Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton

Introduction

It has at all times been very arduous to guess what Voigtländer lens Cosina will give you subsequent. By the point many individuals began giving up the hope for a quick 28mm M-mount lens we acquired precisely that: the Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton. Is that this the quick 28mm lens I do know lots of you will have been desperately ready for? Let’s discover out!

Pattern Photographs

A lot of the pattern pictures on this assessment could be present in full decision right here.

Specs/Variations

Cosina has a protracted historical past of manufacturing 28mm lenses from f/3.5 to f/1.9. It took them till early 2024 to launch a sooner one, this Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton. It is available in two variations, a light-weight aluminium one (Sort I) and a heavier brass one (Sort II). The latter additionally comes with a small focusing stick that can be utilized as a substitute of the main target tab. The optics of each variations are precisely the identical.

• Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton Sort I
  249g (matte black/silver), aluminium
• Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton Sort II
  330g (black/silver), brass, optionally available focusing stick

I acquired a Sort I mannequin in matte black for this assessment. It has the next specs:

• • Diameter: 54 mm
  • Subject of view: 74.5° (diagonally)
  • Size: 46 mm
  • Weight: 249g (Sort I black)
  • Filter Diameter: 43 mm
  • Variety of Aperture Blades: 12 (straight)
  • Components/Teams: 10/8
    
  • Shut Focusing Distance: 0.5 m
  • Most Magnification: 1:14.4 (measured)
  • Mount: Leica-M

purchase from B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate hyperlinks) for $999/1049€ (Sort I) to $1049/1149€ (Sort II) or discover your native Voigtländer distributor

Disclosure

The Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton was offered by Voigtländer GmbH, the German Voigtländer distributor, for reviewing goal for a length of 4 weeks.

Dealing with / Construct High quality

This Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton is a part of Cosina’s “Classic” line. It ought to be famous it acquired the “Classic” designation due to its look, not as a result of the images you’re taking with it’s going to appear to be they’ve been taken with an previous lens, if you’re searching for that then “Traditional” is the time period you want to search for within the Voigtlander portfolio.

The lens appears and feels actually stable, all of the markings are engraved and stuffed with paint, the main target ring has good resistance and turns about 100° from the minimal focus distance of 0.5 m to infinity. Not like many Laowa lenses and likewise the Thypoch Simera lenses this one sadly doesn’t characteristic a click-stop on the 0.7 m mark.

The aperture ring has equidistant and really distinct half-stop click on stops and feels very tightly assembled. It turns ~110° from f/1.5 to f/16.

Rangefinder blockage

The lens does present noticeable rangefinder blockage, however nonetheless lower than all the opposite equally quick 28mm M-mount lenses.

This Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton doesn’t include a hood included, as a substitute Voigtlander gives a relatively pricy vented hood choice right here which is named LH-6. That is one thing that leaves me puzzled, as a result of not solely the dearer Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton comes with a hood included, but additionally the cheaper Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Coloration-Skopar does. I hope to someday perceive how it’s being determined which Voigtländer lens features a hood and which doesn’t.

There are not more than 4 totally different 28mm 1.4 lenses for M-mount out there – that’s if we ignore the distinction between f/1.4 and f/1.5, which we should always. If we take a look at the aluminium model (Sort I) of this Voigtländer, it’s the smallest and lightest of all of them. The Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 and the Leica 28mm 1.4 Summilux-M characteristic a floating components design although, which often results in a extra advanced and due to this fact greater/heavier lens.

The lens could be mounted to Sony E-mount cameras by way of Leica-M to Sony-E adapters. You can even equip it with autofocus through the use of the Techart LM-EA9 AF adapter. The autofocus works very nicely within the central half, however not that nicely outdoors of it, as is the case for many lenses.

Vignetting

gentle falloff

All of the Voigtländer 28mm M-mount lenses present actually excessive vignetting figures and this one is certainly not an exception. The attention-grabbing factor is, that each one three of the present ones (this one, the 28mm 2.0 MK II and the 28mm 2.8) present a really comparable quantity of round 3.5 EV at their most aperture. Appears to me, this is likely to be the design goal Cosina set for his or her 28mm M-mount lenses. This sooner f/1.5 lens due to this fact has an edge at shared wider apertures over the slower Voigtländers, however stopped down they’re all just about the identical.

The Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 reveals very comparable vignetting figures. The 7Artisans 28mm 1.4 is doing higher at its most aperture, exhibiting one cease much less gentle falloff.

It is strongly recommended to take a look at this text first to get an concept how this brightness graph works.

optical vignetting

Very quick but compact lenses often present a major quantity of optical vignetting. With out going an excessive amount of into technical particulars optical vignetting results in the truncation of sunshine circles in the direction of the borders of the body.
Within the middle of the body nearly each lens will render an ideal circle, however solely lenses with very low optical vignetting will hold this form within the corners.
So within the following comparability we transfer from the middle (left) to the acute nook (proper) and see how the form of the sunshine circle adjustments.

Focus distance 0.5 m

On account of their compact measurement most of the quick Voigtländer lenses present very excessive optical vignetting. The virtually one cease slower Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.0 Ultron MK II might be the 28mm lens with the strongest optical vignetting I got here throughout up to now, so I didn’t have precisely excessive hopes for this 28mm 1.5 lens.

Excellent news are, this new 28mm 1.5 doesn’t present as huge vignetting because the 28mm 2.0. The 7Artisans 28mm 1.4 reveals much less optical vignetting and the Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 the least of all of the quick 28mm M-mount lenses. Then again the Thypoch and the 7Artisans additionally present noticeable onion buildings, which isn’t the case for this Voigtländer 28mm 1.5.

Sharpness

Focus shift

Sony A7rII | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton | 50% crops

With some lenses when stopping down the airplane of optimum focus shifts to the again or the entrance. Right here that isn’t the case, as I didn’t see any related focus shift – excellent news for rangefinder customers.

We do see noticeable longitudinal CA right here although – stronger than what we noticed from the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.5 Nokton MK II, as a result of this 28mm is solely a lot sharper close to its minimal focus distance.

infinity (24mp Leica M10, 42mp Sony A7rII)

Contemplating the Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 is such a small and compact lens it reveals a surprisingly good efficiency. On the Leica M10 we see slight colour aberrations at f/1.5, however the corners already look first rate. The midframe appears nice from f/2.8, the corners look greatest at f/5.6. The efficiency is much like the Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.0 Ultron MK II at shared apertures, which is kind of the achievement.

On the Sony A7rII with its thicker filter stack the efficiency within the midframe in addition to within the corners is worse – as is to be anticipated. The midframe wants f/5.6 to look good right here and even stopped all the way down to f/11 the corners don’t look pretty much as good as on the Leica digicam at f/4.0. If you’re utilizing a Sony FE or Nikon Z digicam and the efficiency on this class is necessary to you, higher take a look on the Laowa 28mm 1.2 Argus, 7Artisans 28mm 1.4 FE+ or the Viltrox FE 28mm 1.8 AF, which all look nice throughout body from f/4.0.

portrait distance 0.9 m (24mp Leica M10 and Sony A7III)

For portraiture it isn’t so necessary how flat the sector is, it’s extra attention-grabbing to see what the sharpness is like when centered at totally different components of the body to take subject curvature out of the equation.

We will probably be 100% crops from the 24mp Sony A7III and the Leica M10. Each cameras do not need an anti aliasing filter in entrance of the sensor.

Leica M10 <—> Sony A7III

Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5

For a 28mm 1.5 lens a very good efficiency at this distance is essential to me, as that is the place I often discover myself when taking environmental portraits and that is what lenses like this are finally made for.

Within the middle this 28mm reveals an incredible efficiency, within the inside midframe an excellent one, however within the outer midframe it begins to wrestle a bit. Once more the efficiency is similar to the Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.0 Ultron MK II. The Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 isn’t as contrasty within the middle and the inside midframe, however appears noticeably higher within the outer midframe.

On a Sony digicam with its thicker filter stack the efficiency may be very comparable within the middle and inside midframe and barely worse within the outer midframe.

shut 0.50 m, 1:14.4 (42mp A7rII)

Sony A7rII | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton | 100% crops from middle

This Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton reveals a surprisingly good efficiency at its minimal focus distance, particularly after we examine its efficiency to the Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 with its floating components design. Regardless of that includes a less complicated unit focus design this Voigtländer corrects spherical aberration (glow) higher, which ends up in larger distinction and backbone. It does present stronger colour aberrations although.

Flare resistance

As at all times evaluating flare is a posh matter since you may get any lens to look unhealthy if you happen to push it arduous sufficient and a slight change of situation can have an effect on outcomes rather a lot.

That being mentioned, many of the latest Voigtländer lenses have been exhibiting an incredible efficiency on this class, e.g. the VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton, the VM 35mm 1.7 Ultron and likewise the slower VM 28mm 2.0 Ultron MK II in addition to the VM 28mm 2.8 Coloration-Skopar. That being mentioned, the VM 50mm 1.5 Nokton MK II was a little bit of a disappointment I hope gained’t repeat itself.

A little bit of a damaging shock was that faint ring flare you’ll be able to see within the image above. It’s nonetheless seen at f/2.0 and disappears at f/2.8. I’m wondering if that shiny entrance ring is the reason for this.

As mentioned, a slight change of digicam place could make a giant distinction, so right here we take a look on the identical scene with totally different digicam positions, first at f/1.5:

Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5

Right here we see some small ghosts and components of that faint ring flare once more.

Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton | f/11

Stopped all the way down to f/11 the efficiency is typical for a contemporary Voigtländer lens, which means excellent. There’s one very particular place that results in a giant veiling flare, however with the slightest reframing that is simply averted. Aside from that there are solely tiny ghosts seen that ought to often not be an issue.

In very uncommon events I encountered some veiling flare, like within the following image. This could possibly be averted by both stopping down or barely reframing.

This isn’t the very best efficiency I got here throughout on this class, however truth is the M-mount opponents, which means the 7Artisans 28mm 1.4 and the Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4, don’t stand an opportunity on this class. And neither do the non M-mount lenses just like the Sigma 28mm 1.4 Artwork, Nikon AF-D 28mm 1.4 and Laowa 28mm 1.2 Argus.

Coma

100% crops from excessive nook, centered on middle, Leica M10

Additionally on this class the efficiency is much like different quick and compact Voigtländer lenses, which suggests noticeable Coma between f/1.5 and f/2.0 and far much less stopped all the way down to f/2.8. To fully eliminate it it’s a must to cease the lens all the way down to f/4.0.

On this class the 7Artisans 28mm 1.4 is a greater performer, as its corners are already clear at f/2.0. The Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.0 Ultron MK II additionally reveals much less Coma at f/2.0.

Distortion

The Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton reveals a small quantity of barrel distortion. There isn’t a lens profile out there but and for many functions it additionally gained’t be wanted.

Bokeh

That is the class the place I used to be most on this lens’ efficiency. Whereas the Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.0 Ultron Mk II (and likewise the VM 28mm 2.8 Coloration-Skopar) carry out very nicely in most classes, I didn’t take pleasure in their bokeh rendering that a lot – aside from very shut distances – due to very excessive optical vignetting.

At shut distances the lens attracts a principally clean and undistracting bokeh that gained’t take consideration away from the topic – a minimum of I feel that is the way it ought to be. The minimal focus distance of 0.5 m additionally permits for a really shallow depth of subject right here.

This can be a quick, compact vast angle lens, so in fact the bokeh isn’t as good within the corners as within the middle of the body, however that’s true for nearly any lens anyway.

At mid distances you already have to be careful for some perspective distortion, but additionally right here the lens is doing a very good job.

Now these are the distances the place I wasn’t tremendous pleased with the earlier f/1.9 and f/2.0 Voigtländers. Excellent news are: optical vignetting isn’t as unhealthy right here, however particularly at longer distances subject curvature can nonetheless be a problem, resulting in issues within the corners being in focus despite the fact that they shouldn’t, as you’ll be able to see from the next examples:

This impact is extra pronounced when utilizing the lens on a inventory Sony or Nikon digicam with their thicker filter stack.

If that is one thing that’s necessary to you, it is likely to be value to have a more in-depth take a look at the Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4.

As a result of it was winter I took most of the samples within the Mercedes Museum and I did the identical with the Sigma 28mm 1.4 Artwork. So I’ve many almost actual aspect by aspect photographs (Sigma on Sony A7III, Voigtländer on Leica M10). And this jogged my memory of the time I in contrast the Sigma 35mm 1.2 Artwork DG DN on Sony to the Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 Nokton III. Sure, these large Sigma lenses supply higher off middle sharpness at wider apertures and likewise the bokeh in the direction of the corners is smoother, however at what value by way of measurement and weight?

So contemplating how small this Voigtländer is, I don’t assume there may be a lot to complain right here. However as at all times, take a look on the pattern footage and determine for your self.

Sunstars

Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton | 50% crops

Like most of the latest Voigtländer lenses additionally this 28mm 1.5 options 12 straight aperture blades, which yield very distinct suntars from f/2.0 to f/11.
If you wish to know extra about sunstar rendering of various lenses take a look at this text.

Chromatic aberration

lateral

100% crops from nook, M10

There are solely very minor lateral CA seen which can be simply corrected in a uncooked developer like Lightroom by one click on.

longitudinal

Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 | 50% crops

The efficiency on this class is similar to the opposite quick Voigtländer lenses, which suggests noticeable bokeh fringing at f/1.5 that improves steadily on stopping down. Stopping all the way down to f/2.8 isn’t adequate to fully eliminate this aberration, as could be seen from the comparability above.

Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 28mm 1.5 | 100% crops

In the case of purple fringing the scenario is analogous, however right here stopping all the way down to f/2.8 is adequate to make the colourful outlining go away.

When you design a lens as quick as f/1.5 and as compact as this one you can not appropriate each aberration completely. It appears Cosina determined to make some compromises on the subject of the CA correction with this collection, because the VM 50mm 1.5 Nokton MK II and the VM 35mm 1.5 Nokton carry out comparable.

Whereas not freed from this aberration both, the 7Artisans 28mm 1.4 and the Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 do carry out higher on this class.

Conclusion

I do know lots of people have been ready for a quick, compact 28mm M-mount lens from Cosina. If you’re amongst these, I doubt you can be dissatisfied, as this lens is just about precisely what I was anticipating, perhaps even a bit higher than that.

The listing of issues to complain about is brief. The small measurement results in sturdy vignetting, as was to be anticipated. A small ring flare may seem within the f/1.5 to f/2.0 vary. Off middle sharpness at portrait distances in addition to CA correction are additionally not as nice as they could possibly be with a extra advanced floating components design, however that may have meant dimensions corresponding to the Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 and even the VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton. And I doubt lots of you would favor that.

The listing of constructive features is lengthy and typical for these quick Voigtländer lenses. Excellent sharpness at infinity, good flare resistance, good bokeh at quick to mid distances, good sunstars stopped down, low distortion and all that in essentially the most compact and light-weight bundle on this class. As mentioned, we acquired, what we hoped for.

Each new Voigtländer M-mount lens makes it more durable to decide on which one to get although. When wanting on the 28mm lenses we’ve a really good line-up: this 28mm 1.5 – the quickest but nonetheless surprisingly compact – the marginally smaller 28mm 2.0 Ultron MK II and the tiny 28mm 2.8 Coloration-Skopar. When you can’t discover right here, what you’re searching for, I don’t know what you’re searching for.

purchase from B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate hyperlinks) for $999/1049€ (Sort I) to $1049/1149€ (Sort II) or discover your native Voigtländer distributor

Options

Yow will discover all my evaluations of 28mm M-mount lens evaluations right here, so I’ll solely discuss the obvious options in additional element.

Pattern Photographs

A lot of the pattern pictures on this assessment could be present in full decision right here.

Additional Studying

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