Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II

The Voigtlander Nokton is a revision of a classic lens (the Voigtlander Topcor) which was made in very limited quantities in 2003. Cosina has bought the design and remakes the lens in a Nikon mount complete with electronics that allows it to communicate with the camera’s autometering system. The lens is manual focus, of course, but metering is handled by the camera in a similar way to the Zeiss ZF lenses.

The Nokton provides really superb resolution in the center even wide open, and in the edges and corners by f/2.0. At f/5.6 its sharp enough that it exceeds most reviewers ability to measure—-one of the few lenses that can do so. Basically, the lens provides the image quality of Zeiss or Nikon primes costing much more.

Roger’s take: Another nice Voigtlander manual focus prime. Unlike the 40mm, this one isn’t particularly small (about like the Nikon 50mm f/1.4). Its a bit soft in the edges wide open and I really think it is f/2.8 before its sharp across the frame. I don’t know that I like it quite as much as the Leica 50 f/1.4, but I think its close enough to make that arguable, and the Voigtlander is less expensive.