Voigtlander Z Mount 40mm f/1.2 THE lens for Nikon ZF

[@kapurar]

I have the Z mount 40 f/1.2 and I absolutely love it! It hasn't come off my Z8 since I bought it. Thank for a great video, as always.

[@kaskoPhoto]

This lens is some kind of special.

[@helgividar]

I am in love with a similar combo. My good old Nikon D750 and the Voigtlander 40mm f/2 Ultron.

[@enshongmiranda]

How I wish Nikon would enable trap focus for ALL chipped lenses especially for these Voigtlander Z lenses. The focus confirmation and electronic rangefinder already works, no reason why trap focus can't work. For now, the only alternative is to use adapters like the TTArtisan 6bit M-Z adapter and adapt lenses to the Leica M mount. Trap focus is such a great feature for manually focusing on a Nikon Z. Imagine face/eye AF tracking and then the shutter just clicks when you manually focus the lens without needing to punch in.

[@erics3008]

You want your manual focus lens to pull the shutter for you? You're funny 🤣

[@enshongmiranda]

@@erics3008 you clearly have no mental capacity to comprehend what trap focus is on cameras that have the feature.

[@philmtx3fr]

I don t understand what you call trap focus… can you explain ?

[@scottw5791]

The voigt 40 1.2 is the only Z mount lens I bought for my Zf! I have zero hesitation using this or even the D series lenses because of the good ‘ol green box!

[@kaskoPhoto]

That really is an amazing feature.

[@WolfgangWhyte]

Dayum. I love watching your content, but it costs me money every time I see the results!!! Now I gotta go shopping...

[@kaskoPhoto]

Did another shoot with it today - did a little stopping down. Should post it tomorrow

[@WolfgangWhyte]

@@kaskoPhoto I shall be here with the bell on ;)

[@torb-no]

This lens and how it combined with the Zf (having an dial based control *and* aperture ring, the manual focusing aids) is why I really want this combination. I’m not a photographer so I can’t really justify it, but maybe one day. As for wide open: you probably already know this, but the colors of Voigtlander lenses stopped a bit down are really something else. I have the Voigtlander 27mm f2 for Fuji X (which is kinda the baby version of that lens considering the field of view) and the vibrant colors out of it is just something else! Thanks for the video as always. Love hearing your perspectives on this stuff as both a pro and someone who obviously is bubbling with love for photography.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Photographer or not, this would make one hell of a birthday present! Start leaving those hints with everyone you know. 😂😂

[@boblozano]

Glad you had a chance to try this one, it's just a natural match with the zf (and pretty good with the z8 as well!). It's a small thing, but have found that the full exif data is a real bonus when compared to using one of the m-mount versions adapted. Just appreciate the way that Voigtlander takes those small touches seriously.

[@kaskoPhoto]

They do an amazing job with build and quality- appreciate all their lenses

[@paulthomas8986]

Beautiful shots. Thank you for showing what the lens does straight out of camera. Very happy Voightlander is still making lenses that have character. This one looks like it performs great wide open. Wild how close it can get too. Thank for sharing the photos and your thoughts.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you for watching. Love to be this excited about these gems

[@sarcomere1]

Mine should be arriving hopefully within the hour. Been what seems a long wait for this batch to be released!

[@kaskoPhoto]

Let us all know what you think after playing with it

[@sdhute]

@@kaskoPhotohow has it been ?

[@thegass]

My favorite lens on my zf. Followed by the fmount 58mm nokton.

[@L1RMO]

I have the M Mount Voigtlander 40 F1.2 with Techart auto focus adapter on my Nikon FZ and it’s awesome. I’ve had it years. Fab lens….arguably one of the best ever lenses or certainly a candidate!

[@kaskoPhoto]

I haven’t tried it with the techArt yet.

[@L1RMO]

@@kaskoPhoto you’ll love it…works very well.

[@eonon1757]

The Zf and Voigtlander 40 mm 1.2 is my therapeutic camera set up. It also looks nice stopped down. Nice pictures. Have fun.

[@kaskoPhoto]

This will def provide a lot of therapy for me and make some of the jobs I use it for very fun. Thank you.

[@noe6596]

Nice photos. Just got this lens and used it yesterday at the Houston Buffalo Bayou park. Love the photos out of it

[@kaskoPhoto]

The images really are very pleasing.

[@RonK]

Wow, these are some great images !!! And - no need to apologize to your model, she's absolutely gorgeous - all together absolutely stunning results

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thanks Ronny.

[@VizionZine]

I have the native Z mount of the 50mm f1 and I love it on my Zf. Heard that the 75mm might be coming soon for Z mount as well. Looking forward to that lens.

[@frankygamaliano7058]

The 75mm on Z mount would be sweet. I have it on M mount and used adapter on Zf but it adds to the length. I don’t use it that often otherwise would consider trading it with the Z mount.

[@VizionZine]

@frankygamaliano7058 I mostly shoot portraits so I'd probably use it quite often.

[@boblozano]

Pinged cameraquest and the latest is early June. Definitely looking forward to this one as well. Have the m-mount 75/1.9, like that quite a bit.

[@frankygamaliano7058]

@@VizionZine you won’t regret it. Mine is the 75mm/f1.5 M mount.

[@jettubby17]

I love the Voit 50mm f1.0 on my ZF. Its such a unique look. 😁

[@kaskoPhoto]

I’m trying the 50 mm F1 on Thursday. Really looking forward to it.

[@auroratours6716]

Ha - just THANKS man ! 👍

[@kaskoPhoto]

Very welcome.

[@RobertFalconer1967]

I keep hearing that the Z mount Apo-Lanthars are spectacular, but personally it's the 50mm f/1.0 Nokton for Z mount that I'm anxious to try.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I will be trying that this Thursday and will definitely do a video on the lens. First impressions, it’s actually bigger than the mount version.

[@ChrisMosner]

The 40 1.2 currently living on my Zf. Just shot a graduation party with it. Manual focus for 3 hours at 1.2. Your images of your model are sooooooo good. Loving the channel.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you. It’s def going to be on my camera a lot.

[@bsc001]

Beautiful artistic photos there, thanx for sharing. I’m up in two minds between this and the 50 f2, I know the 50 f2 will be sharper throughout, but the 40 f1.2 has a split-personality, and could still work out well as a street-photography lens if used at 5.6 and above. Sigh, decisions decisions, you’re not making it any easier, haha.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Honestly the APO is my favorite lens all together but the 40mm places you somewhat close to a 35 and 50. Has that amazing rendering at 1.2 and is honestly damn sharp at f/2 -f/2.8 So if you don’t need “perfection” the 40 may fill several boxes with one lens

[@bsc001]

@@kaskoPhoto Thanx for your feedback, appreciated. I’m leaning towards the 40 f1.2 for its character ;)

[@katyc24]

I went for 40 1.2 for that “split personality” point. 1.2 is so nice to have …and to know it gets sharp as you adjust the aperture. Haven’t taken the lens off my ZF since I got it!

[@bsc001]

@@katyc24 Yeah, I love multi-purpose lenses, this one would be ideal for my travel-photography on the Zf. Thanx for your comment, I will order it. Should be waiting for me once I return home from Jakarta/Shanghai next week.

[@chrislognshot]

do not know why people think need tons of makeup on. she look great with no makeup also her all natural look great for test on this camera. since get to see what really does with no makeup helping get all details \

[@kaskoPhoto]

Honestly, many use makeup the same way we use a camera. It’s their artistic expression. As much as I love a natural face, I also love to see everyone’s take on makeup and the many many ways they choose to use it.

[@erics3008]

I use this lens on my A7 IV. It has not come off since it's gone on...

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

John, the Voigtländer 40 mm f/1.2 is a physically beautiful lens. To my eyes, wide open, it looks a _tiny_ bit soft (not all lenses have to be tack sharp corner to corner, I have three vintage Leica lenses that are definitely soft). It also looks like it has a tiny bit of chromatic aberration; if true, is it easy to correct that in post? Does it also have a touch of spherical aberration that imparts a glow to some highlight edges (my Leica Thambar-M 90 mm f/2.2 has adjustable SA to help get the Hollywood 1950s look to portraits)? That lens looks like a super keeper.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I wish I could answer any of these questions but I really don’t pixel peep that deep. Pulling up the images in Lightroom I was just in love with the rendering the way it is. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

@@kaskoPhoto I could see the softness (which I really like in some lenses), and the apparent glow (SA) and CA before you zoomed into the photos. If there is any CA, and if it can be corrected in post, that lens will be a killer. As a comparison, Leica’s Noctilux-M 50 mm lenses have CA, but it’s tolerable.

[@MB-dq2gz]

​@@johnkasianowicz6536I noticed the SA as well and was wondering if that was just due to a low shutter speed and motion. I don't own the 40mm F/1.2, but I still thought the images looked great here overall. If it is anything like the voigtlander 50mm F/1.0 the CA is negligible on highlights and easily corrected when they rarely crop up so far. Oddly enough I haven't even seen any on the ZF I did notice it on my Z8 with almost twice the megapixels though.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

@@MB-dq2gz The images indeed looked terrific. Voigtländer in general makes excellent lenses. I have two of their VM lenses and will likely get a few more in a year or two. The Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 also exhibits CA. I might pick one up used someday for use on an M11, M11 Monochrom (CA only degrades sharpness in this camera) and SL2.

[@bradl2636]

At f1.2 the plane of focus is so thin only one of her eyes is actually in focus

[@philmtx3fr]

I was never happy with the 50mm but true that since I tried the 40mm I do like it a lot better. This voigtlander seems very interesting for a zf ( far superior to the plasticky Nikon 40mm f2). . As I also got a m240 I just wonder if it’s better to get it directly in z mount or buy it in m mount and use a Z to M adapter. Can you give some advise here ?

[@kaskoPhoto]

So I really didn’t want to try this because of that question. Unfortunately, I have to report that getting it in the Zoom mount is what gives you the absolute best quality (they did optimize it for the Z mount) it also provides the manual eye autofocus flawlessly

[@philmtx3fr]

@@kaskoPhoto thx for your answer !

[@philmtx3fr]

@@kaskoPhotoI just received my40 mm f 1.2 z mount and honestly this is the lens Nikon should have build for its Zf instead of its poor but not so cheap 40mm f 2. All metal , good focus ring , f1.2 instead of f2, aperture ring with 1/3 step .. it’s not a lens it’s s dream. Every good photographer who tries this lens will re sell the plasticky SE versions. I hope voightlander will shortly deliver a good and fast 28mm with the same optic and build quality !

[@MB-dq2gz]

Excellent shots those are with natural light?

[@kaskoPhoto]

In studio was a single LED and in the hallway was natural window light

[@paulanderson24]

This Lens with the ZFs auto focus assistance whilst using manual is really appealing to me. As I’ve said before I’m primarily a Leica M8/Monochrom user. I did get a Lumix S5 which is great but it just feels a little too bulky for travel etc. How does the ZF feel in terms of size/weight compared to an S5 and Leica M?

[@kaskoPhoto]

All I can really say is that I’ve had the S5 and wasn’t happy until I got the ZF as my autofocus companion to my Leica M.

[@paulanderson24]

@@kaskoPhoto thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m very tempted to trade in the s5 for the ZF when there’s a good deal on the latter. I’m not a big video shooter so it not having shutter angle etc is a non factor for me

[@Snapit551]

Is this lens a GAME CHANGER ??? 😂

[@kaskoPhoto]

I’ll ask it to play chess later and let you know

[@Teledible]

Bro did the model dirty with the thumbnail💀💀💀

[@kaskoPhoto]

Good takeaway from this video.

[@dpfreedman]

John, STOP! Just STOP! 🙂

[@kaskoPhoto]

Sorry, this time I can’t!! it really is that damn good

[@dpfreedman]

@@kaskoPhoto Yeah, well that's what you said about the Godox Lux Master. I'm running out of kidneys!

[@johnlocke8389]

It really looks like you've applied some kind of blur effect on you images. From what I see, there is a fair amount of detail, but nothing appears to be really sharp. I would like to see some stopped down images, even to like f8 to see if that lens is capable of capturing truly sharp images.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Most likely your KZbin stream. Def purchase one or borrow one and see if you like it.