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CP+ 2019: Voigtländer unveils new manual focus lenses for Sony E-mount and Leica M

02 Mar

CP+ 2019: Voigtländer shows new lenses for Sony E-mount

We’re at the CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan, where Cosina is letting customers get their hands on three fast manual-focus primes for Sony E-mount and Leica M, respectively. We took a closer look.

Nokton 50mm F1.2 Aspherical

First up is the Nokton 50mm F1.2 Aspherical for E-mount. Although this is a metal-bodies, classically-styles manual focus prime, optical construction is thoroughly modern, comprising eight elements in six groups, including two aspheres.

Nokton 50mm F1.2 Aspherical

Considering the fast maximum aperture of F1.2, the Nokton is very compact, and fairly light at 434 g. Voigtländer claims that this is thanks to the use of aspherics, which allow for high-resolution imaging wide-open without the need for more, or larger elements.

Nokton 50mm F1.2 Aspherical

The Nokton 50mm F1.2 features a 12-bladed manual aperture, and a 58mm filter ring. Electrical contacts on the mount allow for focal length and aperture information to be transmitted to compatible E-mount cameras. Minimum focus distance is 0.45m (about 18 inches).

Nokton 21mm F1.4 Aspherical

The Nokton 21mm F1.4 for Sony E-mount handles like a slightly larger version of the 50mm, and operates in exactly the same way. Manual focus and aperture rings allow for direct manual control, and the overall quality of build and finish is as high as we would expect from a premium Voigtländer lens. All three of these new lenses, in fact, are lovely to hold and use.

Nokton 21mm F1.4 Aspherical

Optical construction comprises 13 elements in 11 groups, with at least one aspherical element (Cosina is being a little vague, for now, on the exact optical formulation). Like the Nokton 50mm, there are 12 aperture blades, and electrical contacts communicate focal length and aperture to the camera.

Nokton 21mm F1.4 Aspherical

The Nokton 21mm F1.4 is a fairly large lens, with a 62mm filter thread. For video use, the aperture dial can be ‘de-clicked’ for smooth stepless control. Minimum focus is 0.25m (about 10 inches).

Nokton ‘Vintage’ 75mm F1.5 Aspherical

The Nokton 75mm F1.5 Aspherical is a fast short telephoto prime lens for Leica M-mount. Preferred by some rangefinder photographers over 80mm+ lenses for portraiture, 75mm is meaningfully longer than 50mm, while not quite long enough that the framelines in an optical viewfinder end up too small for accurate composition.

Nokton ‘Vintage’ 75mm F1.5 Aspherical

Intended to recall the classic rangefinder lenses of the mid 20th Century, the Nokton 75mm might look like an antique, but its optical makeup is entirely modern. Optical construction comprises seven elements in six groups, including one aspherical element. According to Voigtländer, this should ensure good sharpness and resolution even at the lens’ widest aperture of F1.5.

Again, there are 12 aperture blades, which ensures near-circular apertures across the range of F1.5-16. At wide and medium apertures, this should result in the all-important pleasant circular highlight bokeh beloved of portrait photographers. As we’d expect for a lens designed for rangefinder cameras, minimum focus is a fairly unremarkable 0.7m, which represents the minimum focus coupling distance for a Leica M-series camera.

Pricing and availability for all three new lenses has yet to be confirmed, but we’ll bring you more details as they become available.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Voigtlander Vintage Line lenses for Leica M mount get prices for US, UK markets

31 Jan

Prices have been released in the USA and UK for a pair of new Voigtlander lenses designed for M mount rangefinder cameras. Both the Color-Skopar 21mm f/3.5 VM Aspherical Vintage Line and the Ultron 35mm f/2 VM Aspherical Vintage Line will cost $ 799/£599 and are available now.

The aim of the lenses is to provide compact and high quality optics in a retro style that conjures the essence of the 1950s. The company says it targeted more moderate maximum apertures so that it could keep the lenses small, but also because very wide apertures are less practical when using rangefinders, especially when the subject isn’t central or is moving in the frame.

There is a sample gallery of images taken with the lenses in DPReview’s original news article, and there’s more information in the Voigtlander website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Voigtlander introduces a pair of retro wide lenses for Leica M mount

28 Nov

Lens manufacturer Voigtlander has announced a pair of new lenses in what it calls its Vintage Line. The Color-Skopar 21mm F3.5 and Ultron 35mm F2 Aspherical are both designed for M mount cameras, including Voigtlander’s Bessa models as well as Leica’s M rangefinders.

The lenses are styled to conjure up the feel of the 1950s, according to the manufacturer. While the exteriors are retro, the optical construction aims to be a match match modern digital sensors as well as for film. Voigtlander says it has used ‘practical’ maximum apertures rather than going too wide so that it could keep the lenses small and the quality high. The aperture range is ‘practical’ because, according to Voigtlander, it is more difficult to focus with a shallow depth of field with a rangefinder when faced with moving subjects, and these lenses are intended to be used stopped down for zone focusing when responding to fluid situations.

The barrels and moving parts are made of metal and the focusing mechanism is claimed to be well greased for smooth movements. The Color-Skopar 21mm uses nine elements in eight groups, while the Ultron 35mm has eight elements in five groups – and both have a ten-bladed iris.

Below is a gallery of sample images from the Color-Skopar 21mm F3.5:

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Below is a gallery of sample images from the Ultron 35mm F2:

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The lenses will be available in January priced ¥95,000 and ¥90,000 (approx. $ 840 and $ 800). For more information see the Voitlander pages of the Cosina website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Photokina 2018: Hands-on with new Voigtländer M and E-mount prime lenses

30 Sep

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Voigtländer is one of the oldest names in photography. These days licensed by Japanese lensmaker Cosina, the Voigtländer brand is still going strong. We’re at Photokina, where we got our hands on the company’s newest lenses.

First up is a lens that was quietly released earlier this year for Leica M-mount. The Nokton 50mm F1.2 Asph is a fast standard prime lens designed for high-resolution digital imaging on modern Leica rangefinder cameras.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

While at 1,099 Euros ($ 999) it’s not exactly cheap, it’s a good deal more affordable than Leica’s 50mm F0.95 Noctilux. The all-metal Voigtländer doesn’t have quite the same high-quality feel as the Leica, but it’s very nicely built. The focus and aperture dials rotate with a lovely smoothness and crisp clickiness (respectively) that set this lens apart from most of today’s polycarbonate lenses.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Unlike Leica’s own lenses, the Voigtländer doesn’t offer 6-bit coding for Leica’s digital rangefinder bodies.

The Nokton 50mm F1.2 is priced at 1,099 Euros ($ 1,059) and is available now. A companion lens, the medium-wide Nokton 35mm F1.2 Asph II is also available now, for 1,299 Euros ($ 999).

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

In addition to M-mount lenses, Voigtländer was also showing off its new primes for the Sony E-mount. This is the new 110mm Macro APO-Lanthar, also first announced earlier this year at the CP+ show in Yokohama Japan.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

The 110mm offers 1:1 macro capability and a closest focusing distance of 35cm (13.7 in). It uses three floating lens groups for focusing to ensure optimal quality at all distances – according the Cosina – and apochromatic correction to satisfy the resolution requirements of 40MP+ sensors.

Electronic contacts on the mount communicate the lens’s focal length, focus distance and aperture settings to Sony E-mount cameras.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

The 110mm is a beautifully-made lens, but at 771g (27 oz) it’s fairly weighty and as you can see in the previous image, it gets fairly long at its minimum focus distance, too. As well as effective macro photography, the APO-Lanthar could provide a useful portrait capability for Sony E-mount shooters.

The 110mm Macro APO-Lanthar will be available soon for 1,199 Euros ($ 1,099).

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Voigtländer’s Nokton 40mm F1.2 Asph for Sony E-mount is an E-mount version of the M-mount Nokton that Voigtländer has been selling for many years. It offers a minimum focus setting of .35m (13.7 in) in a body weighing 420g (14.8 oz).

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

The Nokton 40mm F1.2 features a 58mm filter ring, and a ten-bladed aperture.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Like the 110mm, the 40mm has electronic contacts to communicate lens settings to Sony E-mount cameras. First announced last year, it is available now for 1,099 Euros ($ 1,099).

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Voigtländer’s new 21mm F3.5 Color-Skopar is another E-mount prime. The lens is constructed of nine elements, including one aspherical element and one anomalous partial dispersion element, in eight groups.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

The 21mm F3.5 Color-Skopar has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm/7.87in and uses a ten-blade aperture diaphragm. The lens will start shipping soon for 749 Euros (US price TBD).

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Also on show are two ‘concept’ lenses, which may or may not enter production, depending on feedback from the market. This is the first one, an ultra-compact ‘Ultron’ 35mm F2 for Leica M-mount. Finished in a classic-looking combination of black and chrome, the Ultron could be a very attractive option for users of film and digital rangefinders looking for a compact and lightweight medium-wide prime.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Next up is another 21mm F3.5 Color-Skopar, but again in Leica M-mount. Much smaller than its E-mount equivalent, this tiny prime is almost a pancake lens.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

Despite its size, the 21mm F3.5 is very nicely made. It features a large, nicely-machined aperture dial and a pegged focus ring for one-finger focusing.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

The third and final concept lens is an E-mount version of the new Nokton 50mm F1.2 Asph.

New Voigtländer lenses for M and E-mount

We believe that optical construction is the same as the M-mount version, but the addition of electronic contacts will ensure that the SteadyShot stabilization systems in Sony’s E-mount cameras work properly with this lens, as opposed to an M-mount version fitted via an adapter.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Cosina announces Voigtlander 21mm F3.5 lens for Sony E-mount systems

21 Sep

Cosina has announced its new Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm F3.5 E-mount lens.

This is the eighth Voigtlander lens designed specifically for Sony’s full-frame E-mount support. As with past lenses, the Color Skopar 21mm F3.5 features full EXIF support. In addition to having the extra metadata there, this also means Sony’s in-body image stabilization should work without issue when shooting with the lens.

The lens constructed of nine elements — including one aspherical element and one anomalous partial dispersion element — in eight groups. It has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm/7.87in and uses a ten-blade aperture diaphragm.

The diameter of the lens is 62.8mm/2.47in and the length is 39.9mm/1.57in. It weighs just 230g and features a 52mm filter size.

Below are a collection of sample images provided by Cosina:

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The lens is currently available for pre-order and is expected to start shipping in October 2018. Cosina has it listed for ¥85,000, which equates to roughly $ 758 at the current exchange rate. Fred Miranda notes though that the price is suspected to be $ 799 when it lands stateside.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Voigtlander releases details and price of its 110mm F2.5 Macro APO-Lanthar for Sony E-Mount

03 Jul

Lens manufacturer Cosina has provided more specification for the Macro APO-Lanthar 100mm F2.5 lens that it first announced at CP+ in March. The E-mount lens is due to begin shipping in August 2018, and is quoted on the Japanese website as having a price of ¥148,000 – approximately $ 1350/£1050 before tax.

The new manual focus lens offers 1:1 macro and a closest focusing distance of 35cm. It uses three floating lens groups for focusing to ensure optimal quality at all distances – according the Cosina – and apochromatic correction to produce high resolution and detailed images for the full frame Sony sensors.

With electric contacts the lens can transmit aperture and focusing information to the camera, which will be recorded in the EXIF data of the image as well as being used to inform the 5-axis image stabilization systems of the Sony range. The contacts also allow manual focus assistance to be triggered by turning the focusing ring.

For full specification see the Cosina website.

Manufacturer information

Macro APO-LANTHAR 110mm f/2.5 E-Mount

Voigtländer MACRO APO-LANTHAR 110mm F2.5 is a high performance manual focus 1:1 macro lens optimized for the imaging sensors of Sony mirrorless cameras. Inheriting the APO-LANTHAR designation, the lens is highly corrected to eliminate optical aberrations including longitudinal chromatic aberration. The lens covers the full frame image area, and achieves a maximum image reproduction of 1:1 life size with no additional attachments. In order to ensure subjects from minimum focus distance to infinity are captured with extremely high image quality, a 3-group floating mechanism is employed to adjust three optical groups according to focus distance. The 110mm focal length on full frame format ensures not only a good working distance from subjects for macro shooting, but also its angle of view for portraiture does not look too cropped in comparison with 135mm and 200mm lenses. Another attractive feature is the ability to create images with a strong out-of-focus ‘bokeh’ effect, made possible by the 110mm focal length and F2.5 maximum aperture. This lens is a manual focus and manual aperture design, but also features electrical contacts that enable the lens settings at image capture to be included in the Exif information of the image data. Furthermore, the lens is installed with a distance encoder to enable support for 5-axis image stabilization on bodies with this feature, by providing distance to subject information used to compensate for camera shake. Focus peaking while manual focusing is also supported.

Main Features

Full frame Sony E-mount with electrical contacts
Apochromatic optical design that eliminates chromatic aberrations
Optical design optimized for digital imaging sensors
Maintains high image quality at all shooting distances with a 3-group floating mechanism
Extremely solid and durable all-metal barrel
Manual focus for precise focusing
Maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1 at a minimum focus distance of 35 cm

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Cosina announced three new Voigtlander lenses at CP+

11 Mar

Japanese optical manufacturer Cosina has announced three new lenses at the CP+ show in Yokohama. The trio consists of two lenses for full frame Sony E-Mount cameras, and a new Nokton 50mm F1.2 lens that will come with a Leica M fitting.

COLOR-SKOPAR 21mm F3.5 Aspherical | Sony E-mount

The COLOR-SKOPAR 21mm F3.5 Aspherical is designed for Sony E-mount cameras and measures only 39.9mm in length. Its 10-bladed iris promises attractive out-of-focus highlights, while the closest focus will be 20cm (~7.9 inches). The optical design uses nine elements in eight groups, and Cosina claims the lens has excellent contrast and resolving power even when used wide open.

The lens will be manual focus, and will feature electronic contact with the camera.

MACRO APO-LANTHAR 110mm F2.5 | Sony E-mount

The other E-mount lens is the MACRO APO – LANTHAR 110mm F2.5, which will offer close-up shooters 1:1 reproduction from a closest focus point of 35cm (~13.8 inches). Cosina says it aims to eliminate chromatic aberration, and that it will use a floating focus group to ensure maximum sharpness at all focusing distances.

The optical design packs 14 elements in 12 groups into a 99.7mm long housing, and the iris will contain 10 blades. Again, focus is manual, but electronic contacts allow the lens to communicate with the camera.

NOKTON 50mm F1.2 Aspherical | Leica M

The lens for Leica M-mount cameras is a new standard NOKTON 50mm F1.2 Aspherical VM that will feature two double aspherical lenses and a coupled rangefinder focusing system.

Cosina claims the lenses performs very well wide open, and that it will produce attractive blur in out-of-focus areas. The 12-bladed iris will contribute to the out-of-focus effect, and the closest focusing distance of 70cm (~27.5 inches) will ensure users can make the most of it. The 4.9cm-long lens will use eight elements in six groups and will accept filters in the 52mm fitting.

This lens joins the existing 50mm F1.1 and F1.5 versions in the Voigtlander Nokton series.

Cosina has not said yet when these lenses will be available or how much they will cost when they arrive; however, the company did have working reference samples on display at the show that visitors could try on their own cameras, so it’s reasonable to expect that we won’t have to wait too long.

For now, the Voigtlander website hasn’t been updated to include the new lenses.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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The Voigtländer Nokton classic 35mm F1.4 for E-Mount ships in February, will cost $750

20 Dec

The Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm F1.4 FE at CP+ last February. Photo by Barney Britton

Sony shooters will have a new manual-focus lens to play with soon. After announcing the lens as ‘in-development’ way back in February, Cosina Japan has revealed pricing and availability for the E-Mount Voigtlander Nokton classic 35mm F1.4 lens. According to the translated webpage, the lens is scheduled to ship in February of 2018, at a price of ¥ 85,000, or approximately $ 750 USD.

This, just a couple of weeks after announcing pricing and availability for another E-Mount Nokton that was “in-development” in February: the Nokton 40mm F1.2.

The Nokton classic 35mm F1.4 is an E-mount version of the M-mount Nokton that Voigtländer has been selling for many years, and we actually got to see this lens in person at CP+ last February. Unfortunately, the 35mm was the only lens under glass that day, so we couldn’t get a true ‘hands-on,’ but we expect it to be built to the same high standard as the older M-mount version.

Another photo from our through-the-glass ‘hands on’ at CP+. Photo by Barney Britton

To learn more about this lens, head over to the Cosina website, read the translated Cosina Japan page, or check out our ‘hands-on’ impressions from last February.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Voigtlander reveals pricing for 40mm F2 Ultron and 40mm F1.2 Nokton lenses

28 Sep

The new version of Voigtlander’s 40mm Ultron lens and the brand new 40mm Nokton lens are both ready to ship, and the company has finally revealed pricing as well. The more affordable Ultron will cost you ¥60,000/£479/$ 515, while the more expensive (and faster) Nokton will cost ¥135,000/£749 (~ $ 1000 USD).

The Ultron 40mm f/2 SL ll-S is the third generation 40mm f/2 for Nikon that the company has made, and brings with it the distinctive ‘bunny ears’ coupling fork so it can now be used with non-Ai film cameras. The lens has enjoyed an external make-over to deliver a Nikon-like retro look, while internally a new helicoid ring allows a closer minimum focusing distance of just 25cm, and 1:4 reproduction.

The lens is obviously manual focus, but contacts with the body transmit shooting information for EXIF data purposes. The lens is available now in a black or silver rim finish.

Voigtlander makes quite a range of lenses for the Sony E-mount, and the latest is the 40mm f/1.2 Nokton, which the company claims is the fastest 40mm available for the system.

It features a 10-bladed f/1.2 iris and electronic contacts ensure EXIF data is recorded and Sony’s in-camera image stabilization system is fully functional with the lens. The Nokton offers both clicked and clickless aperture rotation, and its eight-elements-in-six-groups construction makes for a minimum focusing distance of 35cm. The lens goes on sale on 5th October.

For more information, check out the translated versions of the Voigtlander pages for the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2 SL ll-S for Nikon and the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.2 for Sony E mount.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Voigtländer 65mm F2 Macro APO-Lanthar: sample gallery and user impressions

08 Aug

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Cosina says its new Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 65mm F2 is one of the ‘finest’ lenses the brand has ever made. I haven’t used every Cosina/Voigtländer but can say for certain that from my brief user experience, this is one fine piece of glass.

If you’re just tuning in, the Voigtländer 65mm F2, which was first announced at CP+ 2017 along with two other primes, is a manual focus lens built specifically for Sony full frame E-mount cameras. As such, I tested it on Sony’s high resolution a7R II.

See our Voigtländer 65mm F2 Macro APO-Lanthar galleryEverything about how the 65mm handles screams precision and quality, from the all-metal housing to the drool-worthy matte black finish. Its electronic contacts mean the 65mm can communicate EXIF info with the camera; it also means you can use focus peaking and/or magnification.

Built specifically for Sony FE cameras, I found it paired nicely with the Sony a7R II.

The first thing I noticed while shooting is the long throw of the focus ring (common on macro and close-focus lenses). It turns about 300 degrees, allowing for quite a lot of focus precision. The ring itself is a little over 2 cm wide and well-indented, making it easy to grip. It also turns with a buttery smoothness that’s oh-so-satisfying.

‘Everything about how the 65mm handles screams precision and quality, from the all metal housing to the drool-worthy matte black finish.’

Apertures range from F2 – F22 and are well marked with click stops every third stop. The lens has a depth of field scale, with distance information listed in both feet and meters. The scale seems accurate (from my informal in-office testing), though I did not rely on it while out in the field.

This is about as close as the 65mm can get to a subject.

Though not a true 1:1 macro (despite having macro in its name), the 65mm offers a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2 and a close-focus distance of 31 cm (so it can totally still be used for close-range photography). Note: when focusing at close distances, the front of the lens extends out about 4 cm.

Overall, I was pleased with the images I made using the a7R II and 65mm F2. When you nail focus, even with the aperture wide open, the results are very sharp. Voigtländer promised this lens would handle chromatic aberration well and all signs point to that being the case (Note: CA corrections are left off on all the images in the gallery). However you will experience some vignetting at F2 up through about F2.8, but by F4 it is gone. This is to be expected for this style of lens.

Electronic contacts on the lens allow it to communicate exif info with the camera. They also allow users to enjoy focus-peaking and/or magnification.

The 65mm focal length is not for everyone though. I personally found it to be a confusing field of view, leaving me unsure whether to shoot it like a 50mm or an 85mm (two focal lengths I’m use). Manual focus lenses also aren’t for all. Still, it is impossible to not appreciate something as beautiful and well-made as the Voigtländer 65mm F2 Macro APO-Lanthar.

What I like:

Excellent build-quality
Very sharp throughout aperture range
Focus ring turns with exceptional smoothness
Electronic contacts allow lens to communicate with camera

What I don’t like:

Focus ring hard stop at infinity end is beyond infinity (this may be an issue with our copy though)
65mm field of view takes some getting used to

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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