Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4

[michel_leclerc]

Hello,

 

i'm looking for a portrait lens to be used with a D300 and i saw that Cosina have a Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 series II. Will it be a good

lens to get the same effect you will get with the 85mm f/1.4 on a full frame body? Bokeh and detph of field.

 

Any advice with others lens?

 

Thanks!

[ronald_moravec1]

85 will always have less debth of field than 58. That is the problem with small sensors

[ronald_moravec1]

85 will always have less debth of field than 58. That is the problem with small sensors

[pbass_wil]

I don't know the VL 58mm II, but I can tell you that this company knows how to make pretty sharp lenses at a good

price. Their record with bokeh, at least with some of their other lenses, is less impressive. However, I came across this

link with some samlples from the 58mm f/1.4 II, and the bokeh looks decent.

Here's a review I found:

 

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/360-voigtlander-nokton-58mm-f14-sl-ii?start=2

 

If you can stomach an almost shocking price of US$500, you might be interested in the new Sigma 50mm f/1.4. It's a

huge chunk of glass, but from what I understand it's designed to be really sharp even wide open. To my eyes, the bokeh

of this Sigma is as creamy as I've ever seen in a "normal" lens.

Not only will you gain autofocus, it's also internal motor (silent).

Click on these samples to see them bigger:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86658347@N00/page3/

 

 

However, I haven't seen the Sigma for sale in Nikon mount just yet.

 

I'm sure you've heard that Nikon has just updated their own 50mm 1.4, but I don't think that's available yet either.

[leicaglow]

The OOF areas look a little harsh to me though.

[jose_angel]

You can also wait for the new AFS Nikkor 50/1.4 that looks to be available on december, or save your money and

buy a 50/1.8 (AF usually assure perfect focus, at least better, with my eyesight... ).

 

In my experience sometimes the excessive softness of this fast lenses wide open and the very shallow DoF ask me

to close one or two stops even for head portraits.

 

As Ronald says, you cannot get exactly the same results on different sensors. Think that you can get almost the

same DoF with a 58mm at f2 on a DX format than with a 85mm at f2.8 on a FF camera. It is pretty common (to me)

to shot head portraits at f2.8 with the 85/1.4, which gives scarce DoF to have both eyes in focus. Anyway, the CV

lens looks to be pretty sharp even at f2 center (pbass link above).

[michael_bradtke]

I use a old Nikon 58 f/1.4. I find the focal length to be very nice for portraits.

[photo5]

I'd second Jose, wait for the new Nikon. It will be expensive sure, but probably a killer lens.

[eric_pelve]

<p>This thread has not seen any post since Oct 2008. So I will try to revive it if I can. I just purchased the Voigtlander 58mm SLII and sold both my Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 and f/1.4. I took this afternoon this shot of an old bench:</p>

<p><img src=" alt="" /><br>

<p>It is my experience that the Nikons are clearly not in the same league compared to the Voigtlander. The biggest difference for me are:<br>

- incredible sharpness of Voigtlander at f2.0 and above<br>

- much better behavior than Nikon at full aperture f/1.4 (better sharpness)<br>

- superior color rendition of the Voigtlander<br>

- in low light the blacks are blacker (and not gray like on the Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 for example)</p>

<p>I like the chip integrated in the Voigtlander which allows the body to read all relevant info from the lens (and help with useful exif data attached to the photo). Also it allows the photographer to change the aperture with the Nikon dial - like any normal AF Nikon lens - . No need to touch the aperture ring as it is the case with a Zeiss ZF. Visibility in the eyesight is excellent as it is always set at f/1.4 (no stop down technique like a Leica mounted on Nikon body with a leitax adapter.<br>

If interested in looking at other photos taken with that Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 Nokton lens, you can check on my flickr address:<br>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37067061@N05/sets/72157616633784094/</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[serdar_yorulmaz]

<p>I have been thinking about buying this lens and your photos helped me to make my mind. I recently bought a Nikon D3 and I hope this lens will couple with that camera well. The slight problem is this lens is currently out of stock at reliable retailers. I guess I will have wait and in the meantime will research more.</p>

[ashok_bala]

<p>the CV 58mm SL II is one of the best lenses in the 50mm-58mm focal length.</p>

[eric_pelve]

<p>This lens is routinely out of stock for a reason. It has been the case for the last 2 months at B&H in May-June 2010!</p>

<p>http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4715319930&size=large</p><div></div>