular. If the new nifty fifty is as good, it is likely to be another big success for for Cosina.
The 40mm Nokton-VM, which has been around for several months, is itself a very interesting proposition, straddling as it does the two common focal lengths of 35mm and 50mm — an ideal choice, perhaps, for the indecisive among us. We are hoping to get our hands on one for review in the near future.
Reader more on this lens on Leica Rumors
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I just received mine today. It weighs a little bit more than my Pre-ASPH Summilux, but is a lot larger (Summilux is admittedly tiny). Build quality is outstanding, easily at the same level as Leica’s Summarit lenses and perhaps just a hair below the build quality of a Summicron or Summilux.
I have only taken two pictures with it so far, a mirror selfie and a focus test chart both wide-open at minimum focus distance and myst say I’m very impressed. Bokeh is beautiful, the point of focus is very sharp and at least wide-open it is dead-on accurate with the rangefinder on my M-D.
It is no Noctilux replacement, but I really do see it as a Summilux ASPH replacement with the same weight and at 1/4 the price with the added benefit of an extra half stop.
What am I missing here. Will there be any substantive difference between the 1.2 and 1.1? Apart from size and price. Rather confusing for a simple mind.
ASPH I suppose. Still seems a bit overkill to me
The f/1.2 is a more modern design and, as you say, has aspherical lenses. The 40mm version has been extremely well received and I suppose this will be seen as better than the f/1.1. It will be more expensive, also, so it’s a matter of deciding which is best for your needs. I suppose more choice can it be a bad thing.