Introduction
The Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5 is a full-frame, handbook focus lens with an all-metal construct high quality and a shiny most aperture. It’s obtainable for Nikon Z, Sony E, and Canon RF at a worth of $900 (and Leica M for $1000). Notably, though the optics are the identical throughout these totally different variations of the lens, the barrel designs are fairly totally different. I examined the Nikon Z model each within the lab and within the area to carry you immediately’s assessment.
Earlier than anything, understand that the Nokton 75mm f/1.5 is a handbook focus lens. That makes it a specialised piece of glass no matter its different strengths and weaknesses (largely strengths, to be honest). It might be well-suited to studio images, however in all probability not very best for fast-paced weddings or occasions.
You’ll see that lots of the pictures on this assessment are of landscapes. That’s not as a result of the Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5 is especially meant for panorama images, however simply because my time with this lens coincided with my journey to Patagonia earlier this 12 months. Nonetheless, I don’t thoughts handbook focus glass for panorama images, even a quick lens like this one. After all, it helps that this lens isn’t too heavy (530 grams / 1.2 kilos) and has wonderful picture high quality – extra on that later.
In any case, I used to be excited to check the Nokton 75mm f/1.5, partly as a result of it’s so totally different from the lenses that I usually use. A lens with this construct high quality, focal size, and aperture doesn’t normally find yourself in my bag, so it was a enjoyable problem to get some attention-grabbing pictures with it. However how did it carry out? In immediately’s hands-on assessment, I’ll share my experiences – and, in fact, our lab knowledge – to point out you the way the Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5 measures up.
Construct High quality
Voigtlander’s lenses are lovely devices, and the Nokton 75mm f/1.5 isn’t any exception. It options an all-metal building, made in Japan, with engraved markings for focus distances and apertures. It’s a jewel of a lens – possibly that shouldn’t matter, however I don’t suppose there’s something incorrect with choosing a lens whose design brings you some additional pleasure to make use of.
The Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5 isn’t the smallest or lightest lens you’ll discover, however given the f/1.5 most aperture, it’s not so dangerous. The lens weighs 530 grams (1.2 kilos), which, for context, is just a hair heavier than the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S at 470 grams (1.0 kilos). The 75mm f/1.5 does really feel a bit chunky, nonetheless, because of the big diameter of the barrel.
A small draw back is that the black paint on the metallic of the Nokton 75mm f/1.5 can put on out over time. After a few weeks, there have been some skinny spots within the paint on my copy of the lens, most probably on account of bumping towards another tools in my bag (though I used to be attempting to watch out and keep away from that). After all, this has no impact on the operate of the 75mm f/1.5. However I level it out as a result of it could hurt the lens’s resale worth or your means to return it in like-new situation for those who ever resolve that it’s not the precise lens for you.
As for different construct high quality concerns, the Nokton 75mm f/1.5 is constructed very properly, with design tolerances which are clearly very strict. I felt no considerations utilizing it within the rain and different harsh situations, though Voigtlander doesn’t declare any climate sealing. That mentioned, I wouldn’t use the lens in a real rainstorm. It focuses externally, and there isn’t a rubber gasket behind the lens.
Dealing with
The Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5 handles properly. The focusing ring is giant and well-damped, with a easy focusing movement and a large focus throw. As anticipated for a handbook focus lens, there aren’t a variety of controls on the Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5, however there may be not less than an aperture ring (clicked) on the entrance of the lens. Be aware that this can be a actual aperture ring, not an digital aperture management. Even when the lens is disconnected from the digicam, rotating the aperture ring will change the aperture.
Fortunately, immediately’s Voigtlander lenses are chipped, which means that you’ll get full EXIF knowledge with each photograph you’re taking. You’ll additionally see your chosen aperture within the digicam’s viewfinder or LCD, which I discover helpful when taking pictures shortly – you don’t have to consistently be glancing on the lens’s aperture ring whereas taking footage.
That mentioned, there may be one downside to the Nokton’s dealing with, not less than for a way I prefer to work: It isn’t attainable to vary the aperture on this lens by way of the command dials in your digicam. You’ll be able to solely change the aperture by rotating the ring on the entrance of the lens. Likewise, it isn’t actually attainable to make use of this lens in shutter-priority or computerized mode, for the reason that digicam has no approach of adjusting the aperture.
After all, it isn’t the tip of the world. You simply have to rotate the aperture ring to vary the aperture. However you probably have the muscle reminiscence of adjusting aperture by way of a command dial in your digicam, the Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5 might not “get out of your approach” correctly till you’ve been utilizing it for some time.
Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5 Specs
- Full Identify: Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5
- Mount Kind: Nikon Z, Sony E, Canon RF, Leica M (notice that the barrel design may be very totally different on all variations, and so are a number of the different specs)
- Focal Size: 75mm prime
- Angle of View (Full Body): 32°36′
- Most Aperture: f/1.5
- Minimal Aperture: f/32 (f/16 on Leica)
- Aperture Blades: 12
- Filter Dimension: 62mm
- Lens Parts: 7
- Lens Teams: 6
- Particular Parts: 1 aspherical, 3 partial dispersion
- Digital Diaphragm: No
- Vibration Discount: No
- Inner Focusing: No
- Management Rings: Aperture and focus
- Operate Button: No
- Focus Motor: No
- Minimal Focus Distance: 0.50 meters (1.6 ft), Nikon model
- Most Magnification: 0.23× (1:4.4 magnification)
- Mount Materials: Steel
- Climate/Mud Sealing: No
- Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 76 × 74mm (3.0 × 2.9 inches), Nikon model
- Weight: 350 g (Leica), 530 g (Nikon), 515 g (Sony), 525 g (Canon)
- MSRP: $999 for Leica M, $899 in any other case
- Lowest Value Seen: $899 for Leica M, $899 for Nikon Z, $799 for Sony E, $699 for Canon RF
The subsequent web page of this assessment covers the optical traits of the Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f/1.5, together with focusing efficiency and sharpness assessments within the lab. So, click on the menu under to go to “Optical Efficiency”: