Lens Review - Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton M mount lens on the Leica CL

[@CarmineTavernaPhotography]

That 35mm was my first brand new lens purchase..still love it 😀

[@davidsaylors]

It is a cool little lens, I just dont know if I cant get past the M controls…🤷🏻‍♂️ I like it other than that. Alot.

[@bassangler73]

Nice review! The image quality looks good to my eye.

[@davidsaylors]

It is really good to be honest. Better than you would think it could be for such a small lens. 👍📸 Thanks Bassangler. 😉👊

[@Deetroiter]

I have the Leica TL2 (the CL's cousin) and looking at getting the adapter to use Voigtlander M lenses. I use the Summicron 23mm f2 with it, but there's really no other Leica branded L mount lenses I'm interested in (or can afford) so I've been kicking around the idea of getting the adapter with some more affordable Voigtlander lenses. Great video and presentation, helped out a lot!

[@davidsaylors]

I had the TL at one point and really loved the form factor… but back to your point here. If you enjoy the way rangefinder glass is used, you will love it. If you just break down and get the actual Leica adapter, the camera will do things that it wont if you use an aftermarket unit. I used both and actually prefer the Leica M Adapter L. Thanks!!!

[@Buffalo69-march]

David, a great many thanks. Love your honest and frank opinions, personal or otherwise. 😜

[@davidsaylors]

Thank you!!! I try😬🤷🏻‍♂️📸

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for sharing the review David. Always amazed at these lenses you get to review. Never heard of most of them. Have a great weekend cheers 🍻 👍🙏

[@davidsaylors]

Haha! Thank you! Your video from today was epic! Love the “art”!!!

[@jimwlouavl]

Interesting review, David. I like the way you talk about practical things and qualify it as your preference. I’ll email you about shooting together.

[@absonus]

First M lens I bought was the VL 40sc ..... still have it but never got on with tab focusing for some reason .

[@PhilThach]

Great review, David! I feel like I know the lens after your detailed descriptions of what it's like to work with. I know I really like my TT A 35 1.4 on my Z fc so that lens will have to be really good to eventually make you sell the TT A 35. Nice to have the entire 1st Tennessee Pavilion to yourself!

[@davidsaylors]

Yeah. I really like the TT Artisan lens. (Alot more than I thought I would to be honest) The Voigtlander is cool too, just in a different way, but those controls have me thinking twice about it…🤷🏻‍♂️📸

[@scrptwic]

David Great review I was using my Pentax 35mm 2.4 autofocus lens to photograph my new granddaughter it's only the second time I have used the lens as I prefer manuel focus primes over autofocus I do like the 35mm focal length on a crop sensor camera I plan on photographing more at this focal length

[@davidsaylors]

It is the perfect blend for what I like to shoot. Most of the time, I end up with wonderful photos right out of camera. Congrats on the new arrival too!!! 😳👍📸

[@scrptwic]

Thank you David my daughter had a girl on the 15th 6.6 pds. 19inches Diana Rose

[@davidsaylors]

@@scrptwic That is wonderful! Now time to spoil that baby!!! 😁👍📸

[@cubanrum]

How appropriate. I was looking at a Voightlander. I am currently waiting on a 50mm f2 apo lanthar. It should arrive on Monday. Supposedly the lens hood is a custom one and $120. Hoping to find a cheap knock off. Let me know if yo decide to sell it.

[@davidsaylors]

Which camera are you going to run this on? I dont remember you having an M... Did I miss something along the way? I will definitely let you know should I "upgrade" at some point... (most likely to Leica... lol)

[@cubanrum]

@@davidsaylors I just got a M10-P used in pristine condition. From the Miami store.

[@davidsaylors]

@@cubanrum That explains alot! Nice choice too! Cant wait to see it!

[@PeterR0035]

Hi David, well done review, funny how you seem to struggle to want to like the lens :-) Nice and interesting background and I find you a bit dark (contrasty / shade?) in the foreground in the video? Sadly this 35mm does not exist on SL Nikon mount. As I am still geared towards my Nikon FF behemoths; D3s, D810,... no go for me. What I did manage to find for Nikon mount is a very unknown Kerlee 35mm 1.2 ; big and Zeiss like manufactured chunk of metal that takes beautiful dreamy pictures wide open. From Voigtlander, I use the 58mm 1.4 a lot, it has this wonderful micro contrast and smooth background/foreground separation that makes pictures 'pop'. I tried the Voigtlander 40mm 2.0 that many rave about, but found that it has really much too much CA in contrast scenes, in general did not like that lens at all. Thank you for the review, You're my KZbin hero, keep it up! :-) Kind regards, Peter

[@davidsaylors]

I would like to see one of those Kerlee lenses at some point, that thing must be sweet!!! Thank you for the feedback on the video, I was trying to find a spot that exposed me decently without being in the direct sunlight, I should have bumped the exposure in Resolve Thank you again!!!

[@PeterR0035]

@@davidsaylors can I sent you a picture of the Kerlee lens & some photo's somehow?

[@anthonymiller8979]

The version II has slightly larger aperture tabs...thicker and a bit longer and much easier to find. It also mostly eliminates focus shift which was an issue with the first version when used on rangefinder cameras. The cost difference between your lenses and with any M mount is that one simply focuses by moving the elements forward and back where the M mount version needs to couple that same movement accurately to the rotating ramp that transmits that movement to the rangefinder cam in the M mount body. Much more mechanism that must be precision made.

[@davidsaylors]

Its image quality better as well? I like the form factor but the tabs are frustrating is all.

[@GastonShutters]

@@davidsaylorsI have the Vii Multi Coated and I really like it for what it cost. A lot of lens for the money. It has also a character feel. Not clinically sharp open wide.

[@gnphoto21]

How does that camera compare with the Z50?

[@davidsaylors]

I cant really say… They are really similar in performance as far as specs go. If anything, if you were chosing based on pure performace only, the Z50 wins, but there is something about shooting with the CL that I just love. It is a personal thing that I have trouble quantifying. I just plain enjoy using it. I use my Z50 for two jobs, video with the 10-20mm zoom and wildlife with the 500mm PF… it just works for those so well. Did that answer your question?

[@gnphoto21]

@@davidsaylors Yes, thank you! I think the Leica CL and Nikon Z50 are the only crop sensor mirrorless cameras still manufactured and since you own both, I was curious to know how you felt about them. Looking forward to our meeting, either in Georgia/Alabama or in Chicago.

[@davidsaylors]

@@gnphoto21 OH, dont forget about the new Zfc! It is a cool little camera too! Phil has one and it is a great little machine. To be honest, if it was available when I got the Z50 for my video stuff, I probably would have gotten it instead... On a strangely "green" casted tangent (if you get what I mean)... there is the whole Fujifilm series with their X-trans sensors... but they really are in their own arena since they are really different to all the other cameras out there... As for linking up to shoot, WE WILL DO THAT SOON!!! Even if I have to drive to Chicago myself!!! Now that things seem to be starting to return to normal, I think we should start looking into a meetup.

[@gnphoto21]

@@davidsaylors I am planning to either catch another launch at the Cape or get to Rocket Museum in Huntsville, so we will meet somewhere.

[@iamhassan9943]

David if you ever have a chance try the Sigma 45 2.8. Very compact and light FF lens for Leica L Mount. But it punches well above its weight. I use it on my S5 and if I ever get the CL or TL2 it will probably be a mainstay on one of those cameras. Even though it is auto focus the clicked focus and aperture rings makes for great manual focusing. Just a gem of a lens.

[@davidsaylors]

I will have to see about it at some point then. It sounds like a stellar lens that I probably should have. 😬🤷🏻‍♂️📸 Thank you Hassan, I really appreciate it. 👍📸